[Onthebarricades] GLOBAL UNREST: Youths, revellers, fans and miscellaneous people battle police

[Andy]

*  UK:  Police attack youths with CS spray after rowdy party [what's the betting the "anti-violence crackdown was the CAUSE of the trouble?]
*  IRELAND:  Young revellers fight police in small town
*  ARGENTINA:  Death of football fan sparks unrest
*  US:  Galveston becomes liberated zone as police outclassed by concert-goers
*  INDIGENOUS/CANADA:  Riot police target indigenous community after unrest over colonial imposition of chief
*  COTE D'IVOIRE:  Soldiers revolt over killing
*  NIGERIA:  Party congress leads to unrest
*  MADAGASCAR:  Football cancellation sparks unrest
*  DENMARK:  Police "evacuation" of rap concert sparks revolt

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


http://icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk/pde/news/tm_headline=drunken-teens-run-riot-after-birthday-bash&method=full&objectid=20476031&siteid=63858-name_page.html


DRUNKEN TEENS RUN RIOT AFTER BIRTHDAY BASH

Feb 14 2008

POLICE had to use CS spray to control rampaging teenagers who were causing mayhem in the street following a town centre birthday bash.
The frightening melee led to seven young revellers being arrested.
A source has told how teenagers, believed to be high on drugs and booze, clashed in the street, smashed windows of homes and parked cars and hurled abuse at anyone who challenged them.
The appalling incident was part of 36 hours of trouble that left many families in Johnstone and Linwood terrified.
Police had to deal with at least 150 phone calls from residents complaining about serious youth disorder over three nights last weekend.

More than 60 of the complaints were from families living in the Clippens Road area of Linwood.
But the worst incident was in Dimity Street, near Johnstone town centre, where cops used CS spray to calm revellers who had spilled out of a party and on to the street.
At least five police vehicles responded to the emergency and blocked off the street during the early hours of Sunday morning.
A large group of youths, aged 16 to 19, were shouting abuse at each other and some were punching and lashing out with their feet.
Within minutes, officers wearing stab-proof vests swooped on the scene and, after using CS spray on some of the teenagers, arrests were made.
Horrified residents have told how it sounded like open warfare in the street outside their homes.
One woman said: "The din woke me up and, when I looked through my curtains, I could see there were police everywhere. I counted five or six police vehicles blocking off the street.
"I saw officers using CS spray to try to bring youngsters under control."
And a neighbour added: "The police didn't stand for any nonsense. The troublemakers had been at a birthday party nearby and there was violence when they got outside but they were no match for the cops.
"I found the whole thing scary. Dimity Street is usually a quiet place."
Meanwhile, in Clippens Road, Linwood, gangs of boisterous boys and girls faced up to each other near a row of shops.
One concerned resident said: "Police were back and forward here for most of the weekend.
"They made a number of arrests and some of the kids involved were obviously high on booze or drugs.
"Something has got to be done about this. The parents of these yobs should be ashamed.
"Can't they control their own sons and daughters, or do they just not care?"
A police spokesman confirmed officers were busy throughout the weekend as a result of youth disorder.
He added: "Calls kept coming into the police station at Johnstone well into the early mornings of Saturday and Sunday.
"The worst incident was in Dimity Street, Johnstone, but there were also serious incidents in Linwood."
Police are continuing with their anti-violence blitz this weekend and will again be out in force on local streets.
 
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/riot-police-arrest-12-in-city-suburb-after-chaotic-scenes-1320313.html


Riot police arrest 12 in city suburb after chaotic scenes

Garda riot police attend a disturbance in Finglas, Dublin, after gangs of youths set cars alight and assaulted a motorist
By Breda Heffernan
Tuesday March 18 2008 
Dozens of riot squad gardai were drafted into the capital last night after a day of drinking descended into chaos.
Twelve people were arrested in Finglas after gangs of youths rioted, setting at least two cars on fire in the Berryfield area the the north west of Dublin. 
Earlier, gangs pulled a motorist from his car in the nearby Wellmont Avenue area and beat him up, before setting his car alight. At least half a dozen garda vans and patrol cars rushed to the scene at around 7.30pm and dispersed a large crowd. 
A local woman said a gang of youths had been driving stolen cars around the neighbourhood since early morning. 
"This always happens every Paddy's Day. It's the same thing every year. They are rallying cars around and burning them out. The gardai in riot gear were telling people to get into their gardens," she said. 
Gardai confirmed 12 people had been arrested for public order offences in the area. A number of cars had been set on fire in Finglas, gardai said. 
In different areas across the capital, four people were also arrested for public order offences following the St Patrick's Day celebrations. 
Earlier in the day, a strong garda presence in the city centre ensured there was no repeat of the scenes of drink-fuelled violence that marred previous years' celebrations. 
An extra 800 gardai were drafted into the city in a major public order operation. 
However, hundreds of revellers insisted on drowning the shamrock outdoors, with alcohol hidden in soft-drink bottles and paper cups. 
The worst of the St Patrick's Day excesses yesterday afternoon was in the usual haunts of Temple Bar and the Liffey boardwalk, where revellers soaked up the warm spring sunshine as well as the booze. 
Patrols 
Despite frequent patrols by gardai who confiscated opened cans of beer and cider, the boardwalk was littered with pools of vomit and broken bottles by late afternoon. 
One girl, no older than 14 years old, swigged from a bottle of Barcardi Breezer as she yelled into her mobile phone demanding where her friends were. 
Further along, another teenager sat against the railings with her head in her hands as concerned friends tried to get her on to her feet. 
Meanwhile, two people were arrested following clashes in the centre of Belfast last night after a day of drinking. 
A teenager was taken to hospital with facial injuries after violence involving around 30 people in rival groups, who battled it out with hurley bats and sticks close to St Anne's Cathedral in Donegall Street. 
His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. 
A 16-year-old youth and a 25-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and possession of offensive weapons, according to a police spokeswoman. 
The trouble occurred a short distance from where a crowd of 5,000 people attended a free open-air concert. 
- Breda Heffernan


http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL1521140020080315


Soccer-Argentine match called off as fans riot over death
Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:44pm GMT

BUENOS AIRES, March 15 (Reuters) - An Argentine football match was called off on Saturday when visiting fans rioted over the death of a supporter on the way to the stadium.
Velez Sarsfield fans tried to break down a fence and invade the pitch at San Lorenzo after hearing that a 21-year-old supporter had died from gunshot wounds when the bus he was travelling in was shot at.
The teams were on the pitch when referee Hector Baldassi decided to call off the Clausura championship game.
Another match between Gimnasia-Jujuy and defending champions Lanus in the northern city of Jujuy was also called off because local authorities said they could not provide sufficient policing.
Velez Sarsfield vice-president Baldomaro Bianchi confirmed that the supporter, named as Emanuel Alvarez, had become the latest fatal victim of Argentina's notorious soccer violence.
Bianchi told reporters Alvarez was travelling in a convoy of about 40 buses of Velez fans when the vehicle was shot at some 20 blocks from San Lorenzo's stadium in the sprawling suburbs of Buenos Aires. He died in hospital shortly afterwards.
CALLED OFF
Velez players went up to the fence to appeal for calm as the rioting began.
"The fans are saying it will be worse if the game is played," defender Hernan Pellerano told Argentine television.
After the game was called off, Velez fans left the stadium first while the home fans were kept behind, which is standard practice in Argentina.
San Lorenzo president Rafael Savino agreed with the decision to call off the match.
"It involves the death of a fan. We didn't know anything until the Velez supporters began to break down the fence," he told reporters."
In Jujuy, the president of local side Gimnasia said the police could not safeguard the match because they were needed at the headquarters of the state government, where employees have gone on strike to demand higher wages.
"The police cannot provide security for the match," Raul Ulloa told the Clarin newspaper.
(Reporting by Luis Ampuero; Writing by Brian Homewood; Editing by Ken Ferris) 


http://www.khou.com/news/local/galveston/stories/khou080316_tj_riot.6046c251.html


Twelve arrested after beach rap concert
12:23 PM CDT on Monday, March 17, 2008
By Sara McDonald / Galveston County Daily News 
GALVESTON - At least 12 people were arrested after mass chaos broke out on East Beach Sunday evening when a rap concert ended and its attendees crowded island streets fighting, smoking, drinking and dancing on top of cars. 
Only four off-duty police officers were hired to monitor the concert, and as the music ended, they quickly became "completely overwhelmed," Galveston Police spokesman Lt. Jorge Treviño said. 
Problems began when a fight between a few men broke out and officers tried to arrest them, Galveston police Sgt. Byron Franklin said. 
The crowd surrounded the officers as multiple fights broke out across the beach. 
All officers across the city were called out to help control the crowd, Franklin said. 
One officer broke his finger while trying to control the crowd, Treviño said. Extra police officers from the night shift who hadn't yet begun, and Galveston County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to help get 4,500 to 5,000 cars full of people off the beach, Franklin said. 

The Daily News
Revelers cruise Seawall Boulevard on Sunday night after a riot at the Scion Spring Break Beach Bash on East Beach in Galveston. Galveston police cleared the beach, but revelers continued to cruise on Seawall and Broadway for several hours. 
As police tried to evacuate the line of cars, the people at the concert took their partying to the streets. 
Police shut down Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and 14th streets and blocked off a portion of Seawall Boulevard so the cars could leave the island. 
Johnny Smecca, owner of Mario's Italian Restaurant, said cars were swerving into incoming traffic, blocking off streets, and people were partying in the streets and parking lots. 
He saw people urinating in the alley behind his restaurant, dancing on top of cars, smoking marijuana and drinking beer, he said. 
"It was an absolute fiasco," Smecca said. "Last time this happened, everybody played the blame game and someone got shot in front of my restaurant. I'm done with hearing excuses and complaints. I pay enough taxes to this city that there's absolutely no reason for this to happen." 
When he told all the people to leave his parking lot, they left trash and beer bottles behind, he said. 
It took almost four hours for police to clear all the people out of the area and get the crowds under control, Franklin said. 
The concert was held by radio station Party 93.3 from 2 to 5 p.m. and featured Party Artist 2 Pistols, Colby O'Donnis, Lil Wil & Lil Keke and Webbie, according to the radio station's Web site. 


http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=5664e30a-616c-46e9-a5b2-15783132fd1e


Riot police ensure calm at Barrière Lake
Chief Casey Ratt returns to reserve
Jorge Barrera, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Wednesday, March 12, 2008
BARRIERE LAKE, Que. - An uneasy calm descended on the Barrière Lake reserve yesterday as Sûreté du Québec officers equipped with riot gear ensured that the return of the Algonquin community's new chief did not spark another round of violent clashes.
Police controlled the flow of traffic into the community, letting in cars four at a time while a group of about two dozen men, women and children loyal to the previous leadership held signs supporting him and heckled supporters of Chief Casey Ratt.
"We are trying to show the people that we don't agree with Indian Affairs choosing who is in control" said Margaret Wawati, 54, who was demonstrating against Chief Ratt. "The majority of the people here are not in favour of (Ratt)."

The leadership crisis began last September, when former chief Jean Maurice Matchewan stepped down after being charged with gun- and drug-related offences. He remained on council, and Benjamin Nottaway was named acting chief.
Chief Ratt said the change was made without consultation and his supporters held their own selection process, which ended in January.
However, the Algonquin Nation Secretariat, a tribal council that counts Barrière Lake as a member, recognized Mr. Nottaway as the legitimate chief on Feb. 22.
A dispute erupted in violent clashes last week between community members after Chief Ratt was given an ultimatum to either stop lobbying for recognition as chief or face permanent banishment from the community, which is 300 kilometres north of Ottawa. Indian Affairs legitimized Chief Ratt's leadership in a letter issued Monday that said the department would now only deal with his council.
Chief Ratt and his supporters returned to Barrière Lake yesterday amid threats they would be met with barricades.
The Sûreté cleared away several logs yesterday morning that had been placed across the seven-kilometre road leading to the reserve, which sits off Highway 117. They set up a checkpoint near the highway and another at the edge of the community. Officers in riot gear sat in their cruisers.
Much of the anger among Chief Ratt's opponents was directed at Indian Affairs, which they accused of helping orchestrate "a coup d'état."
"We are going to keep on fighting the government for the decision they made," said Mr. Matchewan, the former chief.


http://allafrica.com/stories/200803250986.html

Côte d'Ivoire: Soldiers Riot in Western Towns
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
25 March 2008
Posted to the web 25 March 2008
Abidjan
Two towns in western Cote d'Ivoire have been shut off by two days of riots by disgruntled Ivorian soldiers.
Troops started rampaging through the town of Duékoué, 400 km north west of the commercial capital Abidjan, on the morning of 24 March, protesting the murder of a low-ranking soldier by robbers the night before, Commandant Vazoumana, a gendarme in Duékoué told IRIN.
 
"We have been unable to leave our houses," Flora Gbazé, a civilian in Duékoué, said on 24 March. "Since the morning soldiers have been shooting in the air." Later the same day riots broke out in nearby Guiglo, army sources in the town told IRIN.
According to a humanitarian source in the region, one civilian death has been confirmed by stray gunfire.
Rioting continued in Guiglo on 25 March, however in Duékoué the soldiers spent the day in negotiations with government officials, a humanitarian official familiar with the situation told IRIN.
The soldiers were demanding the resignation of the governor in the region, the source told IRIN.
"The signals coming from both the government and military leaders are not at all clear," the source said, noting that Ivorian soldiers had been petitioning the regional authorities to improve their security arrangements for some weeks.
While Cote d'Ivoire has been progressing towards peace since a peace deal was signed in 2006 between rebels who had been controlling the north of the country and the government, the department of Duékoué has been seen as less stable.
There have been clashes between different ethnic groups in the area, as well as disputes over access to cocoa fields and returns by people displaced during a brief civil war in 2002.
UN agencies including the World Food Programme, UN Children's Fund, UN Refugee Agency, and non-governmental groups Solidarite and Save the Children all have projects in the Guiglo area.


http://allafrica.com/stories/200803070193.html

 
Nigeria: PDP Congress - Riot in Lafia
 
This Day (Lagos)
7 March 2008
Posted to the web 7 March 2008
George Okoh
Lafia
Resident of Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, woke-up yesterday morning to heavy rioting, emanating from Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)'s rescheduled local government congress in four local government areas.
As early as 7a.m., hordes of youths and party supporters from Obi, Keana, Doma and Awe, the affected local governments, stormed Lafia, venue of the congress, immediately after which pandemonium broke out at different venues, as supporters engaged each other in a brawl, following alleged imposition of candidates by leaders of the party.
Major roads were blocked by the supporters who brandishedguns, machetes, bow and arrows, stones and other dangerous weapons.
 
The entire Shemdam road and Jos road in Lafia town,were barricaded by supporters singing warsongs, before they were dislodged by a strong team of the police force.
A competent PDP source said the problem begun with the plan by some powerful members to impose former chairmen of the council on the party. "The whole trouble had to do with imposition of candidates. The congress will determine the outcome of the forthcoming local government primaries, and so, election of delegates are being stage-managed by some powerful members of the party, to install their stooges," the source said.
As at the time of filing this report, policemen had taken full control, while schools, markets and government offices remained shut.


http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL02513690.html

Malagasy football riot leaves fan in coma
Sun 2 Mar 2008, 16:18 GMT



By Fanja Saholiarisoa

ANTANANARIVO, March 2 (Reuters) - A Malagasy football fan was fighting for his life on Sunday after a cancelled match between teams from Madagascar and Mozambique led to rioting, hospital and match officials said.

"(The fan) is badly injured and still in a coma," said Bruno Andriamiarana, the director of the capital's Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona hospital.

The match between Madagascar's Ajesaia and Mozambique's Costa Do Sol was cancelled because of a disagreement over a match official.

"At the last moment, the Confederation of African Football did not accept the Malagasy touch judge," said Jeremia Randriambololona, Ajesaia's trainer.

When the cancellation was announced, angry fans began ripping up the stadium's seats and other fittings, said a local sports journalist at the scene, Dina Razafimahatratra.

Two policemen were also injured and a total 13 people arrested, police sources said.

The match would have been the second leg of an African Champions' League match. Ajesaia lost the first leg 2-0.

"We're unhappy because the organisers could have told us beforehand that there wouldn't be a match," said spectator Serge Rakotoson.

"Everybody had bought a ticket for at least 3,000 ariary ($1.60)," he said.

Madagascar, located in the Indian Ocean and the world's fourth largest island, has a population of 20 million people, of whom 85 percent were living on less than $2 per day in 2005, according to official data. (Writing by Ed Harris; Editing by Giles Elgood and Jon Boyle) 

http://www.pr-inside.com/akon-fans-riot-at-danish-concert-r450996.htm

 

AKON FANS RIOT AT DANISH CONCERT 
R&B singer AKON's free concert at a shopping mall in Denmark descended into violence on Wednesday (20Feb08) when fans began rioting as police evacuated the venue due to a fire alarm alert.
The Smack That hitmaker put on the free gig at Fields Shopping Mall in Copenhagen, but demand to enter the 1,000-capacity concert area exceeded the organiser's expectations and around 2,000 people were forced to watch Akon's performance from afar.
Mall director Jens Geppel says, "It was a free concert and we knew that many people would come, but there were a lot of people there, more than we had expected." And there was more trouble for police soon after the concert began - when Akon was three songs into his set, a fire alarm was set off, prompting cops to usher the large crowd out of the retail centre.
But fans were not pleased and protested as they were being evacuated.
The unrest escalated once everyone was outside as concert-goers started hurling rocks and drinks bottles at the officers, resulting in eight arrests.
Several people were injured in the incident, but none are thought to be serious.
The fire turned out to be a false alarm and mall security have launched an investigation into what went wrong.
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