[Onthebarricades] Protests by farmers, traders etc - Dec/Jan 07/08

[Andy]

*  DENMARK:  Truck drivers blockade ports to protest regulations
*  FRANCE:  Fisherfolk blockade port in fuel protest; Sarkozy booed
*  AUSTRALIA:  Damaged by large retail chain, small shopkeepers strip in 
protest
*  SLOVENIA:  Customs work-to-rule causes border delays
*  ISRAEL:  Protesting pay hikes, customs workers work-to-rule, causing 
tailbacks
*  INDIA:  Lawyers in Bihar strike to protest killing
*  PHILIPPINES:  Transport union organises protest over oil prices
*  INDIA:  Small businesses stage bandh against VAT in Allahabad, Uttar 
Pradesh
*  LEBANON:  Taxi drivers protest fuel costs, warn of roadblocks to come
*  BULGARIA:  Grain farmers stage warning protest, demand drought relief
*  ITALY:  Rome jams as taxi drivers stage protest
*  US:  Farm workers protest Burger King over exploitation, low wages
*  FRANCE:  Tobacco sellers march against smoking ban in cafes
*  INDIA:  Punjab truck drivers protest against "irrational" taxes
*  NEPAL:  Petrol dealers protest over shortages
*  INDIA:  Coffee growers plan protest
*  PHILIPPINES:  Farmers demand land reform, protest current arrangement; 
slaughterers, drivers also protest
*  INDIA:  Tamil Nadu small retailers protest entry of large chains
*  SOUTH KOREA:  Fisherfolk protest cleanup arrangements after oil spill
*  PHILIPPINES:  Fisherfolk to stage "fish strike" over fuel costs
*  INDIA:  Opening of chainstore provokes protests in Kerala
*  UGANDA:  Lawyers protest fees increase
*  INDIA:  "Consumer Day" march over inflation
*  IRAN:  Teahouse owners protest pipe ban
*  INDIA:  Gold and jewellery sellers switch off lights to protest 
government regulations
*  INDIA:  Protests in Uttar Pradesh as VAT introduced
*  GHANA:  Peasant farmers protest against imports, call for reopening local 
sites instead
*  BELARUS:  Small businesspeople lead opposition rally, oppose hiring ban
*  PAKISTAN:  Traders warn of action over load-shedding, power crisis

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/04/europe/EU-GEN-Denmark-Ports-Blockaded.php

Truck drivers block cargo at Danish ports and border crossings to protest 
regulations

The Associated Press
Published: November 4, 2007

COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Truck drivers blocked cargo shipments at the Danish 
ports of Fredrikshavn and Hirtshals on Sunday to protest industry 
regulations, port officials said.
Fredrikshavn harbor spokesman Orla Henningsen said trucks have been blocked 
from boarding ferries to Norway and Sweden. Other passengers and cars were 
not affected.
Jens Moelbjerg of ferry operator Colorline said scuffles broke out between 
the blockading truck drivers and foreign drivers in Fredrikshavn.
A similar blockade was taking place in Hirtshals.
The drivers, who are not attached to any union, are protesting safety 
regulations that they say hit small contractors unfairly and do not result 
in safer roads, according to TV2 News.
The drivers were also planning to block ferry ports in Gedser, Roedby and 
Helsingoer later Sunday, as well as the border crossing between Germany and 
Denmark at Padborg.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article3135391.ece

Striking fishermen lift protest blockade
By John Lichfield
Published: 07 November 2007
Striking French fishermen lifted blockades at several Breton and Norman 
ports last night after the government promised emergency help to ease the 
effects of rocketing fuel prices.
The protests began on Friday in the first overt sign of the political 
fallout across Europe over the continuing surge in world oil prices. 
Entrances to three depots and a refinery were blockaded and boxes of 
Scandinavian fish were set on fire.
The fishermen, who are damnding government assistance, say rising fuel costs 
for their vessels have swallowed up most of the profit from catches and they 
earn only £70 each for a 15-day voyage.
The President, Nicolas Sarkozy, was booed and insulted by trawlermen in 
Brittany yesterday as he attempted to resolve the row before leaving for a 
two-day trip to Washington. He tried to placate them, saying he was 
suspending all social contributions by fishermen and fishing-boat owners for 
six months. He has also asked the fisheries minister, Michel Barnier, to 
find a mechanism by which the market price for fish could be made to reflect 
the price of fuel.
Fishermen's leaders said the President had a testy reception from 300 
fishermen at Guilvinec, near Brest, some shouting that he should go back to 
Paris. Using the familiar tu, rather than vous, M. Sarkozy shouted back: "If 
you've got anything to say to me, come here. If I come, you complain. If I 
don't come, you also complain. I decided to come."
The unions have refused to call off the protests until details of the 
agreement to suspend social security charges are hammered out.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/15/2091440.htm

Bankrupt shop owners strip in protest
Posted Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:42am AEDT
Updated Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:18am AEDT

A group of small business owners protest outside the Lend Lease AGM in 
Sydney. (ABC News: Lucinda Carter)
Map: Erina 2250
Small businesses owners who say they went bankrupt because of the design of 
a Lend Lease shopping centre have stripped down to their underwear in 
protest outside the company's annual general meeting.
More than 80 businesses went bankrupt at the Erina Fair complex on the New 
South Wales Central Coast in 2003.
Several of the protesters, who say their livelihoods have been destroyed, 
held placards saying "Lend Lease Took The Shirt Off My Back" outside the 
Sydney meeting.
The president of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, John 
Farrel, says Lend Lease's design of the complex doomed the businesses from 
the start and the tenants deserve compensation.
"In the case of Erina Fair, they built what we call a 'black hole'," he 
said.
"Part of the establishment didn't work at all and people put millions of 
dollars into setting it up and basically went out of business.
"Eight of 10 of the people in that business went out of business within 12 
months."
The spokeswoman for the Erina Fair Tenant's Action Group, Joanne Howarth, 
says many of the affected people have attempted suicide, had family 
breakdowns and lost their homes.
"There's people in Erina that as a result of this conduct, they can't feed 
their children," she said.
Inside the meeting, Lend Lease's chairman David Crawford has told 
shareholders the demands of the protesters have become unrealistic.
"That protest is part of a media campaign, led by a former tenant at Erina 
Fair, to try and extract undue compensation from the centre's owners and 
Lend Lease as manager," he said.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/26/europe/EU-GEN-Slovenia-Border-Protest.php

Slovenian customs protest causes traffic delays at border

The Associated Press
Published: November 26, 2007

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia: Slovenian customs officials launched a work-to-rule 
protest Monday, causing long delays for vehicles at the border with Croatia.
Trucks and cars waited up to seven hours to cross the border. The protest 
could also cause problems ahead of Christmas, when thousands of Croats 
living in Western Europe travel home through Slovenia.
Unions are seeking pay hikes above their current basic salary of €500 
(US$740), as well as job guarantees ahead of Croatia's expected accession to 
the European Union, as early as 2010. It was not clear how long they planned 
to continue the protest.
By law, customs officers cannot strike. On Monday, they began exhaustive 
vehicle and document inspections, causing the delays.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847410544&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Dec 23, 2007 13:34
Customs workers hold up airport lines in protest of planned dismissals

Customs workers protesting planned dismissals held up arrivals at Ben Gurion 
International Airport on Sunday, Army Radio reported.

Long lines formed at the customs inspection counter as workers checked every 
single arrival. 27,000 people, many of them pilgrims, were expected to land 
at the airport by midnight, and the wait was expected to get worse.

The workers are protesting a planned restructuring of the tax authority 
which would merge several departments and lead to several dozen customs 
workers being laid off.

Hold ups were also reported at the country's border crossings with Jordan 
and Egypt as well as the ports.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200711151331.htm

80,000 lawyers on strike in Bihar to protest lawyer's killing
Patna (PTI): Over 80,000 lawyers of Patna High Court, district and 
sub-divisional courts, central administrative tribunal and all other 
judicial forums in Bihar went on strike on Thursday to protest the murder of 
a lawyer in Begusarai district last week.
Additional public prosecutor Ram Naresh Sharma - who was handling several 
criminal case involving controversial Lok Janshakti Party MP from Balia 
Surajbhan Singh - was shot dead at his residence at Pokharia locality of 
Begusarai town on November 8.
The strike was called by the State Bar Council. Moreover, about 18 public 
prosecutors (PPs) and additional public prosecutors (APPs) of Begusarai 
district court resigned in protest and submitted their resignations to the 
joint action committee of the district Bar Association and district lawyers 
association.
Meanwhile, Additional Director General of police (law and order) Anil Sinha 
has said all the judges, PPs and APPs involved in speedy trial of criminal 
cases would be provided adequate security.
"DGP Ashish Ranjan Sinha has directed the superintendents of police of all 
districts to make adequate security arrangements for them," Sinha told PTI.
MP Surajbhan has been made an accused in the murder case along with three 
other unidentified assailants, though he has denied his involvement in the 
APP's murder and has sought a CBI inquiry into it.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=100338

PISTON to stage protest actions starting Monday

The Militant transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators 
Nationwide (PISTON) on Sunday said it will start staging series of mass 
actions across the country Monday to protest the rising prices of petroleum 
products.
PISTON spokesman George San Mateo told radio dzMM that starting Monday, 
their members would conduct a "nationally coordinated protest action."
"In Metro Manila, drivers would march from Sto. Domingo Church (in Quezon 
City) to Mendiola," San Mateo said.
He added that PISTON members and its affiliates would also stage similar 
protest actions in Laguna, Batangas, Bacolod, Davao City, General Santos 
City, Iloilo City, and Cebu.
The protest actions nationwide aim at pushing the three issues of the 
transport sector, San Mateo said.
"One is for the government to immediately control and implement a moratorium 
on the impending oil price hike," he cited.
The other concerns, San Mateo added, are the scrapping of the 12 percent 
expanded value added tax (E-VAT) imposed on petroleum products and the 
junking of the oil deregulation law.
"But at the moment, we are only urging the government to suspend the 
implementation of the oil deregulation law pending its review by 
legislators," he said.
San Mateo pointed out that Monday’s protest actions will be just 
"muscle-flexing" of the transport sector in preparation for the nationwide 
transport strike to be launched in December.
"Only those who will be joining the protest actions will not be plying their 
routes," he said, noting that there will be sufficient public utility 
vehicles to ply the streets on Monday.
Meanwhile, Thompson Lantion, chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising 
and Regulatory Board, said they would not prevent the transport groups from 
staging protest marches but appealed that they do it peacefully.
He, however, stressed he would prefer that these groups resolve their issues 
with the LTFRB through dialogues rather than bringing them to the streets.
LTFRB is now hearing the petitions of several transport groups for a fare 
increase.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Policy/Bandh_to_protest_VAT_regime_hits_business_in_Allahabad/articleshow/2575361.cms

Bandh to protest VAT regime hits business in Allahabad
27 Nov, 2007, 1606 hrs IST, PTI

ALLAHABAD: Business activities were hit in the city today as traders began 
their two-day bandh in protest against the proposed introduction of 
value-added tax (VAT) in Uttar Pradesh.
Heavy deployment of police personnel was seen in commercial areas of Chowk, 
Katra and Mutthiganj. Rapid action force was also stationed at sensitive 
points, though no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere, police 
said.
The bandh evoked good response in the Chowk area which houses the city's 
wholesale markets, as also in Katra, where most of the shopkeepers chose to 
down their shutters in protest against the proposed tax regime.
However, in the posh Civil Lines area the response was lukewarm and most of 
the shops remained open. Attempts were made by agitating traders to enforce 
the bandh at some places, but they were restrained by security forces, 
police claimed.
The traders community seemed to be divided on the issue of VAT, as the 
Sarvajan Udyog Vyapar Mandal yesterday decided to stay away from the strike.
Supporters of the traders' outfit had even approached the district 
administration to provide adequate security amidst opposition to the 
proposed VAT regime which has been accepted by the entire country.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=3&article_id=87100

Lebanese taxi drivers protest against rising fuel costs, threaten nationwide 
strike

Daily Star staff
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Lebanese taxi drivers staged a demonstration on Wednesday to protest against 
the steady increase in the prices of petrol, threatening to block roads in 
the near future if the government refuses to subsidize the prices of fuel 
oil products. Dozens of taxi drivers carrying banners condemning the 
government's economic policies.

http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_121880266

Grain Producers Start Active Protests, Blockade Roads
Updated on: 29.11.2007, 17:06
Published on: 29.11.2007, 11:28
Author: Kristalina Ilieva
Font size: a a a
Today and tomorrow grain producers from the whole country will protest 
actively. Their demand is money for grain producing to be previewed in 
Budget 2008.
In Dobrich region (Northern- Eastern Bulgaria) international road Dobrich- 
Kardam will be blocked with agricultural technique.
In Karnobat (Eastern Bulgaria) will be led a protest meeting and tractor 
procession through the central town streets.
Few days ago started the warning protest actions.
Grain producers advanced arguments that this year state resources are 
granted only to tobacco producers, and none for the grain producers.
Their demand is for 0.5% from the budget.

http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_434854680

 Grain Producers on a Warning Protest
Updated on: 28.11.2007, 13:06
Published on: 28.11.2007, 12:32
Author: Kristalina Ilieva
Font size: a a a
Grain producers from Stara Zagora (Central Bulgaria) are protesting 
warningly today.
They insist to be paid the promised by the Government money compensations 
for the summer drought.
The strikers also demand on second reading of Budget 2008 to be voted 
additional 147 million BGN (74 million EUR) for grain producing.
This money has to be supplemented to the EU direct payments, as it was 
previewed by the Agriculture Ministry.
If such co- financing doesn't realize, according to the agriculture 
proprietors, it will lead to rise of the bread's price and grain producer's 
bankrupts.
Problems will be cleared up on meetings with the Finance Ministers, the 
Budget and Finance Commission chairman and deputies.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=24&art_id=nw20071129135305585C749741

Rome jams as taxis protest
November 29 2007 at 03:28PM

Rome - Taxi drivers on Thursday staged a strike in central Rome, snarling 
traffic in the Italian capital for a second day.

Dozens of cabs converged on the central Piazza Venezia and nearby squares, 
slowing down traffic and forcing authorities to close off some streets. Cab 
drivers at Rome's main airport, Leonardo da Vinci, also protested, leaving 
tourists and locals stranded, the ANSA news agency reported.

Unions, which have been negotiating fare increases with Mayor Walter 
Veltroni, decided to stage the sudden protest after city authorities said 
they wanted to issue 500 new taxi licenses. The city hall said it would not 
attend a round of talks planned for later Thursday unless taxi drivers 
resumed regular service.

The protest comes on the eve of a series of strikes planned Friday that is 
expected to idle buses and subway trains as well as disrupt rail and air 
travel. - Sapa-AP

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314342,00.html

Florida Farmworkers Protest Burger King Over Low Wages, Exploitation
Friday, November 30, 2007
 AP

Hannah Sassaman operates a ten foot tall puppet of the Burger King mascot 
during a march in protest against Burger King.

MIAMI —  Farmworkers, union members and activists marched through city 
streets to Burger King headquarters Friday to protest low wages for tomato 
pickers and alleged exploitation of field workers.
About 300 to 400 protesters gathered under the skyscrapers of Miami's 
downtown, many wearing yellow T-shirts reading "Exploitation King" and 
"Burger King Exploits Farmworkers," others holding signs saying "Dignity" or 
"Justice for Tomato Pickers." The marchers, some strumming guitars and 
banging large tin cans with sticks, then began their nine-mile trek to 
Burger King's offices.
The protesters are pressuring the Miami-based fast-food giant to pay a penny 
more per pound of Florida tomatoes — with their suppliers passing the money 
on directly to farm workers.
Burger King has not accepted the penny-per-pound deal. The company, owned by 
Burger King Holdings Inc., says the door remains open for negotiation, but 
the mechanism of paying the extra penny directly to the workers "is very 
obscure and legally questionable." Tomato growers say it would be illegal to 
let outside groups set wages.
McDonald's Corp. and Taco Bell owner Yum Brands Inc. have reached similar 
agreements already with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, who organized 
the march. But those deals are not currently in effect due to resistance 
from growers.
Pickers such as Sonia Lopez, 50, want better work conditions and higher 
wages. Many Immokalee tomato pickers must toil in the dirt and hot sun for 
modest wages, living in cramped trailers with no overtime or health care. 
Most field workers are immigrants, and are here illegally.
"We want just a penny per pound, that's not a lot," Lopez, 50. "It will help 
our quality of life. It will help people make more money and be able to live 
a decent life, a better life. This affects all of us."
Nearby, Juan Antillon, 48, also a farm worker in Immokalee, holds a protest 
sign with tough, hardened hands weathered from picking tomatoes for seven 
years.
"It's going to be a difficult march, but one that I'll finish," Antillon 
said. "This is a small step but an important one."
Florida supplies 80 percent of America's domestic fresh tomatoes between 
Thanksgiving and February. The agreements reached with McDonald's and Yum 
Brands were mostly symbolic, affecting only a tiny segment of Florida tomato 
pickers, but they paved the way for raising wages and strengthening farm 
worker rights across the industry.
Worker wages would essentially double if the McDonald's and Yum Brands deals 
are adopted industrywide. Yum Brands says it is still committed to the 
coalition, yet after two successful seasons, its suppliers opted out this 
year. McDonald's has yet to find any supplier who will participate but will 
continue to buy Florida tomatoes either way.
Steven Grover, a Burger King vice president in charge of food safety and 
quality assurance, said the door remains open for negotiation, but the 
mechanism of paying the extra penny directly to the workers "is very obscure 
and legally questionable from a number of angles."
Grover said the protest was the coalition's way of stirring up controversy.
"This protest is a colossal waste of resources and time that could be 
focused on helping the migrant workers in Immokalee," he said.
Tomato farm workers were not the only ones marching Friday. They were joined 
by members of area unions, religious leaders and even high school students 
from Naples.
Oscar Salas, a former orange picker from Tampa area who works as a 
construction worker, said he's seen instances where employers threatened to 
call immigration authorities if workers asked for more money.
"Wages (for orange pickers) have been stagnant out there for 30 years, just 
like tomatoes," said Salas, 30, of Dade City. "I realized that my housing 
conditions were affected by the low wages my family lived and worked under 
for 20 years. We're not even middle class."

http://www.mercurynews.com/travelheadlines/ci_7617124

Tobacco sellers protest smoking ban in French cafes
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 12/02/2007 06:15:39 AM PST

PARIS (AP) - Some 10,000 people, mainly tobacco sellers, marched through the 
city last week to protest a smoking ban in French cafes as of Jan. 1.
The demonstrators want a modification to the decree banning their Gitanes, 
Gauloises and other brands of tobacco in all cafes, restaurants and 
nightclubs at the start of 2008 so that smoking rooms with ventilation can 
be set up in the establishments.
Some 10,000 protesters wearing Day-Glo vests marched from the Montparnasse 
train station to the National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament, to 
press lawmakers into adding flexibility to the anti-smoking measure.
The demonstration was one of a handful of protests this month - including 
crippling rail strikes - of reforms by President Nicolas Sarkozy aimed at 
modernizing France. The smoking ban was adopted before Sarkozy took office 
in May, however.
The tobacconists, joined by members of cigar clubs and teahouse owners, 
insist that changes they are seeking would respect the spirit of the decree.
Tobacconists fear they will lose clients unable to have a cigarette with 
their coffee and will lose money on other products typically sold in "cafes 
tabacs" - cafes where cigarettes can be bought.
Those opposed to the ban also fear for the survival of cafes in rural areas, 
often the only community gathering spot for miles around.
French authorities have been trying to wean the nation of cigarettes in 
increments for years. A Feb. 1 ban on lighting up in workplaces, schools, 
airports, hospitals and other "closed and covered" public places like train 
stations forced France's smokers outdoors - but not out of cafes.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Truck_operators_protest_against_taxes/articleshow/2612815.cms

Truck operators protest against taxes
11 Dec 2007, 0115 hrs IST,TNN

JALANDHAR: The All Punjab Truck Operators' Union has announced to launch an 
agitation against the overburdening of operators with irrational taxes by 
the state government.

While the first step would be to stage dharna at the District Administration 
Complex in Jalandhar on Wednesday by the operators of Doaba and Majha region 
and then a protest in Malwa would be held. If the government would not pay 
any heed to their demands the operators would resort to more aggressive 
agitation, the Union leaders said while addressing a press conference here 
on Monday.

Union president Happy Sandhu in the presence of other leaders alleged that 
while the registration fee of a truck amounting to around Rs 75,000 was 
already maximum in Punjab, the road and token taxes had been raise from Rs 
4,800 to 15,000 per year and now they were being asked to pay Rs 2,000 extra 
for getting a sticker, certifying that all documents were complete, to avoid 
checking at various points.

"This is completely unjustified and irrational and now the state government 
is going to impose levy tax," he alleged while adding that the officials 
were allowing plying of overloaded trucks despite clear directions by the 
Supreme Court.

The union leaders claimed that while several operators opted out of the 
business the others would have to follow course. They alleged that an 
operator had to pay bribes of Rs 80,000 every year for every truck.

http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/content.php?nid=31909

POL dealers to launch protest against shortage   [ 2007-12-10 ]
By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 9: Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association (NPDA) announced 
Sunday it would launch a stir against the shortages of POL products created 
by the government.

"We will hold a meeting in Pokhara and announce our protest programme," NPDA 
officials said in a press statement Sunday stating that the government had 
only been supplying only 50 per cent of the total market demand despite the 
recent price hike.

As the government has not come up with a concrete plan to address the 
problem, the NPDA feels that it is its duty to mount pressure on the 
government through protests and ensure the rights of the consumers.

The NPDA has stated that the demand for POL products had risen manifold as 
the number of vehicles had increased in the recent years and other economic 
activities such as tourism was also growing compared to the past.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20071209221718&Page=K&Headline=CGA+to+protest+against+Coffee+Board&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0

CGA to protest against Coffee Board
Monday December 10 2007 08:38 IST
Express News Service
SOMWARPET: The Taluk Coffee Growers Association have warned of protest 
against the Coffee Board and Agriculture Insurance Company for not paying 
the insured amount to the coffee growers.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Sunday, the Association president, B M 
Suresh alleged that the Agriculture Insurance Company and Coffee Board were 
dilly-dallying when the growers approached them to get the insured amount.

The Board and the insurance company had jointly launched insurance cover for 
coffee six months back, he said. Hundreds of growers had paid the premium 
and got crop insurance cover.

But due to incessant rainfall, the growers had failed to get good yield and 
approached the company for insured amount, he added. He urged the insurance 
company and Coffee Board to distribute the assured amount to growers before 
December 20.

‘‘If they failed to give the assured sum, we will take up severe agitation 
against them after December 20,’’ they warned. The Growers Association 
leaders B S Prakash, P Omprasad and B S Siddappa were present.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bac/2007/12/10/news/rally.protest.heat.up.bacolod.today.html

Monday, December 10, 2007
Rally, protest heat up Bacolod today
By Jerome S. Galunan Jr. and Gil Alfredo B. Severino
THE Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Negros will have their mini-lakbayan 
Monday as a sign of protest to the existing Comprehensive Agrarian Reform 
Program and push for a genuine land reform.

Mario Tapion, KMP-Negros spokesman, recently stressed that Carp doesn't made 
any good for the farmer-beneficiaries for the past several years.

Post your comments here on the Makati siege

The street protest is part of the 59th Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
wherein they will be filing the Genuine Agrarian Reform Act of 2007 in 
Congress in the next days to help and protect the rights of the farmers 
which they claimed had been abused.

Based on the proposed bill dubbed as the Genuine Agrarian Reform Act of 
2007, the state should recognize that the country's agriculture has remained 
backward and stagnant because the land, as most vital resource for 
development, has been monopolized by few landowners and are subject to 
foreign control and domination.

'Slaughterhouse' groupings

Meanwhile, groups carrying the Bacolod slaughterhouse displacements due to 
its impending privatization will stage their own picket at the City Hall 
fountain of justice Monday.

These groups are the Asosasyon sang mga Trabahador sa Slaughterhouse (AMTS), 
League of Urban Poor and Action (Lupa), Kilusang Para sa Pambansang 
Demokrasya (KPD), Paghidaet sa Paghiliusa sa Negros (PSPN), Task Force 
detainees (TFD), Alangilan Vegetable Vendor Association (Avva), among 
others.

These groups are under the umbrella movement of the Coalition Against State 
Terrorism (Cash) and will bring also issues related to the Ceneco-Kepco 
sales contract.

Joining the slaughterhouse group, also, are the Bacolod lechon vendors whose 
products and services will surely increase as soon as the Bacolod 
slaughterhouse is privatized.

According to AMTS' spokeperson Zaldy Tupas, come Wednesday, they will gather 
all position papers coming from these groups related to issues on the 
privatization of the Bacolod slaughterhouse.

These papers will be submitted to the City Council for their deliberation.

Undoc Transport Strike

Jessie Ortega, Secretary-General of the United Negros Drivers Center 
(Undoc-Piston) said Sunday they will be announcing the official date of the 
national transport strike this December.

Ortega said the public will be informed of the exact date at a presscon 
scheduled Monday at 11 a.m. at the Undoc office here in Bacolod.

Earlier, Ortega said the strike is due to oil price hikes that Undoc members 
had to bear hurting drivers' incomes.

Among other issues that the transport sector will be protesting are: that 
government restrict the oil price hikes, scrap the 12-percent value-added 
tax (VAT) on oil products, and suspend the Oil Deregulation Law.

According to the drivers and operators, the Oil Deregulation Law has not 
created any good to the transport sector due uncontrolled oil prices 
increase and has not been regulated.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200712111421.htm

TN traders to protest entry of organised retail chains

Tiruchirapalli (PTI): Traders in Tamil Nadu would stage a day-long hunger 
strike in Chennai on January 29, 2008 to protest the entry of MNCs and 
domestic industrial groups into the retail business.

Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President S Rathinavelu said 
traders felt that entry of such corporations and groups would encourage 
'crony (monopolostic) capitalism.'

If top business houses venture into retail trading of fruits and vegetables, 
it would create a limited market, with few stakeholders sharing and 
capturing the whole market.

He said survey reports prepared by the body showed that the retail market's 
overall size in India was estimated at Rs 1.5 lakh crore, involving over 
four crore people.

Only two per cent of the trade was in the organised sector and the balance 
comprised petty shops, hawkers and vendors.

Rathinavelu said an action plan to achieve the ban objective would be formed 
by the state retail traders protection committee, formed recently by the 
chamber and the Tiruchirapalli chapter of the Tamil Nadu Traders Federation.

The committee would stage the one-day hunger strike and present a memorandum 
to the state Chief Minister M Karunanidhi highlighting the plight of the 
traders, he said.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/11/news/spill.php

South Korean fishermen protest cleanup

The Associated Press
Published: December 11, 2007

CHEOLLIPO PORT, South Korea: Ji Chul Sang stared at his fishing boat firmly 
anchored at a small western port Tuesday, refusing to help clean up water 
sullied by oil in South Korea's worst spill.

"Our livelihoods have already been threatened. We cannot pay for fuel to 
sail our boats to retrieve oil," said Ji, who makes a living by catching 
blue crabs and fish.

He and other fishermen stopped assisting the cleanup efforts when the 
government did not compensate them for fuel. Dozens also staged a protest 
visit to the Taean County office.

Their plight could be eased after the South Korean government declared the 
region a "special disaster area" on Tuesday, clearing the way for state aid.

President Roh Moo Hyun visited the area and instructed officials to recover 
from the spill quickly and compensate residents, his spokesman, Cheon Ho 
Seon, said.

Lakes of oil were still visible Tuesday on the water's surface off the 
western coast despite the efforts of thousands of recovery workers, soldiers 
and volunteers. Some 66,000 barrels of crude oil were released into the 
water after a collision Friday between an oil supertanker and a barge.

The Coast Guard said the fishermen's boycott of the cleanup would not 
greatly undermine the operations, but called on them to rethink their 
position. About 1,800 fishing boats are registered with the county but it 
was not clear how many were assisting with the cleanup.

About 9,000 people were helping to mop up the oil together with more than 
100 ships and several helicopters, said Cho Sung Won, a Coast Guard 
spokesman.

As of Monday, about 2,560 hectares, or 6,325 acres, of aquatic seafood farms 
had been either destroyed or severely damaged, while dead, oil-coated birds 
and fish started

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009403166

Fishermen To Launch "Fish Strike" In Philippines To Protest Rising Fuel 
Prices

December 9, 2007 10:16 a.m. EST


Komfie Manalo - AHN News Writer

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Fishermen in the Philippines on Sunday 
threatened to launch a "fish strike" if the government of President Gloria 
Macapagal-Arroyo failed to stop the oil companies from raising and 
overpricing the prices of petroleum products in the country.

"If fish strikes across the country are necessary to compel the 
Macapagal-Arroyo government and the oil mafia composed Petron, Shell and 
Caltex to stop, rollback and put an end to corporate practices of price 
manipulation and overpricing, then we will call our colleagues to go on a 
nationwide fish holiday," the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng 
Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas said in a press statement.

The proposed fish strikes will call on the municipal fisherfolk owners of 
177,627 motorized bancas not to fish during the December 13 National Day of 
Protest Against Oil Price Increases initiated by the People's Unity Against 
Oil Price Increase, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno, 
Anakpawis party list and the transport group Piston.

"President Arroyo and the oil cartel should be taught a lesson of a 
lifetime. They must be stopped from killing all people from walks of life 
through corporate exploitation and plunder," said Pamalakaya national chair 
Fernando Hicap.

Hicap said the scenario where fisherfolk owners of 177, 627 motorized small 
fishing boats across the country could no longer bear the brunt of rising 
prices of petroleum products, and such scenario may soon compel to abandon 
their 4 to 16 horsepower motors, and go back to wood paddles to fish.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=61aeb2e9-e1cd-4142-9939-4b410433d10e&&Headline=Opening+of+Reliance+outlets+triggers+protest+in+Kerala

Opening of Reliance outlets triggers protest in Kerala

Traders and activists of various political parties organized protests on 
Saturday against the opening of two retail outlets by the Reliance group in 
Kozhikode.

The protests led to tension in the city as police barricaded the outlets 
preventing the entry of agitators. The traders also organised shutdowns in 
two areas in the town where Reliance opened its stores.

The traders fear that the entry of large companies into the retailing sector 
will affect their prospects. On Friday also Kozhikode witnessed protests by 
the same organizations against the opening of a Hyper store by Spencer's, a 
retail venture of the Rs 135-billion RPG group.

Though local administrative bodies here sympathize with the agitators by 
refusing licenses to these retail outlets, this did not prevent the 
companies from going ahead with their plans.

According to rules, if a license is not issued within 30 days of application 
without any valid reason, the license will be deemed to have been issued.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200712200033.html

Uganda: Lawyers Protest Fees Increase

New Vision (Kampala)

19 December 2007
Posted to the web 20 December 2007

Chris Kiwawulo
Kampala

DRAMA ensued at the Uganda Law Society secretariat last week when lawyers 
protested the increase membership fees by the executive from $130 (about 
sh220,000) to $350 (about sh600,000) for lawyers with over five years of 
practice.

The executive also proposed to increase fees for lawyers, who have practiced 
between one to five years from $130 to $250 and from $130 to $150 for 
academics, retired advocates and non-practitioners.

This angered the lawyers, who accused their executive of flouting the 
association's laws and usurping the members' powers.Relevant Links

During a meeting at the group's secretariat on Acacia Avenue in Kampala last 
week, the lawyers, led by Peter Walubiri, unanimously protested the 
increment, saying it was too much and illegal.

The law society president, Oscar John Kihika, said the increase was because 
the association is cash-strapped.

The treasurer, Bruce Kyerere, said the increase would help the association 
reduce its dependence on donors, who he said fund 80% of its budget.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/25/stories/2007122554310400.htm

Protest a ploy: Chief Minister

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The agitation organised by the United Democratic Front 
before the Secretariat against inflation here on Saturday was an act of 
self-deception, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said.

Inaugurating the Consumer Day celebrations organised by the State Consumer 
Affairs Department here on Monday, the Chief Minister said that inflation 
was a national phenomenon and the policies being pursued by the Congress-led 
government were also largely responsible for it. The State government had 
taken steps to arrest the price rise through effective market intervention. 
The price of rice in the States ruled by the Congress was much higher than 
the rates in Kerala. If the open market rate was Rs.19 a kg in Andhra 
Pradesh, it was Rs.22 in Delhi. Supplyco and the cooperative sector played a 
crucial role in containing the price at Rs.14 per a through market 
intervention here.

The entry of multinational companies into the retail sector affected the 
supply of essential commodities. By procuring huge quantities from the 
production centres, the companies were creating a scarcity in the market. 
Consumers were being forced to share the burden of the huge amounts expended 
by the companies for advertisement.

The district consumer redressal forums would be revived soon to ensure that 
consumers got their due, he said.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran, in his presidential address, 
said the State consumer forum which had been remaining dormant would be 
revived in the interest of the consumers. Kerala being a consumer State, the 
consumers should be aware of their rights. The State government would take 
the lead in creating a public awareness. Pannian Ravindran, MP, V. Surendran 
Pillai, MLA, and Mangode Radhakrishnan, MLA, were among those who spoke.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=87739

Iranian teahouse owners protest ban on water pipes
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Monday, December 31, 2007

About 100 Iranian teahouse owners staged a rally on Sunday in protest at a 
ban on water pipes which they said has put their businesses in jeopardy, the 
state news agency IRNA reported. "The protesters gathered in front of their 
union offices in Tehran and urged the authorities to help them with their 
financial problems after the ban on water pipes.

http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14580386

Gold traders to observe 'silent protest'
Wednesday, 26 December , 2007, 08:50
Last Updated: Wednesday, 26 December , 2007, 09:03

Kolkata: If you are planning to shop for gold jewellery on Wednesday 
evening, you may have to do that in candlelight.

According to the All India Gems and Jewellery Traders Federation (GJF), a 
lion’s share of the members of the federation and its associate bodies in 15 
cities across the country, including the four metros, will observe a “silent 
protest” against the proposed implementation of the Hallmarking Act by 
switching off the lights between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on December 26.

“The gold glitters in light. By switching off the light we would like to 
send a silent but strong signal to the Government that the mindless 
implementation of the Act — which we consider is inadequately drafted — 
would cast a shadow over the huge population dependent on the gold jewellery 
sector,” Ashok Minawala, Chairman of GJF, told Business Line.

Minawala, however, reminded that though the jewellery trade was always in 
favour of Hallmarking, it is the Government which decided not to take it 
into confidence during the entire process of drafting the law and now while 
implementing it. The end result is: “The law is impractical to follow in 
Indian conditions.”

Guarantee marks

Hallmarks are official marks used as a guarantee of purity or fineness of 
gold jewellery. The Centre has already amended the BIS Hallmarking Act to 
usher in compulsory hallmarking. To start with, the Act will be implemented 
in four metros — having roughly 35,000 outlets or traders — beginning 
January 1, 2008.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Personal_Finance/Tax_Savers/Tax_News/UP_introduces_VAT_amid_traders_protest_/articleshow/2666876.cms

UP introduces Value Added Tax
1 Jan, 2008, 1853 hrs IST, PTI

LUCKNOW: Roll out of Value Added Tax (VAT) in the country became complete, 
with Uttar Pradesh adopting the new tax system that has made 91 items 
including kerosene, milk and medicines cheaper on account of reduced rate of 
levy.

VAT, which replaces the existing sales tax, was introduced in April 2005. 
While a majority of the states switched to VAT, some states held out. They 
have all since adopted VAT.

"Keeping in view the needs of the common man, tax rate on 91 items like 
kerosene, milk and medicines have been reduced under the VAT," Uttar Pradesh 
Chief Minister Mayawati told reporters here.

Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar had, yesterday, promulgated an ordinance 
for implementation of VAT, which was rung in today amid protests by traders 
who took part in a shutdown of markets.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram congratulated the UP government for 
introducing VAT and "wish them success."

Mayawati termed the implementation of VAT as a historic step that would help 
the common man get essential and quality items at minimum prices.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that with the introduction of VAT 
and aligning the state's tax structure on par with others, illegal 
transportation of goods will be curbed and all sections of people would 
benefit.

'Chikan' clothes, baranasi sarees and handloom items have been exempted from 
VAT, besides all varieties of seeds and agriculture equipments. Tax rate has 
also been reduced on chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, water 
pumps, tractors and tractor-trolleys and items used in information 
technology.

Mayawati asked manufacturers and the traders to pass on the benefit of this 
tax reduction to the consumers.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200801090775.html

Ghana: Peasant Farmers Protest Against Foreign Goods

Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)

9 January 2008
Posted to the web 9 January 2008

Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

The President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Mohammed 
Adam Nashiru has called on the government to re-open the Nasia Rice Mills in 
Tamale, the Bolgatanga Meat Factory, Anum Valley in Ejisu Juabeng and the 
Aveyime Rice Project in the Volta Region.

Speaking to newsmen in Accra on the proposed Agricultural Development Fund 
by the Government, he expressed concern about the neglect of small-scale 
farmers in the country. "Our fear is that small holders who are mainly food 
crop, grain producers, small scale livestock and poultry farmers may be left 
out or may find it difficult to benefit from this fund as happened in 
earlier cases".

He admitted that the agricultural development fund was set up by the 
government and appreciated but was quick to say that they have not been made 
to understand where the source of finance was coming from.

Mr. Nashiru recalled the times when the Agricultural Development Bank and 
the National Investment Bank spearheaded the financial course of the peasant 
farmer.

These banks, according to him, have rolled back into commercial banking with 
its commercial interest rates and demands for collateral securities making 
it difficult for farmers to access loan facilities to improve their farms.

He saw a bleak future of the peasant farmer in view of mounting competition 
of foreign goods on the local market.Relevant Links

"The out look of agriculture in the 2008 budget looks quite promising in 
addition to the Agricultural Development Fund, it projects increased 
productivity in all areas of agriculture, however, there is no mention of 
how our markets would be protected against importation and dumping of 
foreign products which threatens our local industry," he stressed.

The President of the Peasant Farmers Association could not but stressed the 
urgent need for government to place a temporary ban on the importation of 
poultry and rice as has been imposed on the tomato paste industry.

The Association, established in 2004 is aimed at championing the course of 
peasant farmers in the country.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-10-voa59.cfm

Businessmen Protest in Belarus
By VOA News
10 January 2008

Opposition activists during a protest rally in Minsk, 10 Jan 2008

About 2,000 entrepreneurs and opposition activists in Belarus have marched 
through the streets of Minsk protesting a presidential decree limiting the 
hiring power of small businesses.

News reports from the Belarusian capital say protesters initially gathered 
in a square and marched towards the presidential palace.  Police blocked 
their progress in several locations.

A delegation of the protesters met with government officials but their 
spokesman, Anatol Shumchanka, says the government refused to offer any 
concessions.

Reports say police detained a number of people, including Shumchanka and the 
leader of the liberal United Civil Party, Anatol Lyabedzka, in connection 
with the protest.

Reports say the businessmen object to President Alexander Lukashenko's 
decree that small business owners may only hire close relatives unless they 
register with the government as a larger firm, which are taxed at a higher 
level.

Businessmen launched a strike in January to protest the decree.

Meanwhile, a court in Minsk sentenced opposition activist Vyacheslau Siuchyk 
to 10 days in prison on charges of using foul language in public.  Police 
detained him on the eve of the protest.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C01%5C12%5Cstory_12-1-2008_pg11_5

Traders to protest if load shedding occurs after 6pm

ISLAMABAD: Traders of the capital have threatened to go on strike and stage 
protests if load shedding continues after 6 pm.

This was decided a Trader Action Committee meeting chaired by Ajmal Baloch. 
The meeting demanded the local administration hold negotiations with IESCO 
and traders to resolve the problems of power outages. They said the 
government was responsible for the flour and energy crises. The government 
is trying to divert the attention of the people from the assassination of 
former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, they alleged. Online