[Onthebarricades] Protests by farmers, taxi drivers, truckers, fisherfolk, small businesspeople

[Andy]

*  INDIA:  Farmers protest at parliament for price support
*  IRELAND:  Farmers protest at supermarkets over low potato prices
*  IRELAND:  Farmers stage sit-in over state payments
*  AUSTRALIA:  Fisherfolk's union to protest offshore abalone farm
*  UGANDA:  Medics leave bodies in wards to protest unpaid allowances
*  SRI LANKA:  Port security streamlined to head off truckers' protest over 
delays
*  AUSTRALIA:  Taxi drivers protest over numbers increase; one protester 
"lunges at" local Prime Minister
*  JAMAICA:  Taxi drvers protest against license fees
*  PHILIPPINES:  Taxi drivers protest public transport scheme, claim loss of 
livelihood
*  FRANCE:  Taxi drivers' go-slow slows traffic
*  UK:  Taxi drivers hold brief strike over poor road surface
*  US:  Truckers slow traffic to protest fuel prices
*  ISRAEL:  Sderot business owners petition for compensation
*  CZECH REPUBLIC:  Protest saves traditional sausage stands

Publicly Archived at Global Resistance: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance


http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200802171840.htm

BKU to organise 'indefinite protest' at Parliament
Moga (Punjab) (PTI): The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) on Sunday said it would 
organise an "indefinite protest" at Parliament from February 27 to press the 
Centre to waive off farmers' debts.
"The national executive of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) and chiefs of nothern 
state units decided to start an indefinite protest at Parliament from 
February 27 ... the protest is to press the Centre to waive off more then 
"Rs 50,000 crore of farmers' debt," Punjab unit president Ajmer Singh 
Lakhowal told reporters here.
Farmers were also demanding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops according 
to price links.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/politics/article3416543.ece

Potato farmers protest against low prices from supermarkets
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Potato farmers are lashing out at the country's major supermarkets, amid 
claims that they are being underpaid for their produce.
The Irish Farmers Association has claimed that some growers are getting as 
little as 20% of the retail price for their potatoes.
The group is mounting a protest in Dublin today against what it says the 
disastrously low prices they are receiving from supermarkets.
IFA president Padraig Walshe said the situation is forcing some growers out 
of business.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/article3418671.ece

IFA to support farmer's sit-in protest over payments
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Irish Farmers' Association is holding a protest at the Department of 
Agriculture offices in Limerick this afternoon.
The IFA said it is supporting a sit-in protest by a Limerick farmer who says 
the Department has failed to deliver REPs payments to him.
Donal O'Brien has claimed that he hasn't received payments under the scheme 
since last August.
IFA members will gather at the office in Raheen from 2pm.
Mr O'Brien's protest appeared to escalate last night as he threatened to go 
on hunger strike.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/15/2190387.htm?section=business

Union to protest against offshore abalone farm
Posted Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:09pm AEDT
Map: Semaphore 5019
The Maritime Union says it will stage a floating protest this afternoon 
where a foreign ship is anchored about three nautical miles off Semaphore 
Beach in Adelaide.
The Destiny Queen is the world's only floating abalone farm.
Spokesman Jamie Newlyn says the vessel is avoiding maritime regulations by 
staying outside Australia's migration zone.
He says the Chinese crew are being paid low wages and made to work in 
substandard conditions.
"We're going to get a few boats out there today and have a protest around 
the ship, like a floating community protest," he said.
"We're going to try and get our ITF [International Transport Workers' 
Federation] inspector to board the vessel at least and check on the crews' 
conditions and welfare."
He says so far the ship's operators have refused requests for inspectors to 
board it, which has fuelled suspicion about the treatment of its crew.
"We've got a humanitarian concern in terms of the crew," he said.
"Some of them have been on that ship for up to 12 months, don't come ashore, 
they're paid as little as a $100 a week.
"At this moment it's operating off the beach at Semaphore where people can 
see it, it's right on our doorstep. We're not happy about it."
The ship's operators say the State Government has approved its refuelling at 
sea and Australian Customs has cleared its departure to Shanghai in China on 
Monday.

http://www.eastafricayote.com/showthread.php?t=41

Ugandan medics in bizarre protest over unpaid allowances

Ugandan medics in bizarre protest over unpaid allowances

MEDICAL STAFF at a northern Ugandan hospital striking over unpaid allowances 
recently employed a rather bizarre tactic to draw attention to their 
plight - they left at least 11 dead bodies in the wards alongside unattended 
patients.

"I was called in and what I saw was very horrifying," said Musa Ecweru, 
Minister for Disaster Preparedness, when he visited the hospital.

"Three bodies had started decomposing in the ward as the sick people and 
their families looked on helplessly."

Ecweru, who was travelling in the north to assess the reconstruction needs 
of a region scarred by two decades of conflict, had to literally stand guard 
as the situation was corrected.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=8719

Colombo Port security streamlined to ward off protest

Container Transporters' protest called off; four check points added; four 
gates to be opened with two on 24-hour basis
By Ravindu Peiris
Security at the port has been spruced up following a protest by the 
Container Transporters Association of delays resulting in four check points 
established in order to maintain four gates opened at the Colombo port.
"Although we were going to launch a protest campaign due to the issues 
prevailing at the port, we have decided to call it off since the Sri Lanka 
Port Authority (SLPA) has come to terms with our demands," Association of 
Container Transporters (ACT) President Sunil Fernando said.
Speaking to the Daily Financial Times President Fernando said that ACT had 
held a meeting with the SLPA, Navy and Sri Lanka Customs on Friday and that 
they have come to an agreement on the major issues for the container 
transporters prevailing at the port at present.
"One of the major issues is the long queues at the port which is time 
consuming, an exercise which normally should be completed in 2 hours now 
takes 12 hours" he claimed.
The meeting was held with some of the senior officials of the organizations 
such as SLPA Chairman, Saliya Wickramasuriya, Vice Chairman R.M.P.B 
Wickrama, Director of Customs Tilak Perera and the Navy represented by 
Captain D.M.B Wettewa and Commander K.L.U Nishantha.
A decision made at this meeting was to ease the congestion of container 
carriers at the Port Access Road by establishing 4 container check points in 
four lanes at the Port Access Road and keep 4 gates opened for the smooth 
flow of import containers. According to Fernando a sufficient number of SLPA 
labourers detailed by the Operations Division and supervised by the Security 
Staff will assist to check the containers at the Port Access Road Gates.
The Port Entry Permits are to be issued for a period of three months instead 
of one month for the container transporter personnel and instead of writing 
down the details of the CDN at port Access Road Gates accept a copy of the 
CDN to minimize the delay. It is intended to provide an additional seal 
cutter to the Customs to expedite the cutting of seals and register new 
transport operators.
At the meeting it was decided to keep No.6 (Port Access Road) and No.8 (De 
Saram Gate) open 24 hours a day provided that the security situation is 
satisfactory to transport containers and hauliers to the port. Furthermore 
entrance of cleaners to the port in container carriers is to be stopped 
gradually and entrust the drivers to bring the container lorries without the 
cleaners.
However this is not applicable to those who wish to continue their service 
as a cleaner. It is settled that action to blacklist or otherwise is not to 
be taken when a vehicle is broken down within the port premises.
The Joint Council of Transporters headed by the ACT was to launch a protest 
with work stoppage commencing from today at the Ingurukade Junction. However 
due to agreeable terms presented by the SLPA the protest will be called when 
the workers gather at the junction at 10.00 a.m. today.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/27/2174149.htm?section=australia

WA Premier in security scare during taxi protest
Posted Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:07pm AEDT
Updated Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:10pm AEDT
Slideshow: Photo 1 of 4

Police hold back a man after he lunged at Alan Carpenter. (ABC TV)
Map: Perth 6000
The Western Australian Premier has been at the centre of a security scare 
outside State Parliament in Perth during a rally by hundreds of angry taxi 
drivers.
Alan Carpenter was booed off the steps of Parliament House as he told the 
drivers:
"We need more taxi drivers, sorry, I got a job to do."
As he retreated, a man lunged at him but was dragged away by police 
officers.
About 500 taxi drivers are striking for 48 hours over the introduction of 
more peak period taxis in the morning on weekdays.
Chris Kelsey from the Taxi Industry Forum says the man who attempted to 
attack the Premier was not a taxi driver and claimed they had been set up.
The drivers have voted to move the protest to Perth's Domestic Airport 
terminal.
No hard feelings
The Premier Alan Carpenter has spoken to the man who lunged at him while he 
was in police custody.
The man told him he was coming to lend some support to his mates.
Mr Carpenter shook the man's hand and told him there were no hard feelings.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20080225T200000-0500_132935_OBS_MINIBUS__TAXI_OPERATORS_PROTEST_AGAINST_HIKE_IN_LICENCE_FEES.asp

Minibus, taxi operators protest against hike in licence fees

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

SCORES of commuters in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, were yesterday left 
stranded after a number of minibus and taxi operators withdrew their 
services to protest against the increase in road licence fees announced last 
Wednesday.
The transport operators, who service routes in Seaview Gardens, Waterhouse 
and some sections of Portmore, said they were not prepared to pay the 
increased fees, and called for a meeting with the transport minister, Mike 
Henry, to discuss the matter.

Angry taxi and minibus operators surround communications manager at the 
Ministry of Transport and Works, Reginald Allen, who tried to discuss their 
concerns about the increase in licence fees. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

"We can hardly pay the $50,000, how are we going to pay $75,000?" Pernel 
Latouche, president of the Waltham Park Taxi Association, told the Observer.
"A $25,000 increase is too much. We have to buy gas and pay thousands of 
dollars to service the vehicles when they need servicing; how are we going 
to find it and taxi fare don't raise?" Latouche lamented.
Yesterday, the police had to disperse the large crowd that surrounded 
communication manager at the Ministry of Transport and Works, Reginald 
Allen, who tried to restore some level of calm when the taxi and minibus 
operators went to the ministry.
The operators are scheduled to meet with the minister at 12:30 this 
afternoon with representatives of the various taxi associations to discuss 
the matter.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20080209-117776/PUJ-drivers-will-protest-Bus-Rapid-Transport-system

PUJ drivers will protest Bus Rapid Transport system

Cebu Daily News
First Posted 06:52:00 02/09/2008
THE PUBLIC Utility Jeepney drivers groug will protest the proposed Bus Rapid 
Transport System that the Cebu City Government wanted to implement in 
Banilad and in the South Road Properties (SRP).
The BRT system, conceptualized by Mayor Tomas Osmeña in 1996, will use 
city-owned buses as a solution to the traffic congestion in the city.
Ruben Rama, secretary general of the Nagkasahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo 
(Nadsu), said the BRT system will displace PUJ drivers plying the Banilad 
and SRP roads because buses will be given priority by the city government.
Rama said it is difficult for PUJ drivers to transfer to other routes 
because they would need approval by the Land Transportation Franchising and 
Regulatory Board.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama assured the drivers' group that once the project is 
be implemented, they will be transferred to other areas where buses won't be 
assigned.
The vice mayor appealed to everybody to be open to the BRT idea because the 
traffic in the city is getting congested and the BRT system is one of the 
proposed solutions. Correspondent Chris A. Ligan

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/06/travel/06taxis.php

French taxi protest slows traffic around the country

The Associated Press
Published: February 6, 2008

PARIS: Road traffic slowed in cities around France on Wednesday as striking 
taxi drivers drove at a snail's pace to protest government plans to increase 
competition in the taxi sector.
The so-called "escargot" operation follows a similar protest last week, when 
thousands of striking drivers held up traffic across France.
Taxis from Paris and other French regions gathered at Roissy-Charles de 
Gaulle and Orly airports and all headed to Paris, according to the main taxi 
driver's union. Police said some 3,200 taxis had gathered at the western 
edge of the city at midday.
Labor union members were to meet in the afternoon with government officials 
at the office of Prime Minister François Fillon to discuss changes to the 
way they get licenses and work.
"The taxi profession system does not work well, in any case, in some 
cities," Fillon said.
The proposed deregulation of the taxi sector was among hundreds of proposals 
in a report commissioned by President Nicolas Sarkozy to find ways to 
bolster France's moribund economy. The national federation of taxi drivers 
fears the government will scrap quotas on the number of taxi drivers and 
present them with a flood of competitors.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080308/lead/lead5.html

Taxi drivers protest against poor road
published: Saturday | March 8, 2008
Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer

A section of the road which prompted taxi drivers in Islington to withdraw 
their services last Monday. - Photo by Nedburn Thaffe
Taxi drivers who operate along the Islington main road in St. Mary are back 
on the job following a protest against the deplorable road conditions.
The operators withdrew their service on Monday in an effort to see some 
measures taken by the relevant authorities to curb the problem. They said 
they had been forced to put up with the poor road conditions for the past 
two years.
The drivers complain that the road had badly deteriorated and despite many 
pleas for assistance from Dr Morais Guy, member of parliament for the 
constituency, the problem had not been solved.
Taking Frustrations to the street
According to one taxi operator, their cup overflowed last Sunday, March 2, 
at an association meeting when efforts to make contact with Guy proved 
futile. They decided to take their frustrations to the street and withdrew 
their service all day Monday to see if any actions would be taken to effect 
improvements..
When The Gleaner contacted Dr Guy, he stated that he was well aware of the 
condition of the Islington main road. He said that work was being carried 
out by the National Works Agency last year to improve situation, but had 
stopped.
The MP added, "My understanding is that they have run out of funds."
Some areas patched
He said there were areas that were patched but the recent heavy rains had 
make matters worst.
Guy noted that measures would be taken to fill some of the major holes with 
marl in an effort to temporarily ameliorate the situation. However, he noted 
that there were areas that would have to be asphalted, but these would have 
to wait until there were sufficient funds to do so.
In the meantime, the taxi operators say they will launch another protest 
come Monday, March 10, if no measures are taken to improve the road.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUKN0129345520080401

UPDATE 2-US truckers disrupt traffic to protest fuel prices
Tue Apr 1, 2008 11:08pm BST

By Janet McGurty
NEW YORK, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. truckers caused minor traffic snags in 
parts of the country on Tuesday to protest soaring costs for diesel, 
according to members of a major trucking association and law enforcement 
officials.
The mild disruptions from New Jersey to Chicago came in the midst of a 
week-long effort by independent truckers to get federal help easing the 
strain of high fuel prices through public protests or work stoppages.
"Our fuel costs have doubled over the past five years and the cost of doing 
business has doubled," said one Florida-based driver. "Our industry is in 
ruins and the rest of the economy is going into a huge tailspin."
On the New Jersey Turnpike, one of the most heavily traveled highways in the 
United States, hundreds of people took part in a protest at a service area 
and truckers reportedly were driving at slow speeds to back up traffic.
"There are some localized minor disruptions. We have taken enforcement 
actions which resulted in issuing summonses," said Lt. Gerald Lewis, a 
spokesman for the New Jersey State Police.
Police also handed out tickets to a few truckers driving below the legal 
minimum speed on a three-lane interstate near Chicago, while other small 
protests were reported in several other states.
The protests, however, did not appear widespread. A spokesman for the 
California Highway Patrol said there was no evidence of any disruptions in 
the state, which has some of the nation's worst highways and biggest ports.
In Florida, four dozen truckers gathered near the Port of Tampa to rail 
against high fuel prices but no attempts to block traffic were reported.
"We haven't experienced any traffic delays or any protests," said Lt. Ron 
Castleberry, at the Florida Highway Patrol headquarters in Tallahassee.
DIESEL SQUEEZE
The protests by independent truckers -- who make up 90 percent of the U.S. 
trucking industry -- came amid a 50 percent spike in diesel prices since 
last year that has brought the cost of a gallon to nearly $4 on average 
nationwide, according to the latest U.S. government survey.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which represents many of 
the truckers taking part in the protests, said it wants Congress to mandate 
a 100 percent pass-through of fuel surcharges to drivers as well as full 
transparency from trucking brokers to match loads and drivers.
The OOIDA has about 161,000 members, slightly less than half of the 350,000 
independent truckers in the United States. The group said it does not call 
for strikes and gave no estimates of now many of its members might 
participate in protests or work stoppages this week.
The protests are loosely organized over Internet chat boards, members said, 
with truckers opting for the level of participation that suits their 
needs -- including just putting up protest signs on their trucks.
"If you have an obligation to a customer and can't stop driving, you can put 
up a sign even if you can't come off the road," said an independent trucker.
One South Carolina-based independent trucker, who said he pays thousands of 
dollars up front for fuel, said he has not worked for three weeks.
"There is not enough money to take my truck on the road," he said.
Mike Schermoly, a spokesman for OOIDA, warned that without help easing the 
strain of high fuel costs on the trucking industry, prices of groceries and 
other goods could rise.
"Some drive home, some find another job, some go fishing," he said. 
"Whatever they do the effect is to take the more trucks out of the market 
and there will be a shortage of trucks. Price of milk, lettuce will continue 
to rise." (additional reporting Nick Zieminski in New York, Andy Stern in 
Chicago, Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles, and Jane Sutton in Miami; Editing by 
David Gregorio)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3507952,00.html

Sderot business owners stage High Court protest
Residents of southern town refuse to leave High Court of Justice following 
discussion on compensation to business owners
Ynet
Latest Update: 02.17.08, 22:08 / Israel News

Southern protest reaches High Court: About 40 Sderot residents announced 
Sunday evening that they refuse to leave the High Court of Justice in 
Jerusalem. The residents were protesting the postponement of the discussion 
on a petition submitted by Sderot business owners.

After several hours, the protestors left the court while avoiding clashes 
with security guards. However, two Sderot women fainted during the protest 
and were treated by Magen David Adom paramedics who rushed to the scene.

One business owner, Sasson Sara, told Ynet: "It's impossible that the 
government treats us with contempt and that the judicial system also hurts 
us. We will sit here and wait for the finance minister to arrive and explain 
his policy to us."

During the court session, many of those present interrupted the words of 
High Court justices with shouts.

Following the discussion on the status of Sderot business owners and 
compensation rights, and after judges gave the State 10 days to respond to 
the petition, several business owners refused to leave the building even 
though the session ended and the judges left the building. Some of those 
present started yelling in protest and slammed the State for failing to take 
care of them.

Journalists barred from court
A spokesperson for the court said that the situation is under control and 
that residents who initially insisted on staying in the building are 
gradually leaving. However, in an unusual move, court guards refused to 
allow journalists to enter the court and cover the incident.

In a petition submitted in May of last year, business owners argued that 
Sderot should be included in the list of borderline communities for 
compensation purposes. Following the petition, the Knesset approved in June 
2007 emergency regulations for Sderot and Gaza-region communities.

Aviad Glickman, Shmulik Hadad, and Aviram Zino contributed to the report

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hFiXGn9qXm-Br9ogOnQVVDD-KltQ

Prague protest saves traditional sausage stands
Feb 12, 2008
PRAGUE (AFP) - Prague city lawmakers have swallowed their pride and caved to 
protests against plans to ditch one of the capital's most succulent 
landmarks -- the sausage stands in central Wenceslas Square.
The stands were due to shut as part of a facelift for the famous square but 
popular opposition, marked by the collection of thousands of signatures 
against the measure, forced lawmakers to back down.
"Prague klobasa are one of the typical culinary delicacies of the city. 
Locals and visitors want to save this long tradition and we respect their 
views," deputy mayor and former critic of the stands, Rudolf Blazek 
announced, paying homage to the popular, greasy sausages on offer around the 
clock.
Still, the number of stands and their opening hours will be pared in the 
future, and vendors will be banned from selling spirits.