[Onthebarricades] Repression, October 2007 - global south

[Andy]

*  WEST PAPUA/INDONESIA:  Activists demand release of lawyer

*  BURMA:  Protest leader arrested

*  OAXACA/MEXICO:  Expulsions, raids and arrests

*  OAXACA/MEXICO:  CIPO-RFM centre, activist house under attack

*  INDIA:  Gujarat state government censors TV channels to cover up pogrom 
accusations

*  MEXICO:  Riot police attack street vendors in Mexico City

*  YEMEN:  Human rights group condemns shootings by police during unrest

 [In the Yemeni case, notice the statists blaming the victims for their own 
violence]

*  PAKISTAN:  Wave of repression targets lawyers, dissidents, activists

*  TONGA:  Trials over pro-democracy revolt end in acquittals

*  ZIMBABWE:  Riot police attack women's luncheon

*  PHILIPPINES:  Riot police threaten former Arroyo supporters

*  ARGENTINA:  President charges over 2001 killings

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Politics/?id=1.0.1487415107


Indonesia: Activists call for release of Papuan lawyer

Jakarta, 29 Oct. (AKI) - Human rights activists are calling for the 
immediate release of Sabar Iwanggin, a Papuan lawyer, arrested because he 
forwarded a mobile phone text message , said to be offensive to President 
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Frederika Korain, a lawyer with the rights groups Secretariat of Justice and 
Peace, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that the arrest had no legal 
basis. She was also worried about possible abuse of Sabar Iwanggin.

"We are opposing this arrest. How can he be accused to encourage violence 
for forwarding an SMS?" she said.

"We are also worried because in the past, several Papuans were taken away 
from the island and some died due to 'unknown reasons.' We don't want that 
to happen to Iwanggin," she added.

Sabar Iwanggin was reportedly arrested on 18 October in Jayapura, Papua's 
main city. Last Thursday he was transferred to Jakarta.

Iwanggin, a lawyer with human rights group Elsham, has been charged under 
the criminal code for offending the president and inciting disorder. If 
found guilty, he risks up to six years in jail.

The incriminating SMS reads "The president has an agenda of wiping out 
Papuans by poisoning food and hiring members of the army as doctors, 
restaurant workers, and motorcycle taxi drivers to kill Papuans."

But according to media reports, Jayapura police say the arrest of Iwanggin 
is a criminal matter and deny he was arrested by the anti-terrorism police.

Human rights activists in Jayapura say this SMS message has been forwarded 
across Papua since July 2007, and that thousands of people in Papua have 
received it.

Situated at the east-end of the Indonesian archipelago, Papua was 
controversially annexed by Indonesia in 1969.

It is believed that most of the population has never accepted the 
integration and a strong opposition movement is active and asking for a new 
referendum.

However, throughout the years, the Indonesian armed forces' response has 
reportedly been harsh and tainted by widespread allegations of human rights 
abuse.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/foreign/display.var.1751449.0.0.php

Burma protest leader arrested
Comment | Read Comments (2)
RANGOON

The leader of the activists who launched Burma's recent anti-government 
protests was arrested yesterday, and an opposition party member has died 
during interrogation by security forces, exiles claimed.
The Thai-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners also said 
security officers had been threatening relatives and neighbours to get 
information on the whereabouts of those involved in last month's 
pro-democracy protests, which were brutally suppressed by the military 
regime.
The Burmaexile group of former political prisoners said authorities had 
informed the family of Win Shwe, 42, that he died during interrogation in 
the central region of Sagaing. He and five colleagues were arrested on 
September 26.
advertisement

White House Foreign Affairs Spokesman Gordon Johndroe condemned Win Shwe's 
death and warned the US would impose new sanctions on Burma, also known as 
Myanmar, if it continued its crackdown on dissidents.
The association said at least seven people had been seized in the largest 
city, Rangoon, even as the junta and the NLD appeared to be taking cautious 
steps towards talks.
Hla Myo Naung, 39, a leader of the '88 Generation Students group, which 
organised marches in August over fuel price rises, was arrested while 
seeking treatment for a serious eye problem, the exile group said. He had 
evaded arrest for two months.-AP

http://elenemigocomun.net/1320

Evacuation, raid, and arrests of demonstrators in Oaxaca
ONE YEAR AFTER THE PFP's DEFEAT IN OAXACA
November 2, 2007 - Kolectivo Todxs Somos Presxs writes: Fifteen arrests are 
reported, including teachers, students, and youth. The state police continue 
to make arrests in the streets surrounding the 5 Señores municipal agency 
and the area around University City.
A year ago today the Federal Preventive Police (PFP) tried to tear down the 
5 Señores and Soriana barricades. This morning, November 2, 2007, a number 
of people gathered at the 5 Señores intersection to lay out carpets and 
altars on the Day of the Dead in honor of more than 23 of our own people 
killed by the state and federal governments during the Oaxacan movement.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. the sand was in place for making the carpets and 
the 5 Señores crossing partially blocked. By this time the state police were 
already patrolling the area on motorcycles. At approximately 7:30 the police 
arrived. There were several state police trucks with police on board and 
bunker type trucks full of state police. All in all, there were around 100 
armed police. They pointed their guns at the people at the intersection, 
surrounded the area, and began to follow and arrest people who ran.
At this time we know of approximately 15 compañeros and compañeras who have 
been taken to the offices of the Department of Citizen Protection (CEPROCI) 
and the Attorney General's Office in the Experimental neighborhood on the 
edge of the city.
WE HOLD THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY SERGIO SEGRESTES RÌOS (FORMER 
PRESIDENT OF THE OAXACA STATE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 
PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL INTEGRITY OF OUR COMPAÑER at S WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.
!WE DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE FREEDOM OF ALL ARRESTED COMPAÑER at S!
!STOP THE REPRESSION!
Kolectivo Todxs Somos Presxs

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/383351.html

Oaxaca: PRI candidate house attacked, CIPO-RFM HQ facing repression
Oscar Beard | 10.10.2007 17:19 | Oaxaca Uprising | Repression | Social 
Struggles | Zapatista | World
PRI Municipal Presidency house attacked with heavy caliber guns, 
neighbouring CIPO-RFM communal house facing repression following attack.

The street of CIPO-RFM HQ

CIPO-RFM

3.50am, 7 October, 2007: Gun shots rang out outside the communitarian house 
of CIPO-RFM in the district of Santa Lucia del Camino, Oaxaca.

Witnesses saw several unknown assailants in a car opening fire and the 
vehicle fleeing immediately.

Following a tense time, determining whether it was safe to exit the 
headquarters, people went outside to see six heavy calibre bullet holes in 
the house of Santa Lucia PRI municipal presidency.

The military, federal riot police, municipal police and plain clothes 
officers soon moved in, they claimed, to protect the voting of the 
municipality.

The CIPO-RFM headquarters had been busy in recent days, following a 
three-day preparatory meeting of The Indigenous People of America, from 4 
October, and they were in preparations for a trip to Vicam for the main 
meeting of The Indigenous People of America when the attack happened.

According to CIPO-RFM, one compañero, Juan, was viciously beaten in the face 
and hospitalised by uncover cops and his car was stolen.

On 8 October at 2am, when part of the delegation set off on the Vicam trip, 
they faced harassment from the authorities, first from public security 
officers, then aggressively by the police, who interrogated them for some 
time.

On 9 October, around 5am, the Vicam delegation were stopped and again 
interrogated by the military, infantry battalion 89 of the third military 
district. The military were backed up by Obregón City officials, who refused 
to identify themselves.

This is just the latest incident involving those attending the Indigenous 
People of America meetings, including forced evacuations of Zapatista towns 
and a direct attack on a meeting by Yaquis authorities.

CIPO-RFM have been the brunt of brutal oppression for years, which has 
increased recently following escalated attempts to peacefully halt the 
destruction of communal forests in the Sierra Norte, north of Oaxaca.

More information on CIPO-RFM here:

 http://www.blogcharm.com/jasonparkinson/77886

CIPO-RFM webpage:

 http://www.nodo50.org/cipo/
Oscar Beard

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2072327.htm

Indian state blocks TV over riot claims India

Last Updated 27/10/2007, 20:54:52Select text size:

Officials in the Indian state of Gujarat have blocked television channels 
which aired a sting operation that claimed to expose local government 
involvement in the 2002 mass killings of Muslims.

The Headlines Today television network broadcast footage on Thursday of 
men - accused of taking part in the deadly Gujarat riots - apparently 
admitting that the Hindu nationalist-ruled local government backed the 
violence.

The Indian Express newspaper reports cable operators on Friday received 
written orders to block the channel, and others that covered the expose.

Police verbally told cable operators in other parts of the state to stop 
carrying the channels, a Hindustan Times report said.

Gujarat government spokesman, Bhagyesh Jha, denies the state has issued any 
orders against television channels.

At least 2,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the 2002 riots after a 
Muslim mob was accused of torching a train, burning 59 Hindus alive.

An enquiry by the state-run railways later ruled the fire on the train was 
an accident.

http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/13/2058823.htm?section=world

Riot police remove Mexico City street vendors
Posted Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:36pm AEST
Hundreds of police officers in riot gear in Mexico City have forcibly 
removed thousands of street vendors from the historic city centre.
The local government says about 15,000 traders have been cleared from the 
area.
There are an estimated 35,000 street vendors in Mexico City, selling 
everything from newspapers and cigarettes to football shirts and jewellery.
More than 1,000 police officers removed illegal vendors from 87 streets in 
the city centre.
The incumbent mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, has promised to deal with the illegal 
trade on several occasions, but the traders say it is only temporary.
They have promised to return to their pitches as soon as they can, and 
warned the Government against heavy-handed tactics.
- BBC

http://www.newsyemen.net/en/view_news.asp?sub_no=3_2007_10_14_6923

YOHR condemns violating right to life by riot police
14/10/2007
SANA'A, NewsYemen

The Yemen Observatory for Human Rights has strongly condemned "the violation 
of people's right to life by some riot police who blindly achieve orders of 
the authority".

The Yemeni rights watch said it has worriedly followed up killing four 
citizens and injuring 15 others in the latest demonstration in Radfan 
district of Lahj province on Saturday when a group of soldiers shot at 
protesters who gathered to prepare for a rally on Sunday that marks the 44th 
anniversary of southern Yemen's uprising against British occupation in 1963 
protesting against the government's neglect to better their living 
conditions.

YOHR said killing protesters was a violation of rights guaranteed by Islamic 
Sharia, national constitution and laws and all international human rights 
treaties which Yemen has ratified.

The independent organization urged the government to immediately investigate 
the incidence and arrest military personnel who opened fire and bodies who 
gave direct or indirect orders to shoot at the rally.

The investigation must be comprehensive to answer the possibility of any 
political or reprisal motives behind the accidence, said YOHR.

"People were expressing their opinions and feelings and these are human 
rights which nobody can infringe," it said.

The organization has expressed its deep concern that such attacks on people 
might lead to more tensions in case the authorities could not keep social 
peace and security and prevent human rights violations in the country.

President Saleh blamed in a speech on the 44th anniversary of 14th October 
Revolution on Sunday "those who provoke demonstrations" for the killing of 
people.

"I feel sorrow for such incidents, but those who provoke demonstrations are 
responsible for what happened. Our constitution guarantees freedom of each 
citizen to express opinion by all peaceful means, not by force," said Saleh, 
according to official news agency, Saba.

People in southern Yemen complain unemployment, difficult living situation 
as well as confiscating lands by officers from the northern Yemen after war 
between south and north in 1994.





Press Release
                                                                             
                                                                             
                Dated: November 4th, 2007

Eitezaaz Ehsan and Asima Jahangir Imprisoned!!!




Prominent members of the Lawyer's movement i.e Mr. Muneer Malik, Mr. Ali 
Ahmed Kurd and, most prominently, Mr. Eitezaaz Ehsan have been arrested by 
the present military regime for drummed up charges. In another  crack down 
members of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) namely Ms. Asima 
Jahangir and Mr. I. A. Rahman have also been put under house arrest.

The Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party condemns these measures taken by the 
military general's regime. The Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party, furthermore, 
understands that this present emergency is of an absolutely artificial 
nature and is an exercise in deception. The Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party 
demands that these eminent social figures be freed and this emergency lifted 
immediately.

Inqalaab Zindabaad!
Down with Military Dictatorship!!
Long live the People of Pakistan!!!
Long live The Lawyer's Movement!!!
Long Live The Civil Society!!!!


Dear All,

Over 100 civil society activists have been arrested from a meeting of Joint 
Action Committee, at Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Lahore on Sunday 
14.00 hrs. The meeting was called to discuss the situation after the 
imposition of Emergency in the country by General Pervez Mushraf. Police 
broke the windows of the hall to enter into the meeting venue. Disrupt the 
peaceful indoor meeting and asked the participants to come out. All the 
participants were bundled into the police vans and driven to the Model Town 
Polioce Station. among the arrested men and women include I.A Rehman, Iqbal 
Hyder, Robina saugol, Azra Shad, Khalid Mehmood, Mehboob Khan and Raja 
Salman. The other names could not be identified yet.

Me and Bushra Khaliq, secretary WWHL were late from the meeting. When we 
reached the HRCP office to attend the meeting at 12;30 by that time police 
cordoned off the whole building and blocked the road towards HRCP office. 
The police refused our entry in the meeting hall. We stayed outside the hall 
for half an hour to asses the situation. We contacted some friends in 
present in the meeting on moble and apprised them about the situation 
outside. More contingents of police were pouring in. it was all a 
threatening scenario. gun totting police men on red lighted vehicles and 
bikes can be seen all around the HRCP hall. The police ordered all the 
people waiting ousite the hall to leave the place.

Meanwhile We remained in contact with some participants on phone. They told 
us that police have entered in the hall, stopped the meeting and offered the 
women participants to leave the venue while all the men were told that they 
are arrested. The women participants refused to go so they were also 
arrested along with men. later they werte all taken to police station. 
Police has refused to tell them the nature and period of their detention.

In view of the latest crackdown on political activists, Farooq Tariq, 
general secretary LPP is underground to avoid arrest and police is looking 
for him like grey hounds. last night a police raid was also conducted at his 
Lahore residence. It is pertnent to mention that LPP has denounced the 
Emergency and vowed to resist it. farooq tariq

Syed Abdul Khaliq
on behalf of Farooq Tariq
LPP vows to resist draconian Emergency

Lends full support to resisting judges

Hails lawyers for taking up the fight

Lahore: The Labour Party Pakistan (LPP) has strongly condemned the Musharraf 
regime for imposing Emergency thus depriving the people of Pakistan of their 
already-limited basic human and democratic rights.
The LPP Chairperson, Nisar Shah, and Secretary General Farooq Tariq, in a 
joint statement issued here Saturday vowed to resist the imposition of 
Emergency in collaboration with civil society bodies, trade unions and 
opposition parties.
While lending full support to the resisting Supreme Court judges and Chief 
Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Ch., the LPP leaders condemned Justice hameed 
Dogar for taking oath under new PCO saying: ' Regardless of the immediate 
outcome of the judges fight against the generals, the resisting judges have 
deprived the Emergency of all its justification' .
They said that it was unprecedented in the history of Pakistan that 
judiciary had showed such a courage. 'This resistance also owes to the mass 
movement led by lawyers fraternity last summer that humbled the Musharaff 
regime and chief justice was reinstated',' they added.
They also hailed the Karachi lawyers for taking lead in announcing to launch 
their struggle to fight back Emergency.
The LPP leaders appealed to activists, trade unions and civil body 
organisations to join hands with resisting judges and lawyers to rid the 
country of military regime.
They said: 'Though the regime is likely to use Taliban-occupation of certain 
districts in Frontier province as a pretext to impose Emergency yet it is 
most likely that Emergency is imposed to pre-empt a court ruling against 
Musharaff's re-election. Emergency means that all basic democratic rights 
will be suspended while courts would have their powers curtailed'.
'Pakistan has been in grip of political crisis and regime was facing growing 
mass resentment. This Emergency is a desperate attempt to cling to power,' 
they added.


Farooq Sulehria

Vöstertorpsv 85

129 46.Hägersten. Sweden
Mob 00 46 709 305 436



http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=36132

Tongan lawyer says more riot trials could end in acquittals
Posted at 03:14 on 31 October, 2007 UTC
A lawyer representing a number of those charged over the rioting in Tonga a 
year ago says unless police focus on who instigated the violence, more 
trials can be expected to fall over.
There have been just a handful of convictions to date with the latest 
Supreme Court trial resulting in acquittals yesterday of six of the seven 
accused.
A pro-democracy MP, Clive Edwards, who himself is to face trial on a 
sedition charge in connection with the riot, says many of the accused had 
had confessions extracted under duress.
"There are a number of those aspects at these trials that are going to 
affect the Crown securing convictions where people were ill treated, instead 
of specifically dealing with those who were responsible, or directly 
responsible, in causing the destruction. And this is the problem at this 
point in time. Until they clear that up I don't think that the juries will 
be convicting people."

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=36145

Tonga Information Minister comments on latest riot trial verdict
Posted at 22:15 on 31 October, 2007 UTC
The Tonga government says it never expected all charges made in the wake of 
last year's riot in Nuku'alofa to stick.
Few of the suspects have so far been convicted - in the latest court 
decision, six of seven were acquitted on Tuesday after a lengthy Supreme 
Court trial.
There has been criticism the prosecutions are not properly prepared.
But the Information Minister, Afu'alo Matoto, says the conduct of the 
enquiry is up to the police and the crown prosecutor - he says the 
government does not want to exert any influence whatsoever.
Though Mr Matoto says the option of trial by jury can often produce results 
that do not reflect the evidence.

http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/Zimbabwe/2007-10-18-voa37.cfm

Zimbabwean Riot Police Storm In On Opposition Women's Luncheon
By Carole Gombakomba
Washington
18 October 2007

Interview With Tongai Matutu
Listen to Interview With Tongai Matutu
Controversy over the decision by officials of a faction of Zimbabwe's 
opposition Movement for Democratic Change to dissolve the formation's 
women's assembly was further fueled late Wednesday as police in southeast 
Masvingo detained 18 female members of the faction for four hours for 
allegedly holding a political gathering.
Those detained at Masvingo Central Police Station included Theresa Makone, 
tipped as the leading contender to fill the chair of the women's assembly of 
the MDC faction led by party founder Morgan Tsvangirai. The panel was 
dissolved early this month.
With Makone was Evelyn Masaiti-Matongo, wife of the late chairman of the 
faction, Isaac Matongo, and other top Masvingo women MDC activists.
Makone said the detention was unwarranted because the group was simply 
lunching at the Flamboyant Hotel and talking about a memorial service for 
Matongo.
Lawyer Tongai Matutu, representing the women, told reporter Carole 
Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that police overreacted by sending 
five trucks of officers bearing AK 47 rifles and batons when there was no 
political meeting in sight.
Matutu is the MDC faction's member of parliament for Masvingo Central.
Masvingo police officials could not be reached for comment on the incident.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/66116/Anti-riot-cops-readied-vs-groups-nixing-Erap-pardon

Anti-riot cops readied vs groups nixing Erap pardon
10/27/2007 | 12:45 PM

Groups that helped catapult President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to power by 
ousting her predecessor Joseph Estrada six years ago now stand to face the 
"might" of the police.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said it has instructed its 
anti-riot operatives to deal with marchers and protesters opposing Mrs 
Arroyo's grant of pardon to Estrada.

The 70-year-old ousted leader was granted an executive clemency by President 
Arroyo on October 26, or 43 days after Estrada was convicted of plunder 
charges by the Sandiganbayan.

"Laging nakaantabay ang PNP sa ganitong kaganapan. Meron tayong civil 
disturbance management units (CDMU) na sanay na sanay na sa ganoong pagkilos 
(The PNP is ready for any eventuality. Our CDMUs are used to dealing with 
these protest actions)," PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said 
in a radio interview.

Militant and so-called civil society groups earlier threatened to stage 
protest actions against the granting of pardon to Estrada.

While some groups called for "peaceful" protests such as wearing black on 
Fridays, others hinted at street marches and demonstrations.

"Makakaasa ang taumbayan na ang pulis handa harapin ang ganitong kaganapan 
(Our people can be sure the police will be ready to face them)," Pagdilao 
said.

It was a turnaround of sorts for the PNP, which used to keep an eye on 
Estrada's bulwarks and supporters, and to immediately disperse them at any 
gathering.

Last Thursday, Mrs Arroyo granted pardon to Estrada after six-and-a-half 
years, claiming she based her decision on Estrada's age and on his wish to 
be with his ailing 102-year-old mother. - GMANews.TV

http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=11692&formato=HTML

Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Direct Link: http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=11692&formato=html
Former Argentine leader charged with riot killings in 2001
A federal judge charged former Argentine president Fernando de la Rua with 
five counts of manslaughter Tuesday in connection with bloody street riots 
in December 2001 when his administration collapsed plunging Argentina to its 
most serious economic meltdown in recent times.
Judge Claudio Bonadio said the former president is also being prosecuted, 
(which does not amount to a formal indictment) on charges stemming from 
injuries to 172 other people during street clashes between demonstrators and 
police that year.

It was the first time a current or former democratically elected Argentine 
president has faced charges for the conduct of security forces under his 
oversight. De la Rua, who took office in 1999, declared a state of siege as 
thousands of Argentines took to the streets to demand his resignation.

Judge Bonadio did not call for the preventive arrest of De la Rua, but 
established bail of some 6.3 million dollars. If found guilty, the former 
president could face a jail term of up to 10 years, although he would only 
have to serve under house arrest because he is over 70.

De la Rua resigned in December 2001, halfway through an elected four-year 
term as Argentina suffered one of the worst economic collapses in recent its 
history, with a sharp devaluation of its currency, banks deposits freeze and 
a record 100 billion US dollars debt default.

The turmoil forced De la Rua to resign and he later fled Argentina's 
presidential palace in a helicopter. At least 30 people were reported killed 
nationwide in street riots during December that year.

A text of the case document says De la Rua "did not use the tools" available 
to him as head of state to prevent the bloodshed.

The judge has already filed similar charges against de la Rua's former 
security chief, and seven former federal police officers.

Fernando Chironi, a member of Congress with de la Rua's opposition Radical 
Party, said the former president could not be held liable under the criminal 
code for violent events that spun out of control.

''He was not directly responsible for those who acted below him,'' Chironi 
said, referring to police and state security agents.

Following De la Rúa's resignation, the Argentine Congress after several 
short lived interim heads of state, voted in the strong Peronist Leader, 
Eduardo Duhalde who took office as caretaker president until 2003 when new 
elections were convened.

Current president Nestor Kirchner was voted in the run off when the winner 
of the first round, Carlos Menem did not present himself fearing a landslide 
defeat.