From ldxar1 at tesco.net Tue Jan 25 13:52:56 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 21:52:56 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] ON THE BARRICADES: Part 1 Message-ID: <0ab901c50328$3bf1e190$3dc0ff3e@WOL> ON THE BARRICADES: GLOBAL RESISTANCE ROUNDUP December 12 (2004) to January 24 (2005) ALGERIA: Uprising in city of Oran by youths frustrated over housing allocations "More than 100 demonstrators, many hooded, burned tyres and hurled Molotov cocktails and stones at anti-riot police in Oran, Algeria's second largest city" City hall burnt down and looted http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13641542.htm http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/21/8009887 "Demonstrators blocked roads, sacked public buildings and overturned vehicles in the Bouira region, southeast of the capital, Algiers, the reports said. In the western Tiaret region and in Sidi Ammar in the east, hundreds of people blocked highways to protest against higher transport prices caused by the increase in fuel costs." (al-Jazeera) http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/20B73C29-ADB4-42AD-BF13-BAA64D7D2BFD.htm Uprisings over fuel prices throughout Algeria http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/48DF51E7-67CB-4B91-98A5-4C13A659DF33.htm http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050118132543276 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/48DF51E7-67CB-4B91-98A5-4C13A659DF33.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18683869.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18683869.htm ALGERIAN YOUTH TAKE TO STREETS TO OPPOSE GAS PRICE HIKE Rioting youths looted and burned public buildings in a northern Algerian town to protest against an increase in gas prices and a lack of housing and jobs in the latest disturbance to hit the country. Between 3,000 and 5,000 inhabitants of Birine, 200 km (120 miles) south of the capital Algiers, initially took part in Monday's unauthorized protest which later turned violent when youths looted and set fire to buildings, witnesses and newspapers said. "There was huge damage. Rioters set fire to several public buildings, including the city hall and those belonging to local post office and tax office," a local journalist, who asked to remain anonymous, said. "Anti-riot police weren't able to control the crowd until the arrival of more policemen from neighboring towns," he said. Meanwhile in the northeastern Kabylie region, angry demonstrators in the town of Kherrata reportedly blockaded the region's main road. Butane gas and fuel oil are the only available sources of energy in Algeria's remote mountain regions and high plateaus. The government's decision to hike the price of from 170 to 200 dinars (1.7 to 2.0 euros) goes against a recommendation from the national parliament. Demonstrations are rare because they need approval from the interior ministry under a state of emergency in place since 1992, when the cancellation of elections a hardline Islamic party was set to win sparked more than a decade of violence. But demonstrations are on the rise and increasingly violent across the country as disgruntled youths take to the streets, particularly over a lack of housing and jobs. Dozens of youths have recently been sentenced to prison for such offences. Unemployment stands at around 25 percent in the energy-rich country, but is much higher in some regions. (from ORead Daily) GREECE: Oinker-station destroyed by anarchists, in retaliation for torture of refugees The action was carried out by helmeted and hooded protesters, who used Molotovs and other items to heavily damage the copshop Cops apparently shot at the rebels with their handguns Several cop cars were also trashed The copshop had been the site of serious mistreatment of refugees, including mock executions http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303200.html http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/26/1375262 http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=04/12/27/7768900 http://resist.ca/story/2004/12/26/172755/47 Pics from the action http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=304642 Pics of police abuse victims http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=302336 Anarchists occupy embassy in solidarity with arrestees from copshop action http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/28/6176444 GUATEMALA: Gold mine truck blockaded Soldiers, pigs and an armoured scoop tried to bash their way through barricades in Solola The protest, over eco-destruction and a threat to a locally-built bridge, involved many locals There were clashes as locals lit burning roadblocks and pelted the trucks with rocks and sticks Some locals also opened fire with guns, and two protesters were killed by a police or army assassin as tear-gas was hurled Seven pigs were also hospitalised The truck continues its journey but at a very slow pace as barricades continue to go up The Guatemalan president is committed to "establish the rule of law" to "protect the investors" (statism=boss class tyranny) http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/01/11/guatemala.violence.ap/ http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/13/95036/9822 Report from SchNews: Bridge Too Far A blockade is going into its seventh week on a metal pedestrian bridge over the Panamerican Highway 130kms northwest of Guatemala City to stop mining equipment getting through to the Glamis Gold Marlin mine near San Marcos, Guatemala. One protester has already been murdered and seven injured after attacks by the police and army. It started when the mining equipment convoy first got to the bridge and found they were up against several thousand indigenous farmers and villagers intent on stopping part of it being dismantled to get large drilling equipment past it. Then when one of the mining vehicles was set alight the convoy retreated 2km to a lookout point parking area, where it has been stuck ever since, protected by private police from the rampaging villagers. The local mayor is on the side of the protesters, but already the Guatemalan Interior Ministry have sent in troops and police to try to escort the convoy to the mine. The protesters are now threatening to push the mining equipment over a cliff where it is parked - and good luck to them! The company Glamis have been lent $45million to develop the mine by the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank) without conducting the obligatory consultation of the local indigenous communities, or complying with the World Banks' own recommendations regarding negotiations with those affeced by the project (since when has that stopped a World Bank project?) Glamis are a mining company who have left a trail of indigenous peoples' rights violations, contaminated water and pollution across north America, and are currently using NAFTA laws to file for $50 million compensation because of actions taken by the State of California who had the audacity to protect it's environmental and indigenous communities from the impact of their open cast mining. See www.miningwatch.ca for more information. NIGERIA: Youths torch copshop in protest over police shooting of student Students stormed the copshop and cops fled - they then looted arms, freed prisoners and torched the place Cop vehicles and other cop-linked buildings were also targeted http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050115220003935 GUANGDONG: Another uprising in the southern province; huge clashes between locals and cops The uprising started when a cop beat a youth to death for alleged theft Up to 50,000 mainly poor urban residents took part in the uprising Reports suggest several people were killed and 100 injured http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2004_12_27_0352.html http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/28/6325939 Reports: Many Killed, Hurt in China Riot Associated Press HONG KONG - As many as 1,000 villagers battled police in southern China in a riot that left several people dead and dozens wounded, newspapers said Sunday. Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po and Apple Daily newspapers differed widely over the size of the mob and what led to the clash Saturday in Da Lang village in Guangdong province. Both said the riot started after security forces beat a resident to death. Wen Wei Po said nearly 50,000 people faced off against hundreds of police officers and torched four police cars. About a dozen village security officers were hurt in the dispute that sparked the riot, the newspaper said. The Apple Daily, meanwhile, put the crowd size at nearly 1,000. Police fired tear gas at the rioters, the newspaper said. It quoted a villager as saying that several locals were killed and 100 were injured. Wen Wei Po said the incident began with a dispute over compensation for a traffic accident. The disagreement flared into a riot when local security forces beat to death a relative of the accident victim, the newspaper said. Apple Daily said the security forces sparked the unrest by beating to death a 15-year-old boy for stealing a bicycle. It said police brought the riot under control in three hours and later arrested about a dozen people. Police and government officials refused to confirm details of the incident. "The riot is over," said one government official in Dongguan, a city that includes Da Lang. The official, who would not give his name, referred all inquiries to the Communist Party propaganda office in Dongguan, where phones rang unanswered Sunday. Police in Da Lang and Dongguan also refused to comment. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10502792.htm CHINA: Tenants revolt over mall closure - occupy roof, throw bricks http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/06/9244969 More on China unrest: http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/29/8667432 http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-2/524/524_05_China.shtml http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5346 GERMANY: Resistance to fascistic crackdown on benefits escalates One claimant suicide-bombs a job centre after his benefits are cut The state is introducing a work-or-starve scheme to force claimants to submit to worse job conditions Protesters clash with pigs in unrest over work-or-starve dole "reforms" Hundreds of protesters stormed a benefit office in a working-class area Cops, as usual, acted as the hired goons of the state, bludgeoning protesters Intimidation apparently worked, to keep numbers down; the low turnout causes gloating from rightist wankers http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6777661/ http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j07.shtml http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11854659%5E2703,00.html http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/03/8485128 http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6903/690353.html http://www.faz.net/s/Rub9E75B460C0744F8695B3E0BE5A30A620/Doc~ECAAD1A9A5667421BAA06052BF89CE364~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/03/business/german.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4142441.stm http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1446794,00.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6777661/ Earlier story: Huge resistance to job cuts is coming. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1415705,00.html RUSSIA: Similar resistance spreads after benefit cuts Pensioners fight with bus conductors and hijack buses There is mass defiance against payment for social services as well as widespread demonstrations Protesters attack bus conductors and other enforcers in widespread resistance, and stage unauthorised demos http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/article/0,13005,901050124-1018026,00.html http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050119061520472 http://www.all4all.org/2005/01/1388.shtml http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6904/690404.html http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1106435409322&call_pageid=970599119419 Mass demonstrations by elderly people and other claimants hailed as the biggest protest wave since the 1998 mine strikes Huge demonstrations continuue day after day in Moscow http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.anarchism/browse_thread/thread/c2990438a777064b/5fb34392cce3c2cf#5fb34392cce3c2cf http://www.ainfos.ca/05/jan/ainfos00292.html http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1&ItemID=7024 http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/01/35748f47-5554-4c5a-8abe-fac8aa8e4883.html http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1043695&t=Nation+%2F+World&c=26,1043695 http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050113-113914-9709r.htm http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/01/60a8aa80-a0f0-4d39-a7a1-7bebf0d7d24a.html http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=2377059 http://washingtontimes.com/world/20050117-100729-4091r.htm http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/01/17/build/world/65-russians-protest.inc http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2005_01_22_5019.html http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7399571 http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=2487 http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2005/01/24/908750-cp.html http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,11965-4042575,00.html http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=658680 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7399571 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F489E438-FEAC-4828-8BD6-1B9E8091DF91.htm http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5485484 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3164509a12,00.html http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=658662 Attempts made to block key Moscow road http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780275162&path=!nationworld&s=1037645509161 Pensioners block main road in St Petersburg http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11962728%255E1702,00.html http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050116-084534-1037r.htm http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/127581/1/.html http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/16/content_2466827.htm Demonstrations in cities across Russia http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F489E438-FEAC-4828-8BD6-1B9E8091DF91.htm Thousands protest in Murmansk http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1669752&PageNum=0 Protest in Kaluga http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1653633&PageNum=0 And in Novgorod http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1649402&PageNum=0 And in Irkutsk http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1648252&PageNum=0 Protest near Stavropol http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1649309&PageNum=0 Protesters in Khimki block roads, attacked by cops; pledge to step up protests http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050124/w012430.html Putin gives bribe to army amid unrest http://www.spacewar.com/2005/050124160731.lsigh2b3.html KOREA: Farmers stage rally against rice imports, blockade bridges and roads 300 arrested as cops smash vehicles and attack blockades http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200412/kt2004122015475712070.htm http://www.iht.com/getina/files/212870.html http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20041220/300400000020041220191221E1.html AMERICA: Bush inauguration protested Protesters burst through fences, delay Bush Some break through onto parade route - police attack with pepper spray http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050121100055189 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120224756737 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120183141821 http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/21/13586/5425 http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/ns/news/story.jsp?id=2005012016580002822541&dt=20050120165800&w=RTR http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/139414/index.php http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/33061/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/139681/index.php http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main.nsf/news.nsf/0/93E42AE9E32C8C8005256F93006B2A56?Opendocument http://www.ucimc.org/feature/display/24748/index.php Protesters rush security gate http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120223918193 Showdown after protest as some protesters on "youth march" target shop windows and cop cars Cops viciously attack protesters with pepper spray http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27648-2005Jan21.html Police state DC http://rwor.org/a/1266/police-state-dc.htm http://richmond.indymedia.org/feature/display/9117/index.php Protesters shut down Chevron petrol station http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308797.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308781.shtml Mini Critical Mass takes back the streets - and the mall http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308567.shtml Cheney snowballed http://www.kirotv.com/politics/4112846/detail.html As riot cops advance, one protester steps forward and begins to pray http://www.lancasteronline.com/pages/news/local/4/11378 Man threatens to blow up van near Bush route http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7362196 Anti-war groups protest http://www.canada.com/news/world/story.html?id=29ff82f0-4efa-44ee-8fd2-642b0e02fa4d Code Pink interrupt Bush speech http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/01/21/PROTESTS.TMP Thousands stage rally near White House http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050121095804923 http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1&ItemID=7075 http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0105/201580.html http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/612/612p11b.htm http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/20/2005/1118 Hundreds mark inauguration with protests http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=428977 "Mourners" on parade route http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0121/local/stories/02local.htm Vermont protesters travel to Washington DC http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050122/NEWS/501220359/1003/NEWS02 New York activists travel to Washington to protest http://www.nyunews.com/opinion/editorial/8661.html Code Pink activists unfurl banners at Bush's speech - dragged off by oinkers http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0120-06.htm Protest Warriors get asses kicked http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120182710431 http://www.washingtondispatch.com/spectrum/archives/000769.html Hundreds gather in Burnside Park http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308531.shtml Burning flag http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308499.shtml Student rally http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308506.shtml Activists target news station over bad coverage http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308478.shtml Oinkers spray and arrest journalists http://www.rcfp.org/news/2005/0121-new-photog.html Personal reports from the protests http://hm.indymedia.org/feature/display/10063/index.php http://baltimore.indymedia.org/feature/display/9449/index.php http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/feature/display/331/index.php >From the DC Indymedia Newswire: http://dc.indymedia.org via Infoshop and Portland IMC Best as narrative if read from the bottom up. # 12:30am New reports from Columbia Road/18th street says bricks were thrown, windows broken; Protesters were hemmed into one end of alley; 100 to 150 arrests appear to have been made; some marchers managed to get out; # 12:09pm The two buses on 18th street are gone, as are a group of protestors who were arrested; police seem to be about to disperse; # 11:59pm Police have assaulted DC Radio Co-Op reporter Darby Hickey for the second time during the day; police warned the reporter to "take a walk" and leave the scene, and then she was shoved; 30 more riot cops marched up to the scene and more arrests are taking place; the entire section of Columbia Road has been shut down, and the number of arrests appears to be in excess of 50 people; # 11:52pm March turned onto 18th Street and marchers were blocked in; heavily-armed police are now detaining and arresting demonstrators, and there are 2 buses parked on 18th and another 4 buses parked on Columbia, but so far nobody has been placed in the buses; a helicopter is overhead spotlighting the scene; # 11:46pm 100 riot police forming up at 18th and Belmont, and all roads and allies off Columbia Road are being closed off; protesters are now pinned in and are not allowed to leave; # 11:22pm Large march of 150 or more people is now moving down Columbia Road through Adams Morgan; they have occupied the entire left lane of the road approaching 18th and Columbia, chanting "Bring the War Home"; the marchers are converging on a hotel; # 8:09pm Police are reporting that Union Station has been cleared of "pedestrian" problems, meaning protesters; police are also reportedly moving in to block what they call "pedestrian traffic" into Columbus Circle, which is a closed area, and it is unclear if this reference to "pedestrians" means "protesters"; # 7:25pm Republican assaulted a photographer taking pictures, while police looked on; no action was taken by the police; # 7:11pm Physical confrontation just occurred between a Republican and a protester at Union Station; protester was arrested, but Republican was allowed to enter Inaugural Ball at Union Station; Police are now forming a line between Republicans and protesters; # 7:02pm Confrontations now occurring between Republicans and protesters at Union Station; # 6:56pm Police have gone behind Union Station; Police reporting that Metro PD has situation at Union Station covered, other police forces going back to the motorcade; # 6:33pm Marchers from unpermitted march say it was "spontaneous", comprised of many different people of all types; they are now at Union Station regrouping and playing music; # 6:22pm Police have cleared Mass. Ave. of protestors using their motorcycles, marchers have reached the corner by Union Station; # 6:18pm Police issuing "final warning" to disperse to Mass. Ave. protesters; police on motorcycles are ramming marchers in front of Post Office on North Capitol by Union Station; # 6:16pm Police now issuing second warning to protesters to disperse from Mass. Ave. immediately; # 6:15pm Police have issued first warning for marchers on Mass. Ave. to disperse; # 6:10pm March has taken over one entire side of Massachusettes Avenue; # 6:10pm March is now going out of Chinatown onto Massachusettes Avenue towards Union Station; about 200 people; police have been attempting to follow, but road blockades have prevented police vehicles from following; # Unpermitted march now at 15th and L; # Arrest at 15th and M at spontaneous unpermitted march; # 3:45 Coffins carried by protestors are burning; # 3:44 At least 30 riot-police at 14th and Pennsylvania; stand-off between police and protestors; whole area is filled with pepper-spray and tear-gas; 16 mainstream journalists observed getting sprayed by police with pepper-spray; # 3:38 Police now sending reenforcements to 15th and H street; # 3:33 Police reporting that one of two officers injured at 14th and Pennsylvania has a broken arm; # 3:32 Protesters are pushing through gates at 13th and Pennsylvania; # 3:31 Two women arrested at 13th and Pennsylvania; # 3:20 Police snipers appearing on rooftops around 14th and Pennsylvania; # 3:20 Two officers reported injured at 14th and Pennsylvania; mainstream journalists being hit and pepper-sprayed by police; # 3:18 Pepper spray and tear-gas directed at protestors at 15th and Pennsylvania; at least 50 injured protestors; reports from police of "chest pains" in protestor; mainstream media journalists being hit with pepper spray; reports of bleeding from injured protestors; # 3:18 Three sections of fence on inaugural parade route now broken down by protestors; fence blocking off parade route has collapsed; protestors battling police in streets; police still responding with pepper spray and tear gas; # 3:15PM: Much of the first 3 blocks of Pennsylvania has a significant anti-Bush presence, hard to pick pro-bush demonstrators out of some segments. # 3:14 Presidential motorcade slowed down at request of police; # 3:13 Police send a request to the Bush motorcade to slow down the motorcade at 5th and Pennsylvania, as major street battle rages between protestors and police at 14th and Pennsylvania; # 3:13 Tear-gas being used in street battle between protestors and police; # 3:12 Bush motorcade is speeded up to get beyond the protestors on parade route; # 3:11 Bush motorcade passes massive grouping of protestors on parade route; "Fuck Bush!" can be heard live on CNN as protestors out-shout Bush supporters; # 3:05PM: Spot in the fense near 14 and Penn, near Willard Hotel, where they've rattled the fense, gotten it knocked over or bent over twice, MPD pepper spray. Extra police are being deployed to this area. # 2:57PM: Unconfirmed reports of 4 arrests at 8th and D NW # 2:56PM: Pepper sprayed anarchists at 11th and E NW # 2:52PM: Protesters at 14th and Penn have been "contained" -- surrounded by the police, according to one call. # 2:50PM: Some anarchists at 14th and Penn are trying to pull-down barricades, break through check-points. Check-points are being closed-down by the police. Protests at 16th and H going well. (20 people laying on ground) # 2:33PM: Flags being burned at 14th and Penn. Some callers report there has been a fight of some sort between anarchists burning a flag and a Bush-supporter trying to take the flag from them. # 1:50PM: Possible splinter group heading from D & 7 to Capitol area. Riot police lining the streets at Penn & 14th. # 1:43PM: "Gas" at 7th and D NW # 1:38PM: There's a police car (#137, MPD?) in front of the Counter-Inaugural convergence space. # 1:35PM: Report on the police radio of bottle and rock throwing at 10th and D. # 1:34PM: Police being dispatched to Pershing park, report of arrests at D and 7th. # 1:16PM: (updated)snow balls thrown by some activists, several people say at least 2,000 anarchists. Some sort of projectile, maybe pepper balls, corroborated by some. Snowballs were thrown. Mood as calmed down, peoples spirits are "high." Anarchist Cheerleader squad is among them. # 1:10PM: 1 person down, hit by pepper spray, maybe physical force between 7th and 8th on G NW, police tried to prevent one "anarchist" march from linking up with another, things are "heating up fast." One DC Radio Coop/IMC contributor has also been hit by pepper spray. No arrests yet. # 12:45: DAWN march is in the vicinity of McPhearson Square, people are shouting "whose streets, our streets!" Mood is "serious, but energetic." # 12:43: "Anarchist march" at 13th and L, say the police around them were drawn away by "something else." # 12:35PM: One arrest reported on "P circle," P street near Dupont or Logan? Choppers and police cars heard converging on an area near Logan/in Shaw. # During Bush's speech, Code Pink held up banners "Bring the troops home" and shouted. Police immediately took them away. After that another group shouted, they were taken away. 2 more protests following that. Members of the audience appluaded the police actions, shouted "USA USA," and some through snowballs while other people tried to block cameras from covering the protesters. Public radio noted this very briefly, and the CNN noted and covered none of it as far as we can tell. # 12:15PM Splinter group broke away from DAWN march at 16th and Q NW, maybe 200-300 ppl says observer. # 11:55AM: Police chatter estimates DAWN (Malcom X/Meridian Park) march at 10,000 # 11:50 am DAWN march from MalcomX park just started with 5-800 going down 16th street. Police presence but not too heavy. People from Maine, Michigan, East Coast corridor. Primarily younger protestors, but people who have protested before. College students from Maine. 9 jump out vans are following them behind. # 11:41AM: Marches have left Dupont Circle and Malcom X/Meridian Park # 11:31AM: Bush is about to be introduced at the inauguration platform Pics http://gallery.thetechgurus.net/ http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308504.shtml http://www.ucimc.org/feature/display/24528/index.php Audio http://miami.indymedia.org/uploads/2005/01/inaugurationevent3.rm http://miami.indymedia.org/uploads/2005/01/inaugurationevent2.rm http://miami.indymedia.org/uploads/2005/01/inaugurationevent1.rm MILWAUKEE - inauguration protest is "most successful direct action in years" - protesters build barricades, block roads and evade police http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/202619.shtml http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/21299/index.php Large inauguration demo in Seattle Protesters chase off army recruiters and stage march and rally http://www.komotv.com/stories/34897.htm http://www.tdn.com/articles/2005/01/21/area_news/news06.txt http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050121/topstories/72871.shtml http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002156513_demos21m.html http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/244231.shtml Boeing targeted in Chicago - 4 arrested for praying on company property School students also staged a walkout and demonstration http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-050120protests,1,4213866.story?coll=chi-news-hed Protests across America http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120165422970 Protest in Vermillion, Dakota http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050121150141296 Cops viciously attack protesters in Lexington, Kentucky http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050121112745808 Small protest in Sacramento http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120185711524 Inauguration protests in Washington State http://www.kirotv.com/politics/4112846/detail.html Northampton, Massachusetts http://wmass.indymedia.org/newswire/display/4237/index.php Philly http://phillyimc.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/21/0349241 San Diego http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/107453.shtml Minneapolis http://twincities.indymedia.org/feature/display/19713/index.php Kansas City http://kcindymedia.org/feature/display/2074/index.php Boston http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/33056/index.php Atlanta, Georgia http://atlanta.indymedia.org/feature/display/36158/index.php Fayetteville, Arkansas http://arkansas.indymedia.org/feature/display/6711/index.php Dallas http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=1783&PHPSESSID=20fcf9f6f1b9e1503256355a510d97a5 Eugene http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308597.shtml Bend, Oregon http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308541.shtml University of Minnesota http://twincities.indymedia.org/feature/display/19720/index.php University of Houston http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/36589.php Los Angeles http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/121411.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/121486.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/121525.php http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/121546.php Traverse City http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/9106/index.php Denver, Colorado http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/9966/index.php http://news4colorado.com/topstories/local_story_020195506.html Austin, Texas http://austin.indymedia.org/feature/display/18818/index.php Portland banner drops http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308483.shtml New Orleans http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/politics/4112678/detail.html Georgia http://www.wsbtv.com/news/4113201/detail.html Tucson, Arizona http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=2835487 Sarasota http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/breaking_news/10692836.htm Austin, Texas http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=129646&SecID=2 New Haven http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=27838 Biloxi, Mississippi http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=2836604 Newport http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2005/01/21/news/news07.txt Bridgewater http://www.heraldnews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13794941&BRD=1710&PAG=461&dept_id=99784&rfi=6 Monterey http://www.californianonline.com/news/stories/20050121/localnews/1898245.html Ukiah http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/Stories/0,1413,91~3089~2666550,00.html Colorado http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2005/01/21/1_21_inaugurati_www.html;COXnetJSessionID=B118P4erF4Gabk2gg11zy8pbSY07A9YfsMLCgVbtX46tOHPBxJd3!-430123402?urac=n&urvf=11066245086880.7799339511018885 Manhattan http://www.themercury.com/view/article.asp?sectionid=News/Default/NewsArticles&id=735-2005-01-21-48689-35 Ames, Iowa http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050121/NEWS09/501210410/1001/NEWS Napa http://www.napanews.com/templates/index.cfm?template=story_full&id=D2140519-5137-4707-B39C-49D2A8EAE69A Lexington, Kentucky http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/local/10697093.htm Brattlebro, Vermont http://www.reformer.com/Stories/0,1413,102~8860~2665932,00.html Illinois State University http://www.dailyvidette.com/news/2005/01/21/Campus/Isu-Students.Protest.Bush.Inauguration-837951.shtml Utah http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=39&sid=146170 Arkansas http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=News&storyid=105533 Lansing, Michigan http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=2838625&nav=0RbQVRfM Ithaca http://www.cornellsun.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/21/41f07b51da8a3 Bellingham http://news.bellinghamherald.com/stories/20050121/TopStories/227673.shtml Portland http://www.dailyvanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/21/41f0c2522e17e Berkeley http://www.dailycal.org/article.php?id=17323 Princeton http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13799508&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=425695&rfi=6 Santa Barbara http://www.sbindymedia.org/feature/display/1475/index.php http://www.sbindymedia.org/feature/display/1474/index.php Medford, Southern Oregon http://rogueimc.org/en/2005/01/3813.shtml Knoxville http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4210/index.php Nashville http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4211/index.php Toronto, Canada - police viciously attack anti-Bush protest, hospitalise one protester http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120215857509 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120215728264 More coverage of inauguration protests http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120071936396 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050121095327789 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2005012109221482 http://www.counterpunch.org/jacobs01212005.html http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/election2004/story/493630DA133D190986256F9000186920?OpenDocument&Headline=Critics+of+war,+other+dissenters+stage+protests http://english.people.com.cn/200501/21/eng20050121_171381.html http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/21/content_2488736.htm http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050120/w012036.html http://www.westernfrontonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/21/41f1a0f1c3593 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=430448 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4746816,00.html Pre-protest coverage: Protesters to rain (PISS) on Bush's parade Bush inauguration protests planned - various stories http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5688 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5687 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5704 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5714 http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0120-09.htm http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0120-05.htm D R CONGO: Protesters demand elections; several killed in clashes http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-01-10-voa40.cfm http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__africa&articleid=194985 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050110T190000-0500_72955_OBS_DR_CONGO_TENSE_AFTER_ANGRY_PROTEST_OVER_ELECTION_DELAY.asp DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: "THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING WE NEED ELECTIONS" A comment by the head of the election commission on the possible delay of national elections sparked violent demonstrations on Monday in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As part of a 2003 peace agreement to end armed conflict in the DRC, the government and all rebels groups agreed to form a transitional government until national elections were held on 30 June 2005. Nevertheless, on Friday the president of the Independent Electoral Commission, Apollinaire Malu Malu, said that the elections might be delayed to later in the year. "I don't want to dwell too much on the date of 30 June because the constitution allows for a further six- month extension with the possibility of a one-time renewal," Malu Malu had said on local radio. Malu's remarks about a delay in the vote prompted demonstrators to take to the streets of the DRC capital, throwing stones, setting up barricades and burning tires on a main road near the city's airport, which caused the cancellation of all outgoing domestic flights. Eliane Nabaa, spokeswoman for the U.N. mission in Congo, said the government fired tear gas into crowds near the airport who were threatening to march toward downtown. The Kinshasa-based African Association for the Defense of Human Rights said three people died and eight were wounded. An official at Kinshasa General Hospital said one fatality was brought there, along with two wounded. Scores of others were under arrest. The protests were centered in the city's poor neighborhoods, but sporadic gunfire could be heard throughout the city. "The people are saying we need elections," said Adrian Bimbata, a resident in the area contacted by telephone. "They don't want elections to be delayed, and the economy is bad and everyday our money becomes more worthless. The people are protesting these things." (from ORead Daily) PERU: Villagers protesting against mine take journo hostage http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/2969043 New year marked by "military-civilian" uprising http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/1/2/203323/3991 http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/01/01/peru.rebels.ap/ http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/1/165441/7873 BOLIVIA: New water war in El Alto - protesters take on water MNC, government - and win Protesters had taken to the streets and blockaded cities to oppose a privatisation deal The routes to La Paz through El Alto were blockaded by local indigenous activists The Bolivian President rescinded the deal after several days of protests In one protest, a copshop was stormed and occupied An Aymara leader had earlier warned of insurrection over various grievances http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/20/3273745 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120132603124 http://www.altpr.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=422&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2005011910481024 http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/13/63734/3242 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5542 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/13018 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/12776 http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/21101.asp http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j12.shtml http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4166639.stm Santa Cruz joins unrest, with protests over fuel prices and a large strike Some protesters also demand independence or autonomy for their region http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/12757 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d24.shtml http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=d97c48f9b1782549 http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050111-070108-6323r.htm http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_international.asp?id=51934 http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=97262 http://www.truthnews.net/daily/2005010182.htm http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/14861_santacruz.html http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21443194.htm http://www.turkishpress.com/world/news.asp?id=050122030733.s3eo2slz.xml http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050122-043249-2676r.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/23/content_2496555.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24167671.htm http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10723457.htm http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/612/612p18.htm More unrest in El Alto TENSION MOUNTS IN BOLIVIA Bolivian President Carlos Mesa's government remained unsteady Wednesday as strikes led by rightist forces in the eastern city of Santa Cruz and leftist elements in El Alto shut down two of Bolivia's three biggest cities for a third day. Several analysts said they wondered whether the embattled Mesa will survive to serve the remaining two years of his presidential term. He took office when his predecessor was forced to resign amid violent protests in El Alto. ''I can't see how he'll get out of this,'' said one foreign analyst in La Paz. A two-day civic strike called by business, labor and neighborhood groups to protest a rise in gas prices brought the normally bustling Santa Cruz, Bolivia's richest and largest city with 1.2 million people, to a halt. Streets were blocked and public transport was grounded. In El Alto, the poor combative city of 800,000 that overlooks the capital, protests continued for a second day against the gas price hikes and also the city's water utility, owned by France's Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux.Protesters cut off roads leading down into the capital and access to the international airport outside El Alto. El Alto's powerful Federation of Neighborhood Groups says the company, Aguas de Illimani, has not complied with its concession contract, granted in 1996. El Alto community leaders said the water company had failed to meet its commitment to provide service to all residents. They said one in four people lacked access to drinking water in the sprawling township, which spreads across a plateau above the capital and around an international airport. "This battle over water is just one chapter in a larger fight for dignity," said Edgar Ramos Andrade, a journalist there who wrote an impassioned editorial supporting the demands. The company denies wrongdoing. The mostly Aymara Indian residents of the town of El Alto blocked all the roads leading to La Paz, the administrative capital. Mesa moved Tuesday and Wednesday to resolve the impasse with his left flank by canceling the concession awarded five years ago to the private French-led consortium to provide water and sewer service to El Alto, a largely poor city near La Paz. El Alto leaders met Wednesday night and decided to continue their strike, and also planned a large march to La Paz today. Business leaders in Santa Cruz, Bolivia's economic capital, have a different grievance. They want the government to repeal its Dec. 30 decision to raise gasoline prices by 10 percent and diesel prices by 23 percent. The government, which is being kept afloat by foreign assistance, said it could no longer afford to subsidize the lower prices. The Santa Cruz leaders are using the petroleum price issue to push their principal concern: winning greaterautonomy from La Paz and the rest of western Bolivia, said leftist sociologist Alvaro Garc?a. He said that in canceling the water contract, Mesa hopes to isolate the conservative forces in Santa Cruz. ''He's created a temporary alliance with the left in the hopes that this will diminish tensions,'' Garc?a said. Mesa also made a series of concessions this week to farmers in the Santa Cruz region, including lower interest rates on loans. The challenge presented Mesa with his worst political crisis since an Indian-led uprising drove his predecessor from office and brought him to power 15 months ago. In an impassioned televised speech Sunday, Mesa said he would rather resign than call out the army and police to restore order. Dozens of people were killed when President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada used force to clear the streets and highways of protesters in 2003."I will not act like my predecessor," Mesa said. "We will not have tanks on the streets.. I am not willing to resort to violence." The Bolivian Workers Central Office (COB) executive secretary Jaime Solares, said Mesa should resign and hold new elections, because he "didn't fulfill the reforms stated by popular sectors". On Wednesday, Evo Morales, leader of the leftist Movement to Socialism who finished a close second in the last presidential election, called Mesa "public enemy No. 1." He said Mesa should immediately call a new presidential election, though the next balloting is not due until June 2007. Activists warned that social organizations will rally on Thursday from El Alto to La Paz to demand the government to pay attention to their requests. Sources: Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Reuters AlertNet, Prensa Latina, Radio Havana (ORead) CHIAPAS: Villagers under attack, maintain roadblock despite repression State terror against them is extreme, including armed raids and death threats http://www.unobserver.com/layout5.php?id=2053&blz=1 OAXACA, MEXICO: Protesters build barricades and battle cops to stop swearing in of mayor http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=25701 CIPO-RFM resisting globalisation in Oaxaca http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303251.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303257.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303269.html Inside the protest camp raid http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303263.html Repression intensifies http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303283.html CIPO-RFM website http://www.nodo50.org/cipo/ourstory.htm SOLOMON ISLANDS Police and striking workers from the Russell Island Plantation Estate (RIPEL) clashed at Yandina wharf in the Solomon Islands on January 17. The police used C-S spray on the strikers who responded by hurling rocks. RIPEL employees had occupied the wharf to try and stop copra being loaded onto ship bound for Honiara. The strikers forced the boat to leave before it was fully loaded. About 1,000 RIPEL workers are on strike over the sacking of 100 employees and the eviction of their families from the island following the introduction of new copra-harvesting methods. Earlier, the workers told police officials at the wharf that they would allow the copra to be loaded if the company paid due salaries and National Provident Fund contributions. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j22.shtml DAVOS: Protests planned in Bern http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050121074609312 Police attack protest in Bern by hundreds of anti-capitalists Pigs blockaded bridges and had a huge presence in the capital Smaller-scale protests and a street party had also occurred during the day Over 80 protesters were arrested Many shops were boarded up in advance A small demo also took place in Davos itself http://www.nzz.ch/2005/01/23/english/page-synd5485519.html GLOBAL: 17,262 liberated animals. 554 acts of sabotage, vandalism and arson. Bite Back animal rights direct action report 2004 (downloadable as PDF from this page) http://www.directaction.info/2004/index.htm PHILLIPINES: Gelmart workers strike against layoffs, and win E-activists organise a virtual sit-in which helps towards the victory The workers also received solidarity from local activists in the Phillipines One worker was injured in clashes on the picket line http://manila.indymedia.org/ http://manila.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=2504 http://www.geocities.com/gelmartworkersonstrike/ http://manila.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=2445 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j08.shtml PHILLIPINES: Dislocated families blockade airport, preventing building work They have not been paid promised compensation and say they won't move till they get it http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=Provincial&OID=65225 http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2196.php INDIA: Students ransack head office and block roads to protest against death of engineering student http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=54391 AFGHANISTAN: Prison uprising near Kabul - screws as well as prisoners killed in shootout http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/17/content_2348665.htm http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/263131p-225291c.html http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/18/content_2353397.htm http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=4328 BELIZE: Massive mobilisations shake the government Many groups, including teachers, strike as part of a two-day general strike, and massive crowds demonstrate against the government Labour groups were campaigning against tax increases and pay increase deferrals, and also demanded constitutional reforms There were clashes with police around the parliament and elsewhere in the capital Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, injuring two people, and were on the receiving end of rocks, bottles and eggs The unrest forced parliament to stop debate periodically through the second day of the strike http://www.guardian.bz/reject.html http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13392 http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?story=404&PHPSESSID=41b20d8585f479b9a1ee112b158d0ff7 http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13381 http://new.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=13384 http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/aplatin_story.asp?category=1102&slug=Belize%20Strike http://www.belizean.com/mt-static/archives/2005/01/riots_in_the_ca.html#more KENYA: Council workers storm several buildings in protests over pay arrears A council guard let off his gun, to be met with a rock in the face Workers are on strike, and booed the mayor at a public meeting At one point, Nairobi was the setting for running battles between protesters and cops Protesters forced their way into the council building to confront scabs http://allafrica.com/stories/200501110884.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200501110811.html NIGERIA: Students torch vice-chancellor's residence in protests at Lagos campus Protests were held after the death of a student leader http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=qw1106306820448B252 KENYA: Small student uprising in protest at power shortages at a university Students attempted to burn buildings, but were arrested http://allafrica.com/stories/200501181656.html MEXICO: Clashes in town near Mexico City after police make raid Locals stone police, claiming they had no arrest warrants A massive police invasion of the town was then mounted, during which three pigs were taken hostage Residents also blockaded roads and built barricades They secured the release of all those arrested, in return for freeing the three cops http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4151627.stm http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20050106-1535-mexico-mobuprising.html http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20050105-2044-mexico-policerescued.html ZAMBIA: Africa Social Forum held http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5587 http://www.pambazuka.org/#2 http://www.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/112679.shtml http://mail.kein.org/pipermail/incom-l/2005-January/000192.html http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=2&ItemID=6908 HAVE THE SLAVES LEFT THE MASTER'S HOUSE? Amanda Alexander And Mandisa Mbali The story of the poor goes round and round. But what about the story of the rich? The story not being told is that of the beneficiaries of slavery and colonialism. The story of exploitation that put us into this dispensation, commodified our own life for profit. They divided and ruled. Can we unite and live? Can we unite for the world that will be our world? Let us rise up and begin to tell this story. of why they continue to be rich, continue to plunder. - Wahu Kaara, Kenyan feminist activist speaking at the ASF opening plenary Introduction At the opening plenary of the Africa Social Forum in Lusaka, Zambia (10-14 December, 2004), delegates from across the continent gave varied testimonies that coalesced around a single truth: recolonisation is worse than slavery. Activists noted Africa's history of injustices and oppression through colonialism, slavery and apartheid, but swiftly moved on to the injustices of present-day, post-colonial Africa: privatisation and cost-recovery, wars fought over Africa's natural resources, heavy debt burdens and conditionalities, unfair trade and disease. Contrary to dominant accounts of the continent as an almost biblically 'cursed' 'basket case' and Africans as helpless victims, delegate after delegate emphasised that Africa's poverty, wars and disease pandemics are causally related to a global economic system that is predicated on the poverty of the many. "The world, it would seem, friends, is at the end of its imagination", Corinne Kumar of Tunisia and Indonesia told the assembled plenary. How much further can the tired mechanisms of domination and exploitation be stretched? Though they are continuously re-disguised, masquerading as World Bank Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) or Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) or Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), the instruments of oppression remain just as blatant for those attempting to access basic services like water, land, education and healthcare - with increasing difficulty. Colonialism is a very old game, and is thus forced to maintain itself through substitutions - substitutions that activists are perpetually contesting. Substitutions of NEPAD for economic liberation, of incessant white tutelage for black independent praxis, of "efficiency" that benefits the few rather than the many, of a blameless past for a counter-hegemonic history, of the language of the powerful for localised terminology and stories, of dignity for the flat notion of "equality". Kumar's assertions were echoed by many activists throughout the Forum: it is up to the South - and Africa in particular - to champion notions of democracy that are not intrinsically tied to the market economy; to find new notions of power that facilitate, transform, and enhance; to redefine Africa through a discourse of dissent - one that decentres, disrupts and interrupts all that is dominant. At the ASF we observed that while African civil society is not uniformly strong across all regions, trade unionists, students, women and young people are increasingly resisting neoliberalism on the continent - against the current of their politicians. At a session on NEPAD, a Zimbabwean delegate argued that African leaders, by attending G8 meetings and producing a policy document endorsed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), are revealing that they "fear freedom, as former slaves who walk back to their masters, not yet ready to leave the master's house". Along with their critiques of neo-colonialism and the lack of democracy in international policy-making, African activists were increasingly outraged at the lack of democracy within the Forum structure. The ASF often replicated prevailing socio-economic, cultural and political inequalities. In particular, despite the feminist tribunal at the beginning of the Forum, women were often not given sufficient space to participate and raise feminist issues throughout the conference. Plenary sessions and panel discussions were largely devoid of meaningful dialogue and debate. The sole exception, which will be discussed later as a promising alternative, was the Feminist Dialogue, where women arranged their chairs in a large circle to form the only space in the entire forum set up for the horizontal movement of knowledge in many directions. Why the master's tools will never destroy the master's house In The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon predicted the exhaustion of third world nationalism as espoused by many African leaders (1965). Indeed, without civil society resistance Africa's bourgeoisie and its nationalist leaders may end up becoming the 'cheap jack' to Western capitalism and imperialism. As one delegate argued, "the master's tools [neo-liberal policies] will never destroy the master's house [rich countries' economic domination of Africa]". Patrick Bond poses the question even more directly: will Africa aim to 'fix' the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) such as the World Bank, World Trade Organisation (WTO) and IMF or 'nix' them (Bond, 2000)? Or, in terms of the central problematic posed in our report, will Africa merely substitute structural adjustments for 'homegrown' structural adjustments such as GEAR and NEPAD? Are the foreign overseers such as the Bank and the IMF increasingly confident that they can count on local overseers to carry out their work? Has the logic of 'fiscal discipline' become so normalised that Africa's ruling class has yoked itself with fiscal self-discipline? The social consequences of structural adjustment programmes have been evident in Africa for over two decades. The very real, human costs were evident as we walked through downtown Lusaka, where crumbling infrastructure includes the broken storm drains, clogged with garbage, that periodically become breeding grounds for cholera. The Lusaka-based Namibian human rights lawyer who showed us around mentioned that as a result of cutbacks espoused in structural adjustments and a high proportion of the country's budget going toward debt servicing, patients attending the country's public hospitals must provide their own drips, medicine, bedding and food. Indeed, IFI-advocated cost recovery is alive and well in Zambia: advertisements on Zambian television announced that cut-offs of electricity were immanent for defaulters over the festive season and that electricity company employees who assisted them to reconnect would be liable for prosecution. Jubilee Zambia informed us that this year just shy of a third of Zambia's budget will go toward servicing odious debt. Therefore, it comes as little surprise that Zambia's life expectancy has been reduced by AIDS and other preventable and treatable infectious diseases to a mere 35 years of age. The choices facing Africa's leaders are as stark as the slogans on t-shirts worn by activists from the African Friends Service Committee: "LIFE" or "DEBT". The very real impacts of neo-liberal policies on ordinary African people's lives brought debates on how African politicians and civil society organisations should relate to IFIs into sharp relief. African politicians are already engaging with IFIs and G8 countries and it was clear to many delegates that NEPAD can be viewed as the product of such engagements. In this context, an important item on the agenda was African civil society's engagement with IFIs such as the World Bank and Bank-supported programmes like NEPAD. On the second day, a session was held on views of "Civil Society Engagement with the World Bank" chaired by Kumi Naidoo of CIVICUS (an international umbrella body of NGOs). Naidoo outlined how CIVICUS's board had for an eighteen-month period ".embarked on a process of canvassing and documenting civil society views on engagement with the Bank". Naidoo described this as a "painful process" for which CIVICUS had received a great deal of criticism. Nevertheless, according to Naidoo, CIVICUS was powering ahead to hosting a "Global Policy Forum" in April 2005 bringing together the Bank and civil society, which would mark "the end" of its engagement with the Bank. When the floor was opened, Console Tleane from the Freedom of Expression Institute of South Africa argued that CIVICUS was unfairly seeking legitimation for its engagement with the Bank at the Africa Social Forum. Tleane pointed out that the conversation seemed awkwardly placed in the agenda of the Forum - rather than scanning civil society views on working with the Bank, delegates were ready to strategize how to bring about the end of the bank by April 2005. Kenyan activist Njoke Njehu of 50 Years is Enough, a Washington DC-based NGO, argued that there have been three major civil society attempts to engage with the Bank, including the World Commission on Dams and the Extractive Industry Review - and they had all failed. The Bank's primary objective in trying to engage with civil society is to boost its public relations (PR) and lend a veneer of legitimacy and transparency to its opaque and undemocratic operations. Indeed, Njehu stated that the Bank has a PR budget in excess of US$20 million per annum and seventy staff devoted to improving its image. She went on to question who actually funded CIVICUS's engagement with the Bank and in fact whether the organisation was truly independent of the Bank and those who support its agendas. A Senegalese trade unionist in the Higher Education sector argued that the World Bank's policies had destroyed African Universities through dramatic budgetary cutbacks and cost recovery. Similarly, a Nigerian activist explained that she had attended a meeting with the Bank on PRSPs as recently as a month before and gained the impression the Bank had already decided on what policies should be adopted in the country and was merely "going through the motions" of holding a meeting with civil society activists. Year in, year out this NGO representative had been to meetings with the Bank and had seen virtually no implementation of progressive civil society organisation's suggestions, expect at the most cosmetic level. Veteran South African anti-apartheid and social justice activist Dennis Brutus argued that CIVICUS was still actively engaged with the Bank and so it was disingenuous to argue that it was 'disengaging' with the Bank, but only after a big meeting in April 2005. Njehu went on to argue that the IMF and World Bank divided NGOs into pliant 'good' NGOs like CIVICUS that it could 'deal with' and critical 'bad' NGOs like 50 Years that it refused to have anything to do with. If the Bank was serious about hearing civil society perspectives it would be prepared to hear very critical perspectives - even those arguing for it to be boycotted by ethical investors on the Bonds market and ultimately closed down. Tleane argued for activists who did not agree with such engagement to protest at such meetings in a way similar to the "Not in My Name" campaign launched by left-wing South African Jews opposed to Israeli President Ariel Sharon's policies in relation to Palestinians. One of the authors of this paper argued for 50 Years to demonstrate outside the meeting to show that not all civil society actors are in agreement with engagement with the Bank. South African Anti-Privatisation Forum activist Virginia Setshedi then led participating delegates in a protest song against collaborating with neo-colonial forces. Indeed, in an article entitled "No to World Bank-Civil Society Relations", the African Flame, the daily ASF newspaper, reported on the session as follows: Without a single dissenting voice, participants rejected any dealings with the Bank. The Bank's bad record on the continent and the tonnes of evidence that indict it for the continued poverty of the African people were cited as the main reasons why any engagement will not be meaningful. The message was clear: there.[was] no way that the ASF would entertain any dealings with the Bank. Activists in the NEPAD session came to the same conclusions on the potential of neo-liberal institutions and policies. Senegalese economist Demba Dembele's rejection of NEPAD is based on two fundamental assumptions: that the West will never develop Africa and that most African leaders do not care about the welfare of their citizens. Pointing to the fact that NEPAD is premised on the extraction and export of Africa's prime resources and the opening of the continent to exploitative foreign direct investment (FDI), a Zimbabwean economist characterised NEPAD as "creating a Bill of Rights for trans-national corporations". Thus, he concluded: "our engagement will mean nothing". Finding our own tools: Feminist Dialogue In breaking with the structure of other Forum sessions in which two or three panellists (usually male) addressed an audience for roughly two hours and finished by fielding a handful of questions, the feminist dialogue was constructed as an actual conversation - open to dissent and debate and allowing ideas to build off each other. Chairs were arranged in a large circle and, by the end of the session, nearly every woman and man present had spoken their mind. Unfortunately, discussion revolved around gender and feminism in our societies (of women in power having become 'patriarchs' and of the need for better, context-specific understandings of gender and feminism in order to avoid negative labelling, for example), but did not touch on feminism and the role of women within our own movements. The participatory form of the conversation embodied a dissent against the structuring of the ASF, and yet the critique must go further. We know that women fuel our movements (and more isolated moments of resistance) across Africa, but they were in the minority at the Africa Social Forum because the leadership of organizations and movements (i.e. those likely to represent organisations at international forums) are men. We know that we will go back to our meetings and some women may not feel free to speak up. Essentially, we know that patriarchy and other forms of dominance are being re-inscribed within our movements for resistance. As Shallo Skaba, an Ethiopian coffee worker stated at the Africa Court of Women, "No one is looking for women's problems. No one considers all that women are doing". If movements go on as they are, women's problems will not be looked for, much less effectively organized around. One woman suggested in the dialogue that feminism is a political consciousness around power and power inequalities. Let us, then, apply that critical consciousness to the society we resist against and to the vehicles of resistance that are propelled by our energy, our sacrifices, our limited resources, our courage - but too often not by our decisions and the wisdom of our experiences as women. Again out of character with much of the Forum, several action items were decided upon. These included gathering and sharing feminist literature from across the continent over an email discussion list and in existing publications such as Feminist Africa, the Centre for Civil Society website and research reports, and WeWrite. Feminist dialogue must be wrestled back from the (mostly Northern) academic spaces which have co-opted and subsequently come to define (and confine) debate. Those present also strategised ways to hold women who are elected into office accountable. This is gravely needed, as demonstrated in South Africa, where Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has consistently pushed forward policies that have worsened - and ultimately taken - the lives of poor, black, HIV-positive women. In Tanzania, Fatima Alloo explained, women activists meet with each female politician upon assuming office. From the very beginning of her term - and often beforehand, during her campaigning - women activists attempt to become these politicians' primary network and base. Since women so often identify with a system that will "protect" them, the moment that they say 'No', they are persecuted. Women activists can thus form alternative forms of protection, and women in high office can draw their power not from the prevailing system of patriarchal control, but from those who understand power's underbelly. Finally, activists called for further strategising on helping to make women economically independent. As one activist from the Gambia remarked, we must make it possible for women to get a divorce if necessary, to have some measure of financial independence. In a global economy where women produce over 80% of resources, and yet own less than 20% of them, the battle for economic sovereignty for women will be long and difficult. However, we will work to assure that women are not further exploited by our own movements, and that we create means for economic independence as we can. Are our tools sharp enough? Across several sessions, a number of participants asked similar questions: what are we doing to take the debates here back to the grassroots in our own countries? People are dying of AIDS in my country, aggressive cost recovery means that water and electricity are being disconnected, trade negotiations are taking place which may ruin livelihoods, how will this Forum take our struggles forward? When we asked different delegates how the ASF meetings were organised, they could only answer with even more questions. How, for instance, were the meetings financed? How was the organising council constituted? Activists from South Africa's Social Movements Indaba (SMI) questioned the structure of the ASF (an un-elected, self-appointed, 'unrepresentative' council) and its 'lack of political direction'. The SMI activists said they viewed the council and the ASF as biased toward NGOs, as membership of the council did not entail representivity and members of the council had to pay their own way to council meetings. A statement issued and circulated by the SMI expanded this critique: The underrepresentation of social movements in relation to NGOs is reflected in the political content of the forum. It manifests in the persistence of the notion that the Africa Social Forum is nothing other than a space, in contrast to the perspective that it should have a programme to advance our struggle against neoliberalism (1). The SMI then went on to argue for a plenary to allow for collective decision-making on the structure and functioning of the ASF and develop a declaration and a programme of action. These problems are not unique to the ASF. Other social forums have been critiqued for not culminating in sufficiently concrete political outcomes that would advance the struggles of social movements. For instance, in discussing the Boston Social Forum, Peter Marcuse recently argued that there was insufficient participation of 'grassroots activists' (activists who were very poor, on welfare, etc.) (Marcuse, 2005 forthcoming). In general, there was an expressed need to link the BSF and other Social Forums to "action" with "concrete results" (ibid, 3). As Marcuse argues, while such forums might offer the future "nucleus" of a global social movement it is too early to speak of a global social movement focused on limited objectives and dealing with broader issues of power and social justice (ibid). Similarly, an activist writing for schnews.org.uk on the 2004 European Social Forum held in London argued that: "[Activists] came to see if 'another world is possible', yet as expected [the ESF] was hijacked by people whose vision seems seriously at odds with many people involved in grassroots politics". Many ESF activists questioned the wisdom of replacing one set of unaccountable political cronies for another. Building our own house: From 'space' to action? In order for the Social Forums to continue to have legitimacy with social movement activists they will have to move beyond merely being 'spaces' or 'forums' for debate about 'other possibilities' for the world and towards being forums for debating strategies and tactics and common campaigns. In essence, there seems to be a struggle for the soul of the Social Forums: will they be 'talk shops' or 'think tanks' or 'arenas for planning action', 'campaign launch pads' or 'strategy and tactics seminars'? As the feminist session of the ASF showed, making sessions more participatory and inclusive could be an important step in allowing legitimate critiques of the Social Forums and their constituent movements to emerge. In turn, this could allow for more focussed political discussions and outcomes at the Forums. The stakes are high in this debate. As Setshedi argued: "people are being disconnected at home, what am I doing here if it doesn't advance their struggle?". Or as an HIV-positive feminist activist from Zimbabwe argued, "people are dying of AIDS at home, we need to think of a common platform to campaign to improve their access to treatment". Such activists argued that it takes precious time and resources to attend Social Forums and that they must have something to show for attending such forums. ASF delegates rejected engagement with the Bank and NEPAD, however, it should not be forgotten that indirect approaches urging such engagement were made through civil society intermediaries. This shows that capturing Social Forums and blunting their impact is a tantalising outcome for the Bank and 'third-way' politicians, which only adds a further sense of urgency to debates about the political direction and future of the Social Forums in advancing the aims of social movements for socio-economic justice. It is clear that social movement activists around the world increasingly wish to 'jealously guard' (SMI, 2) the Social Forums against de-politicisation and an inching towards irrelevant abstraction, merely providing 'space for debate'. Such activists recognise that if they exhaust themselves debating in 'space' they will not seriously threaten the agendas of the Bank or the other IFIs. And the blunter the tools of the Social Forums get, the greater the chance activists will simply dispense with them entirely. *Amanda Alexander is a Visiting Researcher at the Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal. *Mandisa Mbali is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal. * Please send comments to editor at pambazuka.org References - Bond, Patrick (2003). Against Global Apartheid: South Africa meets the World Bank, IMF and International Finance. London: ZED Books. - "Endless Shit Flinging" (2004). www.schnews.org.uk. 22 October. - Fanon, Frantz (1965). The Wretched of the Earth. NY: Grove Press. - Marcuse, Peter (forthcoming). "Are Social Forums the Future of Social Movements?" International Journal of Urban and Regional Research. - Social Movements Indaba (2004). Statement distributed at the Africa Social Forum. 12 December. WORLD SOCIAL FORUM in Brazil http://india.indymedia.org/en/2004/01/208519.shtml http://tallahassee.indymedia.org/feature/display/5806/index.php WSF: Libertarians oppose statist presence at forum, plan protests http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5679 PHILLIPINES: Army declares Hacienda Luisita a "national security" issue http://www.tarlacnews.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=343 http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?index=1&story_id=25225 Workers defy return to work order http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=24376 http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/jan/23/yehey/top_stories/20050123top9.html http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=24344 http://www.tarlacnews.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=330 Workers declare intent to arm themselves if cops or army attack again http://news.inq7.net/regions/index.php?index=1&story_id=25121 Taskforce to probe Hacienda Luisita dispute http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2005012126938.html Workers vow to defend picket lines if attacked http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2005/01/21/luisita.workers.warn.of.trouble.over.dispersal.html http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/FlashNewsStory.aspx?FlashOID=23144 Aggressive manoeuvres and threatened attacks from state forces http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=24995 http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=24997 Dispersal postponed due to massacre anniversary http://www.tarlacnews.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=341 http://news.inq7.net/top/index.php?index=1&story_id=24899 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2005/01/20/tension.heightens.anew.in.hacienda.luisita.(12.53.p.m.).html Government orders Hacienda Luisita union leaders fired http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=24339 Tarlac to lose money in ongoing strike http://www.tarlacnews.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=329 Owners threaten to shut down Hacienda Luisita http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=24109 Death threats against journalists covering the strike http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/news/story.php?id=3268 Hacienda witness murdered http://www.bulatlat.com/news/4-45/4-45-massacre.html Another shooting incident at Hacienda Luisita http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2005/01/07/news/2.hurt.in.shooting.incident.in.hacienda.luisita.html http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=23468 http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=23412 http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=PROVINCIAL&oid=66230 http://www.tarlacnews.net/main/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=318 http://www.philippinerevolution.org/cgi-bin/statements/releases.pl?date=050106;refer=kr;language=eng http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/2278.php http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/2315.php http://qc.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=374&category_id=1 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j08.shtml Hacienda workers march to Malancang http://www.asianlabour.org/archives/003225.php Outrage continues over shootings http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/phil-d24.shtml PHILLIPINES: Human Rights Day commemorated - more shootings by suspected govt agents The shootings were at a 600-strong rally near Manila Protesters denounce the Arroyo regime's appalling human rights record, ranging from the Hacienda Luisita massacre to "anti-terrorist" crackdowns on Muslims and murders of journalists http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2044.php http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2039.php http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2038.php http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2057.php Students stage walkout to protest "no permit, no exam" policy Poor students are denied an education because refused entry to exams if they have unpaid fees http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2105.php NEW YORK: Casa del Sol residents protest eviction and fire Police attack the protesters and arrest several as protesters defend themselves in the melee Some protesters got on the roof and dropped banners http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/135765/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/135794/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/135745/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/135816/index.php QUEBEC: Unemployed workers occupy plant http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050119104824825 KOREA: Homeless clash with police at Seoul station after deaths of homeless men The clashes were fierce enough to effectively close the station, and thousands of pounds of damage were done Protests continued outside the station after riot cops arrived Homeless people blame railway security for the deaths http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200501/23/200501232211093779900090409041.html http://www.iht.com/getina/files/220507.html http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200501/200501230036.html HUNTSVILLE, USA: Uprising at juvenile prison - fire started http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull%26cid=1103170794867 http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=2710615&nav=0hBEULxK CHESAPEAKE, USA: Another prison uprising - screws briefly lose control http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=2753065&nav=23iiUj0W MONTANA: Resistance from INSIDE mental asylum Mistreated detainees protest http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/28/1991203 LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY: School ID badges prompt uprising Students clash with teachers, cops and other students at assembly, to resist the fascist policy http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2005011013450162 DONA ANA - Uprising at young offenders' institute over food quality Insurgents fought guards for two hours and smashed windows http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/4118932/detail.html http://www.krqe.com/largeheadline.asp?RECORD_KEY%5BLargeHeadline%5D=ID&ID%5BLargeHeadline%5D=8092 KAMLOOPS, CANADA: Fires started in inmate unrest at detention centre http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/4/124955/8185 HUDSON: School students resist exam schedule changes Some block hallways, set off fire alarms and march out of school After police attack marchers, some gather outside the school to continue the protest It continued despite a sellout by "official" representatives http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1291&dept_id=523591&newsid=13798666&PAG=461&rfi=9 MANIPUR: New protests after "encounter killing" achieve inquiry http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=21545&typeid=1 http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=21526&typeid=1 Apunba Lub boycotts AFSPA review panel http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=3.10.251204.dec04 TV producers protest Indian linguistic imperialism http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=21501&typeid=1 Women blockade army base to protest arrests http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=7.16.210105.jan05 Civil servants strike after militants shoot workers http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/19610.asp -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Tue Jan 25 13:54:29 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 21:54:29 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades part 2 (Asia) Message-ID: <0ac001c50328$73b1bb50$3dc0ff3e@WOL> PALESTINE At a December 15 protest in Bil'in against the Apartheid Wall three international activists were arrested by Israeli soldiers as they documented Israeli border police beating a Palestinian teenager. Four Israeli activists were also arrested that day. (from ISM) PALESTINE: Prisoners begin hunger strike over human rights abuses and torture http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/01-15Sep04-Print-Edition/011509200464.htm More anti-wall protests http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=107&ItemID=6943 ISM protests in Jayyous http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=721&mid=10618 http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=711&mid=10618 http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=737&mid=10618 Wall resisted in Biddu http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=735&mid=10618 IRAQ: Oil pipelines sabbed yet again (several times) http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/27352069-B1E9-4CA6-AD1F-73AC5AE7A426.htm http://uruknet.info/?s1=1&p=8225&s2=19 http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=644731 http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3949173 http://iraqwar.mirror-world.ru/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=35918 Oil pipelines sabbed every day, says minister http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/20050113/wl_mideast_afp/iraqoilsabotage Oil sabbing costs Iraqi state billions http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/20050111/wl_mideast_afp/iraqeconomyunrestoil Iraq gas pipeline sabbed http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=123&art_id=qw1105103883457B262 Resistance Offensive Cuts Off All Oil Exports From Iraq 8 January 2005 (Reuters) BAGHDAD - Power cuts have halted Iraq's crude oil exports from its southern Gulf terminals and saboteurs blew up domestic crude and gas pipelines in northern Iraq, shipping sources and officials said on Saturday. Loadings at the southern Basra oil terminals stopped on 0845 (GMT) on Friday, disrupting all exports. Flows from the north have been halted for three weeks due to sabotage. Iraq has the capacity to export about two million barrels per day from its offshore Basra and Khor al-Amya terminals in the Gulf. [Wrong. HAD the capacity.] Saboteurs blew up domestic oil and gas pipelines in northern Iraq on Saturday and crude exports through Turkey remained disrupted following an earlier attack, oil officials said. An explosion ripped off a section of an oil pipeline running from northern fields to the 350,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) Baiji refinery in the Safra area, around 70 km (43 miles) southwest of Kirkuk, they said. Two guard posts for an oil protection force composed of tribesmen were blown up around the area and one guard was wounded. Saboteurs also blew up a gas pipeline in the Fatha area near Baiji, home to Iraq's biggest refinery, the officials said. The gas line feeds the Baiji power plant, they said. One civilian suffered burn wounds in the blast, the officials added. Attacks against Iraqi oil facilities in northern areas have escalated since U.S. forces attacked the former rebel stronghold of Falluja in November. The export pipeline to Turkey's Ceyhan port, which can carry 500,000 barrels per day, has also been repeatedly hit. There have been no flows through the line since an explosion damaged it on Dec. 18. Officials expect repairs to take at least another week. [At which time, it will be blown up again. Duh.] (from GI Special) Abu Ghraib prisoners escape in transit - 28 on the run http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/011505Y.shtml Saddam Hussein remains on hunger strike, claims his lawyer http://www.uruknet.info/?p=8107 Nasiriyah power workers begin strike http://www.uuiraq.org/english/115.htm http://www.uuiraq.org/english/113.htm Iraqi farm workers establish workers' council http://www.uuiraq.org/english/104.htm Cotton workers punished for labour activism http://www.uuiraq.org/english/105.htm Basra workers hold international conference http://www.uuiraq.org/english/114.htm Violent suppression of textile strike in Kut http://www.uuiraq.org/english/118.htm Soft-drink manufacturers strike http://www.uuiraq.org/english/117.htm Strikes across Iraq http://www.uuiraq.org/english/116.htm Unemployed Union leads protests by homeless families and squatters http://www.uuiraq.org/english/108.htm WCPI, OWFI lead Fallujah solidarity demo http://www.uuiraq.org/english/111.htm Basra rail workers strike to protest insurgent attacks on rail workers http://www.itf.org.uk/english/newsonline/january/iraqi_strike.htm http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/archives/000153.html Statement To US Labor Against The War From Hassan Jum'aa - Southern Oil Company Trade Union, Basra From: Ewa Jasiewicz To: GI Special Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2005 10:06 AM Subject: Statement to US Labor Against The War From Hassan Jum'aa - Southern Oil Company Trade Union, Basra FROM: General Union of Oil Employees- Basrah TO: American Labour Against the War 04 December 2004 Subject: Thanks and appreciation I begin by saying peace be upon you; you who have stood against war and for peace. In my capacity as president of the union of oil-sector employees in Basrah, and in the name of the executive bureau of the union, we extend to you our immense thanks and gratitude to your militant organisation, which took a serious stand against the war and for peace, because peace is the foundation in this turbulent world. We put on the record our thanks and great appreciation and may God bless you in doing good and for peace to prevail in the whole world, including our wounded country, the great Iraq; the Iraq of love and fraternity. >From this standpoint we see it as necessary that our work is based on full cooperation and coordination to lay the democratic foundation of trade union work. We want to express our full confidence in being the link in the cooperation to combine the power of the Iraqi working class with the power of the American working class opposed to war and destruction. You no doubt are aware that the former regime dissolved the unions using a draconian law (edict number 150, 1987) that changed the status of workers to civil servants, in order to control the working class and its wealth, and to distort its identity. Since that day the working class hasn't been able to exercise its most basic rights. On 20 April 2003, after the defeat of the tyrant, activisits in the oil sector re-established the oil workers' union and we started, for the first time in Iraq, to elect a union committee in free and democratic manner. Today, the oil trade union constitutes the greater weight of workers in southern Iraq. The union's executive bureau was formed to represent ten unions formed in the oil companies working in the south. It also includes 30 union committees at work places within Basrah, Misan and Thi Qar. We stress that we stood against the vile occupation, which has soiled our dignity. We continue to be strongly opposed to the repressive acts of the American, British and multinational forces committed against our people in Iraq's cities, and the flagrant aggression against our national economy, which has been destroyed by war. This wounded country's infrastructure has been destroyed and the occupation forces is responsible for the greater part of this destruction. The occupation forces have not shown any initiative to rebuild the country and they have not allowed the people who want the good of the country to engage in re-construction. This is because of repressive laws that do not serve the production processes. There is a simple reason for their non-cooperation in rebuilding the oil production facilities: Iraqi cadres have rejected their presence which made them obstruct the delivery of reconstruction equipment. This is particularly true of KBR company. Finally, I extend my thanks and appreciation for standing by us for the sake of peace. I pledge that this letter is not the last, but we will be in constant touch. I would like to tell you that you are welcome in Iraq any time you like. Peace and God's blessings be upon you. Hassan Juma'a Awad President of the General Union of the Oil Sector Employees in Basrah (Iraq Occupation Focus is currently running a campaign to raise funds for the SOC Union - click the link below for more details: http://www.iraqoccupationfocus.org.uk/socu.htm) US uses refugees as human shield; refugees refuse and run off http://www.jihadunspun.net/intheatre_internal.php?article=101141&list=/home.php& http://www.uruknet.info/?p=8869 Economic nonviolence empowers Iraqi women http://www.uruknet.info/?p=8913 Sadr supporters protest fuel prices http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/29632C9F-B10A-4A98-90AB-A0173AF16CC2.htm http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050117/2005011701.html Fallujah residents protest http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/03/2185881 Protests outside energy ministry - protesters set up camp to protest fuel prices and living conditions in Baghdad http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4456332 MARINE BRINGS THE WAR HOME: 2 cops shot, one killed, by Marine resisting redeployment to Iraq, in apparent ambush http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/107228.shtml http://cbs5.com/news/local/2005/01/14/Marine_Accused_of_Shooting_Cop_Laid_to_Rest.html http://www.modbee.com/local/story/9750300p-10616529c.html http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8800&s2=13 Anti-Police Graffiti Cover Scene Of Ceres Warfare Grieving parents of US Marine hero. Andres' mom said that her son came back from the slaughter in Fallujah "different". 2005-01-12 Juliana Barbassa - Associated Press, San Diego Tribune & JOEL HOOD, Modesto Bee Tuesday morning, Raya's family attended Mass before going to George's Liquors and the next-door tire shop, still riddled with bullet holes. Spray-painted graffiti, much of it anti-police, appeared on both businesses and the supermarket across the street overnight, said deputy Jason Woodman, spokesman for the Sheriff's Department. Much of the graffiti had been painted over by midday. Among the remaining graffiti was a statement that simply read: "RIP Andy," the name Raya often was called by friends. Alvarez, Raya's cousin, said police suspected Raya had gang affiliations, based on his tattoos. She acknowledged that she had not seen the tattoos, but said other family members told her that the tattoos signified "Latino and Chicano pride." "It was a display of honor for our culture," she said. "He was not a banger. That just wasn't him." But family and friends said something seems to have happened to the young man when he was abroad. He used to be "a motivated kid," said the Rev. Dean McFalls, who knew the Raya family for years when he served in Ceres' St. Jude Catholic Church. "He was friendly, outgoing, humorous. He got along well with people, and wanted to make the best of his life. He wanted to settle down in Ceres and raise a family." When Raya returned from Iraq, family members said he was taciturn. One of his neighbors, George Alvarez, told the Modesto Bee that Raya confided in him during the holidays, saying he had "lots of trouble sleeping," and "a lot of mental things going on inside." During his first visit to Iraq, Raya saw a convoy being blown up. He had friends in the vehicle, McFalls said. Among the pictures the Raya family has to remember their teenager by are some in which he looks proud in his uniform -- "but there's also one in which he holds up a sign saying, "Operation send me home," family friends said. "I think he wanted to be a warrior, a hero," said McFalls, describing Raya's room. Among the usual adolescent clutter --"Raya's bicycle shares space with posters of fast cars and young women" are Aztec symbols, and pictures from the time of the Mexican Revolution. "Maybe once he got in the middle of the brutality, he found it was very different from the idealistic view he had of a solider defending the values of his country," McFalls said. A family member who asked not to be identified said Raya's parents never allowed guns in their home, so it was unlikely that Raya had owned the assault rifle used in the shooting for very long. It was not a Marine-issued weapon, authorities said. Raya used an SKS assault rifle, and it had been illegally modified with a detachable magazine, said Woodman. He said investigators were trying to determine where Raya had obtained the weapon and could not rule out that he had an accomplice. In an e-mail, a man identifying himself as a Marine and longtime friend of Raya's, said Raya could not have hidden the rifle at Camp Pendleton, because military police often do random checks of barracks. "Before he joined, he was very motivated," the e-mail stated. "The first time I saw him back (from Iraq), he wasn't so motivated. He cracked negative jokes about people who were serious. He was negative towards the Marines. He still seemed like the same guy, he just had a hard time." Families of US troops killed in Iraq raise $600,000 for Fallujah aid http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1506&e=10&u=/afp/20041223/ts_alt_afp/usiraqrefugees.041223173737 Dutch soldiers threaten to strike http://www.labournet.net/world/0501/soldiers1.html http://www.eurosavant.com/comments.php?id=450_0_1_0_C Another soldier refuses Iraq redeployment http://www.uruknet.info/?p=8907 Troop shortage worsens http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1015898,00.html Pentagon ban on filming coffins defied http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/00E1EA83-3FDD-4284-BE10-25648D94C086.htm Mass refusal and two suicides at army base http://www.uruknet.info/?p=8876 Arab marine declared deserter - again http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20050105/ts_nm/iraq_usa_hassoun_dc http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050105/ap_on_re_us/marine_iraq Iraq war hits National Guard recruitment http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/1217-09.htm MUTINY! "Mutiny" On Gulf Warship December 14, 2004 By JOHN KAY and TOM NEWTON DUNN, "The Sun" (England) THE captain of a [British] Navy warship has been booted off amid allegations of bullying and intimidation. Cmdr David Axon was relieved from duty after complaints from crew as HMS Somerset returned from the Gulf. A source said of the "mutiny": "A dangerous situation was brewing." (from GI Special) Decorated veteran Sergeant Benderman quits Iraq war http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8948&s2=18 Army Sergeant Who Refused More Iraq War Told He "Probably" Won't Be Charged [Bloomberg.com, January 13, 2005] U.S. Army Sgt. Kevin Benderman, a 10-year veteran who refused a second deployment to Iraq has been told he probably won't be charged by the military. The military says that situations like those presented by Benderman are on a downward slide. [Bullshit. There are another 20 at Sgt. Benderman's base who also refusing to go back to Iraq for another tour. The truth is the "military" is pissing its pants that prosecution can lead to a shitstorm of support from the anti-war movement, and national publicity. They're just hoping it'll all go away. But more and more service members every day are deciding the war is wrong. What's on a "downward slide" is the ability of the Imperial Government in Washington to keep troops committed to a lost war for an evil purpose.] MORE: >From Monica Benderman Sgt. Kevin Benderman and his wife, Monica, sit at their Hinesville, Georgia, home. {The_War.8.2471}: Monica Benderman {mdawnb} Wed, 12 Jan 2005 19:33:38 CST (10 lines) Kevin and I just wanted to say HI.. and thank you!!! The support is overwhelming, and we are grateful. Kevin has been placed on Rear Detachment with a new unit here at Ft. Stewart. There is an investigation opening, into everything that happened prior to deployment, and he is getting good support, now, in getting his CO status considered. We are still worried about the rest of this unit, and their treatment, and hope that they will begin to speak out for themselves as well. Thank you again..there are some pretty fantastic people in this world.. we're glad to have "met" so many of them. Happy night!!!!! (from GI Special) Sgt. Says He Will Murder Spec. Resisting Deployment To Iraq: 17 MORE AT FT. STEWART WON'T GO In further developments this weekend, it has been confirmed that Specialist J.R. Burt and Specialist David Beals, also of 2-7 attempted suicide rather than deploy to Iraq, and an additional seventeen soldiers in 2-7 Infantry Battalion have gone AWOL for the same reason. In addition, SFC Johnson, 2-7 platoon sergeant for Spec. Beals reportedly told him recently ".when I get you to Iraq, I'm going to get you killed," in the presence of several witnesses who say this incident was a catalyst in Beals' attempted suicide. January 10, 2005 By Robert S. Finnegan, Southeast Asia News On Friday, January 7, 2005 Sergeant Kevin Benderman, stationed with the 2-7 Infantry Battalion at Ft. Stewart Georgia, refused an order from the Command Sergeant Major of his unit Samuel Coston to deploy to Iraq and requested a General Courts-Martial. Benderman, 40 is a combat veteran, having served one tour in Iraq in 2003 during which a Captain in his command ordered soldiers from Benderman's outfit to fire on children throwing rocks at unit personnel. Having personally witnessed this and other illegal acts by military personnel during his tour, Benderman now says that under no circumstances will he participate further in the war in Iraq, a war Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan has labeled "illegal". Benderman has applied for Conscientious Objector status. His commanders have not yet acted on his request, as required by Army regulations. In further developments this weekend, it has been confirmed that Specialist J.R. Burt and Specialist David Beals, also of 2-7 attempted suicide rather than deploy to Iraq, and an additional seventeen soldiers in 2-7 Infantry Battalion have gone AWOL for the same reason. Army sources who have been granted anonymity because they feared retaliation stated that both Burt and Beals are being harassed and mistreated on the Psychiatric Ward of Winn Army Hospital by unit commanders and a civilian, Dr. Capp who in apparent violation of state law is reported as informing them of the harsh punishments they may expect should they refuse deployment. In addition, SFC Johnson, 2-7 platoon sergeant for Spec. Beals reportedly told him recently ".when I get you to Iraq, I'm going to get you killed," in the presence of several witnesses who say this incident was a catalyst in Beals' attempted suicide. Winn Army Hospital Public Affairs Officer Laurie Kemp refused to even confirm that the two Specialists had been admitted to the hospital. The 2-7 Chaplain, Captain Matt Temple in a letter addressed to Benderman today stated that: "It is unfortunate that you have chosen the course of action you have taken. You should have had the moral fortitude to deploy with us and see me here in Kuwait to begin your CO application. To expect me to complete an interview with you within 48 hours of a major deployment was unreasonable and quite inconsiderate of my own time. I would have gladly helped you once we got here. "As an NCO in the US ARMY, I expected a greater display of maturity from you. Furthermore, for you to have media personnel contacting me at my personal email address without first acquiring my permission was very unprofessional of you. You should be ashamed of the way you have conducted yourself. I certainly am ashamed of you. I hope you will see your misconduct as an opportunity to upgrade your character and moral behavior for your own good and the good of your fellowman." Benderman said the letter disgusted him, stating "Nothing in my career as a professional soldier has prepared me to respond to something like that letter from the Chaplain." Benderman's congressional representative, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has written a letter to his Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Todd Wood expressing her concern for Benderman's rights and suggesting that Wood designate him as non-deployable to Iraq. Support for Sergeant Benderman has been overwhelming, says his wife, Monica. "We are being swamped for interview requests by the media," she said on Monday. Benderman has also garnered the support of an American icon and war hero, Colonel James "Bo" Gritz, USA (Ret.), who profiled Benderman for three days running on his radio show "Freedom Call". Gritz has labeled previous charges by the Army in connection with Benderman's refusal to deploy and statements to the press "ridiculous," and savaging the officers of 2-7, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and President Bush on the air while calling Benderman "a hero" and his immediate superiors "weenies." Colonel Gritz is one of the most decorated soldiers in U.S. Army history, having led the only raid on a prisoner of war camp during the Vietnam War at Son Tay, North Vietnam. On Monday afternoon, Benderman says he is still in the dark as to what the Army plans for him. "I have learned nothing from anyone in my chain of command informing me on the disposition of my case, despite my attempts to communicate with them. Perhaps tomorrow," he said. Sgt. Kevin Benderman Writes: "Why I Refused A 2nd Deployment To Iraq"--- 22 More At Ft. Stewart Refuse To Deploy So Far By: Sgt. Kevin Benderman, Published In Project For The Old American Century First a brief forward from POAC co-editor Jack Dalton. I received an email a few moments ago from Kevin's wife Monica. In it she has told me a total of 22 people in Sgt Benderman's unit have refused to deploy to Iraq. 17 have gone AWOL and 2 have attempted suicide. The status of the remaining 3 is unknown at this time. We at the POAC fully support the decision to refuse deployment to Iraq which has been made by Sgt Benderman, and the others in his unit. I am Sgt Kevin Benderman and: These are the chronological events that led me to conclude that I had no other choice than to refuse the deployment order to Iraq. I was deployed to Iraq in March 2003 and returned in September 2003; while I was there I was with the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. We staged our vehicles in Kuwait and then proceeded to move out into Iraq. We were carried on the back of heavy equipment transporters to about fifty miles south of Baghdad and then we downloaded the vehicles. We were in the vehicles while they were on the trucks, which I thought was a little odd considering that in the garrison environment those types of actions are considered unsafe and are therefore not allowed. During the road march north through the country I saw the effects of what war does to people, those effect are such; homes were bombed, people were living in mud huts, people were obtaining their drinking water from mud puddles along the side of the road and were catching rain in buckets when it did rain, they begged us for food and water and we had enough, we would share it with the people that were there, the kids looked especially hungry and thirsty. The commander told us to stop giving the people food because they would get food from other sources after the trucks started bringing in relief supplies. Somewhere along the route there was this one woman standing along side the road with a young girl of about 8 or 9 years old and the little girl's arm was burned all the way up her shoulder and I don't mean just a little blistered, I mean she had 3rd degree burns the entire length of her arm and she crying in pain because of the burns. I asked the troop executive officer if we could stop and help the family and I was told that the medical supplies that we had were limited and that we may need them, I informed him that I would donate my share to that girl but we did not stop to help her. When we were there, the command elements ordered the unit to perform all types of actions that are considered unsafe to soldiers, such as, having military vehicle maintenance personnel retrieve missiles that were present in our area of operations using a M88 recovery vehicle and transport them to sites to be destroyed by the explosive ordnance personnel. They also ordered mortar personnel to enter into a compound that held various types of munitions that the Iraqi army had left behind and to load these munitions onto trucks. When these personnel were not working fast enough for the 1SG he ordered them to throw the mortar rounds onto the trucks whereupon one of rounds exploded and inflicted shrapnel wounds on two soldiers. We were using an old custom building that was located in the middle of the town that we were in for the troop HQ and naturally that attracted the attention of the local populace. Small children would come up to the wall that surrounded the place before we had a chance to apply concertina wire along the top of the wall and they would toss small pebbles at us inside the walls. We would tell the children to get down from the wall and leave the area, one day the troop commander saw us telling the children top get down from the wall and he told everyone there that if the children came back at any time after that to shoot them if they were to climb back onto the wall. I was in charge of a group of soldiers that were in their late teens through their early twenties and I had to constantly tell them to keep their heads down because they thought that the war was like the video games that they played back at the barracks. War is not like that at all and until you have the misfortune to engage in it for yourself you cannot begin to understand how insane it all is. There are no restart buttons on reality and that is why I cannot figure out why now we are pursuing such a policy in this day and age. War should be relegated to the shelves of history, as was human sacrifice. If you stop to think about it you become aware that war is just human sacrifice. There is no honor in killing as many as you can as quickly as you can. We, in America refer to ourselves as civilized and people from other countries still living the simple life are backwards and un-civilized, but what is civil about the capability to create atomic weapons? What is civil about being able to kill over 100,000 people with just one bomb? We may be more technologically advanced but are we more civilized? I think the answer is no. War has to be considered the absolute enemy of mankind. Where we would be without it? I would presume that we as a nation would be out of debt if we were to apply as much energy to pursuing sound economics as we do pursuing war, we would never get sick if we spent as much on preventive medicine as we do on war, the elderly would get affordable prescription medication if we were to use the resources that are spent on war to work for that purpose, there would not be un educated children if we were to buy new classrooms and books for schools instead of new weapons systems, social security would be a lot more secure with some of the money that war costs. Why do we want to train the young people in the world that the only way we can settle our differences is to kill one another? Why shouldn't we train them to become surgeons or homebuilders? Why shouldn't we train to become anything but killers? I think that the world would be better off if we were to do that instead. I have talked to veterans from every war from WWII on and their opinion is that the wars they fought were to be the last war ever fought. How many more are we going to fight before we realize that the act of war is for small minded people that are intent in only satisfying their own needs and not the needs of the people in general? I do not want to be killed because I am living in a place that has a ruler that wants to go to war with any one. The only way to bring peace to the world is to let the people of the world decide for themselves what they want to spend their efforts on. I feel that in this day and age governments start wars, and not people, and since the governments want the wars then why don't we let the government fight the war? All of the politicians that want to fight a war are free to trade places with me at any time. I will gladly go and learn war no more. There are activities that I have been involved in that have led me to these new and developed beliefs, and they are numerous but I can tell you some of them. When you walk in the woods and you see a deer stand and look at you, or you are on the river in the morning and the mist rises off the water while you hear the morning calls of the river birds, and the otters just lie there as you glide past in your boat and don't even move, you know that there is a better way. When you can find solitude in the woods that are so filled with peace and the wildlife that is all around you, you feel the better way all around. A person must acknowledge the fact the we are a part of the universe and the universe does not want to be out of sorts with itself, so why do we spend so much effort on trying to be out of sorts with others of the human race? I have been to the war zone and I have seen the devastation it causes. Why can't everyone agree that war is the most repugnant of all human endeavors? Why is it considered noble to be able to look through the sights of a rifle and kill another human being from 300 meters away? Why are you a hero if you can throw a hand grenade farther than the next guy in the foxhole? Shouldn't these young men and women that are in the army be throwing footballs or baseballs or softballs instead? It would impress me a lot more to see someone make the winning free throw at the basketball game or kick the winning extra point at the football game, or knock in the winning run at the World Series than to see them be able to shoot more humans from 300 hundred meters. I would rather they spend their time at the golf course or the tennis courts or in college, any where but in the war zone trying to survive and having to kill to do it. It just doesn't make sense to me. A Brief History of Sgt Kevin Benderman's Military Service I first entered the army on 27 Jan 1987 and received basic training at Ft. Bliss, TX. I received advanced individual training at Ft. Sam Houston, TX. My military occupational specialty was designated as 91R10 Veterinary Food Inspection Specialist which is basically the equivalent to a U.S.D.A. Food Inspector. My first duty assignment was Ft. Leavenworth, Ks. Where I worked in the commissary and my duties included; inspecting poultry and dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, canned goods, and the general sanitation of the facility. My mission was to ensure the health of the soldiers. Was a part if the United States Army Medical Dept. Activity or USA MEDDAC. I received an Army Achievement Medal while serving on the unit fund counsel, which utilized funds, raised through various activities to help provide for soldiers that were not able to get home during Christmas. I received another AAM for assisting during an increased workload due to personnel shortages during the Persian Gulf War. I also received my first Good Conduct Medal during this enlistment. I received an honorable discharge from the Army after the Persian Gulf War on 24 Apr 1991. I re-entered the Army 26 Jun 2000 and was awarded the MOS of 63M10, which is a Bradley Fighting Vehicle mechanic. Re-took basic training at Ft. Knox, KY and went the US Army Armor School at Ft. Knox, KY Received AAM for being honor graduate from the Class. First duty assignment after completion of training was Ft. Hood, TX. Unit was 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. Also known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Went to Iraq with the 4th I.D. in March 2003 returned to Ft. Hood Sep 2003. Re-enlisted with choice of duty station of Ft. Stewart, GA. ARMY AWARDS RECEIVED INCLUDE TWO ARMY COMMENDATION MEDALS, 4 ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDALS, 3 GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS, 2 NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDALS, And ONE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL. RECEIVED NUMEROUS LETTERS OF COMMENDATION. RECEIVED COMBAT LIFESAVER CERTIFICATION, WAS CHOSEN TO BE THE STUDENT 1ST SGT OF THE PRIMARY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COURSE OUT OF FOUR HUNDRED STUDENTS. November 20, 2004 To: George W. Bush From: SGT Kevin M. Benderman When are you going to tell the truth to the people of the United States? Why don't you tell them why you want to be in Iraq so bad? I was there for six months and I did not see the first weapon of mass destruction. I did receive orders from the company commander to shoot children if they threw small rocks at us and that was when I figured out that the entire thing was way over the line. Over 1200 soldiers have died in Iraq so that you can have a couple billion more dollars, that should make you feel very good about yourself. The soldiers that have died for this sham that you have put over on the American people are so much more deserving than that. You are not worth the dust off of their boots. If you truly had respect for the military and the people that serve then you would not continue to kill them in your war. I joined the Army to protect my country and not to be a mercenary for a political despot. If you wish to put me in prison because of my views then you should make room for about 75% of the military. And while you are at make some room for yourself and about half of your administration. You are responsible for what happened at Abu Gharaib and you are shirking your responsibility. The commander in chief is not above the UCMJ, as you would like to believe. I want to fulfill my contract that says I joined the Army to protect my country against all enemies foreign and domestic, and as far as I am concerned you are a domestic enemy of the United States. You care nothing for this country; you just care about the profits that are to be made from the oil in Iraq. That much is evident to me from the way the contracts were passed out to Halliburton and KBR. It must be nice to have the deck stacked in your favor by the president of the USA. Since your are raising the debt ceiling of America so that we can pay the bills that you have run up, why don't you forgive the debts of every one in the armed forces since they are the ones that are making it possible for you to make billions from the oil from Iraq. Sincerely, SGT Kevin M. Benderman >From Monica Benderman: The_War.8.2088}: Monica Benderman Fri, 31 Dec 2004 09:10:42 CST (54 lines) Unfortunately, I believe that no soldier is in Iraq by his own doing. Most definitely, the Iraqis are not. But to understand why I say that about the US military, I believe you have to become more aware of exactly what is involved in saying NO to Iraq. My husband spoke to his commander yesterday, his unit is scheduled to fly back to Iraq next week. The commander refused to approve his request for Conscientious Objector Status. My husband then took it to the Brigade CSM who did his best to talk my husband out of it. Going so far as to tell my husband that "the people we are going over there to kill rape 8 year old girls." My husband's response... fathers rape their daughters in America, uncles rape their nieces, and pastors rape altar boys, and yet no American soldier is ordered to go to where that person lives and shoot them with an M-16." The CO status is pending, but they are making it very difficult for my husband. The other options, for any military personnel who have a conscience....jail for however long this government decides, moving to Canada, or some other foreign country that may or not grant asylum, or WHAT??? Are you aware of how many soldiers, marines and National Guard would willingly join in a lawsuit against the legality of this war, if they could afford the high priced team of Human and Civil Rights attorneys who have expressed an interest in this case, and if they could be assured that once having taken on this case, they would still have a home, a family, and a country that supported them? My husband has spoken to just such a team of attorneys. They have researched this case, and believe that, while difficult, it is possible. The problem... cost, and naturally, the unknown. Soldiers need the support of their country. Soldiers fight hard for this country, and do not have the benefit of knowing just how many people are truly there for them. If we could find a way to show them that the support is real, that the support isn't just lip service in chat rooms and on forum pages, but that it is real, and open, and confident in the RIGHT of what these soldiers are doing... I guarantee you... there are a hundred thousand soldiers who would fight for the right thing. America hasn't done enough to show these soldiers that they will stand behind them when they throw down their weapons. Right now... our government is "brainwashing" our military.. and our military is falling into their trap because there are still not enough strong American civilians who are willing to stand boldly beside the soldiers and say NO to that government. The soldiers have lives, and families that they feel responsible for. We can talk all day about what they SHOULD DO... but many, first and foremost believe that they have no other choice but to follow orders, so that the people they love stay protected, not from enemy terrorists, but from our government. We are all willing to fight... but I don't think American civilians realize how much of the fight for the military depends on them. Sometime the talk has to stop, and the action begin. Thank you. 08 Jan 2005 Monica Benderman The_War.8.2088} I just got back from the hospital, Winn Army Hospital, visiting 2 soldiers, both of whom were scheduled to deploy with Kevin's unit yesterday. One didn't make it.. he had knee problems and went to the doctor on Wednesday. The dr. gave him a full bottle of Percoset. When his wife woke up yesterday morning, she found him on the floor. He had taken 32 Percoset. The doctor said that she was 10 min. from not being able to save him. Today, he was still groggy, but determined. They had told him that it didn't matter that he was in the Psych. ward, he was just "malingering" and he would be deployed on Monday, as soon as he was released. I talked with him and told him that his Sgt. Benderman had sent a message, "I got your back." The soldier has decided to refuse to deploy, and he will stay here and fight alongside Kevin. The second soldier also did not get on the plane. He missed the deploy time, and they thought that he had gone AWOL. They found him along a highway about 30 min from here. He had driven to a point, stopped his car, taken a full bottle of pills, the gotten out and walked along the highway with a gun in his hand. Fortunately, he passed out before he could use the gun. I gave him the same message from Kevin. He too is ready to refuse deployment and stand with Kevin. Both of these soldiers said that they would rather die here than die in Iraq. The details will come out, but I can assure you, it is due to an ungodly amount of pressure, very, very negative pressure from the same command structure that Kevin is now speaking out about. These two soldiers are going to be okay. They are getting stronger, one is still a little more groggy than the other, but they are ready to fight. Both are very grateful to everyone of you. I told them about all of the support they have waiting for them, and they really can't believe it. For your information, there are many more to follow. It is just the beginning. There will be little communication with the soldiers "in country" until the end of this month, for "security reasons." But some of the soldiers did manage to find a way to be able to have access.. at very great risk to themselves.. so please know that there is a great problem with this unit right now. We will keep you up to date, as we hear more. Just know, what you are doing does matter to these soldiers, and we are getting word to them. They are sooo happy to know that you all are there. Thank you. Monica (from GI Special) 01/17/2005 By Robert S. Finnegan, Managing Editor, Southeast Asia News Georgia: Specialist David Beals of the 2-7 Infantry stationed at Ft. Stewart, Georgia has today decided to turn himself in after going AWOL from the Winn Army Hospital following his attempted suicide. Beals plans to return within 72 hours, after taking the time he said was necessary to ponder the few options available to him. Beals, 25, has already served a tour in Iraq. After witnessing firsthand the killing of innocent civilians by U.S. forces he has decided to apply for Conscientious Objector status. He also stated that he would accept an honorable discharge from the Army. Remarks made by his platoon sergeant also played a part in Beals' decision, after being continually told by him that "You guys are gonna die, I don't want to deal with shipping your s**t back when you are coming home in a box." Beals then made a decision, telling his wife Dawn "I would rather die at home with you than go over {to Iraq} with these people and let them get me killed." He added that he wanted to be with his family when he dies, rather than in Iraq with individuals who obviously wanted him dead. After having his stomach pumped and being stabilized at a civilian hospital Beals was transferred to Winn Army Hospital, and there he said his problems began. "After they got me to Winn and my wife walked me up to the ward, they {the doctors} pushed her out and said 'you have to go, you can't see him,' it was the next night I think, before she was allowed to see me" Beals said. He also stated that Dr. Capp, a civilian doctor at Winn had told both himself and Specialist J.R. Burt of 2-7 who had also attempted suicide that they had two choices: "You {Beals and Burt} are going to leave on your own and get on the plane, or you are going to leave in shackles and get on the plane." Beals also said Capp told him that he was malingering to get out of deploying to Iraq. Beals said he went AWOL from the hospital because he feared that they were going to handcuff him and deposit him directly on the plane, not understanding at that time he could refuse deployment. "The doctor made it clear to me that I could get on the plane or go to jail, those were his exact words" he said. Having had several days to think about his plight Beals is now sure he will not deploy, even if it means going to jail. "When I was in Iraq the first time, we were proceeding to an objective and there was a truck on the road with a family in it that was hit by an air strike. The mother and the daughter survived but the father and the son didn't. The son was decapitated, and our first sergeant and his driver were taking pictures of them." Beals said this incident was the catalyst that demonstrated to him the reality of this war. Well aware of the possible consequences he faces for refusing to deploy, Beals is firmly convinced he is doing the right thing. "I won't compromise my beliefs for the Army, come what may" he said. Telephone calls to Army Public Affairs Officer Lt. Colonel Kent and Winn Army Hospital Public Affairs Officer Laurie Kemp requesting comment were unanswered at press time. Southeast Asia News Managing Editor Robert S. Finnegan is an internationally published investigative reporter and former Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Officer. Working recently as a Senior Editor and lead investigator on the Bali Bombings for The Jakarta Post, he may be reached at seanews1 at yahoo.com. Copyright release granted for further publication at additional news outlets. (from Southeast Asia News via GI Special) Territorial Army Soldier Resigns George Solomou, from the London Regiment of the TA, will announce his resignation from the army and detail his reasons. George is resigning in protest at the continuing illegal occupation of Iraq by British and US forces. Speaking to Military Families Against the War today he said 'I believe the occupation of Iraq to be illegal under international law. Were I to be called up I would therefore have no choice but to refuse to go. I am resigning from the army in protest at the war and continued occupation of Iraq'. IRAQ DEMONSTRATIONS: Thousands of Fallujans demonstrate Ash-Sharq al-Awsat Thousands of Fallujans demonstrated on Saturday in front of the main entrance to the largely abandoned city. They demanded that US military forces leave their city and that basic services be restored so that they could return. One eyewitness reporter called in from the scene an estimate of 30,000 demonstrators. [Cole: I saw footage of the demonstration on Arab satellite television, and agree that it was a big, important demonstration, but I'd say it was only a few thousand strong; I suspect that having 30,000 people out by that gate would be a logistics problem--where did their water come from, e.g.] Some of the placards announced that Fallujans refused to live under a military occupation. They presented a list of demands, which included the facilitation of their return to the city, speedy return of services, rebuilding of the devastated city, and monetary compensation to its inhabitants. They also protested the US military demand that returnees show identification papers. Many said that such papers got left behind in the city when they fled. Children marched with placards reading "Where is my Father?" or "Where is my house, you supposed Liberators?" Several demonstrators said that returnees were instructed by the Marines not to eat any food left behind in the city during their absence. I suppose the implication is that the US used chemicals in its assault on the city, which may have poisoned foodstuffs. This allegation does not make any sense to me, however. I don't think the US did use chemicals, or that it would have risked the public relations backlash from doing so. I also can't imagine what chemicals are in the US inventory that would render food inedible. The Fallujah demonstration was big enough to be news, but I couldn't find out anything about it via Western newspapers and wire services. [1/2 Addendum: Kind readers made several suggestions about why the US might have warned against eating food left behind, assuming they did issue such a warning. One reader suggested that cordite and other chemicals released in the course of a high-powered conventional assault on the city could not be good for a person. Another suggested that it had to do with the use of uranium-tipped shells fired by US tanks. Another suggested that US troops as a tactic of war deliberately poisoned food so as to deny it to the guerrillas.) http://www.juancole.com/ (2nd January) Elderly Man Dies When US Troops Fire Tear Gas At Crowd US forces dropped tear gas on the residents of Fallujah on Sunday as they gathered trying to get into their city. As a result, one local Iraqi died. Witnesses told Mafkarat al-Islam that the Americans unleashed the tear gas after the sound of explosions and intermittent clashes were heard early Sunday morning in the ash-Shurtah neighborhood in the north of the city. Hundreds of the people of Fallujah who had been waiting to get into the city became more insistent prompting the Americans to throw sound grenades and tear gas grenades. As a result a 65-year old local man was reportedly killed in an incident also witnessed by the crew of an Arab TV station that claimed to be impartial, but nevertheless failed to report the death due to threats from the Americans that they would not be allowed to cover further events in Fallujah if they broadcast that story. http://www.jihadunspun.net/intheatre_internal.php?article=101171&list=/home.php& Fallujah residents demonstrate in nearby town http://www.alchahed.net/ WAZIRISTAN/BALOCHISTAN: Pipelines sabbed as fighting continues Blast claimed as assertion of tribal sovereignty http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_9-1-2005_pg1_6 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/297ec2a8978216118d7f724a0b185f40.htm IRAN: Workers protest over sale of factory; wear mourning, martyrdom dress http://www.payvand.com/news/04/dec/1208.html Strike at Sanandaj textile factory http://www.labournet.net/world/0501/iran1.html Protest over US detention of Iranian pilgrims http://www.mehrnews.ir/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=140210 EGYPT: Protests target trade deal with Israel http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Africa&ao=176636 Mubarak pres term extension and succession protested http://beirut.indymedia.org/ar/2004/12/2038.shtml Marchers try to deliver aid to Rafah http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5001 Asbestos demonstrations continue http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=11791 Reformers hold demonstrations against Mubarak http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=6590 MOROCCO: Pharmacists strike over new legal code which blames them for crime http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=308286 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j07.shtml JORDAN: Pigs ban peace protest at UN http://www.sierratimes.com/rss/newswire.php?article=/afp/20041231/wl_mideast_afp/iraqusmilitary&time=1104515698&feed=iraq LEBANON: Electric workers strike for welfare support, economic human rights http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=11246 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d24.shtml Hundreds protest against French ban on Lebanese TV station http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=televisionNews&storyID=7115582 YEMEN: MPs stage sit-in after parliament is arbitrarily suspended http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041227-091154-4930r.htm http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=9d0eed727da87747 BAHRAIN: Protesters oppose road scheme which will ruin villages http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=99673&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=27279 http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=99508&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=27277 TURKISH KURDISTAN: Sit-down protest after locals murdered by Turkish oinkers http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=5986 TURKEY: Woman self-immolates in protest against torture cells http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Turkey%20Protest http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/302722.asp Protest against extrajudicial executions http://www.roj.tv/en/news/browse.php?mod=article&opt=view&id=627 Protest against forthcoming EU summit http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=841 20 anti-militarists protest near officers' club against conscription http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303077.html Workers stage hunger strike over politically-motivated withholding of back-pay http://www.roj.tv/en/news/browse.php?mod=article&opt=view&id=632 INDIA: WORKERS' STRUGGLES Sanitation workers strike http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/25/stories/2004122506700400.htm Tamil Nadu coop bank workers demonstrate over pay and aid http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/25/stories/2004122515130300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/25/stories/2004122504230300.htm Demonstrations, strike threat win bonus deal for port workers http://www.itf.org.uk/english/newsonline/december/india_ports.htm http://in.news.yahoo.com/041213/54/2iftt.html Insurance staff demonstrate http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/22/stories/2004122214940300.htm Strike at GlaxoSmithKline factory http://au.news.yahoo.com/041220/3/s97b.html Customs officials strike over discouraging of trade and torture of arrested officials http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/view.php?hidDate=2004-12-13&hidType=NAT&hidRecord=0000000000000000029289 Other customs officers go on hunger strike http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/19/stories/2004121910580300.htm AITUC stages marches across the states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/17/stories/2004121708130300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/17/stories/2004121706670300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/17/stories/2004121716230300.htm Steamer blockade called off as management promises discussions http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/19/stories/2004121914210300.htm Bihar government secretariats paralysed as strike continues http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/959137.cms Boat owners and workers strike and protest over pricing and monsoon ban http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/16/stories/2004121605620300.htm http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/16/stories/2004121601240700.htm Part-time workers boycott interviews, demanding full-time jobs http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?hpFlag=Y&chklogin=N&autono=176692&leftnm=lmnu1&lselect=0&leftindx=1 Gujarat public transport paralysed by "mass leave" protest strike http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1163000,000600030005.htm Tamil Nadu road workers protest and fast, demanding their jobs back Sit-down by nursery workers, demanding payment on time Karnataka plantation workers stage sit-down over pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/awkr-d18.shtml Bus drivers strike over closure of corporation http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=54278 "Mass leave" (strike) disrupts transport in Gujarat, and workers protest privatisation http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1163000,000600030005.htm Hospital workers start indefinite strike Telecom workers demonstrate http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j22.shtml Insurance workers strike for pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/labo-d28.shtml 70,000 power workers stage indefinite strike against privatisation http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j15.shtml Bank workers take action over closures, unpaid salaries Sanitation workers strike over police assault http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j03.shtml Bihar municipal strike ends after 44 days http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=63353 Tamil Nadu powerloom strike http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/22/stories/2005012204340600.htm Building inspectors strike over arrests of colleagues http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=114872 Railway hunger strike called off after four days due to success http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/21/stories/2005012105100400.htm http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/14/stories/2005011407610400.htm Gorakhpur junior doctors strike for timely payments and better working conditions http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=60787 Delhi transport workers hold sit-in http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/21/stories/2005012118590300.htm Port terminal workers at Chennai strike to demand compensation for the family of a worker killed at work http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/20/stories/2005012012830500.htm Andhra Pradesh teachers stage sit-in for pay parity http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/20/stories/2005012003800300.htm Power workers strike against privatisation http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/13/stories/2005011310370500.htm http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/11/stories/2005011104260500.htm Panchayat workers continue occupation http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/06/stories/2005010608990500.htm Flash strike at Kakinada port http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/03/stories/2005010304890500.htm INDIA: SMALL PRODUCERS Boatmen blockade river over jetty withdrawal, and win concessions http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=53068 Brick-makers protest over ash-mixing rules http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=112029 E-protest by e-workers and e-professionals over arrest of auction site owner http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/966342.cms INDIA: STUDENT PROTESTS Students stage hunger strike over fee hikes and teacher sacking http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=111112 Students and teachers protest over speeding lorries near college http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/965906.cms INDIA: ANTI-CAPITALIST & ANTI-CORPORATE PROTESTS Protest against WTO and new patent laws http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/19174.asp http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=53651 http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/06/stories/2005010605971100.htm Road blockade in Tamil Nadu to demand water provision http://newstodaynet.com/20dec/cr4.htm Coca-Cola protest opens New Year http://india.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/210007.shtml Opposition activists protest mine deal http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1156966,000900030010.htm http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=48512 INDIA: WOMEN Women's march to parliament makes history http://india.indymedia.org/en/2004/12/209961.shtml INDIA: MISCELLANEOUS PROTESTS "Disciplined" village rejects election, pre-elects reps in protest re development http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1167533,0015002100000001.htm Protests over petrol prices - government vehicles trashed http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=58726 Bikers protest helmet rule http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/january/102146.htm INDIA: TSUNAMI-RELATED PRORESRS Tsunami victims protest at not receiving promised aid Protests occur in coastal regions of India and on the Andaman and Nicobar islands In one incident, islanders took an official hostage http://newstodaynet.com/02JAN/ss2.HTM http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/02/stories/2005010206380100.htm http://www.guardian.co.uk/tsunami/story/0,15671,1382441,00.html http://newstodaynet.com/29DEC/SS4.HTM Kerala villagers protest coffin shortage after tsunami http://www.keralaonline.com/keralanews.asp?folder=Keralanews&file=7_4839.xml http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=51414 Fishermen protest, claim tsunami relief not received http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=55038 INDIA: REPRESSION RESISTANCE Prison resistance in Tamil Nadu http://www.peoplesmarch.com/archives/2005/jan2k5/tamilnadu.htm Fake encounters and killings protested in Andhra Pradesh http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Naxalviolence&slug=TRS+protest+'fake+encounters'+in+Andhra&id=67214&callid=1&category=National INDIA: TRIBAL AND MINORITY STRUGGLES Muslims protest land encroachment http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/975873.cms Aboriginal tribals protest extension of scheduled tribes list http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=48563 Tribes gather to discuss indigenous rights http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/011605J.shtml ORISSA Tribals demand end to repression Statesman News Service BHUBANESWAR, Dec. 17. - Hundreds of tribals in their traditional dress held a rally near the state Assembly today under the banner of Jana Pratirodh Manch, a pro-Naxalite organisation, demanding a complete halt to the repressive measures on struggling people. It may be noted that this was the second rally organised by pro-Naxalites, followed by a massive rally organised by Daman Pratirodh Manch, another pro-Naxalite body, on 14 September. Leaders of Jana Pratirodh Manch held the rally today in protest against the alleged repression on the struggling people. Stating that they are fighting for peoples' rights in a democratic manner, the JPM leaders regretted that the government instead of understanding the plight of the poor and solving their problems, threatened them with gun. "If the government wants to deal with us in this way, we are prepared to face it," retorted Manch president, Mr D Venkat Rao. Dr Prem Pati, president of Bahujan Bama Shakti, called upon the workers to fight relentlessly for the suffering and struggling masses. Flaying the government's "anti-people" policies, the Manch leaders alleged that the government was throwing the poor people out of their homes and hearths in the name of industrialization without providing them any alternative for their sustenance. Mr GR Ambedkar, secretariat member of Bahujan Bama Shakti, lamented that the state was evicting the tribals from forests while its Andhra Pradesh counterpart was providing shelter to them. Later, a three-member delegation, comprising president of Jana Pratirodh Manch, Mr D Venkat Rao, secretary, Mr B Thatoi and president of Dalit Adivasi Ekta Manch, Mr Pratap Rao met the Mr Navin Patnaik and presented an eight-point charter of demands. The major demands included halting repression and eviction of tribals from forests, land right to tribals, waiver of all agricultural loans to small and marginal farmers, compensation and free house to the super cyclone-affected people. On the outcome of the meeting, Mr Thatoi said he had assured to look into their demands. http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=63275 ASSAM: Protest against wave of ULFA attacks on civilians http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=49216 KASHMIR: Protests after encounter killings http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_23-12-2004_pg7_4 Separatists protest against forthcoming polls http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=61486&cat=India http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=59938 http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=61623 PAKISTAN: Anti-imperialist rally blocks traffic The rally was organised around the slogans "Down with imperialism!", "Workers of the world unite!", "No to WTO/Bush-Musharraf!", "No to imperialist globalisation!" and "An injury to one is an injury to all". http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2004/610/610p22.htm Water workers protest against privatisation http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_30-12-2004_pg7_15 "Black Day" observed; protests against Musharraf http://thepakistaninewspaper.com/news_detail.php?id=1629 http://www.manoramaonline.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=manorama/MmArticle/CommonFullStory&c=MmArticle&cid=1104481590118&channel=News&p=1002194839100&count=7 Police round up activists, but fail to prevent protests against Musharraf in Gujrat http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-1-2005_pg7_31 Anti-privatisation demos continue http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5551 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=4976 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j03.shtml News workers march for promised wage increases http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j15.shtml Journalists hold sit-down strike and call for pay increase Sugar workers demonstrate for severance pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j08.shtml Chitral residents protest checkpoints http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-1-2005_pg7_41 MMA protests against Musharraf continue http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=89647 Religious Fundamentalist Attack JAC rally Today, on 11th January, the religious fundamentalist groups attacked the Joint Action Committee For Peoples Rally on religious column in front of Lahore Press Club; three were injured including a journalist from Daily Pakistan. Yousaf Baluch chairman National Trade Union Federation and Tasneem from AGHS also got minor injuries. JAC has submitted an application for the registration of the case against the leaders of Mutehida Tulaba Mahaz, a joint student front of Jamaati Islami, Muslim League and Peoples Party students groups. When JAC activists reached at Lahore Press Club for the rally, they found some religious fundamentalist group-raising slogan in favor of the religious column in the passport. We raised slogans against it. There were both groups chanting slogans next to each other. Police tried to separate the both but failed. But when confronted in the same coin, the religious group left the place and while going back, a small group threw stones and it hit the three leaving a serious wound in the forehead of Yaseen Malik, a local journalist. We tried to catch the culprits but they ran away. It was a cowardly act by the fanatics who were unable to harass us by their presence. Astonishingly, before the incident, main leaders of PPP like Muneer Ahmed Khan and Muslim League N were also sitting side by side with religious fundamentalists students to lean their support for their cause. (from CMKP list) BANGLADESH: Rickshaw drivers protest over ban on use of a route http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/view.php?hidDate=2004-12-19&hidType=NAT&hidRecord=0000000000000000029878 http://www.bangladesh-web.com/news/view.php?hidDate=2004-12-19&hidType=LOC&hidRecord=0000000000000000029856 Mass opposition protests against government http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=100223&Sn=WORL&IssueID=27286 Pakistani refugees stranded for three decades protest, stage hunger strike http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=49291 Garment workers mark end of preferential trade deal with mass demo http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/publish/article_14996.shtml SRI LANKA: Tsunami victims protest over substandard food aid http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=13815 Massive opposition protest against political victimisation http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=13683 Tamils form human chain to call for peace talks http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=13672 Workers at two estates take action over unpaid wages http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j22.shtml Airport workers protest for pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/labo-d28.shtml Teachers boycott exams over abolition of hardship allowance Fired bus workers stage hunger strike demanding reinstatement Valuation staff demonstrate over salary anomalies http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/awkr-d18.shtml Estate workers down tools to protest misuse of tsunami aid http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=14016 TAMIL EELAM: Hundreds protest Annan's decision not to visit the area http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/01/09/hundreds_protest_annan_move_in_sri_lanka/ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1105240988164 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_10-1-2005_pg4_22 http://www.newindpress.com/coastalcalamity/News.asp?Topic=-367&Title=&ID=IEL20050109114508&nDate=&Sub=&Cat= NEPAL: Maoists bomb peace march, kill one http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=24974 ANNFSU organizes rally to pressurize govt NUWAKOT, Dec 16 (PR) - All Nepal National Free Students' Union (ANNFSU), the student wing of the ruling CPN-UML, organized a huge rally here in the district headquarters, Bidur, Thursday in order to pressurize the government to initiate dialogues with the Maoists. Hundreds of locals, along with various social organizations in the district, took part in the rally. Later, the rally converged into a mass meeting at Trishuli. http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=25969 Villagers protest against Nepalese Army human rights abuses http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=26048 School students protest against Maoist forced recruitment of children http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=26824 Massive peace march in Kathmandu http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=27047 Clashes after Maoists attack human rights protest http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa3qzpda6a9a9va.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20041226 Anti-Maoist rally in Baglung http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=27157 General strike by traders to protest police repression of festival http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sfqzpda7Wa1ta.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20050102 Taxi drivers stage blockade http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/pageloader.php?file=2004/12/19/editorial/editorial2 Farmers pour milk on roads to protest debilitating Maoist military blockade http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/pageloader.php?file=2004/12/26/topstories/main8 Baglung anti-Maoist demos continue http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=27948 Nawalparashi locals clash with Maoists http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aNPata0scqzpda8Va0wa.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&dtSiteDate=20050116&sImageFileName= Students protest fuel price rises http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sjqzpda7a9a1ta.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20050111 Peace rally in Dhangadhi Thousands of people took part in a peace rally in Dhangadhi, the district headquarters of Kailali, in far-western region Sunday, calling upon the government and rebels to give up violence and resume peace talks. People from all walks of life including farmers, teachers, students, businessmen and women took part in the rally enthusiastically, reports said. Mid- and Far-western regions of Nepal are one of the highly affected areas from the nine-year-old insurgency. The rally was organised jointly by 'Sudur Paschim Nagarik Samaj' and 'Integrated Development Society, Kailali-two Dhangadhi-based NGOs. neaplnews.com by Dec 19 04 http://www.nepalnews.com/ Teachers on strike NEPALGUNJ: The Nepal Teachers' Union, Jajarkot, has decided to call an indefinite educational strike and close all the schools in the district from Friday to protest the forced mobilisation of teachers and students by the Maoists. Secretary of the union, Achyut Prasad Sharma, said a meeting of the teachers decided to close the schools after the Maoists asked the teachers to attend their training, asked them to take part in the construction of trenches and bunkers and forced them to implement Maoists' education calendar and curricula. - HNS http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aNPata0scqzpda7Ta0wa.axamal&folder=aNPataiaoanaaal&Name=National&dtSiteDate=20041226&sImageFileName= Maoist students close down schools, colleges in eastern region Most of schools and colleges in the eastern Mechi and Koshi zones were closed down Tuesday as the Maoist student wing, the All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary), announced a two-week-long strike in educational institutions in urban centres. Reports said that the educational activities in urban centres such as Dharan, Itahari, Damak, Dhulabari, Damak, Ilam Bazaar and several other places could not take place today. The ANNISU-R called the strikes in protest of arrests and killings its leaders and cadres in recent times. The strikes will be in effect until February 1. An indefinite bandh (general strike) is already in place in Taplejung district since last few days. Meanwhile, the Private and Boarding Schools' Organisation of Nepal (PABSON) and local human rights groups have asked the Maoist students to immediately call off the strikes in view of the nearing SLC sent-up exams. nepalnews.com mbk Jan 18 05 http://www.nepalnews.com/ Maoist inmates at Sundarijal jail start hunger strike Seventeen Maoist detainees, including a woman, started relay hunger strikes from Saturday at Sundarijal detention center in Kathmandu demanding better facilities. The inmates have demanded that they be allowed to meet their family members and relatives seven days a week and be given newspapers to read. One of the key demands includes the removal of the red corner notice and the terrorist tag on the Maoist party. Recently, the inmates had in a memorandum sent to the prime minister through the jailer had made the demands, warning of strikes. They said they would soon launch serious protests to pressure the government to meet their demands. nepalnews.com mbk Jan 08 05 http://www.nepalnews.com/ CHINA: Imprisonment of protesting workers questioned http://www.china-labour.org.hk/iso/article.adp?article_id=6072 http://www.china-labour.org.hk/iso/news_item.adp?news_id=3810 Workers strike at Phillips plant http://www.pacificepoch.com/newsstories?id=18968_0_5_0_M Toyland workers strike new deal as labour shortages bite http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1379453,00.html Sweatshops face strikes, protests and shortages http://www.asianlabour.org/archives/003311.php#more Women workers at WalMart supplier strike for the right to form a union http://www.china-labour.org.hk/iso/news_item.adp?news_id=3790 http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=4803 http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6901/690153.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/labo-d28.shtml Retail workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j22.shtml Long article on growing social unrest in China http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/30/news/china.html HONG KONG: Thousands march for democracy http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/128754/1/.html http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/128775/1/.html TAIWAN: Solidarity organised to support "rice bomber" http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/12/18/2003215593 Protesters gather to oppose anti-union law http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/01/21/2003220294 Teachers demanding union rights clash with opponents near parliament http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?action=cna&cnaid=6205 THAILAND: Government bank workers strike and demonstrate http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j08.shtml Angry protests at coal conference http://allafrica.com/stories/200501241165.html Tsunami victims' relatives protest removal of bodies, and win http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1287356.htm http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asiapacific/detail.asp?GRP=C&id=57305 MALAYSIA: Exiles from Myanmar (Burma) hold protest at embassy - arrested by Malaysian cops http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-1-2005_pg4_17 Man arrested while protesting against company http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=32204 Locals on hunger strike over power shortages http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/32716 http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/32647 PHILLIPINES: Government workers protest against moving of office http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/zam/2005/01/12/news/8t.gov.t.workers.protest.over.transfer.of.regional.office.html Union-busting at mills http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=2731&view_records=1&ww=1&en=1#Philippines Marchers commemmorate massacre of farmers http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=24993 KOREA: Rail workers stage massive actions after union-busting court ruling http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/labo-d28.shtml LG Caltex takes reprisals against strikers http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200412/24/200412240048075409900090409041.html STRUGGLE REPORT 13/12/04: Protest camp wound up Protesters join striking cement workers at rally Peace protest fizzles; anti-NSL protest staged instead Labour rights rally http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2068.php 20/12/04: Rally against anti-terror law Iraq event Migrant workers solidarity rally http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2144.php 28/12/04: Sit-down events by migrant rights and anti-war groups http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2205.php 01/01/05 Rally against National Security Law More events organised to target social exclusion Jeong-Rib social centre occupation continues Anti-war rally Rally for irregular workers Students march on parliament in anti-war protest and clash with cops http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/2238.php NORTH KOREA: First signs of protest creep out - anti-regime graffiti http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5728 Picture and story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/18/wkor18.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/01/18/ixportal.html CAMBODIA: Garment workers stage sit-in at PM's house; attacked by cops http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1137&mode=&order=0 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BKK132220.htm http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1272143.htm PHILLIPINES: Food firm strikers defy picket ban http://www.thefreeman.com/local/index.php?fullstory=1&issue=articles_20041215&id=25796 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/awkr-d18.shtml Text revolt imminent over VAT rise http://qc.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/2175.php Catholic hostel workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/awkr-d18.shtml Locals blockade factory access, closing three factories, over local recruitment http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/awkr-d18.shtml Lockout at sugar factory on Negros island http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j15.shtml PHILLIPINES: FOOD NOT BOMBS (from Manila Indymedia) For the daring belongs the future : the recent FNB Activity in Metro Manila : the last in 2004 by Crossposting from anti-bureaucratic ::imc-aktivist At the forefront of grassroots autonomous initiativ in manila: Food Not Bombs which was held dis morning in Bonifacio plaza. Fnb an explicitly in existent for more than 10 years celebrates it's last activity in 2004.For those who are boxed in ideologikaL platforms: FNB paved an underground anti-state movement in the lokal counter-kulture [mind the, self proclaimed] thru the different kolektivs, and to put it bluntly drawing the line between the rethorics & direct democracy. As N4S put it: "We Permit people of ideologies to define anarchy rather than bring our views to the masses and provide models to show the contrary.We permit corporations not to only lay-off workers while cutting benefits, but to poison the air n water to boot & allow them to kill our planet.We permit the police, the armies,the politicians, to terrorize whatever sector of the population.."We create an Anarchist moment in which people,food,justice,housing are important than profit,bombs property & dicipline.We respond to death with life.Conformity with resistance.Obedience with dances.Labor with carnivals.Music with noize" Revolutionary solidarity by Direct Action : We act lokally,& we are everywhere.Even in the hype of tragic calamities in the nation & abroad- kolektivs are working autonomously to contribute & not2 exploit-as for liberal media[open pub one's included] we provide the variation between solution & mere theory-react-ionary alone. PHILLIPINES/JAPAN: Protest at embassy over new restrictions on migrant workers http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=feature&id=814 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Tue Jan 25 13:55:52 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 21:55:52 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades part 3 (Pacific, Caribbean, Africa, S.America, Central America) Message-ID: <0ac701c50328$a4fac440$3dc0ff3e@WOL> INDONESIA: Women?s Day observed after year of violence The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Bandung/Semarang/Makassar [23 December 004] Rallies demanding gender equality and an end to violence against women marked the commemoration of Women?s Day across the nation on Wednesday. In its statement to mark the national day, Jakarta-based Mitra Perempuan women?s crisis center said that this year it recorded more cases of violence against women than the previous years. To make it worse, most of the cases of violence against women were perpetrated by husbands or partners. Since January the crisis center has received reports of 329 cases of violence against women, 81.82 percent of them were filed against husbands. Rita Serena Kolibonso, the director of the crisis center, said the nongovernmental organization?s next activities would focus on protection of victims. She also underlined the need for intensive efforts to disseminate information on regulations that should protect women from acts of violence. Following mounting public pressure on the legislature and the government, the House of Representatives endorsed this year the domestic violence bill. Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri enacted the law. Rallies took place in Jakarta, Bandung (West Java), Semarang (Central Java), Makassar (South Sulawesi) and some other towns across the country. Those who took to streets in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Makassar were members of the Indonesian Hizbut Tahrir Muslim group. They demanded that the government pay more attention to the efforts to improve the quality of women. "The role of women in the country has not reached the maximum level. Indeed, women are marginalized in the country," said Ratih, one of the protesters in Bandung. She expressed concern of the public?s unawareness of the role of housewives, which she said had led to the decreasing quality of the Indonesian human resources. In its latest human development index report, the United Nations Development Program placed Indonesia 110th out of 173 countries surveyed. In Semarang, around 50 mothers staged a rally, demanding termination of violence against women. They also urged television channels to stop programs they considered obscene, which they said would lead to moral decadence. The mothers marched from Baiturrahman Mosque to the provincial legislature building. In Makassar, women?s activists rallied outside the provincial legislature and near the gate of the Reformasi tollroad. Students from the Islamic Students Association (HMI) joined the rally. They presented flowers to motorists and public transportation passengers during the rally. In Jakarta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono observed Women?s Day at the State Palace, reiterating his objection to TV programs that frequently displayed women?s navels. TITLE: Workers at 13 airport plan massive strike on January 21 SOURCE: Jakarta Post - January 14, 2005 Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta -- Airport workers in 13 cities are threatening to strike over the upcoming long weekend in protest against the government's attempt to take over the management of their old-age pension fund. State airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I labor union chairwoman Ice Yulinar told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the workers had agreed to stage a massive protest from January 18 to January 20 before going on strike on January 21. They will abort the plan to strike if the government drops its intention to take over the fund's management as workers fear abuses. "We had originally planned to strike on Tuesday, but we canceled due to the natural disaster in Aceh. We only want the government to stop its intervention," she said. On January 21, all air traffic controllers at the 13 airports will notify all airplanes that they will not be able land or take off from the airports. Should that happen, airline companies may suffer billions of rupiah in losses as there will be no flights to the 13 destinations -- which include resort island Bali and tourist destinations Yogyakarta and Mataram on Lombok island-- while Indonesians celebrate Idul Adha (Islamic Day of Sacrifice) holiday on January 21. Angkasa Pura workers have protested since the middle of last year when the company's new management and a number of officials from the Office of the State Minister of State Enterprises planned to transfer the workers' old-age pension fund - payments for which are deducted from employees' monthly salaries - from the worker's foundation to a private insurance firm. The workers are concerned that the management and officials may embezzle the funds during the transfer due to the alluring amount of Rp 100 billion (US$11.1 million). They also argued that the insurance firm had asked for a high fee to manage the funds, reaching 30 percent of the total funds managed, thus reducing the amount of proceeds to be received by the workers. Ice said the workers had discussed the problem with Ferdinand Nainggolan, deputy state minister of state enterprises for logistics and tourism, and his assistant Bonar Manurung, but to no avail. Both officials insisted that the workers accept the plan. Neither Ferdinand nor Bonar could be reached for comment. "There is no problem with the workers. It is the government officials and the management who have exacerbated the case. We are right to be suspicious of their plan since they keep trying to force the workers to accept it," said Ice. She was hopeful that State Minister of State Enterprises Sugiharto would be willing to help settle the problem. TITLE: Workers threaten strike if government hands company to Cemex SOURCE: Jakarta Post - January 14, 2005 Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta -- The labor union of state-controlled cement producer PT Semen Gresik (SG) will launch a massive strike if the government decides to hand over the company's Tuban, Java plants to Mexican cement giant Cemex SA. The decision is one of six options being discussed by the government to solve the ongoing contract dispute with the Mexican company over its investment in SG. The labor union assembly chairman Zubeir Halim said the strike had already been planned because the workers fear that "foreigners would dominate the cement market in Java, Bali and Kalimantan", giving them the power to control the price of the commodity. "The Tuban plants supply 80 percent of market demand in Java, Bali and Kalimantan. We just can't stand to lose them," he told the House of Representatives' Commission VI for industry and trade on Thursday. The hearing was also attended by SG's management team and a number of noted councillors from Gresik and Tuban, as well as local clerics and other prominent figures. Zubeir said future cement price could easily escalate as the government could no longer use Gresik to balance pressure for price increases launched by other cement firms already controlled by foreigners. Tuban councillor Nur Aziz claimed the residents in his district would also support and get involved in the protesting, unless the government dropped the option to sell the Tuban plants to Cemex. "Tuban and Gresik councillors will also support the strike. If the government finally decides to sell the Tuban plants to Cemex, we will 'disturb' the operation of the company by all means," he warned. The Gresik, East Java-based SG has three cement plants in Tuban, east of Surabaya, with an installed capacity of 7.5 million tons per year. SG plants in Gresik can no longer produce cement due to raw material shortages. Sources at the Office of the State Minister of State Enterprises revealed that the option to buy the Tuban plants would likely be agreed upon by Cemex to settle its investment dispute with the government. Despite possible asset losses, the government will still be able to retain majority control in SG, with the proceeds from selling the plants used to establish new cement plants in East Java. However, SG marketing director Hasan Baraja reminded the hearing that setting up and operating a new cement plant would not be easy as it would take years for completion and eventual revenues. "The option to sell the Tuban plants is not strategic and will cause long-term problems for SG's business," said Hasan. The Cemex dispute emerged after the management of Gresik's subsidiary PT Semen Padang and local politicians opposed an option that allows Cemex to increase its shares in Gresik to a majority stake as stipulated by a legal investment contract in 1998. Cemex took the case to the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), demanding the Indonesian government to pay damages for not upholding its contractual obligations. However, Cemex agreed to postpone the hearing at ICSID earlier this week, pending the completion of out-of-court settlement negotiations. Elsewhere, SG independent commissioner Tjuk Sukiadi, demanded that SG management and the government be transparent on the options being offered in the negotiations to prevent any irregularities in the deal. "We are suspicious that there is something "fishy" going on in the negotiations between the government and Cemex due to the lack of transparency during the process. We must be allowed to monitor them to prevent state losses," said Tjuk. SG shares ended lower by Rp 1,500 to Rp 17,750 on the Jakarta Stock Exchange on Thursday. Residents protest garbage dump BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Hundreds of residents of West Telukbetung blocked off access to the local dump over the weekend to protest what they said was pollution caused by the dump. The residents demanded the city administration relocate the dump away from their neighborhood after a meeting with Mayor Achmad Yulizar on Friday ended without resolving the issue. Residents said they would maintain the roadblocks until an amicable solution was found. Another meeting between residents and officials is scheduled for Dec. 28. The presence of the dump has angered residents, who say it causes air and water pollution. Residents staged a week-long protest against the dump in August. That protest ended after the city administration promised to provide free medical care for residents suffering from a variety of illnesses allegedly caused by the presence of the dump. -- JP PRD demonstrates against fuel price increases in Jakarta Tempo Interactive - December 20, 2004 Ramidi, Jakarta - Around 100 demonstrators from the People's Democratic Party (PRD) held a demonstration in front of the State Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat on Monday December 20. The action which began at 11am was protesting proposed fuel price increases which they consider will burden ordinary people. The demonstrators who were carrying PRD flags and posters took up almost a whole section of Jalan Medan Merdeka and as a result created a traffic jam. According to the action coordinator, Sudiarto, as well as the demonstration at the State Palace, simultaneous actions are also being held in a number of other cities. Sudiarto said that they disagree with the policy of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration to increase fuel prices on the grounds of saving money from the state budget. "We view these increases as actually being made to pay off the debt and interest obligations for the re-capitalisation of the banking industry. What is obvious is that much of these funds are taken advantage for things which are unimportant such as allowances for state officials and corruption", said Sudiarto. The fuel price increases he said are of concern because they will trigger price rises while at the same time people's purchasing power remains low. "On the other hand, demands for [an adequate] regional minimum wage have also gone unheeded". According to Sudiarto, the action was purposefully held at the State Palace because it is a symbol of the government of President Yudhoyono and Vice-president Jusuf Kalla. He said that in fact if Yudhoyono wants to work hard and consistently to serve the interests of the people there are many other cost saving measures which could be used. Firstly by setting a separate price level for vehicles which consume large amounts of fuel for the middle- and upper-classes, without having to increase the price of fuel for other vehicles. Secondly by prioritising conserving the consumption of fuel in stages by limiting the number of vehicles and consumption of fuel for the middle- and upper-classes though regulations, for example by limiting additional private vehicle though increasing the tariff on imported cars. With regard to the Yudhoyono government's plans, the PRD said Sudiarto is of the view that if Yudhoyono increases the price of fuel the PRD will be calling on the Indonesian people to unite to bring down the government. It is better if the Yudhoyono administration is replaced with a new government, that is a united government of the people. This united government of the people would represent a unification of all classes, groups, social organisations and individuals who are pro-democracy and pro-people. This government he said, would have a different approach to overcoming the problem of saving money from the budget including ending foreign debt payments for the benefit of ordinary people, canceling bank re-capitalisation obligations, arresting and trying and seizing the assets of corrupters, reducing budget expenditure by prioritising the reduction of allowances, state officials wages and the purchase of goods for the needs of the bureaucracy which are unnecessary. They would also reduce the military budget by abolishing Kodam, Korem, Kodim, Koramil and Babinsa(1) and end further arms purchases, nationalise the business assets of the TNI (armed forces) and police, repeal the civil emergency in Aceh and restart negotiations with the Free Aceh Movement. The 5 trillion rupiah from the state budget which was used during the state of martial law and civil emergency can be used to subsidise fuel prices. In order to build this united government of the people, in its pamphlet the PRD calls for all of the Indonesian people, students, teachers, drivers, owners of motorcycles, fisherpeople and high-school students to unite to form anti-price increase committees in every Indonesian city as a way to resist fuel price increases. They also call for all elements of society to unite and blockade government offices and occupy petrol stations and force them to sell fuel at the old price. The action which was closely guarded by scores of police officers dispersed at around 1pm. Notes: 1. The TNI's territorial command structure mandates the deployment of military command posts and detachments at all levels of the civil administration: provincial, district, sub- district and village. This structure provides the organisational framework for the TNI to act as a political security force at all levels of society. The five respective commands are: Kodam - Komando Daerah Militer, Regional Military Command; Korem - Komando Resort Militer, Military Command at a level below the residency; Kodim - Komando Distrik Militer, District Military Command; Koramil - Komando Rayon Militer, Sub-District Military Command (Kecamatan) level and; Babinsa - Bintara Pembina Desa, Noncommissioned military officer posted in villages and wards and affiliated with the civilian administration. [Translated by James Balowski.] =================^======================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^======================================== Workers' Alliance demonstrates over wages and fuelprice hikes Tempo Interactive - December 21, 2004 Ramidi, Jakarta - Around 500 members of the United Workers' Alliance held an action in front of the State Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat on Tuesday December 21 to protest against wage policies and fuel price increases. The hundreds of demonstrators, who represent a grouping of organisations including the Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), FSPTSK, the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Forum (FSPMI), the Indonesian Association of Trade Workers (ASPEK), the Indonesian Trade Union Action Committee (KASBI), FSPAR, PPMI, YBMI, the People's Democratic Party (PRD) and the Jabotabek Trade Union (SBJ), took up part of the Jalan Medan Merdeka road resulting in a traffic jam. The hundreds of protesters who had been demonstrating since 11am, as well as bringing a pickup truck which wascomplete with a sound system also brought flags and posters. According to one of the action coordinators, Lukman Hakim, they represent a grouping of worker organisations who reject the Jakarta Provincial Minimum Wage being set at 711,843 rupiah per month. "We demand a Jakarta Provincial Minimum Wage of 759,000 in accordance with the results of the Basic Cost of Living survey", said Hakim. In addition to this, they are also rejecting fuel price increases because they will have a adverse impact on workers and purchasing power of the poor. According to Hakim, they have also declared that the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice-president Jusuf Kalla lied about their promises for reform. This has been proven by the policy to increase fuel prices and maintaining cheap wages, while the big-time corrupters who remain free should be arrested and their assets seized to cover the fuel subsidy. Starting as of this moment, they are demanding that Yudhoyono form a government which is clean, democratic, independent and pro-people. As well as calling for immediate wage increases, in order to confront the problem the Workers' Alliance is proposing cost saving measures such as abolishing invisible payments for industry which according to research by Institutefor the Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) areas high as 5-20 per cent. "Meanwhile to pay workers wages they are only spending 7 per cent of production costs", he said. In order to avoid fuel price increases, the alliance is offering a way out, by seizing the assets of the corrupters and withdrawing funds for the re-capitalisation of the banking industry. The other solution is that theYudhoyono government have the courage to refuse to pay the foreign debt until such a time as ordinary people achieve an appropriate standard of living. The demonstration began in front of the Indosat building then moved of towards the offices of the Jakarta governor on Jalan Medan Merdeka Timor after which they held long-march to the State Palace. Traffic conditions on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat were congested and the sound of car horns of vehicles stuck in the traffic jam blendewith the sound of speeches from the demonstrators sound system. [Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.] International Human Rights Day commemorated in Yogyakarta Detik.com - December 10, 2004 Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta - Commemorating International Human Rights Day, on Friday December 10 students and activists in Yogyakarta, Central Java, held a long march carrying four biers and photographs of recently murdered human rights defender Munir. Written on each of the respective biers was "Marsinah", "Kedung Ombo", "The people of Aceh" and "The people of Papua". The demonstrators called on the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to keep its promise to uphold human rights. The action was followed by 100 or so Papuan and Acehnese students from Aceh-Papua Solidarity (Solidaritas Aceh-Papua, SAP) and demonstrators from the United Alliance for Human Rights. The long-march, which started at 9am at the Gajah Mada University roundabout, headed towards the central post office intersection on Jalan Senopati. At around 10.50am they had already reach Jalan Malioboro. "In commemorating this International Human Rights Day, we want to declare that violence is still being practiced in Aceh and Papua by the SBY government", said Yogyakarta SAP spokesperson Hilman Afriyandi. SAP is also calling on President Yudhoyono's to fulfil his commitment during his election campaign when he said that the conflicts in Aceh and Papua would be resolved justly, peacefully, democratically and without more blood being spilled. "But the reality is the exact opposite. The facts in Papua are that violence is still occurring such as the Puncak Jaya and Abepura cases. In Aceh meanwhile, when the six month period of civil emergency ended on November 18, 2004, it was actually extended", asserted Afriyandi. SAP he continued does not wish for any more violence to occur in Aceh and Papua which can be brought about by the end to the military operation and the withdrawal of all organic and non-organic troops. "We remind [the government] that the human rights situation in Indonesia is still of great concern and far from expectations. We also demand that the government fully investigate the case of Munir's death and notify the public of all developments in the investigation of the case", said Afriyandi. An activist from the United Alliance for Human Rights named Syamsul Nurseha reminded demonstrators that the Yudhoyono government promised to uphold human rights and eliminate corruption in its first 100 days in office and this must be made a reality immediately. "And there should no longer be any further use of violence", he said. (sss) [Translated by James Balowski.] Budi Hartadi, Surabaya - Around 300 activists from a number of groups in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya held an action in front of the Grahadi Building and at the grounds of the provincial parliament on Friday December 10 to commemorate International Human Rights Day. Arriving in waves between 11am and 2pm, during the action they criticised the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for not being serious about investigating human rights cases. This has been proven by the fact that up until now it has yet to fully investigate the perpetrators of human rights violations which have occurred in Aceh, Maluku, Tanjung Priok and Bojong Bogor. The also expressed regret over the president's position of not wanting to fully investigate the death of human rights activist Munir. They brought a number of posters and banners to the action which were filled with condemnations of a government which does not want investigate human rights violators. Demonstrators brought an effigy of a corpse wrapped in a shroud as a symbol of the death of democracy in Indonesia. They also placed wreaths of flowers and carried posters of Munir while reading prayers and poetry.(jon) [Translated by James Balowski.] West Java workers want more pay (from Jakarta post) National News - December 16, 2004 Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung Thousands of West Java factory workers, grouped under the National Workers Union (SPN), staged a five hour protest on Wednesday outside the West Java governor's office, demanding that the governor raise the minimum wage in the province. The protesters damaged the gate of the governor's office but their attempts to occupy the office were thwarted by a police cordon of hundreds of police personnel. After a scuffle with police personnel, several representatives of the workers were allowed to talk with government officials and councillors in the West Java Provincial Legislative Council building, which is next to the governor's office. In the meeting, the workers demanded that West Java Governor Danny Setiawan set a single minimum wage that applies in all cities in West Java. They urged the government to set a minimum wage at least Rp 600,000 a month in every city in the province. They also said that there was currently a discrepancy among cities in the province in term of the minimum wage. For 2005, the minimum wage in Ciamis and Banjar regencies is set at Rp 408,500, the lowest minimum wage in the province. In stark contrast, the highest is in Bekasi, where a worker will get minimum wage of Rp 710,000 a month next year. "We demand that there be no great discrepancy between one city and another, because the cost of living among cities in West Java is quite similar," said Titin, a factory worker in Bandung municipality. In the meeting, councillor Imas Masitoh promised workers that the provincial council would press the provincial government to revoke a gubernatorial decree that set the minimum wage for 2005 and that the governor should grant a higher minimum wage for workers. Meanwhile, the head of the manpower office at the provincial administration, Wahyumijaya, said in the meeting that the decree was final. WEST PAPUA MASS PROTEST IN JAYAPURA - WEST PAPUA TODAY FOLLOWING THE PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY A COALITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, CHURCH AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS YESTERDAY (16 DEC) ON THE DETERIORATING SITUATION OF THE HIGHLANDS OF WEST PAPUA, TODAY (FRIDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2004) MORE THAN 500 WEST PAPUANS OCCUPAYING THE WEST PAPUAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN JAYAPURA, THE CAPITAL OF WEST PAPUA. THE PROTEST HAS STARTED AT 10.00 AM (EASTERN INDONESIA TIME) THIS MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THEIR DEMANDS ARE FULFILLED. THE PROTEST THIS TIME FOCUSING ON THE DETERIORTING SITUATION IN THE HIGHLANDS OF WEST PAPUA WHERE INDONESIAN MILITARY IS NOW LAUNCHING A MASSIVE MILITARY OPERATION THAT HAVE RESULTED IN DOSENS OF ORDINARY CIVILIANS KILLED, MORE THAN 6000 PEOPLE DISPLACED AND UNHELPED AS THE MILITARY BLOCK ANY HUMANITARIAN ASSISSTANCE. TWENTY THREE PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM CHILDREN AND WOMEN HAD DIED FROM STARVATION. THEY URGE " UNLESS THE INDONESIAN PRESIDENT SUSILO BAMBANG YUDOYONO STOPS MILITARY OPERATION IN THE HIGHLANDS THE WEST PAPUAN PEOPLE WILL BAR HIS VISIT TO WEST PAPUA DURING THE CHRISTMAS TIME". THE MASS PROTEST ORGANIZED BY STUDENT ACTIVISTS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHURCH ORGANISATIONS IN WEST PAPUA. Radio New Zealand International Papuan protestors present plea calling for Jakarta to end Punchak Jaya military action Posted at 03:31 on 17 December, 2004 UTC Hundreds of students and activists in the Indonesian province of Papua are protesting outside the provincial parliament calling for an end to what they say is an intensifying military campaign in the Highlands. They are now meeting with members of the provincial government to present their call that President Yudhoyono call off a planned visit at Christmas unless he orders the withdrawal of the military. Church reports say that in the Highlands around Punchak Jaya, at least 23 people have died of starvation in recent weeks, and up to six thousand people have been displaced during a military offensive against the separatist OPM. Dr Benny Giay, coordinator of an NGO called the Bureau of Peace and Justice, says villagers fled into the jungle after their houses were burned down and the military is denying them access to their food gardens. The protestors say President Yudhoyono should not go to Jayapura unless he orders the military action to end, allows the refugees to return home and provides aid for them. Treason suspect on hunger strike [From: Jakarta Post 15 December 2004] JAYAPURA, Papua: Treason suspect Felip Karma has been on a hunger strike at the Jayapura Police Station since Dec. 3. Felip is accused of leading a rally on Dec. 1 to commemorate the declaration of Papuan independence. The suspect also has refused to answer questions from police investigators. He communicates with his lawyers through signs or by writing his responses. A doctor monitoring Felip's health, Samuel Maripadang, said on Tuesday the suspect was in danger of dehydration and digestive problems if he continued the hunger strike. The doctor did not recommend, however, that Felip be admitted to the hospital. Felip said in a written statement that he went on strike to protest the use of violence by officers during his arrest. He said the police handcuffed him and beat him during his arrest. Police arrested Felip and Yusak Pakage on Dec. 1 after they allegedly raised the Morning Star separatist flag and led people in observing the declaration of Papuan independence. -- JP http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20041215.C07&irec=10 SOLOMON ISLANDS: Fwd from GI Special OCCUPATION SOLOMON ISLANDS Australian Officer Shot [THANKS TO MAX WATTS WHO E-MAILED THIS IN: HE WRITES: THIS WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER, I'D EXPECTED IT IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA...CHICKENS DO COME HOME TO ROOST, BUT AS THEY ARE STUPID BIRDS THEY OFTEN MIX UP THE HOMES.] [The Australian government has been doing some occupying of its' own, not just sending troops to kill Iraqis, but grabbing some nearby Pacific real estate that doesn't belong to them. As usual, invasion and occupation is lied about as "peacekeeping" blah blah blah.] December 22, 2004 The Sydney Morning Herald Australia will send a rapid response unit to the Solomon Islands after a sniper shot dead a young Australian in what authorities fear was a targeted attack. Australian Protective Service (APS) officer Adam Dunning, 26, died when he was shot in the back during the early morning attack in what had been considered a secure area of the capital, Honiara. Late this afternoon, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Defence Minister Robert Hill said the government would immediately redeploy an Australian Defence Force rapid response unit from Townsville. "This is to send a clear message to the thugs ... that we will not tolerate the murder of our police officers," Senator Hill said. [Looks like the thugs that run the Australian government got sent the message.] A 100-strong infantry company from the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment will begin leaving Australia tomorrow. [Brilliant. Now soldiers can get killed too.] Mr Dunning, of Canberra, died when two of six bullets fired from a military-style rifle hit him as he and a fellow officer were on routine patrol in their unarmoured Toyota Land Cruiser. He died at the scene. Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty said the attack appeared to be the work of a sniper with the deliberate intention of targeting police. [Wow. Did he figure that out all by himself?] An estimated six shots were fired from a military-style weapon, with four entering the rear of the vehicle and two hitting Mr Dunning. "The officer's routine patrol was a night shift patrol of secure areas." [Very secure indeed.] The AFP currently has about 150 personnel in the Solomons, 95 of them police officers and the rest members of the Australian Protective Services (APS), [translation: occupation cops] which is now part of the AFP. They are part of the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) which arrived in the country in July last year. [Translation: occupation force.] "We believe that the weapon that was used is a 7.62mm cartridge," Mr Keelty said. "That would indicate that the weapon has been fired from a high-powered weapon which is a SLR rifle or an AK47 rifle but it's early stages in the investigation." Mr Keelty said the vast majority of Solomons' people welcomed RAMSI's presence, intended to rescue the country from becoming a failed state after murderous civil strife. [Just like the Iraqis welcome the U.S. occupation "presence." Imperial politicians need some new writers, all the lame bullshit starts sounding the same.] But there was clearly a minority which was seeking revenge for the work of RAMSI, which has made more than 4000 arrests and seized more than 3700 weapons. [Probably some Saddam Hussein remnants and die hard Baath Party members.] "The message for the SI people who have carried out this murder is that we will not be put off by the murder of our officer," he said. "The murder of our officer has not been in vain. The work of the police, not only for the AFP but for the other participating police forces of the Pacific region, has to continue. "It has to continue for the future of the people of the SI." He said the killing was something that could happen to police anywhere in the world. [That is certainly to be devoutly hoped for, anywhere cops occupy somebody else's country.] Prime Minister John Howard today expressed his sorrow at Adam Dunning's death but said the country's mission there would continue undeterred. "It is a reminder that although the intervention has been remarkably successful, it is still dangerous." [Grabbing somebody else's nation usually is.] SAKHALIN: Indigenous people plan protest over drilling They claim an industrial invasion by oil, gas and other companies is threatening their ecology and way of life Blockades of industrial sites are also planned http://quebec.indymedia.org/en/node.php?id=19509 http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1665944&PageNum=0 http://vn.vladnews.ru/News/upd21_2.HTM NEW CALEDONIA: Tear gas used as New Caledonian police break-up picket Police in the French territory of New Caledonia this week used tear gas to break up a picket in an industrial suburb of the capital Noumea. About 14 strikers were arrested after armoured police vehicles broke through a barrier of burning tyres. Workers retaliated by hurling petrol bombs and stones. The strikers-members of the Union of Pacific Workers employed by the synthetic mould-making company Rotocal-had been blocking access to the company's plant at Ducos for two weeks in support of a pay increase. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j08.shtml GAMBIA: Journalists strike and protesters demonstrate after a journalist is shot http://sg.news.yahoo.com/041218/1/3pcopi.html http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44787&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GAMBIA http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/e1ff67ccf7ce9ead6a220e68e6395b23.htm http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-12-21-voa10.cfm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4117189.stm http://english.epochtimes.com/news/4-12-21/25131.html http://www.afrol.com/articles/15082 FIJI: General strike called off after government raises national pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/awkr-d18.shtml GUINEA: Teachers strike for 40% pay rise http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050110134813508 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/euro-j14.shtml SIERRA LEONE: Two-day general strike called off after government offers talks The strike has been "suspended" rather than called off, for talks with the government It was called to protest falling wages and a rising cost of living, and to demand the establishment of a minimum wage http://washingtontimes.com/world/20050105-094451-2369r.htm http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=qw1104922622628S452 http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/842b7e087348cdb542e80f38d6547a53.htm http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=309397 http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-01-05-voa38.cfm http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44936&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=SIERRA_LEONE http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1642920,00.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4145931.stm http://allafrica.com/stories/200501130341.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j07.shtml http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1643322,00.html Workers defy union call to return to work at striking hospital; Radio workers also strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j22.shtml http://allafrica.com/stories/200501130396.html GHANA: The Corporate Social Responsibility Movement (CSRM) on Thursday said it would embark on a peaceful demonstration to attract the attention of the authorities to adopt measures that would safe the country's lagoons from extinction. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=73879 Farmers protest global food trade regime http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=73264 LIBERIA: Soldiers win back-pay with protests and blockades Thousands of demobbed soldiers have been paid salary arrears after protests and clashes in the capital Monrovia http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4118713.stm Teachers strike and students rise up in Monrovia http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/12/14/3307280 Rubber workers on go-slow to protest unpaid wages http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j22.shtml http://allafrica.com/stories/200501130435.html WESTERN SAHARA: Protests against occupation stepped up http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6847/684760.html SOMALIA: Protesters oppose the plan to send peacekeepers to impose a new government http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0501090053jan09,1,675995.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=2&cset=true http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08107010.htm NIGERIA: Strike in military schools paralyses academic activities http://allafrica.com/stories/200412160619.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200501200621.html Doctors strike over unpaid salaries http://allafrica.com/stories/200412160592.html http://allafrica.com/stories/200412160025.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d17.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/euro-j14.shtml Oil workers strike over welfare packages as government cuts fuel price http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/cover/f222122004.html University staff strike over pay http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=5767 Workers at Tidex oil servicing company strike over conditions of service http://allafrica.com/stories/200501030361.html Jos locals protest tree fellings http://allafrica.com/stories/200501190172.html More problems for Shell as locals target another facility http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/78351D56-39C2-4C4B-9527-E4F615EDB2DC.htm NIGER: Teachers end strike after reaching agreement on retirement and pay arrears http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=310316 ANGOLA: Nurses strike http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=306880 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d31.shtml TANZANIA: Death row prisoners on hunger strike http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4155309.stm KENYA: Strike by non-academic staff paralyses university http://allafrica.com/stories/200412160877.html Traders protest new market fees http://allafrica.com/stories/200501050033.html Council staff strike over salary arrears http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j22.shtml Kenyan university staff strike to protest suspension of colleagues http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d24.shtml Nurses strike over deaths of babies at the hospital due to conditions, understaffing http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d24.shtml Farmers protest resettlement delay http://allafrica.com/stories/200501241165.html UGANDA: Retired workers protest retrenchment package http://allafrica.com/stories/200412290446.html Ugandans in America protest at the UN over the crisis in the north http://allafrica.com/stories/200412210788.html Examiners strike, delaying exam results http://allafrica.com/stories/200501101255.html ZAMBIA: Opposition protest for new constitution goes ahead despite ban; many arrested http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/12007 http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1637894,00.html http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=68&art_id=qw1103534463774B251&set_id= http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,94457,00.html Teachers strike amid rising frustration http://allafrica.com/stories/200501200393.html NAMIBIA: Clashes as unwitting scabs brought into mill http://allafrica.com/stories/200412130211.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d17.shtml Farm disputes escalate http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/28/news/namibia.html SOUTH AFRICA: Cosatu protest over further repression in Zimbabwe http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=qw1103114880580B254 Council workers strike and are locked out http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=vn20041215132945272C751581 Coca-Cola workers stage wildcat strike http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2004/12/17/news/n07_17122004.htm Nestle workers strike over pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/euro-j14.shtml Nestle workers march in ongoing wages deadlock, as strike continues http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business&articleid=195057 SWAZILAND: Unions hold general strike to demand democracy Several hundred protesters gathered ahead of the strike and were attacked by riot cops http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/ff0f5a6d49c5dd3bb1fcfc7d01464c3a.htm http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=qw1104771242401B224 http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44885&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=SWAZILAND http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44951&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=SWAZILAND http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23460189.htm http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,96351,00.html ZIMBABWE: Zanu-PF party members blockade Mugabe loyalist in protest over imposition of candidates http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw110491632325B252 http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_1645758,00.html ZIMBABWE: Zvakwana campaign causes stir Zimbabwe Says 'Enough' to Bank Note Protest By VOA News 05-January-2005 1701 Zimbabwe has condemned opposition activists for stamping protest messages on the country's bank notes. Deputy Finance Minister David Chapfika warned Wednesday the government would punish those behind the vandalism. No group has claimed responsibility for printing the words "enough" and "get up, stand up" on some bank notes found in circulation in Zimbabwe. Last year, officials blamed an underground rights group known as "Enough" (Zvakwana) for a similar campaign in which messages were printed on condom packages. Opposition groups say the government of President Robert Mugabe has launched a new crackdown ahead of key parliamentary elections due later this year. Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters. ***** The Mercury Slogan culprits to face wrath of the law Harare: The Finance Ministry and central bank warned human rights activists yesterday that they were breaking the law by stamping political slogans on Zimbabwean bank notes. Deputy Finance Minister David Chapfika said culprits would face "the full wrath of the law", state radio reported. Rubber-stamped slogans urging Zimbabweans to "Get up, stand up" against President Robert Mugabe's dictatorial rule have started appearing on bank notes. Notes have also been stamped with the word "enough", commonly used by Mugabe's opponents when calling for an end to the five years of political and economic turmoil they blame on his repressive policies. No group has claimed responsibility for the stamps, but the same slogans have been spread by a secretive, underground group calling itself Zvakwana, or "Enough is Enough", in the local Shona language. --Sapa-AP Published on the web by Mercury on January 6, 2005. ***** Zim Observer 'Mischievous' banknote slogans anger Zim govt by STAFF EDITORS (1/5/2005) The Zimbabwe government today slammed what it called mischievous political slogans appearing on banknotes as campaigning heats up ahead of parliamentary polls due in March. State media have published pictures of banknotes stamped with the messages "enough" and "get up, stand up" and linked them to a pressure group which the ruling party says is aligned to the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The underground group, Zvakwana (Enough), which routinely distributes leaflets critical of the authorities, has not responded to the charges. Last year the same group was accused of putting similar messages on condom packets. They also quoted the late Bob Marley's popular protest song Get up, stand up for your rights. David Chapfika, the deputy finance minister, said the government would "come down hard" on the culprits if caught, saying it was a criminal offence to deface the country's currency. "We are still doing our investigations but the slogans appear to be synonymous with slogans used by certain characters in the opposition," Chapfika, a member of parliament for Mugabe's ruling Zanu(PF) party, said. Paul Themba-Nyathi, the MDC spokesperson, denied the party was involved. "We as a party are totally opposed to the defacing of banknotes. What would we as a party gain by doing that." The MDC has emerged as the strongest challenge to the ruling party's grip on power, and has led criticism of Mugabe's 25-year rule which it says has left Zimbabwe in the throes of political and economic crisis. (thanks to Dan Clore and the smygo list for forwarding these to me) PUERTO RICO: Water workers end strike after defying bosses, winning contract http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6903/690311.html http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6847/684711.html http://www.workers.org/ww/2005/waterworkers0120.php http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j05.shtml HAITI: Doctors strike over pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j12.shtml Port workers strike over wages; longshoremen walk out in solidarity http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d14.shtml CUBA: Protests against US blockade http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/23/content_2496509.htm http://english.eastday.com/eastday/englishedition/world/userobject1ai818095.html DOMINICA: Government heads off strike with health programme http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={622168CB-AA1A-4789-838A-0048746C2EB7}&language=EN JAMAICA Credit union staff on strike for raise http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/?id=14353 Police murder of motorcyclist protested Protesters block roads with burning rubbish http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20050114T210000-0500_73228_OBS_SLIPE_ROAD_RESIDENTS_CONTINUE_TO_PROTEST_BIKER_S_SHOOTING.asp TRINIDAD: Parents protest over unrepaired landslides http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=56413843 BAHAMAS: Royal Oasis resort workers stage pickets and protests http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/297661253438032.php http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/310870899814123.php Teachers stage demo and sit-in over repairs and sacking of security guard http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/297661253260910.php http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/290530932523249.php http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/291854476048322.php GRENADA: Nursing students stage protest over the state of facilities http://www.belgrafix.com/gtoday/2005news/January/Jan22/Nurses%20stage%20protest%20action.htm Foodland supermarket workers strike over conditions http://www.belgrafix.com/gtoday/2005news/January/Jan22/Strike%20action%20at%20Foodland.htm GUYANA: Air workers stage, and end, sick-out in pay dispute http://www.guyanachronicle.com/topstory.html#Anchor-(Additio-38283 BOLIVIA: Public health workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d21.shtml Bus drivers strike over subsidies http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4147519.stm BRAZIL: Nuclear fuel workers strike for higher pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d21.shtml Auto workers strike for 12 days - end strike as management accept government-imposed raise http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d14.shtml ARGENTINA: Port blockaded by dockworkers in protest against P&O http://www.labournet.net/docks2/0412/argent1.htm http://www.labournet.net/docks2/0412/argent2.htm Protesters demand inquiry into lethal nightclub fire http://www.itv.com/news/index_1746539.html Commemmoration of massacre http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/05/6664239 One-day strike at water company http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d28.shtml Argentine truck drivers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j18.shtml Piqueteros blockade multinationals to demand food http://www.ainfos.ca/04/dec/ainfos00435.html Subway workers strike as wage negotiations collapse http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d14.shtml STORIES FROM ARGENTINA INDYMEDIA Tuesday 11 of January of 2005 |SOBICH And PIONNER REPRESS To MAPUCHES Lacayos petroleum, governments and repression The 28 of December of 2004 a violent evacuation to the families of the community Logko Pur?n in the province of the Neuquen near Cutral Co took place. The Barbarian evacuation I leave as balance an wounded of lead bullet and several members brutally struck by the police anti-riot or forces UESPO. The nocturnal evacuation is consequence of the advances of the government of Sobich so that the installation of the oil takes place company American Natural Pioneer Resources. Pionner operates in Argentina from the 1992 although initially Chauvco Resources was called. In the last six years it takes 400 perforated wells and it participates in 34 blocks located in the river basin Neuquina and Austral. From its installation this company grew a 30%. Pioneer is aggressive a perforadora company and of low cost. Guimar J. Vaca Cocaine, President of Pioneer Argentina, express in an opportunity "the maintained success of Pioneer in Argentina must be attributed to an intelligent and focused selection of the properties acquired with excellent potential..." Saturday 8 of January |He is responsible politician for the massacre of Croma??n If there is no justice there is escrache to Ibarra In afternoon of Saturday around thousand people they were mobilized to the address of the head of Buenosairean government, An?bal Ibarra, in the district of Villa Ortuzar. Escrache was organized by the Commission of Autoconvocados Young people by the Massacre of Croma??n, integrated by survivors, relatives of pibes passed away and different groups and people who support with the justice reclamations. Escrache arose like necessity to show most energetic repudio Ibarra, not only by its responsibility in the tragic facts in the recital of Street guides, but also by the appointment of Juan Jose Alvarez to the front of the Secretariat of Security of the City. The manifestation was made in the middle of operative an intimidatory one mounted by the federal police, whose head, An?bal Fernandez, the day was embraced with Alvarez in the assumption of this one Friday. Juan Jose Alvarez is reponsable direct intellectual of the murders of Dar?o Santill?n and Maximiliano Kosteki. Then the massive means of communication worked like cover the power. That servile manipulation of the information is repeated in these days, which was indicated by the demonstrators. The government orders. The police represses. The means conceal, trying to isolate to those who they raise the political responsibilities of the massacre of Eleven, trying to show the victims like victimarios, criminalizing their mobilizations. By means of the fear they want to demobilize. As much Monday as Thursday, the police - infantry, brigade, trucks hidrantes- acted stopping demonstrators of massive and arbitrary way. This way they try that the protest does not question the established order. But the fire showed to the corruption enquistada in the State and the scale of values industralist, who places the profit by on the life. And in the streets it returned to explode the quarrel before the injustice. Today it touched to Ibarra. More information in Indymedia Buenos Aires Photography: Photographic Action Monday 3 of January of the 2005|BY THE DREAMS THAT SANK HERE "Ibarra and Chab?n have it to pay" That was one of the songs that between quarrel and weeping resounded in the streets of the Buenosairean center at night, when cacerolazo was made centrally and a new march integrated by relatives, friends, friends and known the victims of the " massacre of Cromagn?n ", in which they were yesterday died 182 people and more than 700 were wounds, of which 258 still remain boarding schools. By means of songs and placards, the demonstrators demanded justice and indicated to Ibarra and Kirchner between the people in charge. The mobilization of Sunday began with an assembly in Seat Eleven summoned by lxs jovenes. Soon lxs demonstrators, arrived at Seat of May and finalized with a sitting in Avenue 9 of Julio, receiving in the way the support fraterno of many neighbors who showed themselves to their balconies doing to sound the dented casseroles again. One even became to dust the cantito of "That goes away all". "Ibarra is one of the people in charge of this fact by not to have controlled that this discoteca can to make a multitudinal recital" , it assured informative agency Graciela Peloso, the mother of one of the young people died during the FIRE. As well the lawyer Jose Churches, father of another one of the young people announced that he will make complaints the day of today against the head of Buenosairean government and the president of the Nation "by his responsibilities in this tragedy". >>PERU: LOCAL ANDEAN UPRISING CRUSHED BUT GRIEVANCES REMAIN FifthInternational.Org, Paris While most Peruvians were busy celebrating the arrival of the new year on 1 January, in Andahuayalas (in the Peruvian Andes) a group of around 200 armed rebels, led by Antauro Humala took over the town's police station and later the whole city. The assault led to the death of five police and two rebel fighters. In his first public declarations Humula demanded the resignation of President Toledo and the restoration of the 1979 constitution that was abolished by Alberto Fujimori while President in the 1990s. He also insisted that the army withdraw from the area and allow the peasants to grow coca leaf- a direct rebuff of the government's US-backed coca eradication plan which is destroying the lives of the country's Andean small farmers. It was clear from the media reports that the local population backed the uprising and it especially attracted the backing of the town's youth aged between 14 and 18. In response the government took over the airwaves to insist "the country close ranks for the defence of democracy" and lyingly accused the rebels of being in league with the narco-traffic mafia. Antauro Humula and his brother are two ex-army officers that led an October 2000 rebellion in a barrio under his control against the then President Fujimori, shortly after a series of video tapes were made public proving the corruption of his regime, proof that eventually led to Fujimori's downfall. For their pains the Humula brothers were kicked out of the army but they went on to found a nationalist politico-military movement, labelled "etnocacerismo" after their hero Andr?s C?ceres, a military leader who became President and led the resistance to the invasion of Peru by Chile in the years 1879-83. In these years Peru, Bolivia and Chile were at war over land Antofagasta Iquique and Tarapac?. Humula's ideology is a mixture of nationalism and indigenist racism directed against Chileans. They demand the recovery of the territories lost in the Pacific war (1879) and the removal of Chilean investments in Peru (which is the third largest after the USA and Spain). Humula also looks for inspiration to Venezuela's President Chavas. In the period 2000-2003 they were able to produce a paper with the backing of an army of ex-soldiers which was distributed widely. During the antiprivatisation struggles in Ariquipa and Cuzco; they also took part in the coca peasant demonstrations of last year. In the end the uprising in Andahuayalas was ended after three days by the intervention of the military and the surrender of Humala. The pressing issues facing the Andean peasants do indeed require revolutionary action - land seizures, armed resistance to the government backed campaign to eradicate their crops. But only the concerted action of the Peruvian urban working class and poor has the power to force Toledo out of office and impose a workers and peasants' government. The local, isolated revanchistuprisings of caudillos will not achieve even significant reforms. (from Fifth International Global) PERU: Workers march over attacks on workers' rights and government corruption http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={DC272812-F5AA-4BE9-9FC4-BDB16567D203}&language=EN VENEZUELA: Venepal nationalised under workers' control! http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/20/181057/424 http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/nationalisation_venepal_chavez.htm http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org/chavez_nationalises_venepal.htm http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/13017 CENTRAL AMERICA: Air traffic controllers across the region warn of strike in solidarity with Guatemalan controllers arrested for striking http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j18.shtml MEXICO: Workers strike to save jobs at dye plant http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j12.shtml Five workers stage hunger strike at official office, demanding minimum wage http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d21.shtml Municipal workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j05.shtml College workers stage ongoing walkout http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d14.shtml Former Bracero farmers demonstrate for unpaid pensions http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20050117-2001-mexico-braceros.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/17/international2301EST6897.DTL PANAMA: Hundreds protest on anniversary of US invasion and massacre http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/03/9613980 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Tue Jan 25 13:57:29 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 21:57:29 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades part 4 (Eastern Europe, US, UK, Europe, Canada, Aus, Aotearoa/NZ) Message-ID: <0ace01c50328$de904860$3dc0ff3e@WOL> GEORGIA: Soldiers walk off duty and hold protest over conditions http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=8621 http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=11717 http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=10419 CHECHNYA: Relatives of the disappeared protest in Grozny http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303226.html RUSSIA: Workers on hunger strike - one is hospitalised - in protest over wage arrears http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=10733107 Hunger strike by workers in Timashevsk, near Krasnodar - they haven't been paid for 3 years http://www.iuf.org/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=2797&view_records=1&ww=1&en=1 Yekaterinburg hydro workers end hunger strike after receiving back-pay http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1663369&PageNum=0 http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/01/12/015.html Port workers in Vladivostok protest against tariffs http://vn.vladnews.ru/News/upd21_3.HTM AIDS activists protest in Moscow http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/303750.html Fascists in St Petersburg get asses kicked http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=04/12/15/1622243 Workers in Ivdel, Sverdlovsk region, stage hunger strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d24.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/euro-j14.shtml Relatives of Beslan survivors blockade road, demanding inquiry, resignation Protest ends after Kremlin chiefs promise talks http://news.inq7.net/world/index.php?index=1&story_id=25156 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4199691.stm http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=430690 http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/01/21/beslan.protest.ap/ http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apeurope_story.asp?category=1103&slug=Russia%20Beslan%20Protest http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/sns-ap-russia-beslan-protest,0,6165576.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-headlines Relatives of Beslan Victims End Protest in South Russia Created: 24.01.2005 13:59 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 13:59 MSK, 14 hours 27 minutes ago Families of victims of the Beslan school hostage massacre have suspended their blockade of a major highway in southern Russia after being promised a meeting with a top aide to President Vladimir Putin, organizers said yesterday. The protesters closed the Beslan-Vladikavkaz federal highway for two days but have now ended their demonstration, Zarina Cherchesova of Alania TV told Ekho Moskvy. This came late Saturday night after a deal was struck, whereby the Alania republican TV station will show the demonstration and carry a statement to the republic's parliament demanding an extraordinary session to consider holding a referendum. The protesters say they do not intend to drop their political demands. Meanwhile, the Russian president's representative in the South Federal District, Dmitriy Kozak, has promised to meet a group of mothers who lost their children in September's act of terrorism within the next few days. A large tent blocking the road was taken down late Saturday and by yesterday all of the approximately 150 protesters had dispersed, Rada Maliyeva, a spokeswoman for the local Teacher's Committee group which helped organize the demonstration, told reporters. The protesters were demanding the resignation of the top official in the region, North Ossetia President Alexander Dzasokhov, whom they accuse of poorly handling the crisis last fall, and the opening of an international investigation into the tragedy. They blocked the key road for three days and agreed to disperse only after being told that Putin's representative for the north Caucasus, Dmitry Kozak, would travel to Beslan to hear their grievances. Maliyeva said the protesters could decide to reinstate their blockade if their demand for a vote of no-confidence in Dzasokhov and for officials to be held accountable for the massacre were not satisfied. The deaths occurred as a result of a chaotic battle between Russian and security forces and about 30 hostage-takers that erupted after more than 1,200 children and adults had been held in the school by pro-Chechen militants for three days. http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/01/24/beslanprotestends.shtml fwd from Earthfirstalert list Translated from http://www.aeliberation.net Sabotage for defence of trees Published 1st of November 2004 24th of October Commando Jeffrey Luers together with inhabitants of the city of Zhukovsky of Moscow region organised an action of ecological sabotage. Activists trespassed to construction site of city stadium and spiked some 60 trees marked to be cut, they left signs "trees are spiked, cutting down is a danger for life!" behind them. Participators of the action ask not to danger workers and to hold back from cutting down spiked trees. Corruption of the city administration and lack of interest to local opinion pushed activists to radical action. City inhabitants appealed repetedly to local administration in order to save green areas and to stop construction in the center of the city, but they were ignored. Last drop was cutting down birch grove in area of school number 7, which was once planted to commemorate those pilots and cosmonauts which made the city famous. Activists believe, that actions speak louder than words, and make it known to inhabitants of the city, journalists, representatives of the city administration and bosses of the construction companies, that they are prepared to fight for environment by any means, which does not harm life. Relatives of Detained Radicals Protest in Moscow http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/12/27/prosecutionrally.shtml Created: 27.12.2004 14:21 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 14:21 MSK MosNews Relatives and friends of members of the National Bolshevik party held a rally near the office of the Prosecutor General's Office on Monday. 39 members of the party were detained after an invasion of the presidential administration's office on Dec. 14. Several dozen people took part in the rally including representatives of the organization For Human Rights. No National Bolshevik party flags or other signs were seen, the Grani.Ru website reported. The rally members held up posters with slogans "Happy New 1937 Year" (referring to the year of mass Stalinist political repressions), "Free Our Children," and pictures of the detained youths. The head of the human rights organization, Lev Ponomarev, was quoted by the website as saying it is possible to "get the detainees out of the prison only by joint efforts". He called for all people who are not indifferent to take part in their demonstration. The rights organization is attempting to draw the Russian authorities' attention to unjust court sentences, illegal detention and other human rights violations. The party members occupied an office in the presidential administration office, hung their flags out of a window and a poster calling on Russian president Vladimir Putin to resign. They also distributed leaflets with a similar demand. They have been placed in various prisons, and a young woman was taken to the hospital after suffering concussion during her arrest, the website reported. The detainees are charged with damaging property, vandalism and forced seizure of power. They could face up to 20 years in prison. On Dec. 20, seven members of the same party were sentenced to five years in prison each for occupying the building of the Russian Health Ministry in August. POLAND: Human rights protest in solidarity with suppressed squatters http://www.ainfos.ca/04/dec/ainfos00231.html Protest against rent increases http://www.ainfos.ca/04/dec/ainfos00305.html SERBIA: Ethnic Albanians rally to protest killing of boy by border guards http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/10/news/briefs.html http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=91418 GREECE: Strike and protest by public-sector workers over benefit cuts http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d17.shtml Workers rally against unemployment, price rises http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100020_15/12/2004_50735 GREECE & EUROPE: Solidarity protests with Thessaloniki defendants http://www.ainfos.ca/05/jan/ainfos00236.html http://www.wombles.org.uk/news/article_2005_01_13_1306.php SPAIN: CGT calls general strike in Burgos http://www.ainfos.ca/05/jan/ainfos00205.html ITALY: Rail workers strike to demand safety improvements after crash http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4180681.stm http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j22.shtml Farmers blockade roads to protest prices, compensation http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200412211151-1030-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia Berlusconi hit with tripod by angry worker http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/01/0678260 Commuters unable to board packed train block rail line, causing disruptions http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=autcmDwTsv38&refer=europe Workers at US bases strike over pay, pensions http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=26709 Alitalia plane crews stage "snack strike" to protest new working conditions http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1105094857.html http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=100803&Sn=BUSI&IssueID=27294 MALTA: Thousands protest to save public holidays http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/euro-j14.shtml http://www.maltamedia.com/news/2005/ln/article_4796.shtml Government postpones and rethinks "reform" after massive protests http://www.union-network.org/uniindep.nsf/4e36123c6ddb05b7c12568f000341550/ff7d840cb5dcc928c1256f89002ae8c6?OpenDocument http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/portal.jhtml?id=167678 Students protest bus fare increases http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/portal.jhtml?id=168968 Immigrants arrested while protesting for the right to remain in Malta, and denied legal assistance http://www.di-ve.com/dive/portal/portal.jhtml?id=169104&pid=null http://www.maltamedia.com/news/2005/ln/article_4850.shtml CATALONIA: 10,000 protest for sports independence http://www.iht.com/getina/files/214954.html FRANCE: Protest against nanotech conference in Grenoble http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302727.html Fishermen blockade part of the Channel http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/4113709.stm http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3909837 Tamil immigrants strike at pub chain http://india.indymedia.org/en/2004/12/209968.shtml Strike at H&M clothes shop over precarity Blockade ends as workers submit to judge's dikkktat H&M strikers end strike after deal offered http://au.news.yahoo.com/050107/19/shtr.html http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1152&mode=&order=0 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d31.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j07.shtml Massive public-sector strikes against funding cuts, privatisation, job cuts and other "reforms" which hit workers Teachers, civil servants, museum workers, train drivers, hospital workers and others took part in the strikes 200,000 also marched in related demonstrations There were scuffles with cops when some marchers headed for scumbag minister Sarkozy's den http://au.news.yahoo.com/050118/19/sn60.html http://au.news.yahoo.com/050120/19/sofk.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4190275.stm http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7385592 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050119.wfran0119/BNStory/International/ http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=25&story_id=15951&name=Strike+shuts+down+French+schools%2C+offices%2C+museums http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/20/news/france.html http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7395225 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4186511.stm http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=15828&name=France+braces+for+week+of+anti-reform+strikes http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/18/wfran18.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/01/18/ixworld.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4184155.stm http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/01/18/france.strike.reut/index.html http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aTTkF8Z.u5TQ&refer=europe BELGIUM: Massive workers' march in Brussels http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=15295&name=Massive+protest+marchhits+Brussels+streets Irate passengers blockade terminals after flight cancelled http://www.luchtzak.be/article7043.html Industrial action in transport sector continues http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/euro-j14.shtml http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=15602&name=New+transport+strike+hits+Brussels HOLLAND: Bus drivers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d17.shtml F4J reach Utrecht http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4011935 AUSTRIA: Death penalty opponents protest at US embassy and target Schwarzenegger http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4743046,00.html SWITZERLAND: Strike against multinational over asset-stripping http://www.labournet.net/world/0501/bunzl1.html Workers try to stop factory closure http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5321 SWEDEN: Anti-fascists fail to blockade station, but succeed in disrupting Nazi gathering http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=04/12/15/5063155 Weekly protests by journalists to Eritrean embassy over arrested journalist http://www.afrol.com/articles/15165 FINLAND: Nokia workers walk out over job cuts http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english/article/1101978294122 IRELAND: Eleven-day ferry strike ends http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/1216/irishferries.html Protesters dig graves in Fallujah protest http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=68079 Shrink nurses strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/euro-j14.shtml Sugar workers take to the streets to protest closure http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/news/story.asp?j=22923 Antenna protested http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0119/connemara.html IRELAND: NAZI BEHEADED! *Anti-fascists behead statue of Russell http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1313994&issue_id=11895 *JIM CUSACK ANTI-FASCIST youths are believed to be responsible for breaking the head and right arm of the statue of the IRA Chief of Staff and Nazi collaborator Sean Russell in a Dublin park. The head and right arm were removed from the statue in Fairview on Thursday night. It had previously been vandalised by communists in the Fifties as the original statue erected by Sinn Fein after the Second World War was raised in a Nazi-style salute. In a statement admitting responsibility, the people behind the incident referred to the fact that Sinn Fein's MEP Mary Lou McDonald had "paid homage" to Russell in a ceremony in October last year. The statement said: "As Europe prepares to commemorate the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp 60 years ago, citizens of this state can no longer tolerate the shameful presence of a memorial to the Nazi collaborator Sean Russell in a public park in our nation's capital city. "Six million Jews, hundreds of thousands of political dissidents, homosexuals, Roma people, Soviet prisoners of war and the disabled were put to death by the Fascist hate machine that overran and terrified Europe from 1939-1945. Sean Russell, the IRA chief of staff was one of the many nationalist fanatics who looked to Adolf Hitler for political and military support in the IRA's quest to reunify Ireland at the point of the bayonets of the Gestapo. "Russell sought to overthrow the government of Eamon De Valera by fomenting terror and sabotage in the shipyards and munitions factories of Northern Ireland. "In Belfast, IRA volunteers were ordered to help the Luftwaffe bomb their own city at the cost of nearly 2,000 dead and thousands made homeless. "At the Wannsee conference, the infamous Nazi gathering that planned the 'Final Solution', the Jewish community in Ireland was marked down for annihilation. Having freed Ireland from British rule, the Nazis expected their collaborators in Sinn Fein and the IRA to help them round up Dublin's Jews and ship them off to Auschwitz. That was the price Sean Russell was prepared to pay to end partition. "Luckily for the honour and welfare of the Irish people, Russell died on a German U-Boat in August 1940 on his way home to carry out the orders of his Nazi masters. "This year Sinn Fein again openly paid homage to the traitor Russell at his statue in Fairview Park with speeches extolling his 'revolutionary' fervour and patriotism from Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald and veteran IRA terrorist Brian Keenan." *Statue of Nazi ally vandalised* *Henry McDonald Sunday January 2, 2005 The Observer * An unnamed group in Dublin claimed responsibility last night for vandalising the statue of an IRA leader linked to the Nazis in the Second World War. The group said it had severed the head and right arm of the statue in Dublin's Fairview Park in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. They said that as Europe prepares to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps, they could no longer tolerate a statue in honour of Sean Russell. Russell was commanding officer of the IRA during the Second World War and conducted a campaign of assassination and sabotage in both Britain and Ireland, aimed at damaging the war effort against Hitler. Although an open ally of the Nazis, Russell is still honoured by the modern IRA and Sinn Fein. In September 2003, Sinn Fein MEP Mary Lou McDonald spoke at a rally to commemorate Russell in the north Dublin park. The same rally was also addressed by veteran IRA man Brian Keenan. In a statement released this weekend, the group claiming to be behind the attack on the statue said: 'Six million Jews, thousands of political dissidents, homosexuals, Roma people, Soviet prisoners of war and the disabled were put to death by the fascist hate machine that overran and terrified Europe from 1939 to 45. 'Sean Russell was one of many nationalist fanatics who looked to Hitler for political and military support in the IRA's quest to reunify Ireland at the point of the bayonets of the Gestapo. 'At the Wansee conference, the infamous Nazi gathering that planned the "Final Solution", the Jewish community in Ireland was marked down for annihilation. Having freed Ireland from British rule, the Nazis expected their collaborators to help them round up Dublin's Jews and ship them off to Auschwitz. That was the price Sean Russell was prepared to pay to end partition.' BRITISH-OCCUPIED IRELAND: Police station closure event disrupted by republican protesters http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4037492 SCOTLAND Peace activists target Halliburton contractor http://www.leftweb.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=56&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 Activists picket Starbucks http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/303752.html Warmongers BAe blockaded in Edinburgh http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302825.html Clashes as Loyalists attack Bloody Sunday march http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=15105258&method=full&siteid=86024&headline=bottles-fly-at-republican-protest-rally-name_page.html UK: WORKERS' STRUGGLES Brewery staff in Gateshead stage strike http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4112521.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4114293.stm Post and tube workers strike over Christmas http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3923575 Long-running strike enters fourth year http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=911363 Rail workers stage wildcat overtime ban http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=04/12/29/0293605 Train depot workers strike http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=4999 http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5142 Liverpool social workers' strike ends with sell-out from union leaders http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5358 http://www.workerspower.com/index.php?id=49,358,0,0,1,0 William Cook foundry battle continues - strikers seek reinstatement http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/4192233.stm UK: ASYLUM, ANTI-RACISM AND ANTI-FASCISM Protest over internment http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4027099 UK: PEACE PROTESTS Activists enter nuke base in tsunami aid protest http://www.tridentploughshares.org/prel/prel05/r050102.php http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/303412.html Locks glued at HQ of DSEi company http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/303600.html EDO also hit with glued locks http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/303757.html Protesters target Ministry of Defence http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303204.html Peace camp in Parliament Square http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303104.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303145.html Trident Ploughshares Protest At Arrival Of HMS Victorious In Plymouth Michal Lovejoy of Trident Ploughshares organised a well turned out number of people considering the short notice (around 20 but not one single CND member) to protest at the arrival of HMS Victorious into Devonport Dockyard Plymouth yesterday, Sunday 16th January 2005. There were banners saying things such as 'Victorious Not Welcome Here' and 'No Nuclear Weapons' , and placards with 'Reclaim The River Tamar - Scrap Trident, End Poverty and Stop Pollution'. This marks a good start to the New Year concerning nuclear protests in Plymouth for 2005. PS thanks for the apology Ruth (CND Press Office) for not mentioning Trident Ploughshares in your press releases, but it will happen again one way or another, and we have come to expect it as a matter of course now. Love And Peace from Sandra. (from directactionagainstwar list) UK: INTERNATIONAL PROTESTS M&S picketers defy ban and also branch out; picket revived now ban is over http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/303454.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2004/12/302317.html London M&S picket, 30 December http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303311.html Protest at bank called off as withdrawal of Palestine solidarity accounts reversed http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=18932005 Zimbabwean asylum seekers protest http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5138 UK: ANTI-CORPORATE AND ANTI-CAPITALIST PROTESTS Wilkinson's prison slavery leafleters persecuted by "street wardens" http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302988.html Windrush, Iraq looters, protested again http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/18/1596638 No Sweat target London boat show http://www.nosweat.org.uk/article.php?sid=1153&mode=&order=0 Olympics event disrupted by protesters http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302820.html Squat eviction resisted in Birmingham - bailiffs fail to show up http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302911.html Protesters take unusual items on trains to protest bike ban http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/4202559.stm UK: ANIMAL RIGHTS PROTESTS Animal rights activists target Manchester airport over animal exports, imports http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/s/141/141440_alert_after_animal_rights_airport_protest.html Protesters target Oxford University donors http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research/story/0,9865,1381032,00.html UK: ANTI-RACIST PROTESTS Families picket copshop over killing http://www.eastbournetoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=488&ArticleID=908149 Racist bailiffs get picketed http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302795.html Fash bashed in Woolwich http://www.ainfos.ca/05/jan/ainfos00250.html http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5576 UK: ECO-ACTIVISM Treetop protests begin in King's Lynn http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/303688.html http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=991&ArticleID=919950 Eco-warriors fail to prevent chopping down of old tree in Slough http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303129.html Treehouse sit-in protest on bypass route; 2 arrests as police attack http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4201405.stm http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4021558 UK: MISCELLANEOUS PROTESTS Football reporter perches on ladder, scaffolding to defy ban http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.asp?datetime=03+Jan+2005+08%3A30&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=News&brand=ENOnline&itemid=NOED03+Jan+2005+08%3A00%3A43%3A370 Houseboat family protest against corporate theft of their home http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303080.html Small shopkeeper threatens to close shop and keep it unused in protest over sign ban http://www.hastingstoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=479&ArticleID=912500 Father climbs Portsmouth tower in access rights protest http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3944632 Pigs smash F4J Xmas protest at church http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED26%20Dec%202004%2017%3A54%3A59%3A153 Fathers march in London http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4107343.stm Fathers stage protest on motorway gantry http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3913860 Fathers' rights protesters target rail signals http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3894160 Fathers 4 Justice target Big Brother http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/15944956?source=Evening%20Standard ISRAEL: Beer Sheva bus strike continues http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517047.html http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/514445.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d24.shtml Scab buses sent to Beer Sheva http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/527135.html Dairy workers strike over pay http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/517088.html Beqez dispute resolved http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/518937.html Discount Bank workers strike http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/519820.html Students protest against militarisation of their school http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/520381.html http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/520281.html Vivisection lab sabbed https://israel.indymedia.org/feature/display/1570/index.php Billboard liberation in Israel Palestine solidarity protest https://israel.indymedia.org/feature/display/1440/index.php Transport workers return to work as outsourcing plan postponed http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/530142.html http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/525432.html Discount Bank workers strike over uncertain future http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/526011.html http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=872785&fid=942 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/523595.html http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=870935&fid=942 http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=870883&fid=942 SuperSol dispute ends with agreement http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/524114.html http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=871614&fid=942 Teachers rally against hostile report http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/522623.html AUSTRALIA: WORKERS' STRUGGLES Building workers strike over site death; shipyard, electric workers walk out in pay disputes http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j22.shtml Oil and gas workers travel to the mainland to protest roster changes http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/labo-d28.shtml Tasmanian electricians strike Queensland medical staff impose work ban to protest staff shortages Rail workers return to work for negotiations http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j15.shtml AUSTRALIA: ASYLUM AND ANTI-RACIST PROTESTS Hunger strike at Baxter camp http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1268394.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1267456.htm Bakhtiyari supporters occupy immigration office http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Bakhtiyari-supporters-in-barricade-protest/2004/12/23/1103391879161.html?oneclick=true Newcastle fascists booted http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/13124 AUSTRALIA: ECO-ACTIVISM Conservationists stop logging in old-growth forest with blockade; attacked by cops, officials http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/86072.php http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/86117.php http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/86118.php http://www.abc.net.au/gippsland/news/200501/s1284664.htm Rallies after eco-protesters are SLAPPed by rich corporate bosses http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303172.html AUSTRALIA: MISCELLANEOUS PROTESTS Protest as Nativity banned from Melbourne CBD http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11736545%255E2862,00.html AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND: Residents protest Te Aro destruction, replace earth removed for bypass http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/23447/index.php Police suppress anti-bypass march http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/23516/index.php New Year battery hen liberation http://indymedia.org.nz/feature/display/25119/index.php Newspaper workers strike over pay http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/awkr-d18.shtml Fifty-strong anti-war demo marches to US Embassy http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/11768 CANADA: WORKERS' STRUGGLES Wildcat strike at Air Canada http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/01/20/9524602 Liquor strike escalates - stores smashed, picketed, HQ blockaded http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/10/11223/5591 Toronto meat packers approve deal, end strike http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6846/684604.html 23 workers at Deer Park Villa return to work after 7-month strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j18.shtml Quebec carnival workers walk out http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j05.shtml Postal workers take rotating strike action over pay and parity http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d14.shtml CANADA: ASYLUM STRUGGLES Refugees stage rolling hunger strike at immigration office http://www.cmaq.net/en/node.php?id=19259 http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/8/224228/0594 http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/8/1270/41985 http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6848/684812.html CANADA: EVERYTHING ELSE Solidarity demo with Kashipur protesters over mining and protest deaths http://resist.ca/story/2004/12/16/214428/94 Fare strike in Vancouver - 5000 bus drivers participate http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/19/19368/2038 Farmers block roads to protest for support http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1106331264501_101740464/?hub=Canada http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1106331264501_101740464/?hub=TopStories GUAM: Workers protest against layoffs, allege racism http://www.guampdn.com/news/stories/20041221/localnews/1766832.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j15.shtml Surgeons end boycott of hospital - the action was over poor conditions and lack of supplies http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/labo-j15.shtml US: ANTI-RACIST AND POLICE BRUTALITY PROTESTS Protesters demonstrate against deaths in custody, rampaging police in Jacksonville http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10544669.htm http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2753592 http://tallahassee.indymedia.org/feature/display/5726/index.php Victory for jail solidarity campaign in Urbana-Champaign http://www.ucimc.org/feature/display/22981/index.php Monday gas (petrol) sales boycott organised to protest immigrant discrimination http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/01/1712345.php Modesto protest against death in custody http://www.ainfos.ca/04/dec/ainfos00436.html Columbus, Georgia - 8000 march against police brutality http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6904/690401.html Protest in Saginaw over shootings by cops http://www.mlive.com/news/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1106063411137380.xml "The Only Gang to Fear is the Collier County Taser Gang" Collier County protesters gather to protest death in custody http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/news/article/0,2071,NPDN_14940_3457332,00.html (Bugmenot login: me at spamguard.com & password junk) Martin Luther King protesters demonstrate for affirmative action http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw110195_20050117.htm Rallies mobilize protesters, not Skinheads Hundreds show support for diversity in Portland, but a hate event that motivated them to gather fails to occur Sunday, January 09, 2005 FRED LEESON On a day when Skinheads failed to appear, an estimated 1,000 Southwest Portlanders turned out Saturday at two nearby events to encourage diversity and hate prevention. Mayor Tom Potter and a constellation of political, religious and neighborhood leaders addressed an overflow "unity rally" at the Multnomah Center, while another 300 people at Gabriel Park protested against hate. The demonstrators mobilized after a local Skinhead group announced plans to gather Saturday afternoon at Gabriel Park to distribute anti-Jewish literature in Southwest Portland neighborhoods. But no Skinheads showed up. About 50 Portland police officers patrolled in and around the park but found no disruption. Portland police Sgt. Brian Schmautz said officers stopped one car on a minor traffic violation. Police arrested the driver for failure to display a license, and the car's other two occupants then walked back to the community center by Gabriel Park and reportedly shouted, "White power," Schmautz said. During the 90-minute Multnomah Center rally, speakers urged the packed house to respect diversity and free speech, but to be vigilant against hate. Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams said the line between free speech and hate is crossed when someone urges violence against those they oppose. Potter, ending his first week as mayor, said the large turnout was the reason he loved Portland and Portlanders. While Potter received a partial standing ovation, a larger ovation came later for Shahiar Ahmed, president of the Bilal Mosque Association, who teased Potter for omitting Muslims while noting Portland's diversity. "This is home, warts and all," Ahmed said. "Hate is but an event. What we need to work on is the ambience that creates hate." Jimmy Brown, director of the Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement, said hate literature has been distributed at times in Portland's southwest suburbs. "When they do come -- and they will come -- we will be prepared to stand up the way we are today," he said. Last year, the city of Tigard held a rally to oppose hate literature that was being left on doorsteps and lawns in Tigard neighborhoods. The Tualatin Valley Skins, which took credit for the leafleting, promised to attend that rally but never showed up. Police and gang enforcement units in Washington County have said they think there are no more than a handful of members of the Tualatin Valley Skins. Jim Ramm, who heads Tualatin Valley Skins and who had called for the anti-Jewish leafleting drive from Gabriel Park on Saturday, apparently stayed home. "The event was postponed until next week," Ramm said via telephone. He said the delay was necessary because an Internet server firm shut down his site and he wants a new Internet address to put on pamphlets. A man identifying himself as Ramm, however, called The Oregonian Saturday morning to say that the rally would continue as planned and that representatives from eight other racist groups would attend. Anti-hate protesters in Gabriel Park included members of the Freedom Socialist Party, Radical Women and the Portland State University Green Party. They called themselves the Ad-Hoc Coalition to Protest the Tualatin Valley Skins. They marched around the park chanting, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, white supremacy has got to go," and, "Stop the Nazis and the KKK, civil rights are here to stay." Protester Eudee Gutierrez, 15, of Northeast Portland said he came to the park to represent Native Americans, who he thinks should get more involved in the community. "I don't like Nazis," he said. "Do you?" At one point, about 10 self-described punkers, anarchists and "underground workers" stood atop the highest hill in the park, where they planted a red and black flag. Patrick Harrington of The Oregonian contributed to this report. Further report & pics: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/307584.shtml TASER DEATH PROTESTED Close to one hundred people gathered Saturday evening in front of the Collier County Sheriff's Office headquarters in East Naples, Florida to protest the agency's handling of a traffic stop that ended in the death of a 19-year-old Fort Myers man, Christopher Hernandez. Hernandez was hit twice by a Taser stun gun last month in North Naples before he was taken into custody and died nearly eight hours later on Dec. 28. "We want people to know there's been an injustice," said Sheena Torres-Nunez, 20, a cousin of Hernandez. "Things just like this have happened in the past. People need to know about it. An innocent man is dead." Family members, many of them from Fort Myers, were wearing T-shirts with his photo on the front. They described Hernandez, who graduated from North Fort Myers High, as friendly, outgoing and not violent. Hernandez had been at Club Zero on Immokalee Road and was a passenger in a car that was weaving through the parking lot, nearly hitting people walking to their cars. After a short chase, deputies say, Hernandez got out of the car and confronted them. They said they had to subdue him using a Taser. There were a few tense moments when protesters of Everglades restoration in Collier County showed up in pickup trucks with dozens of Confederate flags visible. They had protested earlier as part of an all-terrain vehicle rally. Some of the Hernandez protesters - most of the coalition's turnout was black - turned their backs to the Confederate flags, while others wondered why the group had showed up at their protest. Others shook hands with the ATV group, who honked their horns in solidarity. The demonstration came the same day a Pensacola intruder died after being shocked twice by Escambia County deputies. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine Carl Trotter's cause of death. Sources: Naples Daily News, NBC2 News, News Press (Florida) (from ORead Daily) US: ECO-ACTIVISM Protesters occupy hallway in global warming protest http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/20642/index.php http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=04/12/14/7370131 Native Americans protest drilling http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2004/12/29/news/local/nws02.txt Resistance grows to interstate superhighway http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4037/index.php Protesters breach security for two days running and blockade Pentagon and White House http://indymedia.us/en/2005/01/3819.shtml Electric vehicle drivers stage car-sit to protest Ford's plans to seize and destroy all the vehicles; Ford backs down in face of the protest http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0115-01.htm http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0117-03.htm http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/index.php?news=2400 http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/01/24/business/news/81111.txt Anti-GM activists dump rotten oranges at office in protest over biotech lab The protest "will not be fruitless", said one activist (lolol) http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/wptv/article/0,2547,TCP_1213_3444120,00.html http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/biotech/2005-01-04-biotech-protest_x.htm http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-pprotesters05jan05,0,5253604.story?coll=sfla-news-broward http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pprotest04jan04,0,2951822.story?coll=sfla-news-palm http://www.wpbfnews.com/news/4048324/detail.html http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2005/01/04/s1b_protest_0104.html http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/feeds/0103scripps.html http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050105/NEWS/501050309/1006/SPORTS http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=05/01/05/5318951 ELF bomb construction sites http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=2005012018320972 Protesters plan campaign over Apple's "i-waste" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3079-2005Jan12.html US: WORKERS' STRUGGLES Youngstown newspaper strike http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6903/690361.html Youngstown newspaper strike - solidarity graffiti http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050112133910884 http://www.angelfire.com/la2/neworleansanarchists/pictures/strike.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d14.shtml Newspaper company settles with one of two sets of staff http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j18.shtml US newspaper hires one paper's staff as scabs in scheme to smash strike at other paper http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04338/421102.stm School bus drivers fight back against GPS and other attacks http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/32753/index.php Labour unrest at Parry Center http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/12/306390.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/feature/archive201.shtml#top Fresno nurses strike http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/1707975.php Illinois university strike is a success http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-2/524/524_11_NEIU.shtml Chicago colleges strike succeeds, but repression continues http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-2/524/524_11_LaborInBrief.shtml Bus drivers strike in New York http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-1/526/526_11_NYCBusDrivers.shtml http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6903/690363.html http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j18.shtml http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j12.shtml Midwest tractor workers locked out http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6848/684860.html http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=19&ItemID=6890 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d14.shtml St Louis nurses strike San Francisco hotel workers protest NY comedy workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d28.shtml Reuters workers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j18.shtml Strike at Illinois school New Jersey trash haulers strike http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j12.shtml Electrical workers strike and demonstrate Minneapolis public housing workers strike over wages http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d21.shtml Sugar mill workers end strike despite worsened contract Nursing home workers end strike, but are locked out http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j05.shtml New Jersey electrical workers walk out Pennsylvania school strike ends http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/dec2004/wkrs-d14.shtml Alisal teachers protest over contracts http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/local/10689707.htm Hudson building workers picket education authority http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13799347&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523587&rfi=6 Sacked auto workers protest hiring of scabs http://www.workdayminnesota.org/view_article.php?id=d772f750342aaaf9ac87774dd2388a44 UAW members protest Ford outsourcing http://money.cnn.com/2005/01/21/news/fortune500/ford_outsource.reut/ US: ANTI-CAPITALISM Chicago fare strike hits transit authority in the pocket - partial success for campaigners http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/12/16/8569767 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5536 http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/50169/index.php http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/50036/index.php http://www.ainfos.ca/04/dec/ainfos00296.html Guerrilla poetry in DC http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/112228/index.php Demo targets Coors over pro-Bush, anti-gay and anti-eco spending http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/9828/index.php New York Critical Mass victory - New Year ride goes ahead without harassment http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/137916/index.php But in Portland, harassment continues http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/307194.shtml Lone "Santa" protests predatory loan firm http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/12/305981.shtml Iowa students protest uni's link to Coke http://www.gazetteonline.com/article.aspx?art_id=94839&cat_id=1 NOT MY PRESIDENT, NOT MY WAR! THIS WHOLE SYSTEM IS ROTTEN TO THE CORE! In solidarity with the billions around the world who are being oppressed under the Bush agenda, The Internet Liberation Front has hacked and defaced six Republican websites who push forward the sick and violent ideology of warfare, capitalism, and profit over people. The will of the people was not expressed in these elections. Imperialist war, tax cuts for the rich, and ecological destruction are not in the interest of working people or the stability of our global society. The bush administration are rich lying thieves, these inaugurations are a joke, and the whole system is corrupt. We will not be their slaves and let them get away with murder. Activists and hackers alike are rising up to resist the Bush administration using street protest, sabatage, and hacktivism. You won't hear about it on their televisions cause the revolution is in the streets! The massive counter-inauguration protests in DC is only the beginning. Expect four more years of resistance to the U.S. war machine. Hacktivists of the world, unite! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2005 To coincide with the massive protests in DC against the inauguration of George W. Bush, the Internet Liberation Front has launched a hacktivist campaign against Republican websites. Six websites were hacked and defaced with a statement against the Bush agenda of war and corporate cronyism. "The will of the people was not expressed in these elections. Imperialist war, tax cuts for the rich, and ecological destruction are not in the interest of working people or the stability of our global society.", the hackers wrote in a statement posted on the websites belonging to the Arizona Young Republicans, Students4Freedom.com, CollegeConservative.com, Freedominion.ca, RepublicanFirst.com, and Freedominstitute.ca. The hackers, calling themselves the Internet Liberation Front, has done no damage to the systems and do not believe hacktivism to be a violent tactic. "Using direct action techniques such as website defacements and financial disruption, 'hacktivists' are able to put pressure and accountability on politicians to make progressive and revolutionary changes". You can see a mirror of the defacement at http://www.freewebs.com/internetliberationfront/ You can contact us through all of the following emails: ilf at dcemail.com, intlibfront at doneasy.com, and ilf at bolt.com What is the Internet Liberation Front(ILF)? The ILF is a decentralized tactic used by politically motivated hackers to commit acts of electronic civil disobedience against corrupt corporations and governments. Using direct action techniques such as website defacements and financial disruption, 'hacktivists' are able to put pressure and accountability on politicians to make bring progressive and revolutionary changes. We are not a specific group of people. We are a generation of hackers who feel indignation and want to build a world free from parasitic bosses and rulers. All who want to join the resistance movement are free to use the name ILF. BIOTIC BAKERS BRIGADE STILL GOING STRONG On December 6th, 2004, the Biotic Baking Brigade of Austin, Texas placed its first nomination for the Canary Awards of 2005 upon the face of John Aielli, host of KUT's morning show, Eclecticose (Austin's NPR affiliate). This honor was bestowed in order to illustrate the dangerous consequences of consolidating power into the hands of the few. Twenty years is a lengthy amount of time for anyone to hold a position-particularly one that involves four hours of access each weekday to the airwaves of a city. Quite simply, we intervened to save the listeners of Austin, Texas from having to listen to John Aielli be seduced by the illusion of his own power. John Aielli was nominated for this honor because he continually exploits the very pedestal upon which he sharpens his creative teeth; by bolstering the financial agendas of groups whose lifestyle and product positioning spectacle continue to dull our senses, John Aielli and his morning show continue to stifle the very mechanisms which afford the reception of his programming privilege. Furthermore, John Aielli trounced across the divide which necessarily segregates our audio experiences from our visual experiences. By intentionally disengaging from our collective folklore and showing his face on the south capitol steps to lead a "holiday sing along" it is only natural that an involuntary muscular contraction of the wrist occurred. We are all only so fortunate that it was a cream pie and not a bowl of warm gravy which too was present to assist in John Aielli's nomination. Cast your vote for the 2005 Canary nomination pool today at yellowbirdsgottafly at graffiti.net, or, as always, take matters into your own hands! Tuesday, November 9, 2004 Protester raises ire of mining chief Conservationists have thrown a pie into the face of a mining boss in the south-west of Western Australia. Police allege Chris Farnsworth hit Cable Sands general manager Collis Thorp in the face with a pie outside an energy and resources forum in Bunbury before spraying a nearby businessman with green dye. Mr Thorp used his presentation to industry leaders to launch a scathing attack on opponents of the mine. "The so-called non-violent action of the protest movement should also be talked about," he said. "For those who might have seen it this morning I was assaulted again this morning with a large pie of human excrement thrown in my face. "So these are the lovely peaceful protesters. Guys, I can assure you for those who come into confrontation with these people they are not peaceful protesters." Mr Farnsworth has rejected the claims, saying the pie was a coffee mouse. In defence of his non-violent direct action, he said "I must also take exception to the word 'thrown'. I prefer to regard the mousse as 'positively positioned' rather than thrown." US: BUSH PROTESTED Bush protested on visit to Macomb, Michigan http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/8788/index.php Voter Fraud demonstrators demand recount, reform http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4027/index.php DID SWAT TEAM REFUSE TO ATTACK SYRACUSE CHENEY DEMONSTRATORS? Refusal to attack demonstrators is one explanation for the sacking of the team leader and mass resignations of the squad http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenLeft_discussion/message/12185 US: HOMELESSNESS Homeless rights activist takes precarious perch - after much persecution, finally forced down on Xmas eve, hospitalised, and jailed over Xmas http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23380-2004Dec23.html http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/111564/index.php http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/111637/index.php Homeless activists propose lease of area where they live http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/35922.php Emergency warming centre set up by activists http://rochester.indymedia.org/feature/display/3305/index.php Homeless activists occupy mayor's office to demand shelter http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-2/524/524_11_NewsAndReports.shtml US: INTERNATIONAL PROTESTS Rally over human rights in China held in LA http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/12/22/state1845EST0131.DTL Protest at Lafayette WalMart over Mexico WalMart abuses http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/nation_world_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2420_3412121,00.html (Bugmenot login: biteme at bugmenot.com and password biteme) Toys R Us targeted for pursuing money from Iraq http://www.madhattersimc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3752&mode=thread&order=0 Bank's support for Israel protested http://michiganimc.org/feature/display/8518/index.php Ecocidal CEO gets home demo in solidarity with persecuted aboriginal Argentinians http://boston.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/32299 Another Sudan vigil http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0117-01.htm Solidarity protest at Indian embassy over patent law http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=57723 Gambians in US protest murder of journalist in Gambia http://allafrica.com/stories/200501181650.html US: ANIMAL RIGHTS PROTESTS Pasadena animal rights protest targets fur dealers http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~22097~2614335,00.html Animal researchers get home visits http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/307879.shtml PETA protest targets Iams http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Local/03AreaEAST06011905.htm US: PEACE PROTESTS Weekly peace vigil at Texas Capitol http://austin.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10208/index.php Madison peace protests continue - police harass activists, steal sign http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/21106/index.php Atlanta anti-war activists hold alternative New Year event http://atlanta.indymedia.org/feature/display/35760/index.php Dallas peace protesters enter mall and enter "comedic" chase with guards http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=1622&PHPSESSID=a0316b83969566b1b61133700af59d32 Anti-war march and rally in Minneapolis http://twincities.indymedia.org/feature/display/19439/index.php Xmas day protest in Fresno http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/1708021.php Peace demo targets Xmas shoppers http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/12/1712152.php Florida protesters target shoppers http://www.legitgov.org/report_schiffler_stpetersburg_122104.html Toledo urban warfare exercise protested http://www.counterpunch.com/ferner01192005.html Several Military Recruiting Vehicles Burned In Recent Days (from GI Special) December 07, 2004 Silver Spring, Md. (AP) Fire investigators in three area counties are trying to determine whether government passenger cars used by military recruiters are being targeted for arson. The three latest cases involved cars authorized for Army use that were parked outside of a recruiting office in the 8,200 block of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. They were burned early Monday. The case is similar to an incident that occurred outside of a military recruiting office in Fairfax last Monday. The Washington Post reports that a car parked near a recruiting station in 7,600 block of Richmond Highway was burned. Another vehicle was burned early Friday in the 13,900 block of Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway. US: WELFARE STATE Rally in support of trauma centre threatened with closure http://www.la.indymedia.org/news/2004/11/119392.php Students and workers give "grinch" mayor a lump of coal http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/20775/index.php Tennessee candlelit vigil for healthcare programme http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/3920/index.php Die-in staged opposite official "do" http://www.tnimc.org/feature/display/4094/index.php Workers' Comp recipients protest "reforms" http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/20/BUGCEAT4H81.DTL&type=business Rochester Martin Luther King commemmoration turns into school closure protest http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050115/NEWS01/501150321/1002/NEWS New protests planned at mayor's house about healthcare http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050116-9999-1m16sleep.html US: STUDENT PROTESTS Students protest for extension of university benefits to gay couples http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041215/NEWS21/412150412 School students protest removal of student president http://www.nbc25.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=3408 Students occupy president's office in protest over firing of professor http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/54049 US: PRISON PROTESTS Rumour of uprising circulates at US prison http://www.valleystar.com/localnews_more.php?id=56171_0_19_0_M San Quentin rally against the death penalty http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0119-04.htm http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/01/19/SCENE.TMP http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=01-21-05&storyID=20560 Death penalty opponents blockade prison gates http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24407~2659678,00.html MISCELLANEOUS PROTESTS Police smash church closure protest, ban worshippers from Xmas mass http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/26/churchclosings.ap/ Second protest also smashed with threats of arrests http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-boston27.html Students protest homeland security course http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=16429 Family paint house pink to protest astroturf controversy http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=2192&z=3&p= Messianic Hassidim clash with cops over plaque http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull%26cid=1103170794867 (Bugmenot login: bruce51 and password 69gibson) Woman poisons boss http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/07/1077664 US: INDIDENOUS PROTESTS Indigenous people protest to save shellmounds http://resist.ca/story/2004/12/21/163144/14 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Tue Jan 25 13:58:52 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 21:58:52 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades 5 (previously, forthcoming, repression, technology, theory, misc) Message-ID: <0ad501c50329$1001e7f0$3dc0ff3e@WOL> COMING SOON ON THE BARRICADES Germans plan Bush visit protests http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-12/29/article07.shtml PREVIOUSLY ON THE BARRICADES First jury trial arising from RNC protests ends with charges dismissed, as video footage and witnesses prove police are a bunch of LYING ASSHOLES!!! http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/136493/index.php Conviction for crossing line during fascist police close-off operation overturned http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37904-2004Dec30.html Background to the WalMart Mexico dispute http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0116-01.htm Phillipine transport strike http://www.philippinerevolution.org/cgi-bin/abshow/abshow.pl?year=2004;month=12;day=07;edition=eng;article=09 Repression against workers who occupied the labour office http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=22107 Background on the Copt revolt in Egypt http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/722/eg6.htm http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/722/pr1.htm Police free Copts detained during unrest http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/Default.pl?id=12337 Demonstrations against Lula in Brazil http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303076.html Argentina telecom strike ends http://www.union-network.org/UNITelecom.nsf/0/A88A6E6DD1CB092CC1256F6D004D0B0A?OpenDocument MST statement on 20 Nov massacre Statement by the MST (Landless Tenants Movement) On November 20, 2004 the day after the High Court of Par? upheld its acquital of the policemen responsible for the Eldorado dos Caraj?s massacre in 1996, five landless workers living in encampments in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais were killed by gunmen. There are 11 million hectares of vacant land in the state of Minas Gerais, and land reform in the state is a much longer process than it need be, due to the slow response of the Judiciary to the processes of expropriation. The Land Institute of Minas Gerais (ITER) has stated that the ranch is vacant and belongs to the state of Minas Gerais. But because of the slowness of the Judiciary, the process of settling the families has not been completed. About 200 families occupied the Nova Alegria Ranch in Minas Gerais since May 1, 2002. On November 20, eighteen well-armed men sprayed gunfire on the encampment. Thirteen workers were shot and five people died. In addition to the shootings, the gunmen set fire to all the shacks. On Sunday, November 21, 2004 Miguel Rosseto (Minister of Agrarian Development), Holf Hackbart (President of the Institute for Colonization and Land Reform - INCRA) and Nilmario Miranda (Special Presidential Secretary for Human Rights) arrived at the scene, promising to make an example of the punishment in this case. The surviving victims testified and three gunmen are already jailed. Arrest warrants have been issued for another 10 people. Evidence against the rancher who has been fighting the land occupiers is substantial: he planned the attack, contracted the gunmen, and personally participated in the massacre, according to the testimony of nearly all the victim witnesses. The Landless Workers Movement (MST) hopes that a precedent will be established by immediately arresting all the gunmen and the rancher who hired them. The MST proposes that the government of the state of Minas Gerais take immediate possession of the area and distribute the land to the workers. Afghanistan report: demonstrations against the occupation 17 January 2005. A World to Win News Service. Special to AWTWNS from 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. 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? 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. TAK BAI: 58 CHARGED; ONGOING UNREST - TYRES BURNT Charges against 58 people arrested at Tak Bai WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM [From: Bangkok Post 18 December 2004] Narathiwat _ Police have decided to press charges against 58 people arrested during the break-up of the Tak Bai protest. The suspects were charged with causing disorder, illegal possession of firearms and explosives and illegal assembly, said Pol Col Thanongsak Pattarapanu, deputy commander of Narathiwat police. Reports on the suspects, earlier released on bail, were submitted to the prosecution yesterday. Pol Col Thanongsak said the police action was based on solid evidence. ''We have video footage showing how they instigated chaos, threw objects and destroyed state property. Some suspects also attacked officials,'' he said. Pattani police chief Pol Maj-Gen Paitoon Pattanasopon, meanwhile, said the investigators had already submitted a report to the prosecution on the deaths of 78 detainees. The prosecution would decide if the police had over-reacted or simply done their duty, he said. A total of 1,354 witnesses, including villagers and relatives of the victims, were questioned in the inquiry. Autopsy results accompanied the report. In the latest violence in the deep South, a policeman was shot and killed by a gunman on a motorcycle in Pattani's Yaring district. Pol Cpl Charnyuth Phumdan, 29, of Yaring police station, was shot twice in the back with a .38 pistol while riding a motorcycle. He died on the way to hospital. Authorities in Narathiwat yesterday inspected the scene of three blazes reported on Thursday night in two districts. The officials waited until morning to investigate out of concern the reports were false and were intended to lure them into harm's way. The assailants had set tyres on fire. The first attack was reported at a house which had been turned into a temporary Sukhirin police check-point. The second attack was at a house in same district. The last took place at a wooden house in a tangerine orchard in Chanae district. Authorities also received a mysterious phone call reporting a fire in Wang district but it turned out to be a hoax. Meanwhile, a ranger was yesterday found dead in his room at an operations base in Pattani's Thung Yang Daeng district. Rachai Khaosang, 21, was found with a rifle by his side. Police believe he shot himself in the chin. The bullet passed through the wall and grazed a colleague working outside. Police suspected the ranger was under stress due to the ongoing tension in the deep South. In another incident, a defence volunteer in Pattani's Muang district, Dorloh Jehya, 45, was shot dead on Thursday evening by two assailants while riding his motorcycle home along Ban Krue Se and Ban Klong Maning of Muang district. Dorlor Jehya was shot three times in the back by two gunmen who were trailing him on another motorcycle. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the provincial hospital. Meanwhile, an Islamic religious teacher in Pattani was yesterday sentenced to 20 years and three months' in jail on firearms and bomb possession charges. The Pattani Provincial Court sentenced Abdulkhorday Saha, a 50-year-old Muslim religious teacher arrested in May last year. http://www.bangkokpost.com/181204_News/18Dec2004_news16.php Panel finds three senior security officers at fault PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR [From: Bangkok Post 29 December 2004] The independent inquiry into the Tak Bai tragedy criticised the disorganised transport of Tak Bai demonstrators, supervised by inexperienced, low-ranking personnel, that led to 78 fatalities, but found the deaths had not been caused intentionally. The fact-finding panel, chaired by Pichet Soonthornpipit, said there was no doubt the transfer of around 1,300 demonstrators from Tak Bai police station in 26-28 trucks had involved them being piled atop one another in the trucks, particularly at the back end of the convoy. As a result, many suffocated as they were crammed together so tightly in the vehicles. They were also found to have imbalances in their blood composition with their muscles having been destroyed, the nine-page summary findings of the panel, released by the government yesterday stated. The commission blamed senior military and police officers for their failure to supervise the transport of those in custody, particularly the Commander of the Fifth Infantry Division, Maj-Gen Chalermchai Viroonpetch, who had been assigned to oversee the transfer of the demonstrators but had left the scene early with no valid reason or justification. As a result, the organisation of the transport was left in the hands of inexperienced, low-ranking personnel who were only focused on trying to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible without taking into account other factors. The panel also blamed Fourth Army Area Deputy Commander Maj Gen Sinchai Nutsathit for not issuing any warnings or orders to other trucks after discovering protesters had suffocated on the first truck to reach the army camp destination. This would have helped to minimise the total number of deaths and the panel deemed this irresponsible conduct. The panel findings also faulted Fourth Army Commander Lt-Gen Pisarn Wattanawongkiri as he was in overall charge of the operation and thus responsibility lay with him. The panel recommended that in any future handling of incidents similar to Tak Bai, only core demonstrator leaders be held in custody, more care be taken over the safety and well-being of detainees with a sufficient number of vehicles to carry them all and for such operations to be supervised by commissioned officers. Those in custody should also be seated upright if transport over long distances was required and officers should be ready to provide basic care for them until they were handed over safely at their destination, the panel said. In addition, the probe suggested the setting-up of a committee to determine the amount of compensation for the families of those who died as a result of negligence or misconduct of government officials, and also for the injured and those who went missing during the tragedy. The committee would be chaired by Rung Kaewdaeng, the assistant minister, to determine the amount of state assistance and compensation that would be paid to those involved and also their relatives, said Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngam. He said the committee would also investigate the loss of property of demonstrators to return and compensate them for belongings seized by officers that subsequently vanished, particularly mobile phones. Mr Visanu said the government had assigned the Defence Ministry to conduct a disciplinary investigation into the three senior officers named by the inquiry as being at fault as well as allowing police to investigate according to civil law to prosecute those found responsible. The panel also called for the speed-up of the investigation into seven people who went missing after the Tak Bai riot though it refused to release their names. http://www.bangkokpost.com/291204_News/29Dec2004_news23.php Senior officer blasts inquiry Claims Tak Bai panel 'wrong to blame him' WASSANA NANUAM [From: Bangkok Post 31 December 2004] A senior military officer facing a disciplinary probe for alleged negligence during the Tak Bai protest says the independent inquiry was unfair to accuse him of leaving the scene too early. Maj-Gen Chalermchai Viroonpetch, commander of the Fifth Infantry Division, insisted he was at the scene from when the protest began until it ended. He said he did not leave until after the last army truck carrying demonstrators had left Tak Bai even though he had suffered head injuries when protesters threw rocks at him. ''Why did the probe panel conclude that I, as a commander, was not at the scene to handle the transport of protesters. It's unfair as I was there from the morning until 8pm. I waited until the last truck carrying demonstrators left Tak Bai police station for Ingkhayutthaboriharn camp in Pattani,'' said Maj-Gen Chalermchai. The independent inquiry, chaired by Pichet Soonthornpipit, said it was the disorganised transport of Tak Bai demonstrators, supervised by inexperienced, low-ranking personnel, that led to 78 suffocation deaths, but found the deaths were not intentional. About 1,300 demonstrators were rounded up on Oct 25 and transported by army trucks. The protesters were piled on top of one another in the trucks, resulting in deaths. The panel blamed senior military and police officers for their failure to supervise the transport of those in custody, particularly Maj-Gen Chalermchai, who the panel said had been assigned to oversee the transfer of demonstrators but had left the scene early with no valid reason. The Fifth Infantry Division commander said the findings were discouraging, since he had worked hard that day. However, he was willing to go in front of the disciplinary probe and give testimony, he said. Maj-Gen Chalermchai, a former classmate of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, is one of the three high-ranking military officers facing disciplinary investigation. The other two are Fourth Army commander Lt-Gen Pisarn Wattanawongkhiri and Fourth Army deputy commander Maj-Gen Sinchai Nutsathit. Lt-Gen Pisarn was in overall charge of the operation. Maj-Gen Sinchai is faulted for not issuing warnings to other trucks after discovering protesters had suffocated on the first truck to reach the army camp. http://www.bangkokpost.com/311204_News/31Dec2004_news17.php Thai MP could be jailed for airing Tak Bai video http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_20-12-2004_pg4_13 Thai officials could be punished for Tak Bai http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/123548/1/.html Haiti prison massacre: eyewitness evidence emerges http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1376873,00.html Palm Island: Right to "Riot" http://darwin.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=2702 Aboriginal leader speaks out on Palm Island police atrocities http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Police-criticised-over-Palm-Island-unrest/2004/12/24/1103825086371.html?oneclick=true Solidarity march http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6902/690210.html More on Palm Island http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6847/684710.html Loitering case against migrant workers in DC set to be dismissed http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/114201/index.php Columbus Day protesters acquitted http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2665635,00.html CHINA: Shenzen factory owner shocked by strike http://www.asianlabour.org/archives/003324.php#more Italy general strike http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2004/December/olat-Italy_Dec2004.htm Haiti prison massacre http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1227-28.htm http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/19/1612247 Ukraine's "orange revolution" - an eyewitness account http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2005/377/index.html?id=pp9.htm Argentina telecom strike http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6848/684862.html Brazil march for land http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6848/684804.html Iceland teachers end strike http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6848/684811.html OOPS! MISSED THIS ONE. Buy Nothing Day in Japan (29-11-04) http://japan.indymedia.org/index.php?limit_start=8 December 6th - big labour demo in Lahore, Pakistan http://www.scottishsocialistvoice.net/back%20issues%2004/issue%20202.htm Haiti: General strike in response to UN repression http://www.workers.org/ww/2004/haiti1230.php OINKERS ON THE BARRICADES AMERICANS USE CHILDREN AS HUMAN SHIELDS American aggressors use small children as human shields in assault on ar-Ramadi. The correspondent for Mafkarat al-Islam in ar-Ramadi reported that US occupation forces on Thursday morning drove into the western neighborhoods of ar-Ramadi, arresting 32 small children. Local residents told Mafkarat al-Islam that the US troops lured the children from in front of their houses with candy then put them in tanks or armored vehicles and then attacked the al-Bu Farraj Neighborhood and the 17 April Neighborhood to raid and search houses there. The correspondent wrote that the Resistance was in an extremely anguished situation, for they could not attack the Americans out of concern for the children whose relatives appealed to the Resistance not to attack the US column for fear that their children would be killed. US troops stormed into the city at 9am Thursday and were still there when the Mafkarat al-Islam correspondent sent in his report, posted at 12:25pm Mecca time Thursday afternoon. The Americans arrested 12 persons on charges of being with the Resistance, as the children, being held on the tops of the tanks, were reduced to tears in their terror. The Resistance did not dare attack the American column which drove around the city however it wanted, taking advantage of the Resistance fighters self-imposed restraint out of consideration of the captive youngsters. One father agreed that the Resistance should attack the American column even if is son, Hudhayfah, aged 3 would die. But the Resistance rejected his offer. http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/994728.htm IRAQI OINKERS MISBEHAVE National Guard Abuses Anger Public: "This Isn't A Police Force - It's A Bunch Of Thugs In Uniform." By Hussein Ali al-Yasiri and Imad al-Shara in Baghdad (ICR No. 92, 29-Nov-04) The US-backed and trained Iraqi National Guard is facing allegations of misconduct and ill-discipline. In recent weeks, there have been a number of complaints about guardsmen beating and abusing members of the public. Farook Shamran, an investigator at a police station in the al-Beya'a suburb of Baghdad, says he was not only beaten up and accused of being a terrorist by guardsmen, but also alleges that they stole a large sum of money from his vehicle. "My brother-in-law and I were arrested by guardsmen who broke into our house one night. I showed them my police ID but they beat us both and then arrested us. We were in custody for two days, during which time they beat us again and accused us of being insurgents," he said. "Eventually, I was released, but when I got back to my car, which the guards had kept the key to, I discovered they had taken the money I had left there. Almost 2,000 US dollars and two million Iraqi dinar [1300 dollars] had gone missing," he continued. "It was stolen money we had recovered from a gang we arrested, and technically it belongs to the government. "I tried to follow up on the incident and get an explanation but no one would talk to me. This isn't a police force - it's a bunch of thugs in uniform. Unless the government sorts this out quickly, the National Guard will become useless and corrupt." In another incident, Doctor Bashar Ali, an orthopedist at al-Kindi hospital in Baghdad, said guardsmen tried to force him to treat one of their colleagues ahead of other more serious cases. "They told me to ignore everyone else and treat their colleague first. When I refused they started to slap and punch me. Other staff had to intervene to prevent them arresting me," he said. While the behaviour of some guardsmen has provoked anger, there are those who say that even their appearance raises doubts about their professionalism. "Their uniform looks quite like the US military's and they've started wearing black sun glasses and cutting their hair really short too. They also try to act like them, holding their rifles with their fingers on the trigger and using sign language rather than talking." While senior guardsmen insist they will clamp down on indiscipline, some are not convinced. Members of the municipal council in the Baghdad neighbourhood of Al-Rashid, who recently had a run in with guardsmen carrying out over-zealous searches of council members entering a meeting, said they weren't confident the situation would improve. "We asked for guardsmen to come and provide security for a meeting we were having. But the lieutenant on duty was incredibly rude to the people they were searching," said Jacob al-Mosawi, a council member. "Even Saddam's henchmen didn't talk like that to normal people." Mosawi said his colleagues complained to guard commanders, who said they were appalled by what had happened and would take necessary steps to stamp it out. "But," said Mosawi, "As far as we can see, nothing has changed." POLICE STATE "DEMOCRACY" IN IRAQ Phones down, borders sealed, troops on streets: time for democracy Richard Beeston, Times Online State of alert will match the battle for Fallujah Baghdad, January 14, 2005 -- THE plan sounds more like the preparations for war than the holding of Iraq's first democratic elections. But such is the dire state of Iraqi security today that the authorities in Baghdad are considering a complete lockdown of the country ahead of polls in two weeks' time. According to Iraqi and Western sources, international borders will be sealed, movement between cities tightly controlled, mobile phone networks switched off and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi security forces and foreign troops deployed in a show of force not seen since the height of the war nearly two years ago. The draconian measures aim to prove to the estimated 15 million voters that it is safe to cast their ballot, while deterring the insurgents from killing off the election with their campaign of violence and intimidation. Although details will be kept secret until the last moment, it is clear that Iyad Allawi, the Prime Minister, is planning a countrywide alert similar to the one he imposed during the storming of Fallujah in November by US Marines. A state of emergency law, granting the authorities sweeping powers, has recently been renewed until the beginning of February to cover the January 30 election date. That will allow curfews to be imposed, restrict movement between cities, open special courts where police can obtain arrest warrants around the clock and seal off Iraq's land and air borders to civilian traffic. With that in place the Iraqis are also planning to halt the movement of insurgents, who seem able to strike at will from southern Iraq all the way to the northern capital of Mosul, currently the bloodiest city in the country. Traffic is expected to be strictly limited to those with special passes and the mobile phone network, which is a patchy service at best, will be turned off to hamper rebelcommunications. "I would like to assure the Iraqi people that we will protect every citizen who will come forward to vote in the elections," said Falah al-Naqib, the Iraqi Interior Minister, yesterday, after meeting police chiefs from around the country to co-ordinatethe plans. Arguably the key factor in the operation will be the use of foreign forces, particularly the heavily reinforced 150,000 US troops and, in the South, the newly strengthened British contingent of some 9,000. Although a political liability, the coalition troops remain the only force powerful enough to take on the insurgency in an open fight. A senior British official said that the aim was to have Iraqi forces, drawn from the police and National Guard, provide security around the thousands of polling stations dotted across the country. Foreign forces would be deployed in the vicinity and ready to step in as reinforcements in case of an attack. Some of the tactics being used to protect candidates and voters will make the Iraqi elections a unique event. All candidates for the national assembly appear on one of the 111 party lists registered with the electoral commission. In many cases the names of those who wish to stand for public office are not actually available and will only be shown on request inside the polling station on election day. Polling stations too are going undercover. The location of many polling stations will not be announced until a few days before the election. The precautions are certainly necessary. Several election workers have already been killed by militants, who have said that taking part in the poll is a crime punishable by death. US military commanders and the Iraqi Government have written off the idea of holding normal polls in four of Iraq's 18 provinces, where the Sunni Muslim rebellion is at its strongest. Most of the preparations seem to be geared toward protecting areas in the South and North, to allow the country's Shia Muslim majority and the autonomous Kurdish population to vote in peace. That remains a formidable challenge. On Wednesday night gunmen killed Sheikh Mahmoud al-Madaen, a representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of Iraq's Shia Muslims, who has told his brethren that voting is a religious duty. Sheikh Mahmoud was killed with his son and four bodyguards in the city of Salman Pak, south of Baghdad. Halim al-Mohaqeq, another al-Sistani aide, was found dead in the holy city of Najaf. The deaths coincide with fresh violence in the northern city of Mosul, where a suicide car bomber and a separate car bomb killed at least two Iraqi soldiers. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1439684,00.html US atrocities in Iraq - houses routinely trashed and looted during searches, people nearly shot for using mobile phones in cars, anti-occupation activists and even tennis players forced to hold their meetings abroad. http://www.islamonline.net/english/In_Depth/Iraq_Aftermath/2004/12/article_03.shtml U.S. Troops Burn Down Baghdad Shops 14 January 2005 Aljazeera US troops burned down commercial shops in al-Radwaniya district, west of Baghdad, saying they came under attack from that area, Aljazeera has learned. Eyewitnesses said the US troops encircled the area and closed all roads to it before setting the shops ablaze. (from GI Special) Collective punishment is policy for US in Iraq http://www.uruknet.info/?p=8882 American eco-terrorism - bodies dumped in rivers, causing health problems and ruining the fishing industry http://www.jihadunspun.net/intheatre_internal.php?article=101206&list=/home.php& ARE THEY KILLING THEM INSTEAD? US orders troops to take fewer prisoners to avoid abuse scandals in Afghanistan http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=4498 Massive abuse of detainees exposed http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8445&s2=27 http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8360&s2=23 German abducted in Macedonia, given to Americans, deported to Afghanistan and tortured http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1390256,00.html New evidence of Gitmo abuse emerges, as the US tries to silence defence lawyers and others http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1382033,00.html First-hand account of Abu Ghraib abuse http://www.jihadunspun.net/intheatre_internal.php?article=101268&list=/home.php Detention in Iraq is growing, and is mostly against innocents http://electroniciraq.net/news/1775.shtml POLICE STATE AMERICA Inauguration Marchers Forbidden To Look At Bush Other instructions given performers include a warning not to look directly at Bush while passing the presidential reviewing stand, not to look to either side and not to make any sudden movements. 01/11/2005 By: Joan Lowy, Scripps Howard WASHINGTON - The nation's 55th presidential inauguration, the first to be held since 9/11, will take place this month under perhaps the heaviest security of any in U.S. history. Dozens of federal and local law enforcement agencies and military commands are planning what they describe as the heaviest possible security. Virtually everyone who gets within eyesight of the president either during the Jan. 20 inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol or the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue later in the day will first go through a metal detector or receive a body pat-down. Other instructions given performers include a warning not to look directly at Bush while passing the presidential reviewing stand, not to look to either side and not to make any sudden movements. Thousands of performers - marching bands, color guards, pompon dancers, hand bell-ringers, drill teams on horseback and Civil War re-enactors - will be bused early in the morning to the Pentagon parking lot across the Potomac in Virginia. While performers disembark and go through metal detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs will search the buses. Then everybody will get back on the buses for a trip to the National Mall, where they will spend most of the day in heavily guarded warming tents. Participants have been warned that they will not be allowed to leave the tents except to go to portable toilets accompanied by a security escort. "They want you to just look straight ahead," said Danielle Adam, co-director of the Mid American Pompon All Star Team from Michigan, which also performed in the 2001 inaugural parade. "Last time we went security was really tight," Adam said. "This time we got almost like a book of things we needed to fill out beforehand." (NOTE: I've no love for such bigots, but this is a very dangerous precedent, giving out 47-year sentences for protesting disruptively) Christian Activists Face Up To 47 Years Behind Bars For Gay Protest (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Four evangelists have pleaded not guilty to hate crimes charges related to a demonstration at last October's Outfest in Philadelphia. The four members of Repent America are charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal conspiracy and inciting to riot. If convicted they each could be sentenced up to 47 years in jail. The four, and 6 others who were not charged, marched to the front of a stage at Outfest and began to yell Biblical passages to drown out the events on stage. Police attempted to get the protestors to move to to an area on the edge of the site. Instead they went deeper into the gay crowd. Using a bullhorn they condemned homosexuality. They then got into an argument with a group of Pink Angels, who screamed back. It was at that point police intervened. The entire incident was recorded. It occurred as filmmakers were working on a documentary. The defendants are represented by the Mississippi-based American Family Association which is involved in a number of cases across the country opposing gay rights. American dissident sent to mental asylum, forcibly drugged http://theempirejournal.com/albany_woman_forcibly_injected_w.htm Random DNA tests by cops are a threat to privacy, freedom http://mparent7777.blog-city.com/read/1008748.htm US statists crack down on ex-students http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/010605loans.html Nicaraguan leftists banned from US in racist, vindictive Patriot Act border hysteria http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0412220366dec22,1,6185605.story?ctrack=1&cset=true Arrested for telling lawyer jokes http://groups.msn.com/Anarchists/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=68 Oinkers fingerprint at traffic stops http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?s=2776926 Cops stop fingerprinting traffic violators Chief blames news media for publicizing 'Big Brother' issue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: January 13, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern ? 2005 WorldNetDaily.com With public fears of a police state being created in Green Bay, Wis., law enforcement authorities are dropping a new policy where officers collected fingerprints from traffic violators. "The news media blew it out of proportion," Police Chief Craig Van Schyndle told the Green Bay Press Gazette. He says his department received numerous phone calls and e-mails from people opposed to the voluntary practice aimed at lowering the number of identity-theft crimes. Green Bay Police Chief Craig Van Schyndle "But, of course, they were listening to the news media ... how horrendous this was," Van Schyndle said. The chief says there's been a trend of suspects giving police false names, and the fingerprinting could prevent innocent citizens from being implicated in a crime committed by someone else. But he admitted only about a half-dozen wrongly jailed citizens would be affected in a year. "Something that we tried to do to assist the victims and protect the public was changed to a Big Brother ... that we were keeping a database on these fingerprints," Van Schyndle told the paper. James Plummer, director of the National Consumer Coalition's Privacy Group, said there simply wasn't enough justification to collect biometric data from those not involved in serious offenses. "Isn't there another way they can work around it rather than just gathering more files?" Plummer said. WBAY-TV in Green Bay has been among the stations publicizing the fingerprint policy, airing negative reaction from motorists who felt the policy was going too far. "You look at the ID, that's what they're there for," Ken Scherer from Oconto, Wis., told the station. "Either it's you or it's not. I don't think that's a valid excuse." Carol Pilgrim of Green Bay said, "I would feel uncomfortable, but I would do it." Though the policy was voluntary, defense attorney Jackson Main said citizens tend to follow instructions from officers. "[Drivers] could say no and not have to worry about getting arrested," Main told the Press Gazette. "On the other hand, I'm like everybody else. When a police officer tells me to do something, I'm going to do it whether I have the right to say no or not." North Portland drink sale ban targets black, poor people in social cleansing exercise http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/12/306879.shtml US bans al-Manar TV station http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=4327 Parents arrested for letting youths drink - could be jailed for a year http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0106-09.htm School strip-searches pupils as legalised child abuse spreads http://www.local6.com/news/4061915/detail.html Victims of police violence sue police over attack on school protest http://www.ktsm.com/news/story.ssd?c=88facd342b4a493f http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20050114-11951.shtml Korea - social cleansing freaks attack protest sites http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200412/26/200412262148133579900090409041.html Nepal Maoists attack protesters http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=25968 http://www.nepalnews.com.np/ntimes/issue226/nation.htm http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=27856 http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=27842 Fear of Maoists causes exodus from Dailekh http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sfqzpda6Qa2ra.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20041218 Locals complain of Nepalese Army excesses http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=26048 Indonesian army attacks Aceh in tsunami aftermath http://ipsnews.net/new_nota.asp?idnews=26885 Turkey charges poet and protesters with treason - death penalty threatened (though unlikely to be given) - for protesting against hijab ban http://manila.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=2366 http://arkansas.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/5891 Saudi Arabia jails and plans to flog protesters http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=57439&d=12&m=1&y=2005 Mexico forest defender stitched up http://www.americaspolicy.org/articles/2004/0412arriaga.html Uganda: Nazi judge jails student for criticising the government over a disappearance http://allafrica.com/stories/200501040505.html New Zealand frees Zaoiu (about friggin time) http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=4204 http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=4208 Israeli ransacking reported by ISM http://www.palsolidarity.org/DesktopModules/Articles/ArticlesView.aspx?tabID=0&alias=Rainbow&lang=en-US&ItemID=744&mid=10618 French oinkers raid newspapers to find sources http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2894&Language=EN Australian peace group persecuted http://sydney.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=49486&group=webcast Bakhtiyaris deported in the dead of night - now at great risk http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/85501.php Mass arrests and detentions in Russian city http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/01/303678.html Spanish EXPO protesters persecuted - false charges, threats of multi-million Euro fines http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302960.html Pigs near Gleneagles plot local ID cards, roadblocks and violence against protesters, making terroristic threats against those who defy their fascistic demands http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303209.html UK doctor suspended for protesting against cuts http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3993185 Worker sacked for blog critical of boss http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1388249,00.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4167629.stm Cops jail council tax refusenik after moving the goalposts to make impossible demands http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303042.html The men labelled a threat to Britain include one who has no arms and another who is wheelchair-bound with polio. "They feel they're being used for political purposes and were arrested to create fear in the public," he said. "They know they're no threat. They feel that if they had a fair trial, they could prove to the public they're not a threat. They say they escaped as refugees to this country for safety and justice: it's ludicrous for them to be described as a threat to this country." http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302986.html Social cleansing by the IRA - youth with disabilities attacked http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,418834,00.html SRI LANKA SOLDIERS MURDER PRISONERS DURING TSUNAMI Prisoners demand to be freed and try to break out; guards and soldiers attack with lethal force "In the midst of the many tragic stories in Sri Lanka on December 26, the killing of two prisoners at Galle jail stands out as a demonstration of the ruthlessness of the state apparatus towards ordinary people. A magistrate, who held an inquiry into the deaths, commended the actions of the guards. As far as he was concerned, the prisoners had no rights, even if their lives were in danger. Indifferent to the sentiments of the prisoners, he insisted that the authority of the state had to be upheld, regardless of the circumstances-in this case, a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions." http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/sril-j04.shtml Talebanising Bhutan http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=29095 BIGOT SCUM JUDGE JAILS ANTI-DEPORTATION ACTIVIST In sentencing Justin to the full 90 days recommended by the Crown Prosecutor, the Judge cited the "deterence" & "denunciation" principles of the Criminal Code of Canada: in other words, acts of solidarity and sympathy must be "denounced" and "detered" through the imposition of criminal sanctions serious enough to cause others to think twice before engaging in similar acts of decency. The Judge also said, with a straight face, that violations of the "rule of law" undermine "legitimate social protest." LET'S "DETER" THE SCUMBAG JUDGES WITH MOLOTOVS!!! http://www.ainfos.ca/04/dec/ainfos00258.html Evil police beat up and arrest someone for being a tsunami victim! http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/11/14175/9782 Worker sacked for anti-boss blogging http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4167629.stm http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1388249,00.html TECHNOLOGY ON THE BARRICADES Bosses snoop via GPS http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-01-03-gps-supervision_x.htm ID smart cards trialled on Native Canadians http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/7/6523/36141 BRAINS ON THE BARRICADES MASSIVE FOUCAULT ARCHIVE AVAILABLE FREE AS PDF'S! http://csml.calumet.yorku.ca/~engin/courses/6320/2003.htm Could the rainforest have been home to complex societies? http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2005/01/04/a_rain_forest_debate_could_it_have_been_home_to_complex_societies/ Ethnography of West Bengal radicalism http://www.epw.org.in/showArticles.php?root=2004&leaf=12&filename=7980&filetype=html The modern anti-world - John Zerzan http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/23/0566747 Towards an anti-authoritarian Islam http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/22/5321600 Resisting work - the case of schoolchildren http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=05/01/10/6059471 ALSO ON THE BARRICADES US army teaches soldiers to hate Arabs http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3981703/detail.html Iraq resistance calls on troops to desert, seek refuge http://montages.blogspot.com/2005/01/video-message-from-iraqi-resistance.html Half the political parties withdraw from Iraq's puppet elections http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/13/content_2454796.htm Rand Corporation study urges US military to divide-and-rule http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8435&s2=27 Behind the revolt in Balochistan http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/index.htm Tribal movement could become full-scale insurgency http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_15-1-2005_pg7_53 Berber leaders start talking with Algerian state http://www.algeria-interface.com/new/rubriques/english/dispatchesafp.php?doc=050109144137.m26uo7gj.xml Algerian state cuts deal with Berber leaders http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=11861 Nepal tribes demand autonomy - Madhessi autonomy is especially high on the agenda as ethnic insurgency takes off http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=29078 http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=28571 http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=29233 Tribal rebels clash with Maoists http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=28571 Arctic elders give message about climate change http://thunderbay.indymedia.org/news/2004/11/16394 GM is neo-colonialism - Africa doesn't need it! http://www.currentconcerns.ch/archive/2004/06/20040607.php Living with rats http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/12/306316.shtml Bush craps on his own economy - foreign students vote with feet, head for Europe http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0103-30.htm How America has sold out the Uighurs http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1215-32.htm TITLE: Evicted squatters move to riverbanks SOURCE: Jakarta Post - January 14, 2005 Jakarta -- Hundreds of squatters evicted from a three-hectare land owned by PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) in Tanah Abang district, Central Jakarta have set up tents along the banks of West Flood Canal. Many evictees said they were forced to stay on the riverbank because they had no other place to live. Others said they would rent rooms close to Tanah Abang market where they worked. Maman, 40, one of the evictees, said he would erect a temporary shelter on the riverbank. "I don't have money to rent a room. I hope I will be allowed to erect a tent here," Maman, a hot coffee vendor, said on Thursday. He claimed that he was not entitled to the Rp 500,000 (US$55.60) compensation from the administration because he was not registered as a squatter in the area, also known as a red light district. Central Jakarta deputy mayor Dadang Efendi said each of the 885 families evicted on Wednesday would receive Rp 500,000 compensation from the administration. But many of the evictees did not know their rights. Dadang confirmed that only registered squatters received such compensation. According to Maman, he lived alone in Jakarta because his family lived in his hometown in Indramayu, West Java. "I need to stay here to earn a living. I have been vending hot coffee in Tanah Abang market for over five years," said the man, who has two children still studying in elementary school. Meanwhile, PT KAI said that it planned to build warehouses on the land, which was cleared from the squatters. Workers began fencing the land with zinc plates to prevent the squatters from returning. Spokesman of PT KAI for Greater Jakarta Ahmad Sujadi said the company would also construct the first stage of double-track railways, connecting Tanah Abang to Serpong in Tangerang. Currently, the Serpong-Tanah Abang route is only served by a single track railway. Sujadi said his company cooperated with private company PT Bertono Yudha Kencana to construct warehouses. Sujadi said PT KAI had to expand its businesses to other sectors because it needed money for the construction of the warehouses. "To earn profit, we cannot rely just on our transportation services to the public," he was quoted by Antara as saying. HOW TO ORGANISE A GENERAL STRIKE (fwd from UK Left Network) From: benpincas Dave Parks wrote: > If we had the political clout to organise a general strike.... In your mind a strange "if". You don't need political clout to arrange a strike: being able to arrange a strike gives you political clout. I met some of the comrades who arranged the general strike in a province of Nigeria. They said that nobody had heard of them, they weren't in some big union. But they worked from the basis, BOTTOM UP, and they managed to get everyone in the province involved. It was, after all, an issue about which everyone was concerned. After they had striked once, and followed it with another, then they started getting the invitations to go to negotiations. Ben -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Tue Jan 25 14:00:00 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 22:00:00 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades 6 (calls to action, silly stories, and some humour...) Message-ID: <0adc01c50329$38791910$3dc0ff3e@WOL> CALL FOR ACTION: Free Iraqi Doctor jailed by America since March 2003! http://www.petitiononline.com/freehuda/petition-sign.html? http://uruknet.info/?s1=2&p=8565&s2=02 Support victim of stitch-up in America http://www.petitiononline.com/KenGLett/petition.html Support the Montana mental asylum resisters - email the new governor http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/28/1991203 Support Iranian textile workers' struggle http://www.labournet.net/world/0501/iran1.html Iraq peace petition http://ga3.org/campaign/iraq_peace?rk=e7_eA351kjGcW Petition against US cyber-warfare against dissidents http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?dodcw1 Petition to end the embargo against Cuba http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?martys Protest threats against Colombian human rights activist http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/mayorga?rk=YdwzzX41xu_zW Protest political detention of peasant leader http://www.labournet.net/world/0501/colomb1.html Petition to persuade Canada to accept US war resisters http://petitiononline.com/resister/petition.html Stop WalMart from building on pyramids! http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/bangla_vision/message/4869 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/389702706 http://www.petitiononline.com/chicano1/petition.html BOYCOTT TAMAR RIDGE WINES over SLAPP against protesters http://www.sydney.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=49730&group=webcast Another Working Man Crushed By A Corporate Giant! Still Stepping on the Little Man a year Later! Write & Call to Complain About This Racial Injustice! Thomas Atkins is an American Indian from the Chickahominy and Mattaponi Tribes of Virginia. He was an employee of Winchester Homes Inc. of Baltimore and Bethesda Maryland, a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Corp. During the first almost two years Thomas was employed there, he never had any problems. In fact, He was a First Aide-First Responder for the Company and he was on the Safety Committee for 2003. As well as winning the first annual Safety Slogan contest in 2002. The plant manager at that time was a Mr.Don Gardner. You never heard any negative racial terms come out of anyone's mouth. Mainly because Don Gardner would not have put up with it. Throughout 2003 & 2004 however, while working at the Baltimore Plant Thomas was called a variety of names and threatened with bodily harm on many occasions by fellow employees. This in turn subjected him to a very hostile work environment. He was made to feel on edge and anxious during most of his work day. He complained to his immediate supervisor's Edward Brooks Sr and the new plant manager Edward Duffy several times. Only to be told by Edward Duffy, " Your Indian, I don't understand why you let these guys get you angry. After all, that's not the way of your people." He tried to let these things go. This is when he noticed that he was being called into Mr.Duffy's office on a regular basis and told how he wasn't doing his job safely or his quality was slipping. As though he was trying to find any reason to write Thomas up. But daily Thomas was called "Redskin", "Pocahontas","Injun", "Coshise", "Chief", "Tonto" or "Geronimo". On a few occasions co-workers that would walk by his work station would tap their hand on their mouth and yell, "Woo Woo Woo!" like the old westerns of the 40's and 50's. Once right in front of Larry Freiert(the Baltimore Manager), Edward Duffy & Edward Brooks. When he turned around to see who did it. All three along with the employee were laughing as though it were a big joke. Even with the bosses around, Thomas was subjected to continuous and severe racial degradation at the hands of his co-workers. He recieved no assistance from those supervisors who were supposed to be his protection from any wrong doing on the job. While others on the job were allowed to play their hip-hop and heavy-metal music as loud as they wanted. Thomas was repeatedly told by Edward Brooks Sr. or Edward Duffy ( at least three times a week) to turn his music down. Just because he played the traditional powwow music of his American Indian Ancestors is no reason why Thomas should have been singled out to turn his music down while everyone else was left alone. Thomas was made to feel less than human during much of his work hours. On one occasion while using the restroom an employee was complaining about all the new quota's they had to make, now that Edward Duffy had taken over as Plant Manager. Thomas was Told, " You know how these white people are Tom, Your a Cracker just like them" by a fellow co-worker. Thomas told him, "never call me anything other then my name". This was even witnessed by another co-worker. Thomas reported this to Ed Duffy and was told, "Just leave it alone, if you just ignore it then they won't want to tease you. I see you in my office more then anyone else here. Just do your job and stop complaining". So, Thomas decided to try and not rock the boat. Then one morning about a month later, came a series of racial insults by another fellow employee whom Thomas had complained about many times. Everyone was gathered by the snack machine area when the co-worker called Thomas the "ugliest version of Pocahontas" He'd ever seen and "A broke down pale face version of Tonto". This got a laugh out of the crew, including both Edward Duffy(plant manager) and Edward Brooks(floor supervisor). Only after Thomas yelled at his co-worker to never call him that again did Edward Brooks speak up to say,"Okay, that's enough of that, let's get to work". Later that day, Thomas was being cussed out by the same co-worker from the restroom incident for supposedly making a part the wrong size for a wall. When Thomas ignored him and didn't argue, he proceeded to fill out a negative form on Thomas' quality and safety. That was when Thomas had enough. This time instead of going to Edward Brooks or Edward Duffy, He went to the Winchester Homes Baltimore Manager, Mr.Larry Freiert. Thomas explained everything to him. Then he called Edward Duffy in and asked him what happened. Edward Duffy denied that Thomas had ever complained to him. Mr.Freiert told Thomas to go back to work. They sent for the co-worker and upon his return he began yelling at Thomas, "You fat ass bitch, f**k you Pocahontas.You can suck my d**k". Edward Brooks witnessed this but only stopped it after Thomas began yelling back at his co-worker about him being "A racist bastard". The only time that anything was ever said by the bosses was when Thomas would verbally defend myself. He even got written up after a co-worker and friend of Edward Brooks failed to do his assigned work because he had been standing around talking to Mr.Brooks most of the day. Edward Brooks wanted Thomas to do extra work to make up for it. Thomas reported this to Edward Duffy. After doing so the co-worker came into Thomas' work area and threatened him saying, "If I get written up because of your Redskin ass, I'm gonna f**k you up when we get off work." Thomas stated to him,"Don't wait till we get off. If you want a piece of me then come get it." Edward Brooks took Thomas down to Mr.Duffy's office and wrote him up for the altercation. Yet the co-worker was never disciplined in any way. Then to top it all off. Thomas injured his back and left shoulder in march of 2003. After minimal care and Light Duty (cause Mr.Duffy didn't want to have any loss time injuries) ordered by the Concentra doctors they took Thomas too. Thomas was still in pain. After telling this to Mr.Duffy on several occasions he informed Thomas that,"You can use your sick days, but if you take too many you can be terminated." Then in November of 2003 He hurt the same left side of his back and shoulder again. Thomas was taken to see the Concentra doctors again(a company hired by employers). He was given minimal therapy and light duty (again so there would not be a loss time injury). Even after telling the doctors and Mr.Duffy that He was still hurting. The doctors released Thomas back to work and Mr.Duffy again told him that he could lose his job if he took too many sick days. Then in February of 2004 Thomas smacked his thumb with a hammer while nailing a cross-brace. He was again taken to Concentra instead of a hospital. Where even after he requested that the nail (which was barely hanging on) be removed. They pushed it back under the cuticle and stitched it in place and put Thomas on light duty (even though he couldn't use his left hand). With the stitches still in and under doctors care. Thomas was called into Mr.Duffy's office and fired. Their excuse was that he was Un-safe. Thomas found an attorney to represent him in his Workers Comp. claim. But Winchester Homes Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Lumber Corporation has kept this case tied up in worker comp for 10 months as another way of retaliation . Then tried to say that Thomas injuries were not that extensive. They came up with any reason they could to fire him. This was really done because Thomas was making so many complaints to his supervisors Edward Brooks Sr.( Plant Forman), Edward Duffy (Plant Supervisor) and Larry Freiert (Winchester Homes Baltimore Manager) about the insensitive and racial harassment at the hands of his co-workers. Thomas Atkins was subjected to continuous, pervasive and severe racial harrassment all the way up until the day he was fired on 2-14-04 and his employer Winchester Homes and Weyerhaeuser Corp. did nothing to help. Instead they wrote him up for small things that everyone else was doing to cover up his complaints of racial intolerance. Thomas was fired for no other reason than complaining about the daily racist treatment he was subjected to. I think that if enough people call and write to complain about the treatment of this Native American man. This company just might get the message to give this man his just due and stop the ongoing attempt to stop him from recieving compensation for his injuries and his wrongful termination. I have called to complain and wrote emails to the addresses below. I urge everyone who reads this to do the same. Don't let these people get away with this! After sending your emails and making your telephone calls. Please pass this on to everyone you know and to all Yahoo, MSN and AOL groups. Sincerely, Helen Runningwater A Choctaw Wife & Mother Company numbers & email addresses: Weyerhaeuser Winchester Homes 1-800-525-5440 1-301-803-4800 or 1-301-474-4411 or 1-301-489-1245 1-800-716-3488 1-410-244-8112 or 1-410-637-1831 or 1-410-637-1837 ceo-1-253-924-2822 steven.rogel at weyerhaeuser.com steven.rogel at wri-online.com richard.hanson at weyerhaeuser.com richard.hanson at wri-online.com ernesta.ballard at weyerhaeuser.com ernesta.ballard at wri-online.com arnfinn.giske at weyerhaeuser.com ralph.horner at weyerhaeuser.com support at weyerhaeuser.com corporate at wri-online.com dcmetro at wri-online.com nancy.thomas at weyerhaeuser.com larry.burrows at whihomes.com larry.freiert at whihomes.com tom.bourke at whihomes.com andy.warren at whihomes.com ed.duffy at whihomes.com edward.duffy at whihomes.com ed.brooks at whihomes.com edward.brooks at whihomes.com amy.fowler at whihomes.com News Media: mike.adams at baltsun.com trif.alatzas at baltsun.com kevin.cowherd at baltsun.com abramowitz at washpost.com barkinr at washpost.com benningv at washpost.com grayp at wjz.com bending at wjz.com berry at wmar.com newsroom at wmar.com info at ap.org sam at okit.com letters at nypost.com news at baltsun.com nationalnews at herald.com national at latimes.com EnviroWatch Action: Tell Steve Jobs to Recycle His iWaste! January 10, 2005 EnviroWatch is Part of ActionLA Network URL: _www.ActionLA.org_ (http://www.ActionLA.org) Take Actions! Go to the Following Link! http://action.computertakeback.com/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10201 Thanks to the soaring sales of its hip iPods, Apple and Steve Jobs are set to make a bundle of cash in 2005. Amidst all the celebration and excitement about the iPods, Jobs isn't revealing his dirty little secret about them. The sleek music players contain poisonous lead and other highly toxic materials that can cause damage to our brains and reproductive and nervous systems. Once the little music machines become obsolete, they are dumped into landfills or shipped overseas as electronic scrap. Their toxins leach into our air, land, and water and send poisons into our communities. Especially vulnerable are the children in developing countries who pick through the wastes to find parts to sell. http://action.computertakeback.com/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10201 SLOVAKIA WORKERS' APPEAL - new version in Fifth International Global >>>SLOVAKIA: SUPPORT NEW WORKERS' MOVEMENT http://www.workerspower.com/index.php?id=49,363,0,0,1,0 16 December 2004 UA 336/04 Fear of imminent execution IRAN Hajieh Esmailvand (f) An unnamed man (aged 17 when accused) Amnesty International fears that Hajieh Esmailvand is at risk of imminent execution after her death sentence for adultery was upheld by the Supreme Court in November. She could allegedly be stoned to death as early as 21 December. Her unnamed co-defendant is at risk of imminent execution by hanging. According to reports, Hajieh Esmailvand was sentenced to five years imprisonment, to be followed by execution by stoning, for adultery with an unnamed man who at the time was a 17 year old minor. Although the exact date of her arrest and trial are not known, it is reported that she has been imprisoned in the town of Jolfa, in the north west of Iran, since January 2000. In Iran, all death sentences must be upheld by the Supreme Court before they can be carried out. In November 2004, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence against Hajieh Esmailvand but changed the lower court's verdict from 'death by hanging' to 'death by stoning'. Reports suggest that the Supreme Court has ordered that the remainder of Hajieh's five year prison sentence be annulled so that the stoning sentence can be carried out before 21 December. The unnamed man, with whom Hajieh had the affair, has been sentenced to death by hanging. It is reported that he is awaiting official orders to be hanged in public, suggesting that the death sentence may have already been upheld by the Supreme Court. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Amnesty International believes that the death penalty is the most extreme form of torture. It is a cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and a violation of the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It is clear that the punishment of stoning is designed to cause the victim grievous pain before leading to death. Such methods of execution specifically designed to increase the suffering of victims are of particular concern to Amnesty International, as the most extreme and cruel form of torture. The Iranian Penal Code is very specific about the manner of execution and types of stones which should be used. Article 102 states that men will be buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts for the purpose of execution by stoning. Article 104 states, with reference to the penalty for adultery, that the stones used should "not be large enough to kill the person by one or two strikes, nor should they should they be so small that they could not be defined as stones". In December 2002, the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, reportedly sent a directive to judges ordering a moratorium on execution by stoning and for alternative punishments to be used instead. However, legal provision for execution by stoning remains, and in September 2003 a law was passed listing regulations for the implementation of particular sentences, including stoning. Since the reported moratorium, Amnesty International is aware of at least one case in which a sentence of execution by stoning has reportedly been issued. According to a report on 8 January 2004 in the Iran newspaper, a criminal court in city of Qazvin sentenced an unnamed man to 80 lashes and 10 years' imprisonment to be followed by execution by stoning. It is not known whether this sentence has been carried out. As a party to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Iran has undertaken not to execute anyone for an offence committed when they were under 18 years old. The Iranian authorities are now considering legislation (the draft law on the Establishment of Children's Courts) that would prohibit the use of the death penalty for offences committed under the age of 18. Iran has executed at least three child offenders in 2004. In addition to this, at least eleven other child offenders are believed to have been sentenced to death. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible: - stating your unconditional opposition to the death penalty, as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and violation of the right to life; - expressing concern that Hajieh Esmailvand is reportedly facing imminent execution by stoning for adultery; - asking for the trial details of the case against Hajieh Esmailvand, including details of any appeals against her convictions to be made public; - urging that the death sentence against Hajieh Esmailvand be commuted immediately; - seeking clarification about the status of the moratorium on stoning reportedly ordered by His Excellency Ayatollah Shahroudi in December 2002; - expressing concern at reports that the unnamed co- defendant of Hajieh Esmailvand has been sentenced to death for an offence committed when he was a 17 year old minor; - asking for details of the exact charges against the unnamed individual, including details of any appeals against his convictions to be made public; -urging that the death sentence against him be commuted immediately; - expressing concern and dismay that Amnesty International has recorded 10 executions of child offenders in Iran since 1990, three of them in 2004, and calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately halt further executions of child offenders and to pass legislation removing the provision for the execution of child offenders, thereby bringing Iran into line with its obligations under international law. APPEALS TO: Leader of the Islamic Republic: His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei The Presidency, Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Fax: 011 98 21 649 5880 (please mark 'For the attention of the Office of His Excellency, Ayatollah al Udhma Khamenei, Qom) Salutation: Your Excellency Head of the Judiciary: His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi Ministry of Justice, Park-e Shahr, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Email: irjpr at iranjudiciary.org (mark 'Please forward to HE Ayatollah Shahroudi') Salutation: Your Excellency COPIES TO: Center for Women's Participation: Dr Zahra Shojaei Head of the Center of Women's Participation and Advisor to the President 128 Shaheed Labbafi Nejad Street Tehran 13156, Islamic Republic of Iran Fax: 011 98 21 640 3038 Email: cwp at women.org.ir (please mark for the attention of Dr Zahra Shojaei) PROTEST AGAINST ANIMAL KILLINGS IN CROATIA > According to a law in Croatia, any cat or dog found more than 300 > meters od towns is considered strayed and therefore can be killed. > Cats and puppies are being killed and hung on branches of trees in > Medijimurje area in Croatia. Also dogs and cats have been killed by > hunters. See pictures at: http://www.apasfa.org/peti/croacia_pic.html > > > - office at mps.hr > (Mr. Nenad Matic, the spokesman for Ministry of Agriculture and > Forestry Croatia) > - eurobarometer at cec.eu.int > (EU Public Opinion e-mail:) > - trade-A3 at cec.eu.int > (EU Trade ) > - agri-library at cec.eu.int > (EU Agriculture) Other email addresses of Croatian authorities where letters of protest can be sent. Office of the Prseident - ured at predsjednik.hr Parliament of Croatia - sabor at sabor.hr Office of the Prime Minister premijer at vlada.hr Croatian Ministry Of Tourism ministarstvo-turizma at zg.tel.hr The Bakersfield Animal Control facility is starving animals to death - please respond and crosspost The Bakersfield Animal Control facility is starving animals to death. They are violating CA state laws and a suit has been filed but while it is moving slowly through the system, dogs are starving slowly, painfully dying. We need to do something now. Please write to the following tourism office and tell them you will not visit CA or visit Kern County until Bakersfield Animal Control complies with the law. djaeger at bakersfieldcvb.org Contact the Governor's office and tell them you are outraged that Bakersfield Animal Control is starving stray dogs. governor at governor.ca.gov Contact the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and tell them you are outraged that Bakersfield Animal Control is starving stray dogs. steglia at bakersfieldchamber.org and info at bakersfieldchamber.org Contact the elected officials for Bakersfield and Kern County and tell them you are outraged that Bakersfield Animal Control is starving stray dogs. Visit http://www.co.kern.ca.us/contact.asp and contact each member of the Kern County Board of Supervisors. Email the Bakersfield mayor at: AdmMayor at ci.bakersfield.ca.us (@ci.bakersfield.ca.us) Here are email addresses of a few others: billthomas at mail.house.gov (@mail.house.gov) Assemblymember.McCarthy at assembly.ca.gov (@assembly.ca.gov) Visit: http://www.kget.com/yourgovernment/ for a fairly complete list. If you want to know the details of this case and the lawsuit filed read it here: http://www.shelterwatch.com If you want to see the photos of Francis a dog who was rescued from the Bakersfield Animal Control click here. http://eshare.hpphoto.com/start.asp?JobID=%7b39113CC4-917A-43E8-90FD-98B66416B3CC%7d&IDKey=469976724 Despite all efforts, Francis was beyond help and died. If you write one letter or 10, please do something and do it now. For Francis and for all the other dogs in Bakersfield dying as you read this. Please do it now. Cinnamon Muhlbauer battydiva at comcast.net (@comcast.net) CALL FOR ACTION: DUTCH GOVERNMENT PERSECUTES REFUGEES Sri Lanka, as we all know, is struck with the tsunami disaster. Many communities are destroyed; many of the ten thousands of dead lie still rotting. At this very time, hard line Dutch Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk wants to forcibly expel from The Netherlands refugees who fled Sri Lanka's civil war. Please protest this human rights violation. Send a protest e-mail to vragenaanministerverdonk at minjus.nl CALL FOR ACTION: STOP THE QUARRY! (from George Chaplin, Earthfirstalert list) Hi all, As many of you are aware (I hope), I'm running a campaign against the expansion of quarrying close to Britain's largest ancient ritual monument - the Thornborough Henges in North Yorkshire. The Thornborough Henges are a collection of monuments known as a complex, dating back to 3,500 BC. These include some monuments that are scheduled and others that are not, together with the land that these monuments sit in. Tarmac Northern Ltd, a subsidiary of Anglo American Plc (Britain's 4th largest conglomerate) have decided that they wish to destroy as much of this complex as possible - they will quarry the entire area, leaving those few monuments protected by law as islands surrounded by man-made lakes. As a result of this development, close on to 250 cows will be consigned to the fattening sheds, because the quarry will destroy 100 acres of good quality arable land. A great deal of important archaeology will be lost and an important habitat on the margins of a nature reserve will be destroyed. Please sign my petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/Pet10001/petition.html We can win this - one in the eye for a globalist company that supported apartheid. More informatrion can be found here: www.heritageaction.org/thornborough.html Thanks George SILLY ARTICLE OF THE WEEK "protests need to not be disruptive, otherwise people might have to take notice, yadda yadda yadda" http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/pageloader.php?file=2004/12/19/editorial/editorial2 And another one. Dan Clore has provided an appropriately dismissive heading for this effort: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo/message/5729 A FUNNY STORY. A city cop was on his horse waiting to cross the street when a little girl named Mary stopped beside him on her new shiny bike. "Nice bike" the cop said "did Santa bring it to you?" "Yep," the little girl said, "he sure did!" The cop looked the bike over and handed the girl a $20 ticket for a safety violation, saying "Next year tell Santa to put a reflector light on the back of it." The young girl looked up at the cop and said, "Nice horse you got there sir, did Santa bring it to you?" "Yes, he sure did," chuckled the cop. The little girl looked up at the cop and said, "Next year tell Santa the dick goes underneath the horse, not on top." (thanks to Pink Jimi Photon on stateyourcause) THE YEAR'S BEST [ACTUAL] HEADLINES OF 2004: (people actually get paid to write this stuff) Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus? Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over Miners Refuse to Work after Death Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant War Dims Hope for Peace Crack Found on Governor's Daughter If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft Kids Make Nutritious Snacks Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors And the winner is.... Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead (ditto) LET'S HOPE BUSH KNOWS HE'S BEEN IN IRAQ TOO LONG PRETTY SOON. You Know You've Been In Iraq Too Long When... January 10, 2005 Via Vietnam Veterans Against the War VVAWNET: (From ambotchka, the weblog of a woman deployed in Baghdad.) this is likely only funny for those who've been to Iraq, but i just had to put this out for public perview.... i picked only the best ones, and most of them apply to myself, which is scary.. You know you've been in Iraq too long when... ~ mortars land near your compound and you roll over in bed and think, "still way off, i've got another five minutes." ~ you actually volunteer for convoy security duty because you still haven't seen the country yet ~ driving around in SUVs with weapons pointing out the windows and forcing cars off the road seems normal to you ~ you see celebratory fire going over the compound at night and think, "wow, the tracer colors are so pretty" and want to fire back ~ you forgot there are colors other than brown that can be found in places other than PowerPoint slides ~ when you go on R&R, you duct tape your child to the roof of your car, hand him a pellet rifle, and assign him a sector of fire for the ride to "Olive Garden" ~ when 12 hours is a short work day ~ when, during a brief, "DIV asked MNSTC-I for the FRAGO that MNC-I was supposed to publish, but couldn't because MNF-I hadn't weighed in, since they were too inundated with MOD and MOI war-gaming the JCCs within the ISF to square us away!" is a valid comment and generates no questions ~ when you start using words like "G'day mate," "Cheers," and "bloody 'ell" as part of your normal vocabulary ~ when the trailer next to you catches on fire and instead of helping to put it out you grab a bag of marshmallows and start roasting ~ when you step into any office and there are 6 Colonels, 12 Lt Colonels, 15 Majors, and 8 Captains supervising the work of one NCO ~ when the weapon buy-back program has become so successful that you've issued the same AK47 to the Iraqi Army 3 times ~ when you cant tell the difference between the sound of an exploding car and an exploding mortar ~ when on R&R you go to Church and wonder why no one is wearing body armor or carrying an automatic weapon to the service ~ you know that you need to run inside immediately after any win of an Iraqi sports team to keep from being hit with celebratory fire ~ you decide that for shits and grins - "lets take a run around Lost Lake at Camp Victory to see if we can get shot at by the sniper" ~ you never worry about oversleeping because if the morning prayer calls don't wake you, the 0430 rocket attack will ~ you decide it's a better course of action to pull your blankets over your head than put on your body armor during an attack -- the woobee will save you and at least you're comfortable ~ a rocket attack isn't a big deal until the crater it leaves is big enough to trip over in the dark on the way to the latrine ~ you go to a social gathering and intermittent gunfire doesn't cause a pause in the conversation (from GI Special) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Tue Jan 25 14:10:00 2005 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy Robinson) Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 22:10:00 -0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] On the Barricades 1 Message-ID: <0b0d01c5032a$9e44dcb0$3dc0ff3e@WOL> ON THE BARRICADES: GLOBAL RESISTANCE ROUNDUP December 12 (2004) to January 24 (2005) ALGERIA: Uprising in city of Oran by youths frustrated over housing allocations "More than 100 demonstrators, many hooded, burned tyres and hurled Molotov cocktails and stones at anti-riot police in Oran, Algeria's second largest city" City hall burnt down and looted http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13641542.htm http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/21/8009887 "Demonstrators blocked roads, sacked public buildings and overturned vehicles in the Bouira region, southeast of the capital, Algiers, the reports said. In the western Tiaret region and in Sidi Ammar in the east, hundreds of people blocked highways to protest against higher transport prices caused by the increase in fuel costs." (al-Jazeera) http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/20B73C29-ADB4-42AD-BF13-BAA64D7D2BFD.htm Uprisings over fuel prices throughout Algeria http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/48DF51E7-67CB-4B91-98A5-4C13A659DF33.htm http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050118132543276 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/48DF51E7-67CB-4B91-98A5-4C13A659DF33.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18683869.htm http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18683869.htm ALGERIAN YOUTH TAKE TO STREETS TO OPPOSE GAS PRICE HIKE Rioting youths looted and burned public buildings in a northern Algerian town to protest against an increase in gas prices and a lack of housing and jobs in the latest disturbance to hit the country. Between 3,000 and 5,000 inhabitants of Birine, 200 km (120 miles) south of the capital Algiers, initially took part in Monday's unauthorized protest which later turned violent when youths looted and set fire to buildings, witnesses and newspapers said. "There was huge damage. Rioters set fire to several public buildings, including the city hall and those belonging to local post office and tax office," a local journalist, who asked to remain anonymous, said. "Anti-riot police weren't able to control the crowd until the arrival of more policemen from neighboring towns," he said. Meanwhile in the northeastern Kabylie region, angry demonstrators in the town of Kherrata reportedly blockaded the region's main road. Butane gas and fuel oil are the only available sources of energy in Algeria's remote mountain regions and high plateaus. The government's decision to hike the price of from 170 to 200 dinars (1.7 to 2.0 euros) goes against a recommendation from the national parliament. Demonstrations are rare because they need approval from the interior ministry under a state of emergency in place since 1992, when the cancellation of elections a hardline Islamic party was set to win sparked more than a decade of violence. But demonstrations are on the rise and increasingly violent across the country as disgruntled youths take to the streets, particularly over a lack of housing and jobs. Dozens of youths have recently been sentenced to prison for such offences. Unemployment stands at around 25 percent in the energy-rich country, but is much higher in some regions. (from ORead Daily) GREECE: Oinker-station destroyed by anarchists, in retaliation for torture of refugees The action was carried out by helmeted and hooded protesters, who used Molotovs and other items to heavily damage the copshop Cops apparently shot at the rebels with their handguns Several cop cars were also trashed The copshop had been the site of serious mistreatment of refugees, including mock executions http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/303200.html http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/26/1375262 http://www.enrager.net/newswire/stories.php?story=04/12/27/7768900 http://resist.ca/story/2004/12/26/172755/47 Pics from the action http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=304642 Pics of police abuse victims http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=302336 Anarchists occupy embassy in solidarity with arrestees from copshop action http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/28/6176444 GUATEMALA: Gold mine truck blockaded Soldiers, pigs and an armoured scoop tried to bash their way through barricades in Solola The protest, over eco-destruction and a threat to a locally-built bridge, involved many locals There were clashes as locals lit burning roadblocks and pelted the trucks with rocks and sticks Some locals also opened fire with guns, and two protesters were killed by a police or army assassin as tear-gas was hurled Seven pigs were also hospitalised The truck continues its journey but at a very slow pace as barricades continue to go up The Guatemalan president is committed to "establish the rule of law" to "protect the investors" (statism=boss class tyranny) http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/01/11/guatemala.violence.ap/ http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/13/95036/9822 Report from SchNews: Bridge Too Far A blockade is going into its seventh week on a metal pedestrian bridge over the Panamerican Highway 130kms northwest of Guatemala City to stop mining equipment getting through to the Glamis Gold Marlin mine near San Marcos, Guatemala. One protester has already been murdered and seven injured after attacks by the police and army. It started when the mining equipment convoy first got to the bridge and found they were up against several thousand indigenous farmers and villagers intent on stopping part of it being dismantled to get large drilling equipment past it. Then when one of the mining vehicles was set alight the convoy retreated 2km to a lookout point parking area, where it has been stuck ever since, protected by private police from the rampaging villagers. The local mayor is on the side of the protesters, but already the Guatemalan Interior Ministry have sent in troops and police to try to escort the convoy to the mine. The protesters are now threatening to push the mining equipment over a cliff where it is parked - and good luck to them! The company Glamis have been lent $45million to develop the mine by the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank) without conducting the obligatory consultation of the local indigenous communities, or complying with the World Banks' own recommendations regarding negotiations with those affeced by the project (since when has that stopped a World Bank project?) Glamis are a mining company who have left a trail of indigenous peoples' rights violations, contaminated water and pollution across north America, and are currently using NAFTA laws to file for $50 million compensation because of actions taken by the State of California who had the audacity to protect it's environmental and indigenous communities from the impact of their open cast mining. See www.miningwatch.ca for more information. NIGERIA: Youths torch copshop in protest over police shooting of student Students stormed the copshop and cops fled - they then looted arms, freed prisoners and torched the place Cop vehicles and other cop-linked buildings were also targeted http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050115220003935 GUANGDONG: Another uprising in the southern province; huge clashes between locals and cops The uprising started when a cop beat a youth to death for alleged theft Up to 50,000 mainly poor urban residents took part in the uprising Reports suggest several people were killed and 100 injured http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2004_12_27_0352.html http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/28/6325939 Reports: Many Killed, Hurt in China Riot Associated Press HONG KONG - As many as 1,000 villagers battled police in southern China in a riot that left several people dead and dozens wounded, newspapers said Sunday. Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po and Apple Daily newspapers differed widely over the size of the mob and what led to the clash Saturday in Da Lang village in Guangdong province. Both said the riot started after security forces beat a resident to death. Wen Wei Po said nearly 50,000 people faced off against hundreds of police officers and torched four police cars. About a dozen village security officers were hurt in the dispute that sparked the riot, the newspaper said. The Apple Daily, meanwhile, put the crowd size at nearly 1,000. Police fired tear gas at the rioters, the newspaper said. It quoted a villager as saying that several locals were killed and 100 were injured. Wen Wei Po said the incident began with a dispute over compensation for a traffic accident. The disagreement flared into a riot when local security forces beat to death a relative of the accident victim, the newspaper said. Apple Daily said the security forces sparked the unrest by beating to death a 15-year-old boy for stealing a bicycle. It said police brought the riot under control in three hours and later arrested about a dozen people. Police and government officials refused to confirm details of the incident. "The riot is over," said one government official in Dongguan, a city that includes Da Lang. The official, who would not give his name, referred all inquiries to the Communist Party propaganda office in Dongguan, where phones rang unanswered Sunday. Police in Da Lang and Dongguan also refused to comment. http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/10502792.htm CHINA: Tenants revolt over mall closure - occupy roof, throw bricks http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/06/9244969 More on China unrest: http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=04/12/29/8667432 http://www.socialistworker.org/2004-2/524/524_05_China.shtml http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=5346 GERMANY: Resistance to fascistic crackdown on benefits escalates One claimant suicide-bombs a job centre after his benefits are cut The state is introducing a work-or-starve scheme to force claimants to submit to worse job conditions Protesters clash with pigs in unrest over work-or-starve dole "reforms" Hundreds of protesters stormed a benefit office in a working-class area Cops, as usual, acted as the hired goons of the state, bludgeoning protesters Intimidation apparently worked, to keep numbers down; the low turnout causes gloating from rightist wankers http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6777661/ http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/wkrs-j07.shtml http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11854659%5E2703,00.html http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=05/01/03/8485128 http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6903/690353.html http://www.faz.net/s/Rub9E75B460C0744F8695B3E0BE5A30A620/Doc~ECAAD1A9A5667421BAA06052BF89CE364~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/03/business/german.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4142441.stm http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1446794,00.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6777661/ Earlier story: Huge resistance to job cuts is coming. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1415705,00.html RUSSIA: Similar resistance spreads after benefit cuts Pensioners fight with bus conductors and hijack buses There is mass defiance against payment for social services as well as widespread demonstrations Protesters attack bus conductors and other enforcers in widespread resistance, and stage unauthorised demos http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/article/0,13005,901050124-1018026,00.html http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050119061520472 http://www.all4all.org/2005/01/1388.shtml http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6904/690404.html http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1106435409322&call_pageid=970599119419 Mass demonstrations by elderly people and other claimants hailed as the biggest protest wave since the 1998 mine strikes Huge demonstrations continuue day after day in Moscow http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.anarchism/browse_thread/thread/c2990438a777064b/5fb34392cce3c2cf#5fb34392cce3c2cf http://www.ainfos.ca/05/jan/ainfos00292.html http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1&ItemID=7024 http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/01/35748f47-5554-4c5a-8abe-fac8aa8e4883.html http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1043695&t=Nation+%2F+World&c=26,1043695 http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050113-113914-9709r.htm http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/01/60a8aa80-a0f0-4d39-a7a1-7bebf0d7d24a.html http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=2377059 http://washingtontimes.com/world/20050117-100729-4091r.htm http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/01/17/build/world/65-russians-protest.inc http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2005_01_22_5019.html http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7399571 http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=2487 http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2005/01/24/908750-cp.html http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,11965-4042575,00.html http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=658680 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7399571 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F489E438-FEAC-4828-8BD6-1B9E8091DF91.htm http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5485484 http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3164509a12,00.html http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=658662 Attempts made to block key Moscow road http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031780275162&path=!nationworld&s=1037645509161 Pensioners block main road in St Petersburg http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11962728%255E1702,00.html http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050116-084534-1037r.htm http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/127581/1/.html http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/16/content_2466827.htm Demonstrations in cities across Russia http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F489E438-FEAC-4828-8BD6-1B9E8091DF91.htm Thousands protest in Murmansk http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1669752&PageNum=0 Protest in Kaluga http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1653633&PageNum=0 And in Novgorod http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1649402&PageNum=0 And in Irkutsk http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1648252&PageNum=0 Protest near Stavropol http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1649309&PageNum=0 Protesters in Khimki block roads, attacked by cops; pledge to step up protests http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050124/w012430.html Putin gives bribe to army amid unrest http://www.spacewar.com/2005/050124160731.lsigh2b3.html KOREA: Farmers stage rally against rice imports, blockade bridges and roads 300 arrested as cops smash vehicles and attack blockades http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200412/kt2004122015475712070.htm http://www.iht.com/getina/files/212870.html http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20041220/300400000020041220191221E1.html AMERICA: Bush inauguration protested Protesters burst through fences, delay Bush Some break through onto parade route - police attack with pepper spray http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050121100055189 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120224756737 http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120183141821 http://resist.ca/story/2005/1/21/13586/5425 http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/ns/news/story.jsp?id=2005012016580002822541&dt=20050120165800&w=RTR http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/139414/index.php http://boston.indymedia.org/feature/display/33061/index.php http://nyc.indymedia.org/feature/display/139681/index.php http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main.nsf/news.nsf/0/93E42AE9E32C8C8005256F93006B2A56?Opendocument http://www.ucimc.org/feature/display/24748/index.php Protesters rush security gate http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120223918193 Showdown after protest as some protesters on "youth march" target shop windows and cop cars Cops viciously attack protesters with pepper spray http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27648-2005Jan21.html Police state DC http://rwor.org/a/1266/police-state-dc.htm http://richmond.indymedia.org/feature/display/9117/index.php Protesters shut down Chevron petrol station http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308797.shtml http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308781.shtml Mini Critical Mass takes back the streets - and the mall http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308567.shtml Cheney snowballed http://www.kirotv.com/politics/4112846/detail.html As riot cops advance, one protester steps forward and begins to pray http://www.lancasteronline.com/pages/news/local/4/11378 Man threatens to blow up van near Bush route http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7362196 Anti-war groups protest http://www.canada.com/news/world/story.html?id=29ff82f0-4efa-44ee-8fd2-642b0e02fa4d Code Pink interrupt Bush speech http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/01/21/PROTESTS.TMP Thousands stage rally near White House http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050121095804923 http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=1&ItemID=7075 http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0105/201580.html http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/612/612p11b.htm http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/20/2005/1118 Hundreds mark inauguration with protests http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=428977 "Mourners" on parade route http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0121/local/stories/02local.htm Vermont protesters travel to Washington DC http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050122/NEWS/501220359/1003/NEWS02 New York activists travel to Washington to protest http://www.nyunews.com/opinion/editorial/8661.html Code Pink activists unfurl banners at Bush's speech - dragged off by oinkers http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0120-06.htm Protest Warriors get asses kicked http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20050120182710431 http://www.washingtondispatch.com/spectrum/archives/000769.html Hundreds gather in Burnside Park http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308531.shtml Burning flag http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308499.shtml Student rally http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308506.shtml Activists target news station over bad coverage http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/308478.shtml Oinkers spray and arrest journalists http://www.rcfp.org/news/2005/0121-new-photog.html Personal reports from the protests http://hm.indymedia.org/feature/display/10063/index.php http://baltimore.indymedia.org/feature/display/9449/index.php http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/feature/display/331/index.php >From the DC Indymedia Newswire: http://dc.indymedia.org via Infoshop and Portland IMC Best as narrative if read from the bottom up. # 12:30am New reports from Columbia Road/18th street says bricks were thrown, windows broken; Protesters were hemmed into one end of alley; 100 to 150 arrests appear to have been made; some marchers managed to get out; # 12:09pm The two buses on 18th street are gone, as are a group of protestors who were arrested; police seem to be about to disperse; # 11:59pm Police have assaulted DC Radio Co-Op reporter Darby Hickey for the second time during the day; police warned the reporter to "take a walk" and leave the scene, and then she was shoved; 30 more riot cops marched up to the scene and more arrests are taking place; the entire section of Columbia Road has been shut down, and the number of arrests appears to be in excess of 50 people; # 11:52pm March turned onto 18th Street and marchers were blocked in; heavily-armed police are now detaining and arresting demonstrators, and there are 2 buses parked on 18th and another 4 buses parked on Columbia, but so far nobody has been placed in the buses; a helicopter is overhead spotlighting the scene; # 11:46pm 100 riot police forming up at 18th and Belmont, and all roads and allies off Columbia Road are being closed off; protesters are now pinned in and are not allowed to leave; # 11:22pm Large march of 150 or more people is now moving down Columbia Road through Adams Morgan; they have occupied the entire left lane of the road approaching 18th and Columbia, chanting "Bring the War Home"; the marchers are converging on a hotel; # 8:09pm Police are reporting that Union Station has been cleared of "pedestrian" problems, meaning protesters; police are also reportedly moving in to block what they call "pedestrian traffic" into Columbus Circle, which is a closed area, and it is unclear if this reference to "pedestrians" means "protesters"; # 7:25pm Republican assaulted a photographer taking pictures, while police looked on; no action was taken by the police; # 7:11pm Physical confrontation just occurred between a Republican and a protester at Union Station; protester was arrested, but Republican was allowed to enter Inaugural Ball at Union Station; Police are now forming a line between Republicans and protesters; # 7:02pm Confrontations now occurring between Republicans and protesters at Union Station; # 6:56pm Police have gone behind Union Station; Police reporting that Metro PD has situation at Union Station covered, other police forces going back to the motorcade; # 6:33pm Marchers from unpermitted march say it was "spontaneous", comprised of many different people of all types; they are now at Union Station regrouping and playing music; # 6:22pm Police have cleared Mass. Ave. of protestors using their motorcycles, marchers have reached the corner by Union Station; # 6:18pm Police issuing "final warning" to disperse to Mass. Ave. protesters; police on motorcycles are ramming marchers in front of Post Office on North Capitol by Union Station; # 6:16pm Police now issuing second warning to protesters to disperse from Mass. Ave. immediately; # 6:15pm Police have issued first warning for marchers on Mass. Ave. to disperse; # 6:10pm March has taken over one entire side of Massachusettes Avenue; # 6:10pm March is now going out of Chinatown onto Massachusettes Avenue towards Union Station; about 200 people; police have been attempting to follow, but road blockades have prevented police vehicles from following; # Unpermitted march now at 15th and L; # Arrest at 15th and M at spontaneous unpermitted march; # 3:45 Coffins carried by protestors are burning; # 3:44 At least 30 riot-police at 14th and Pennsylvania; stand-off between police and protestors; whole area is filled with pepper-spray and tear-gas; 16 mainstream journalists observed getting sprayed by police with pepper-spray; # 3:38 Police now sending reenforcements to 15th and H street; # 3:33 Police reporting that one of two officers injured at 14th and Pennsylvania has a broken arm; # 3:32 Protesters are pushing through gates at 13th and Pennsylvania; # 3:31 Two women arrested at 13th and Pennsylvania; # 3:20 Police snipers appearing on rooftops around 14th and Pennsylvania; # 3:20 Two officers reported injured at 14th and Pennsylvania; mainstream journalists being hit and pepper-sprayed by police; # 3:18 Pepper spray and tear-gas directed at protestors at 15th and Pennsylvania; at least 50 injured protestors; reports from police of "chest pains" in protestor; mainstream media journalists being hit with pepper spray; reports of bleeding from injured protestors; # 3:18 Three sections of fence on inaugural parade route now broken down by protestors; fence blocking off parade route has collapsed; protestors battling police in streets; police still responding with pepper spray and tear gas; # 3:15PM: Much of the first 3 blocks of Pennsylvania has a significant anti-Bush presence, hard to pick pro-bush demonstrators out of some segments. # 3:14 Presidential motorcade slowed down at request of police; # 3:13 Police send a request to the Bush motorcade to slow down the motorcade at 5th and Pennsylvania, as major street battle rages between protestors and police at 14th and Pennsylvania; # 3:13 Tear-gas being used in street battle between protestors and police; # 3:12 Bush motorcade is speeded up to get beyond the protestors on parade route; # 3:11 Bush motorcade passes massive grouping of protestors on parade route; "Fuck Bush!" can be heard live on CNN as protestors out-shout Bush supporters; # 3:05PM: Spot in the fense near 14 and Penn, near Willard Hotel, where they've rattled the fense, gotten it knocked over or bent over twice, MPD pepper spray. Extra police are being deployed to this area. # 2:57PM: Unconfirmed reports of 4 arrests at 8th and D NW # 2:56PM: Pepper sprayed anarchists at 11th and E NW # 2:52PM: Protesters at 14th and Penn have been "contained" -- surrounded by the police, according to one call. # 2:50PM: Some anarchists at 14th and Penn are trying to pull-down barricades, break through check-points. Check-points are being closed-down by the police. Protests at 16th and H going well. (20 people laying on ground) # 2:33PM: Flags being burned at 14th and Penn. Some callers report there has been a fight of some sort between anarchists burning a flag and a Bush-supporter trying to take the flag from them. # 1:50PM: Possible splinter group heading from D & 7 to Capitol area. Riot police lining the streets at Penn & 14th. # 1:43PM: "Gas" at 7th and D NW # 1:38PM: There's a police car (#137, MPD?) in front of the Counter-Inaugural convergence space. # 1:35PM: Report on the police radio of bottle and rock throwing at 10th and D. # 1:34PM: Police being dispatched to Pershing park, report of arrests at D and 7th. # 1:16PM: (updated)snow balls thrown by some activists, several people say at least 2,000 anarchists. Some sort of projectile, maybe pepper balls, corroborated by some. Snowballs were thrown. Mood as calmed down, peoples spirits are "high." Anarchist Cheerleader squad is among them. # 1:10PM: 1 person down, hit by pepper spray, maybe physical force between 7th and 8th on G NW, police tried to prevent one "anarchist" march from linking up with another, things are "heating up fast." One DC Radio Coop/IMC contributor has also been hit by pepper spray. No arrests yet. # 12:45: DAWN march is in the vicinity of McPhearson Square, people are shouting "whose streets, our streets!" Mood is "serious, but energetic." # 12:43: "Anarchist march" at 13th and L, say the police around them were drawn away by "something else." # 12:35PM: One arrest reported on "P circle," P street near Dupont or Logan? Choppers and police cars heard converging on an area near Logan/in Shaw. # During Bush's speech, Code Pink held up banners "Bring the troops home" and shouted. Police immediately took them away. After that another group shouted, they were taken away. 2 more protests following that. Members of the audience appluaded the police actions, shouted "USA USA," and some through snowballs while other people tried to block cameras from covering the protesters. Public radio noted this very briefly, and the CNN noted and covered none of it as far as we can tell. # 12:15PM Splinter group broke away from DAWN march at 16th and Q NW, maybe 200-300 ppl says observer. # 11:55AM: Police chatter estimates DAWN (Malcom X/Meridian Park) march at 10,000 # 11:50 am DAWN march from MalcomX park just started with 5-800 going down 16th street. Police presence but not too heavy. People from Maine, Michigan, East Coast corridor. Primarily younger protestors, but people who have protested before. College students from Maine. 9 jump out vans are following them behind. # 11:41AM: Marches have left Dupont Circle and Malcom X/Meridian Park # 11:31AM: Bush is about to be introduced at the inauguration platform -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: