[Onthebarricades] Global resistance: US, Zimbabwe, Greece

[Andy]

*  Bay Area youths resist the police state
*  Student revolt in Zimbabwe
*  Greece education reform protests flare up again

http://origin.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_5386823

Eight arrested after mob riot in Antioch
Cassandra Braun - MEDIANEWS
Article Last Updated: 03/08/2007 02:45:12 PM PST


ANTIOCH - Seven teenagers and an adult were arrested Wednesday afternoon after a mob of 75 to 100 youths turned on police at a popular Deer Valley High School hangout. 
The small riot was set off shortly after 3 p.m. when an officer confronted a group of teenagers blocking traffic lanes at Deer Valley Plaza on Lone Tree Way, said Capt. Steve McConnell. 

As the officer began issuing a ticket to one of the boys who refused to move, the teen bolted and ran toward Gas City on Lone Tree Way with the officer and the rest of the boys group following close behind, McConnell said. 

The officer caught up with the boy at the gas station and was taking him into custody when a group of the boy's friends descended on the officer trying to break the teen free, McConnell said. 

The officer called for backup. Roughly 12 officers, from Antioch, with assistance from Brentwood police, responded to the shopping center and gas station to help quell the mob, said McConnell. 

Police struggled with several members of the group, including one person who police say assaulted one of the officers. 

In the end, seven teenagers and one adult were arrested for interfering and obstructing police, McConnell said. All were later released. 

The shopping center, a popular after-school hangout for Deer Valley High students that received regular complaints of loitering teens, saw a similar incident in February 2006. Three teenagers were arrested on similar charges and several officers injured 

in that case. 

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http://www.swradioafrica.com/news080307/students080307.htm

Chaos as riot police try to force university students into class
By Lance Guma 
08 March 2007

Chaos reigned at the University of Zimbabwe Thursday after riot police tried to force students participating in a class boycott to attend lessons. Promise Mkwananzi who leads the National Students Union (ZINASU) says students were milling around the Bond Shopping Centre in Mount Pleasant close to their campus when riot squads descended on them and tried to frogmarch them to their lecture halls. Police allegedly beat up everyone in sight, resulting in injuries to over 50 students. ZINASU has vowed to press on with the national boycotts until exorbitant tuition fee increases are reversed or student grants are increased to help them pay the fees.

In Masvingo students who had initially not taken part in the boycotts owing to what ZINSAU says was a communication breakdown, joined in the action on Thursday. Mkwananzi says students left classes in response to a call by the student leadership. A nationwide strike by lecturers demanding increased salaries has also given the boycott added momentum. In Bulawayo the President of the United College of Education student's representative council, Cosmas Gwature is still missing after last being seen in a police truck.

Over 20 students were arrested on Tuesday in Bulawayo according to ZINASU and 16 of these were released the following day Wednesday. Another 4 were released later in the evening the same day. No charges were levelled against the students and their release followed frantic pressure from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. Gwature's whereabouts have worried the union who say police are refusing to co-operate in locating him. Officers have said he is over 18 years and cannot be regarded as a minor. This means he can only be classified as missing after 7 days. The students maintain the police know where he is.

A general meeting by students at the National University of Science and Technology was disrupted Wednesday. Although no arrests were reported, police officers allegedly beat up students indiscriminately using baton sticks and firing teargas canisters. ZINASU has meanwhile dismissed an offer by government to offer financial support to 'deserving' students. The union says authorities want to use the facility as a political tool to discriminate against those that did not support the ruling party. 

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http://jurnalo.com/jurnalo/storyPage.do?story_id=22212

Greek students clash with riot police over education reforms
Thursday 08 March 2007 21:50
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Athens turned into a battlefield Thursday as students protesting a new Greek education bill hurled petrol bombs, sticks and stones at riot police, who retaliated by firing tear gas.
Seven people were reported injured in the clashes that started shortly after an estimated 9,000 students and teachers marched through the capital towards parliament, where deputies were voting on the bill. 

Reports said at least 40 protesters were brought in for questioning in what has been described as the worst clashes police have seen in years. 

The main clashes broke out right after parliament passed the education reform bill with 160 votes in favour and 117 against, with 19 absentees. 

Chanting "it will never pass" and carrying black banners reading "down with the government and its reforms", a group of hooded youths set fire to a bank branch, smashed shop windows and a presidential guard post and destroyed the entrance of a luxury hotel in Constitution, or Syntagma, Square. 

Traffic in central Athens came to a standstill for hours, forcing pedestrians to take shelter in cafes and restaurants. 

In one typical exchange, an angry man shouted: "This is unbelievable. We shouldn't have students ruling our lives this way. " 

A teacher identifying himself as Stavroula Mavromichali countered: "We were left with no other option but to react this way. " 

The demonstration was the latest of many, as wide-ranging discontent forced the closure of hundreds of university departments and resulted in violent protests across the country. 

The walkouts have crippled Greece's educational system and many fear tens of thousands of students risk of losing the school year. 

One of the changes, altering the law on asylum, seeks to make it easier for police to enter university grounds. 

Police have been prevented from entering university campuses since the days of the Greek military junta when the military crushed a 1973 student uprising with tanks, killing dozens. 

Police are often faced with the problem of anarchists, armed with fire bombs, avoiding arrest following protest marches by seeking refuge in universities. 

Private tertiary education institutions are banned from operating in Greece and the conservative government believes the new law, allowing for the operation of private universities, would lead to greater competitiveness and higher educational standards. 

Teachers, students and union leaders insist the government should upgrade free public education instead and fear the move could lead to higher education costs and lower teaching standards. 

Educators accuse the government of failing to keep one of its main pre-election promises of hiking education funding to 5 per cent of GDP from a current 3. 5 per cent. dpa cp pr 
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