[Onthebarricades] Anti-neoliberal protests, Apr-Aug 2008

[Andy]

ON THE BARRICADES:  Global Resistance Roundup, April-August 2008
https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/onthebarricades
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance/



*  MOROCCO:  Protesters blockade port over unemployment, attacked by police

*  MOROCCO:  Repeat protest held two months later, demands protesters' 
release

*  EAST TIMOR:  Student protests over government buying luxury cars - police 
attack, protesters respond

*  INDIA:  Left protests against joint exercises with US, elite 
"imperialism"

*  GUYANA:  Electricity bill increase sparks protests, strikes

*  PHILIPPINES:  Debt activists protest at railway station

*  INDIA:  Leftists protest Bush remarks

*  INDIA:  Pay-to-worship scheme at shrine protested

*  US:  Fee for bridge-players met with protest, walkout

*  PHILIPPINES:  Religious group holds protest against Arroyo

*  CANADA:  Anti-poverty protesters try to enter council meeting

*  INDIA:  Protest over yarn price

*  UK:  Site occupied against privatisation of education

*  THAILAND:  Opposition protesters call for renationalisation of oil firm

*  PHILIPPINES:  Protest at US embassy blames US for crisis

*  INDIA:  Strike in Kolar over commodity prices

*  INDIA:  Protest against Special Economic Zones

*  INDIA:  10,000 held in court-arrest actions in Chennai

*  SOUTH AFRICA:  Protesters oppose removal of graves

*  GHANA:  Protest against privatisation of telecom firm

*  US:  Steelworkers hold street theatre against unsafe imports

*  CUBA:  Dissidents protest to pay in local currency

http://www.dawn.com/2008/06/08/rss.htm


44 hurt in clashes between police, unemployed in Morocco RABAT, June 8 
(AFP) - Violent clashes between unemployed youths and the police left 44 
people including 27 police officers injured in the southwestern Moroccan 
port of Sidi Ifni Saturday, hospital chief Mohamed Chafik, told AFP by 
telephone. The head of the local section of the Moroccan Human Rights Centre 
said at a press briefing in Rabat that between one and five people had died 
in the incident, but the hospital chief denied this. Protesters have 
picketed the port since May 30 and were refusing to negotiate a settlement. 
(Posted @ 10:00 PST)

http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/06/11/feature-01

Moroccan government, NGOs disagree over Sidi Ifni clashes
2008-06-11
Accounts vary over what took place during clashes between protestors and 
police at the port of Sidi Ifni on Saturday. The government has described a 
legal operation to restore order, while several NGOs claim excessive police 
violence and rights abuses.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat - 11/06/08
[Getty Images] The Moroccan government and human rights NGOs have provided 
different versions of the police operation to remove protestors from the 
port of Sidi Ifni over the weekend.

The Moroccan government and human rights NGOs have provided conflicting 
accounts of a police operation on Saturday (June 7th) to remove young 
unemployed demonstrators from the port of Sidi Ifni. The Moroccan government 
initially denied the incident but later said 44 people were injured, 
including 27 law enforcement officers. NGOs say the operation was a "wave of 
official aggression" in which security forces raided homes, stole personal 
property and detained many residents. On Monday, the Moroccan Human Rights 
Centre said several people were still missing.
The Moroccan government has strongly denied claims by Aljazeera and several 
Moroccan NGOs that people were killed in the clashes.
The demonstrators had been blocking the port of Sidi Ifni since May 30th to 
protest the high level of unemployment in the region. A group of 120 
unemployed youths had applied to a lottery designed by the local council to 
take on eight employees for cleaning work. After the results were announced, 
however, an estimated 100 disappointed people decided to block the entries 
to the port, effectively trapping 89 lorries loaded with nearly 800 tonnes 
of fish.
That meant "losing money," said Brahim Sbaalil, chairman of the local 
section of the Moroccan Centre for Human Rights. "That's what caused the 
police to become involved."
The young demonstrators had laid out several demands. Having heard about the 
wave of socio-economic development that had affected other regions of the 
country, the unemployed youths wanted their own town to grow and develop. 
They called for the construction of a fish processing factory to reduce 
unemployment and bring money to the wilaya.
Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi confirmed that events were driven by "demands 
for employment and by social unease similar to the crises affecting society 
on a universal scale."
Government spokesman Khalid Naciri said the police operation took place only 
after dialogue with the protesters had failed. "We needed to get the port 
back to normal once the authorities had done their best to talk with them, 
but in vain. Caring about human rights and democracy does not mean you 
should let anarchy establish itself."
"In the early hours of Saturday," said Abdullah Birdaha, head of the Tiznit 
branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, "a yacht neared the 
shore and landed quick intervention squads and supporting forces."
Local residents described what happened next. Mohamed, a young student and 
the brother of one of the protesters, told Magharebia: "The police were 
armed with truncheons and police dogs. Some demonstrators were arrested, 
whilst others are still in hiding in the mountains."
Zahra, a young high school student, said "I was searched very thoroughly by 
the police, even though I had done nothing. I was terrified. But fortunately 
they released me straight away. All the talk here is about what's just 
happened, with the hope that we can find effective solutions to the problems 
rather than resorting to violence. Some families are waiting for news of 
their sons who have been jailed or have disappeared."
Souilem Bouchâab, Governor of Tiznit wilaya, said the operation was carried 
out legally under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor. He added that 
the police were successful in ending the blockade and allowing the lorries 
to leave.
The Amazigh Human Rights League, however, called the operation "a wave of 
official aggression" and called on the state to open a calm, constructive 
and transparent dialogue with those living in the Ifni region to address 
their demands for employment.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0782079.htm

Moroccan police break up port protest
07 Jun 2008 16:30:09 GMT
Source: Reuters
RABAT, June 7 (Reuters) - Police used force to end the week-long blockade of 
a port in southern Morocco by youths protesting poverty and joblessness, but 
the government denied claims by locals that some demonstrators were killed.
Residents said hundreds of police arrived at Sidi Ifni port at 2 a.m. on 
Saturday morning to remove the demonstrators.
"The port has been under blockade since May 30 -- trucks were trapped inside 
and the fish they were carrying was rotting," said a local security 
official. "The police moved in to remove the demonstrators."
He said 20 were arrested but none were killed or injured in the operation, 
which began after the protesters set fire to the car of a local official.
A local resident involved in the demonstration said security forces attacked 
the protestors using dogs and truncheons.
"Dozens were injured and I saw two lying dead on the ground with head 
wounds," said the resident, a social worker who asked not to be identified. 
"Friends in different neighbourhoods told me of three other deaths."
A western diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said he had been told 
by a reliable eyewitness that eight people were killed.
Such protests occur regularly in Morocco but rarely result in deaths.
Locals said the protesters were complaining of being sidelined by the Rabat 
government, left out of economic development and passed over for jobs.
They said they had hoped Sidi Ifni might become a province in its own right 
in an upcoming reform to administrative boundaries but were then told this 
would not happen.
Rights activists in the region said police were searching houses in the 
small town on the Atlantic coast 700 km (435 miles) southwest of the capital 
Rabat.
"The town is cut off," said Abdallah Berhada, regional representative of 
Morocco's main independent human rights group AMDH. He said he had heard 
people had been killed but the situation was still unclear. (Reporting by 
Tom Pfeiffer and Zakia Abdennebi, editing by Mary Gabriel)

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/morocco/?id=26346

Unemployment to blame for North Africa protests

Observers insist youth unemployment is cause of protests in past few days in 
Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco.

RABAT- Unemployment disproportionately affecting young people is to blame 
for violent protests over the weekend in Morocco and Tunisia that killed one 
person and injured dozens, observers said.
"Endemic unemployment among young people from the Maghreb (northwestern 
Africa) is the cause of the protests that broke out in the past few days in 
Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia," said Aziz, an activist from the Moroccan city 
of Sidi Ifni who asked not to be identified by his full name.
Clashes between security forces and young unemployed protesters erupted on 
Saturday in the Moroccan fishing port city 100 kilometers (60 miles) 
southwest of Rabat.
The national unemployment rate stood at 9.7 percent in 2007, according to 
government statistics, but four out of 10 of these jobseekers were younger 
than 25.
In Tunisia, the national unemployment rate reached 14 percent in 2007, 
according to a Tunisian government official.
"Youth unemployment, especially among thousands of graduates in Morocco, 
Algeria and Tunisia is the common denominator in the three countries where 
demonstrations periodically take place in cities," Khalid Cherkaoui, 
president of the Moroccan centre for human rights (CMDH), said.
Sidi Ifni saw its first such protests in 2006, young people in the area 
said.
The violence this weekend left 44 people injured, including 27 police 
officers, according to hospital sources in Sidi Ifni. CDMH estimates however 
that between one and five people died as a result of the clashes.
The Moroccan government denies this. "There was not one death," said 
spokesman Khalid Naciri.
In the southwest Tunisian city of Redeyef, one person was killed in protests 
on Friday and several were injured.
Here the demonstrations were ignited by allegations that the region's main 
employer had doctored a recruitment campaign. Protesters believed that 
officials from the Gafsa Phosphate Company had manipulated a selection 
process to their own advantage.
In Sidi Ifni, where fishing is the primary source of income, police used 
force to unblock the port where 89 trucks waited with loads of some 800 
tonnes of fish.
The blockade had begun May 30 when the results of a recruitment campaign 
were unveiled and three successful candidates randomly picked. After the 
draw, around 120 angry youths moved towards the port and blocked operations, 
said socialist deputy Abdelwahab Belfkih.
Another elected official, Lahcen Achouad, said the "demands of the young 
people are socio-economic in nature. They are asking for an equitable 
distribution of the city's wealth."

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_North%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=85&art_id=nw20080819133951196C926642

Moroccan youths protest, demand jobs

    August 19 2008 at 02:25PM

Rabat - Moroccan security forces on Tuesday broke up a two-day blockade of a 
southwestern port by some 300 people demanding the freeing of unemployed 
youths arrested after a similar protest in June, the MAP news agency said.

Nobody was hurt in the police action. Police however said they had arrested 
one "instigator" and were seeking five other key organisers of the 
demonstration at the port of Sidi Ifni, which began on Monday.

Dozens of trucks filled with fish had been blocked at the port, the news 
agency said.

The protesters wanted authorities to free several unemployed youths who were 
arrested at the port on June 7 after staging a similar blockade to demand 
jobs. A total of 182 had been arrested but all but ten were freed later.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKSP32519620080707

East Timor police arrest 21 in luxury cars protest
Mon Jul 7, 2008 6:19am BST
By Tito Belo

DILI, July 7 (Reuters) - East Timor police arrested 21 people and fired tear 
gas to disperse a protest against a parliament decision to buy 65 luxury 
cars -- one for each member of parliament -- in one of the world's poorest 
nations. East Timor's parliament decided last month to buy the Toyota Land 
Cruisers amid soaring food and oil prices in a country where the average 
income is about 50 U.S. cents a day and 42 percent are unemployed.

Around 1,000 protesters, mostly students, staged a rally at the parliament 
building, carrying the national black and red Timorese flag and banners 
saying, "Stand up East Timor, Fight Against Immoral Decisions".

They were also protesting against a bill being discussed in parliament which 
will allow prosecutors and members of the intelligence service to possess 
weapons.

"Do they want students to keep silent and let them buy luxury cars and allow 
civilians to own weapons? We are not yes men and we say no to the decision," 
Agusto Pinto, the rally's coordinator, told Reuters.

"Petroleum funds must be used for people's interest, not to buy cars and 
weapons ... we are ready to die if the decision is not revoked." We agree if 
they buy rice to feed the people but not to permit civilians to kill each 
other like the 2006 crisis." The youngest Asian nation descended into 
violence in 2006 when the government decided to lay off 600 soldiers, which 
led to a clash between the two main tribes and left 37 people killed and 
150,000 displaced from their homes.

The students said they would continue to protest until Friday.

The tiny nation that won their independence from Indonesia in 1999 has been 
striving to maintain political and social stability ever since. The country 
has substantial oil reserves but has only started to develop them.

The former Portuguese colony, invaded by Indonesia in 1975, won independence 
in a violence-marred vote organised by the United Nations in 1999. It became 
fully independent in 2002 after a period of U.N. administration.

The government and the United Nations launched a programme early this year 
to relocate some 30,000 refugees living in camps that dot the capital. 
(Writing by Olivia Rondonuwu; Editing by Sugita Katyal and Alex Richardson)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7492599.stm

E Timor police move on students
By Lucy Williamson
BBC News

East Timor's police have received training from foreign forces

Police in East Timor's capital, Dili, have fired tear gas into the grounds 
of the national university and arrested several students, reports say.
The students were demonstrating against plans by the parliament to spend $1m 
(£500,000) on new cars for MPs.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that local police had fired rounds of tear gas at 
lines of peacefully protesting students inside the grounds of the 
university.
UN police were also part of the operation, beside the parliament.
Week of protests
The acting UN police chief, who had just arrived on the scene, said he had 
reports of students throwing rocks and could see broken glass on the ground.
Others who witnessed the protest denied there had been any provocation.
The police had been told to break up the demonstration at the campus because 
it had not been authorised.
The university sits just beside the national parliament building, and is 
considered a no-go area for demonstrations.
Several hundred more students were gathering at the official protest site - 
some distance away from the parliament.
This is day one of a week of protests planned by students in East Timor.
Opposition has been growing recently in response to government spending 
plans and widespread allegations of corruption.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/217747,dozens-arrested-at-student-protests-in-east-timor.html

Dozens arrested at student protests in East Timor
Posted : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:38:00 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Australasia (World)

Sydney - Students protested in the East Timor capital Dili on Wednesday, the 
third day of demonstrations against government spending priorities, radio 
reports said. Dozens have been arrested outside the National University 
where hundreds of students have faced off against local police and United 
Nations police.
Australia's ABC Radio reported from Dili that the protestors carried 
placards calling on the government of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to 
subsidize food prices rather than buy a fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles 
for the 65 Parliamentarians.
East Timor, which became independent in 2002, is South-East Asia's poorest 
country and has an unemployment rate of 50 per cent.
An Indonesian province for the 24 years up until 1999, the tiny half-island 
of 1 million people has lurched from one political crisis to another since 
independence.
The students claim that all 65 parliamentarians are to get new vehicles but 
Gusmao's government said only 26 vehicles were on order for the lawmakers.
The latest threat to the overwhelmingly Catholic nation's survival came in 
February when President Jose Ramos Horta was shot by renegade soldiers, who 
launched twin assassination attempts against the Nobel laureate and against 
Gusmao.
Gusmao escaped uninjured from the attack that nearly cost Ramos Horta his 
life.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/07/08/timor-cars.html

No SUVs for MPs: East Timor protesters
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 | 11:15 AM ET Comments2Recommend3
CBC News
Students in East Timor's capital clashed with police and occupied a public 
building Tuesday on a second day of protests against government plans to buy 
four-wheel-drive SUVs for members of parliament.
Dozens have been arrested during the two days of demonstrations at Dili's 
National University for "investigation purposes," said National Police Chief 
Insp. Afonso de Jesus. He did not elaborate.
Officers fired tear gas to scatter protesters on Monday, but many returned 
the following day to form human barricades before armed officers moved in to 
arrest them.
Parliament voted last month to buy luxury Toyota vehicles for its 65 
members, although the government insists that only 24 SUVs will be acquired. 
The students carried banners protesting the decision, saying state money 
should be spent on rice, not cars.
The government recently doubled its budget for importing and subsidizing 
rice, and the protesting students also accused Prime Minister Xanama Gusmao 
of corruption by giving food purchase contracts to his cousin.
Tiny East Timor's 900,000 people are among the poorest in Southeast Asia and 
have been hit hard by soaring international prices for food and fuel.
A former Portuguese colony, East Timor broke from 24 years of military 
occupation by Indonesia in 1999. In the ensuing fighting between 
pro-independence forces and departing Indonesian troops bolstered by local 
militias, some 1,500 people were killed.
After being governed and policed for three years by United Nations officials 
and troops, East Timor declared independence in 2002.
The country descended into chaos again in April 2006 when national military 
forces split into warring factions and the government collapsed amid 
widespread looting and arson.
Gun battles and gang warfare killed 37 people, and more than 150,000 were 
forced to leave their homes. Tens of thousands still live in squalid camps.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2297695.htm?tab=latest

More student arrests in East Timor protests

Another 18 East Timorese students have been arrested during protests at the 
National University in Dili.

Radio Australia's Stephanie March reports that despite 21 arrests on Monday, 
hundred of students arrived this morning at the University opposite 
parliament to protest against the government's management of the budget and 
a proposed gun law that would enable civilians to carry arms.

The demonstrators made human barricades at the front of the university and 
were given five minutes to disperse before being arrested by local police.

The students have locked themselves inside the building and are singing the 
National anthem from second storey windows and the roof of a verandah.

They have been told by police it is illegal to hold demonstrations within 
100 metres of a sovereign building.

The United Nations police waiting outside say they are trying to speak to 
the head of the University to get permission to enter the building, but in 
the meantime will wait patiently outside.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5isatMtOZMhsYyV9dbecpMqHmg7XA

16 arrested in East Timor demo
Jul 7, 2008
DILI (AFP) - East Timorese and UN anti-riot police arrested at least 16 
students Tuesday during a second day of protests at the national university 
against a plan to import cars for lawmakers.
Around 500 students rallied outside the National University of Timor Leste 
to condemn the procurement plan, after 21 were arrested in a similar protest 
there on Monday.
The students carried banners reading "Stop plan to buy luxury cars" and "We 
need lower food prices" as they gathered on the campus, which is opposite 
parliament.
Police used a loudspeaker to remind the crowd that protests are not allowed 
within 100 metres (yards) of public buildings.
The students claim the government has ordered 65 Toyota Landcruisers from 
Japan for more than two million dollars but the government says the order is 
for only 26 cars at 900,000 dollars.
East Timor, which gained independence in 2002 after 24 years of Indonesian 
occupation, is one of the world's poorest nations with an unemployment rate 
of around 50 percent.

http://www.haitinews.net/story/379402

East Timor rioters threaten government over car purchases
Haiti News.Net
Monday 7th July, 2008
East Timor police have fired tear gas to disperse a protesters, who were 
angry over a decision to buy sixty five luxury cars for parliamentarians.

The expediture will mean each parliamentarian will have a car.

About 1,000 protesters staged a rally outside the parliament building in the 
capital of Dili, calling the purchase of the cars an "immoral decision."

Some protestors said they would be prepared to die if petroleum funds were 
used to purchase the sixty five cars.

Political leaders in East Timor, which is one of the worlds poorest 
countries, decided last month to buy the cars, even though soaring food and 
oil prices have been a constant problem for Dili's population.

The average income in East Timor is around 50 cents a day and 42 per cent 
are unemployed.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2296623.htm?tab=latest

Students arrested, hurt after East Timor protest
Updated Mon Jul 7, 2008 10:08pm AEST
Police in East Timor have arrested 20 students who were protesting against a 
government decision to buy new cars for MPs.

Our correspondent, Geoff Thompson, reports police used tear gas to break up 
the demonstration.

The protesters say a government decision means new Toyota Landcruisers for 
every one of the parliament's 65 members at a cost of more than $US2 
million.

The government says the plan is only to buy 26 cars for about $1 million.

Either way, the issue was enough to get hundreds of students demonstrating 
at East Timor's national university on Monday.

East Timor's police moved in to break them up, firing tear gas and arresting 
at least 20 students.

One was injured when struck by a teargas canister.

With an unemployment rate of about 50 per cent, East Timor remains one of 
the world's poorest nations.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2300574.htm?tab=asia

East Timor students released following protest
Updated Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:11pm AEST
A total of 53 students have been arrested since demonstration began on 
Monday. [AFP]
More East Timor Stories:
· ETimor prepared to accept independence poll report
· East Timor petroleum fund under review.
· MPs, human rights activists criticise ETimor student arrests
Twenty-one East Timorese students, detained following protests over a 
government decision to purchase cars for 65 members of parliament, have been 
release from police detention.

A total of 53 have been arrested since demonstrations began on Monday.

Stephanie March reports from Dili groups of UN and local police waited 
outside Dili's national university, but the students gathered at the school 
failed to go ahead with planned protests.

The 21 students arrested Monday appeared in court this morning before being 
released without charge, however, police say the incident is still being 
investigated.

They've been told they must inform police of any plans to leave the capital.

Amnesty International and the Fretilin Opposition party had previously 
called for the students to either be charged immediately, or released from 
police detention.

UN police told the ABC despite no demonstrations at the University today 
they are prepared for the possibility of more on Friday.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/06/stories/2007090654981000.htm

Left protest rally leaves for Visakhapatnam
Special Correspondent
Karat tells cadres to "take a pledge to fight imperialist forces"

- Photo: K. Pichumani

MOBILISING PUBLIC OPINION: CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat (left), 
and CPI national secretary D. Raja at the start of a protest rally against 
the joint naval exercises, in Chennai on Wednesday.
CHENNAI: The southern leg of the vehicular campaign taken out by Left 
parties in protest against India's joint naval exercises with the U.S. set 
out for Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
VOC portrait garlanded
Leaders including Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary 
Prakash Karat and Communist Party of India national secretary D. Raja 
garlanded the portrait of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram - coinciding with 
his 136th birth anniversary - near the main gates of the Chennai Harbour.
They resolved to continue the leader's fight for the values of freedom and 
sovereignty.
Mr. Karat urged the party cadres to "take a pledge to fight imperialist 
forces" like Chidambaram, who had floated the 'Swadeshi Shipping Company' 
during the British rule.
He said the movement launched by the Left leaders would not allow India to 
become an ally of the United States.
Several leaders of Left parties are accompanying the contingent of about 300 
cars and two-wheelers.
The rally was accorded public receptions at Red Hills and Gummudipoondi 
before it entered Nellore.
Another rally launched simultaneously by CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan 
set out from Kolkata and both contingents are scheduled to reach 
Visakhapatnam on September 8.
The Left campaign will culminate in a public meeting.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=9192

Looming hike in electricity bills sparks protest in Guyana
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Business in two
of Guyana's
bauxite mining communities ground to a halt Thursday because of protests 
over a
planned increase in electricity rates.
Residents there
have not been paying market rate for electricity because surplus power
generated by the bauxite plant is sold at rates far below that paid by the 
rest
of the country.
The government
said the present circumstances will mean that residents and businesses will, 
as
of next month, have to pay more for electricity.
Although no final decision
or agreement has been reached on the proposed rates, residents have rejected
the idea and on Thursday shut-down all businesses and blocked major roads 
and
streets with debris.
Hundreds of them threw
scrap-iron on the Linden-Wismar bridge across the Demerara
River, blocking that major artery in
the road network to gold and diamond mining operations, Indigenous Indian
reserves and other locations in Guyana's
vast jungle.
Cabinet
Secretary Roger Luncheon acknowledged that electricity rates for Linden, 
Wismar and surrounding communities will be
increased by the authorities have not yet decided on how much.
"It is inevitable that the
rates will be increase but by how much is the matter that is being 
discussed,"
he said.
The protesters are rejecting
plans by Prime Minister Samuels Hinds to meet with them and have instead 
called
on President Bharrat Jagdeo who is in New York
attending the Conference on the Caribbean to
meet with them.
Police have not taken any
action to clear the streets.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101462/Debt-activists-stage-protest-at-railways-office

Debt activists stage protest at railways office
06/16/2008 | 11:07 PM
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MANILA, Philippines - Debt activists and urban poor groups stormed the 
Philippine National Railways (PNR) office in Manila Monday, shortly after 
President Arroyo visited its offices there.

In a statement, Task Force Diskaril said the protest aimed to attract 
awareness on the plight of people affected by the controversial North and 
South Railways Modernization projects.

Task Force Diskaril, which includes the People Against Illegitimate Debt 
(PAID!) and the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), underscored the Arroyo 
government's modernization of PNR, claiming that said projects have only 
resulted in job insecurity of PNR workers, involuntary displacement of many 
urban poor communities, and further indebtedness of an already debt-burdened 
populace.

Members of Bagong Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa PNR (BKM), the union of PNR 
workers, lambasted the government's effort to privatize PNR by pushing 
Executive Order 366.

EO 366 mandates agencies of the executive branch, as well as 
government-owned and -controlled corporations, to scale down and phase out 
agencies that do not deliver "quality public service."

But BKM President Armando Cruz said the order is tantamount to the massive 
retrenchment of regular government workers, adding that the modernization 
project coupled with retrenchment are stepping-stones to sell PNR to the 
private sector.

"Malacanang's storyline is getting clearer. Truly, the bottom line is 
privatization. Like how our government sold management and regulation of 
public utilities such as water and power, they are now doing the same thing 
with our public railways," Cruz said.

Cruz also stressed that railway service is a natural monopoly which must be 
in the hands of the public.

"The push for privatization will not only displace many regular workers in a 
time of a grueling economic crisis, it will also result in the absence of 
any public accountability and regulation of a very strategic transport 
system important to economic development," Cruz said.

For her part, Clarita Eneria, spokeswoman of Lakas at Ugnayan ng Mamamayan 
laban sa Kahirapan (Lumaban Ka) said they are not against progress and 
development.

"In fact, we say that we totally favor a modern and efficient public 
transport system. What we are against are projects claiming to be in the 
side of modernity yet, are so detrimental to the poor's interest and 
welfare," Eneria said.

Eneria said communities affected by the relocation were promised relocation 
sites and job opportunities in exchange for their displacement but what was 
given to them was worse.

"If before they were in danger zones - living dangerously near the railway 
tracks - after the implementation of the Northrail project, our fellow urban 
poor families are now in death zones," Eneria said.

The groups also said affected families were haphazardly transferred to 
relocation sites that were lacking in basic electricity and water services 
such as in Bulacan.

Many of the houses offered to the affected families were badly built and 
that some families were relocated to areas near landfills and even close to 
a cemetery, they added.

For its part, FDC demanded the immediate cancellation of the "illegitimate" 
North Luzon Railways Project and the suspension of the South Railways 
project pending an impartial and comprehensive investigation of the matter.

It said the Northrail project had already been exposed as having numerous 
legal infirmities and procurement anomalies, aside from being allegedly 
overpriced.

On the other hand, the South Luzon Railways project is challenged with 
serious accusations of anomalies such as the ones lodged by Rodolfo "Jun" 
Lozada Jr., the group said.

"Truth be said, these are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot more 
of these illegitimate deals and debts that are being incurred by our 
government, hidden from public scrutiny, milking cows of unscrupulous public 
officials and instruments of the people's further indebtedness," said Milo 
Tanchuling, FDC secretary general.

Tanchuling also said in lieu of the economic crunch, projects and programs 
of the government should generate more jobs, provide more services, and 
social opportunities for the people, not the other way around.

FDC is calling for the passage of House Joint Resolution No. 4 calling for 
the creation of a Congressional Debt Commission that will audit all public 
debt and contingent liabilities.

It said this will fundamentally determine the illegitimacy of many of our 
country's debts and loan agreements that must be canceled and/or 
repudiated. - GMANews.TV

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/12/stories/2008051259260300.htm

CPI stages protest against Bush's remarks
Special Correspondent
KURNOOL: Supporters of CPI staged a demonstration to protest against the 
alleged remarks of U.S. President George Bush against Indian middle class 
here on Sunday. CPI leader K. Jagannatham who led the protest said the U.S. 
President had insulted the Indians by making a comment on their eating 
habits. The CPI protesters demanded an apology from the U.S. President.
He said Americans were spending some Rs. 24,000 crore on treatment for 
obesity caused by over eating. Also, 3 lakh people died of obesity related 
problems. Also, each family wasted foodstuff worth Rs. 49,000 in the U.S. 
every year.
The CPI protesters raised slogans against Mr. Bush for belittling Asians and 
causing humiliation by making racist comments.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1168310

Buy-a-darshan scheme at Vaishno Devi sparks protests
IANS
Tuesday, June 03, 2008  00:26 IST

JAMMU: The introduction of special tickets costing up to Rs1,000 to bypass 
queues at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir has fuelled protests, 
some calling it an act of "commercialisation".
Spontaneous vocal protests erupted in the shrine area after it became known 
that the temple management had decided to charge Rs200 to Rs1,000 to let 
pilgrims avoid winding queues and easily access the shrine.
"Do the poor have no right to get a darshan of the deity?" asked Prem Kumar, 
an angry resident of Jaipur. "How can the shrine management discriminate 
between the poor and the rich?" asked a fuming Pushpa Devi, a pilgrim from 
Rambagh in Amritsar. Some pilgrims raised slogans against the Shri Mata 
Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which manages the temple.
Vaishno Devi is one of the most revered Hindu shrines in northern India. It 
gets about 25,000 pilgrims a day. Rishi Kumar Koushal, a social activist, 
warned the management against commercialisation. "This is not hotel 
business. It is a divine place and everyone is equal before god," he said 
while asking the shrine board to scrap the special fee. The board started 
charging Rs1,000 ($25) for special 'atka darshan' from those seeking 
priority entry to the cave shrine. This process started midnight Saturday, 
an official said.
According to the management, the idea behind the introduction of the special 
tickets is to discourage the practice of giving slips to a select few to 
jump the queues.

http://www.adn.com/life/story/422239.html

Bridge players protest new senior center fee
$5 to play cards? Seniors say no way
By DEBRA McKINNEY
dmckinney at adn.com
Published: May 31st, 2008 01:11 AM
Last Modified: May 31st, 2008 04:24 AM
It wasn't as fun as a food fight, but still, quite the scene unfolded the 
other day at the Anchorage Senior Center. Blood pressure rose. So did some 
furniture when a bunch of bridge-playing rebels took on management. Here's 
what went down.
The center is in serious fundraising mode these days. So its board decided 
to start charging members $5 a month to play cards.
To play cards. At a senior center. That's like charging extra to breathe the 
center's air.
That's how card players feel about it, anyway. The canasta crowd, the 
cribbage fans, the pinochle buffs. But mostly it's the bridge players who 
dug in:
No way! We won't pay, they said. Or something like that.
Management was not moved.
Around and around they went. The players wrote Mayor Mark Begich, Anchorage 
Assembly members and Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Charging to play cards, they 
argued, goes against the center's mission and will drive people away.
But the center's board had decided. Unanimously.
Finally, it came down to: Pay up or else.
Or else, it was.
The day the ultimatum kicked in, 30 or so senior insurgents showed up to 
play bridge as they have for years, armed with cards, score pads and 
sharpened pencils. The center was ready for them.
"They had barricaded the door where we usually play, where the tables were 
set up," said John Whiting, one of the rebels. "Most of us went down the 
hall, sat in the lobby, found a few tables, 'Well, we'll just play here,' 
and we started to play."
The way the card players tell it, that's when burly guys in white aprons 
emerged from the kitchen. Hands planted firmly on hips, they told the rogues 
how it was going to be. Then they commandeered the tables.
"They picked them up and lifted them over us and took them away," Whiting 
said. "There was one little old lady with an oxygen tank who refused to give 
up her table. 'Over my dead body' she said."
Whiting got a snapshot of "Shorty" Lathrop clutching her table with her 
87-year-old hands.
"The other girls acquiesced nicely but I wasn't about to," she said.
Left with empty spaces where tables once had been, a few mutineers moved to 
some awkward end tables and unfurled their decks.
With points made by both camps, the uprising was over. The card players 
posed for a group picture and left the building. As in, left for good. 
Several say they won't be coming back.
"We are all sensible people," protester Ron Peacock said. "We understand 
that they need more funds and that fundraising is challenging. If they had 
come to us and said, 'Is there any way you can help us?' We'd have said, 
'Sure. We'll all throw a dollar in the hat every time we come or something."
Sylvia Short, board president of Anchor-Age Inc., the nonprofit that 
operates the center and imposed the new fee, doesn't get the big fuss.
"It's really ridiculous," she said. "Five dollars a month. What is that, a 
latte or something like that?"
Members pay $40 a year in center dues, raised recently from $25. A year's 
worth of card-playing tacks another $60 on top of that.
"If there's a financial hardship, they can get it waived," Short said.
It's not about the money, the players say. It's the principle of the thing.
"It's a long-standing policy that this is a benefit of membership," said 
Angela Whiting, a spokeswoman for the bridge brigade. "Many of us in the 
bridge group, that really is all we do there. We play bridge. And of course 
we donate things, we participate in the functions, we volunteer."
Having a place to play is one of the main reasons many of them joined the 
center in the first place.
"It's the only reason," Ken Donohue said. "I joined to play cards."
Becky Black too.
When she moved up from Outside to live near her daughter, she had to start 
all over making friends. Bridge made the difference.
This is an informal bunch, from the wealthy to a guy living at the Brother 
Francis Shelter. And they play party bridge, rather than the kind where, if 
you mess up, you risk getting your head bitten off.
"I went to the senior center scared to death," Black said. "These people 
just opened their arms to me. They were so welcoming. And if they hadn't 
been there ... I might still be sitting in my little house, lost."
Short finds the whole uproar "incomprehensible."
"The pool players have been paying $5 for the past two years," she said. 
"And fitness training went up $5. Not a squawk about it."
Yeah, but there's equipment to maintain or instructors to pay for those 
activities, the card players argue. They bring their own cards and score 
sheets. All they use are tables and chairs.
"To me, it's a tempest in a teapot," Short said. "It will pass over."
Maybe.
For now, the bridge players are in exile at the Moose Lodge. They're playing 
there twice a week. For free.
But their goal is to go back to the senior center.
"Like the lost tribes of Israel, we hope to return to our homeland someday," 
John Whiting joked.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/100667/Religious-group-to-hold-anti-Arroyo-protest-in-Manila

Religious group to hold anti-Arroyo protest in Manila
06/12/2008 | 08:24 AM
Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
MANILA, Philippines - While the government forewent its traditional 
Independence Day parade Thursday, an anti-Arroyo religious group was to hold 
its own version of the parade in Manila.

Radio dzXL reported Thursday morning that the Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya 
(KME) planned a march to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo from the University of 
Santo Tomas at 2:30 p.m.

Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias was to lead the march to protest what he 
called the continued enslavement of Filipinos to poverty.

Another militant priest, Robert Reyes, said there was no reason to mark the 
110th anniversary of the country's independence.

Reyes said misgovernance, graft and corruption continue to plague the 
government.

However, security remained tight in Manila and other parts of the country 
Thursday for the occasion. In Manila, police and traffic aides suddenly 
became visible in street corners.

Roxas Boulevard was closed to traffic for the flag-raising ceremony at the 
Rizal Park, with out-of-school youths wearing "Pangulong Gloria" printed 
T-shirts lining the boulevard.

Also lining the boulevard were Metropolitan Manila Development Authority 
(MMDA) employees wearing pink shirts, pink being the "campaign color" of 
MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando. - GMANews.TV

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_24097.aspx

OCAP Protestors Handcuffed At City Hall
Monday June 23, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
Normally, it's city councillors who make noise while doing battle with each 
other. But on Monday, politicians had another fight to contend with that 
came not from within but from without.
Several members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty were taken away in 
handcuffs, after they attempted to get into the chambers. The OCAP members 
were trying to protest against a lack of adequate services and shelter 
spaces for the homeless, shouting and disrupting councillors as they 
conducted normal business. They were demanding a meeting with Mayor David 
Miller.
Those who refused to leave were taken away by police - who had been 
expecting them.
The loud and angry demonstrators began their standoff at Allen Gardens on 
the weekend, after illegally pitching a tent on the grounds. A permit is 
needed to camp out on the famed land and the protestors didn't have one. One 
man was arrested and charged with obstructing police.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071252650300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Salem
JD(S) to protest against yarn price hike
Special Correspondent
SALEM: The Salem district unit of Janata Dal (Secular) has decided to stage 
a demonstration in front of the Head Post Office on July 21 in protest 
against the steep hike in the prices of yarn.
Hoarding cotton
The urban district executive committee, which met here recently under the 
presidentship of G. Velayutham, pointed out that many big businessmen, who 
were not connected with the textile industry, were hoarding cotton and yarn 
thus triggering a crisis in the market.
This had led to steep increase in their prices, which had affected the 
industry and the weavers badly, the meeting said.
Since the State and Central governments were remaining insensitive to the 
issue, the Party had decided to stage a demonstration to draw their 
attention to the issue on July 21.
The meeting also drew attention of the Salem Corporation Mayor to the 
increasing mosquito menace in the city.
It said that the drainage channels were not regularly desilted and fogging 
was also not done regularly.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403736.html

Anti City Academy protest camp defies eviction order.
Guido | 16.07.2008 00:38 | Education | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements 
| London
Today Teachers and their supporters were celebrating as the deadline to 
leave their protest camp expired without the threatened eviction. Officers 
of the council were present but announced that they would only 'report back' 
the situation. Bailiffs were seen casing the area earlier before the 
deadline.
Part of the protest is on the roof so it could well take Brent council a 
while to organise the eviction. Today a unexpectedly high number of 
supporters and local residents came out to block the removal of the protest 
camp. Members of the local RMT and TSSA branches, who were having their 
monthly meetings nearby, also turned out to register their disgust at 
government plans to privatise local education.

More stuff here:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403716.html

and here:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403622.html

and here:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403620.html


Guido

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/thailand/2008/07/26/167229/Thai%2Dprotesters.htm

Thai protesters vent anger at state oil firm

By Chalathip Thirasoonthrakul, Reuters
Saturday, July 26, 2008

BANGKOK -- Thousands of protesters marched on Thailand's state-owned oil 
company on Friday, calling for its renationalization a day after violent 
clashes between pro- and anti-government groups outside the capital.
Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) blocked the main gates 
outside the headquarters of PTT PCL, the oil and gas firm which was 
semi-privatized in 2001 by the PAD's sworn enemy, former Prime Minister 
Thaksin Shinawatra.
The PAD, a coalition of businessmen, royalists and activists whose protests 
led to Thaksin's ousting in a 2006 coup, is waging a similar street campaign 
against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, whom they accuse of being a Thaksin 
proxy.
PAD leaders said Thaksin and his allies were the main beneficiaries of the 
public listing of PTT PCL, which reduced the government's stake to 66 
percent, arguing that consumers had paid higher fuel prices as a result.
"They are more concerned with the benefits of shareholders than the public 
interest," PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul told the cheering crowd, referring 
to PTT managers.
By diluting its stake, the government is unable to influence fuel price 
policies at PTT, the PAD said, accusing PTT of profiteering from soaring 
global oil prices.
"Give us back our PTT," one of the placards read, as protesters with yellow 
headbands waved Thai national flags or photos of revered King Bhumibol 
Adulyadej.
PTT officials argue the government is still its biggest shareholder and the 
company supports state policies aimed at easing the burden on consumers. 
These include not immediately putting up pump prices when global oil prices 
rise.
About 300 police were deployed at the rally to prevent a repeat of recent 
violence between pro- and anti-government groups outside Bangkok, 
Metropolitan Police chief Aswin Kwanmuang said.
On Thursday, about 700 government supporters armed with planks, axes and 
slingshots broke through a police blockade and clashed with 150 unarmed 
anti-government demonstrators in the city of Udon Thani, 650 km (400 miles) 
northeast of Bangkok.
Most of the 13 wounded were from the anti-government group and two were in a 
critical condition, police said. Thai media said one man had died but 
hospital staff told Reuters this was not the case. No arrests have been 
made.
Similar clashes took place on Thursday in another northeastern province, 
Buriram, where 13 people were arrested. The clashes were the most serious 
yet as government supporters in the provinces, led by local politicians from 
the ruling, six-party coalition, have vowed to prevent the Bangkok protests 
from spreading into Thaksin's rural heartland.
Sondhi suspended PAD protests in the countryside on Friday and criticized 
the police for failing to keep the peace.
"It's time for Army Commander-in-Chief General Anupong Paochinda to take 
action now. If he sits idly, we will have bloodshed all over the country," 
Sondhi said, urging the army to provide public security.


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30078975

Some 5,000 PAD-led protesters rally in front of PTT head office

About 5,000 protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy rally in 
front of the head office of PTT Plc Friday morning.

The protesters gathered there at about 9 am.

Three PAD co-leaders, Sondhi Limthongkul, Somsak Kosaisuk and Somkiart 
Pongpaibool, arrived at the rally site at 10:30 am.

The protesters demanded the government to delist PTT and seize its back as a 
state enterprise.

The Nation
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080724-150443/UPDATE-Youth-activists-arrested-over-US-embassy-protest

Youth activists arrested over US embassy protest
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:47:00 07/24/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Four youth activists, including the leaders of two 
organizations, were arrested and five others injured after police dispersed 
protesters outside the US embassy in Manila Thursday.
Senior Police Officer 1 Jerry Campo said Arrested were League of Filipino 
Students (LFS) national chairman Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan national 
chairman Ken Ramos, Marvin Serrano, and EJ Aguirre, who were nabbed soon 
after the 2 p.m. rally was dispersed, were released around 4:20 p.m. with no 
charges filed against them.
The protesters had gathered outside the embassy on Roxas Boulevard to rail 
against "the continuing intervention of the US in our economy, which is to 
blame for the worsening crisis at present," said Ron Villegas, LFS vice 
chairman.
But the activists were blocked at the embassy's gates by personnel of the 
Manila Police District who allegedly pushed them away with anti-riot 
shields, forcing the protesters to retreat to Kalaw Avenue.
During the brief commotion, Aaron Castil, Liberty Sardina, Jeffrey Domingo, 
Katrina Andres, and Alex Belmonte were injured and taken to the Ospital ng 
Maynila for treatment.

Protesters were urging the government to get rid of "globalization policies 
that encourage deregulation, liberalization, and privatization, which have 
caused greater harm to our economy," said Crisostomo.
Villegas called on the government to stop being a "puppet" of foreign powers 
and to be self-sufficient.
He said Thursday's arrests and "dispersal will not stop the students from 
joining the bigger rallies set as Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's state of the 
nation address nears."

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082154780500.htm

Karnataka

Mixed response to strike call in Kolar, protesters detained
Staff Correspondent

Most of the schools, colleges and government offices remained closed

KOLAR: The all-India call given by various trade unions to protest against 
the spiralling price rise of essential commodities and the 'anti-people' 
policies of the Government evoked a mixed response in Kolar district on 
Wednesday.
While the agitation was by and large peaceful in Chickballapur district, the 
police detained scores of activists of various Left organisations for 
staging a demonstration in front of the Karnataka State Road Transport 
Corporation depot here, in support of the strike. The supporters allegedly 
blocked buses, forcing the police to take them into custody, Circle 
Inspector of Police Satyanarayan Kudur said. The Centre of Indian Trade 
Unions district president Gandhinagar Narayanswamy, Karnataka Prantha Raitha 
Sangha taluk president Holur Shankar, Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane leader V. 
Geetha, Democratic Youth Federation of India district president Sriram and 
Students Federation of India district secretary R. Meenakshi, were among 
those detained.
The strike was total in Kolar Gold Fields. Supporting the call, workers of 
BEML stayed away from duty. Banks, the Life Insurance Corporation, 
government offices, schools and colleges remained closed while traders 
downed their shutters. Taluk headquarters Bangarpet also observed a total 
bandh. Gowribidnur, Chintamani, Gudibande, Sidlaghat, Mittemari, Gulur, 
Bagepali also observed a total bandh.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/18/stories/2008081853850400.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Protest against SEZs
KOCHI: A group of writers and activists has come out against the special 
economic zones being set up under the SEZ Act of 2005 in the State. They 
said in a statement that it would promote colonialism and foreign capital 
and not promote the State's development. It also would not increase job 
opportunities. The SEZs tended to promote wage slavery as labour laws would 
not be applied to them. It would be the government's responsibility to 
acquire land needed for the SEZs and provide cheap water and power to them. 
Huge tax cuts would have to be given to them. In view of these, the group 
urged the government to drop its move to permit SEZs in Kerala. The 
statement was signed by KG. Sankara Pillai, M.N. Ravunni, P. Geetha and 
several others. - Special Correspondent

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Chennai_Over_10000_protesters_held/rssarticleshow/3386045.cms

Chennai: Over 10,000 protesters held
20 Aug 2008, 1822 hrs IST,PTI
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Members of CITU protest in Chennai. (TOI Photo)
More Pictures

CHENNAI: More than 10,000 CITU and members of other Left-affiliated unions 
were arrested across Tamil Nadu for staging road and rail blockades. The 
nation-wide strike, however, evoked little response in the state.

All public transport services operated as usual while industrial 
establishments reported normal attendance. Work in public sector banking and 
insurance sectors was partially affected with sections of the employees 
taking part in the strike.

Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association Secretary R Muthusundaram 
claimed in a release that more than 2 lakh employees participated in the 
agitation.

In Chennai, four private airlines cancelled their flights to Kolkata on 
Wednesday morning following reports of a total strike in Left-ruled West 
Bengal. All other flights were operated on schedule.

The wholesale Koyambedu market, the supplier of vegetables to the city and 
suburbs, functioned as usual.

CITU state Secretary A Sounderajan and CPM MLA Mahendran were among those 
arrested in Chennai, while CITU organising secretary Vikraman along with 
1,700 others were arrested in front of the Madurai Railway Junction.

A report from Coimbatore said over 6,500 people, including 900 women were 
arrested for either trying to stage road-blockade or picketing in and around 
the temple city.

It said around 70 per cent of the 3,000 hosiery units functioned as usual in 
the garment export hub of Tirupur, considered to be a bastion of Left trade 
unions.

http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200808121425DOWJONESDJONLINE000521_univ.xml

Hundreds Protest Plan To Sell 70% Of Ghana Telecom To Vodafone8-12-08 2:25 
PM
ACCRA, Ghana (AFP)--Hundreds of people staged a protest outside Ghana's 
parliament Tuesday against the sale of 70% stake in state-owned Ghana 
Telecom to the U.K.'s Vodafone Group PLC (VOD).
The demonstration was timed to coincide with an emergency session of 
parliament, which is expected to ratify the multi-million dollar deal.
"The Vodafone deal stinks to the high heavens. It doesn't make sense," Kwesi 
Pratt, a prominent activist and organizer of the march, told protesters.
Among the demonstrators was John Atta Mills, leader of the main opposition 
National Democratic Congress of former military ruler Jerry Rawlings.
Arguing that the deal is not in the national interest, opposition lawmakers 
last month scuttled attempts to have the deal ratified before parliament 
went on a break.
Vodafone has offered to pay $900 million for the stake in the money-losing 
Ghana Telecom, but the opposition says the shares are grossly undervalued.
As opponents of the deal took to the streets, some workers of Ghana Telecom 
held a separate march in support of the deal.
They see Vodafone's coming on board as revitalizing the struggling national 
phone company.
Ghana Telecom is the west African country's third-largest mobile phone group 
with 1.4 million customers or 17% of the market.
In recent years, Vodafone has expanded aggressively into emerging markets 
across Asia and Africa, as it seeks to offset the effects of flagging sales 
and intense competition in maturing Western markets.

http://salem-news.com/articles/may192008/toxic_avenger_5-19-08.php

May-19-2008 09:27
'Toxic Trader' Street Theater Protesting Free Trade Premiers Outside Gordon 
Smith's Office
Salem-News.com
Gordon Smith is being called out by American workers over his record on 
facilitating unsafe imports.
United Steelworkers began a campaign against toxic trade over a year ago. 
Courtesy: usw105.org

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The United Steelworkers will present a primary election 
day premier of "The Toxic Trader," a street theater production designed to 
hold elected officials accountable for facilitating unsafe imports. It 
happens tomorrow, May 20th at noon at One World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon 
St., Portland, outside the office of U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith.
Organizers say the special staging for Sen. Smith will include the added 
attraction of an oversized ballot box in which Oregonians may cast votes for 
or against his record of supporting Free Trade Agreements that cost Oregon 
jobs and bring toxic toys into the state. This gives Oregonians an 
opportunity to make their feelings known since Smith is unopposed in today's 
primary.
The USW street theater production features three "Toxic Avengers" fending 
off the gigantic "Toxic Trader," a puppet constructed by world-famous 
puppeteer Tavia La Follette, whose gargantuan three-dimensional caricatures 
have toured Europe, Eastern Europe, South America and Japan, almost always 
making political points.
The script, written by slam poet and USW activist Rebecca Cooper with USW 
intern Liz Laycak, illustrates the devastating downsides of free trade 
agreements supported by Smith and presumptive Republican Presidential 
Nominee Sen. John McCain, including imported toys containing toxic levels of 
lead and the millions of manufacturing jobs exported over the past two 
decades.
"The Toxic Trader," will premier outside Smith's office because of what the 
group considers to be, "his particularly egregious record on trade. Smith 
has embraced only uncontrolled free trade, as evidenced by the fact that 
when it came to inserting protection for workers in agreements, he voted 
against it."
Oregon lost 22,600 manufacturing jobs from 2000 to 2007, according to the 
Alliance for American Manufacturing, a significant decline since 
manufacturing accounts for $27.2 billion of the state's gross product, and 
is the second largest contributor to the state's economy.
"Despite that" the group says, "Smith voted in favor of every free trade 
deal that came before him."
After Tuesday's premier, the production will travel the country, performing 
at other senatorial and congressional offices where the occupants have 
backed free trade agreements, instead of fair trade agreements that have 
written into them protections for the environment and workers to ensure that 
at least their own country's labor standards are enforced.
The USW began a campaign against toxic trade over a year ago, with alerts to 
parents about dangerous levels of lead in imported toys and by distributing 
lead testing kits.
The USW is the largest manufacturing union in North America, representing 
850,000 members in a variety of occupations, from tire making to nursing.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/cuban_colada/2008/06/exile-says-eigh.html

Exile says eight dissidents arrested in Havana restaurant protest
    Magdelivia Hidalgo, Miami-based international representative of a women's 
dissident group in Cuba, said Wednesday that eight dissidents were detained 
for hours by state security in Havana for attempting to pay their bills in 
Cuban pesos at a restaurant frequented by foreign travelers.
   Hidalgo, in an interview with The Miami Herald, said the incident 
unfolded at lunch time Tuesday at the Havana restaurant Vadia when four 
couples walked in one after the other separated by 10-minute intervals and 
sat down at different tables.
   Hidalgo (second from left in photo) said one couple ordered ham and 
cheese sandwiches, another asked for beef, a third fish and the fourth 
pasta.
   Trouble started when they asked for their bills, said Hidalgo. They 
offered to pay in regular pesos but the restaurant manager said regular 
pesos were not accepted because at tourist sites only so-called convertible 
pesos were taken.
   Hidalgo said the manager then summoned the authorities who arrested the 
four couples and drove them to state security units.
   According to Hidalgo, the couples were released early Wednesday. In the 
end, said Hidalgo, authorities allowed them to pay in regular pesos but 
warned them not to try the tactic again.
   The couples were members of FLAMUR, a group whose name stands for 
Federacion Latinoamericana de Mujeres Rurales or Federation of Latin 
American Rural Women.
   The group has been spearheading a campaign to force the Cuban government 
to allow Cubans to pay for goods and services in regular pesos - not 
convertible pesos.