From ldxar1 at tesco.net Thu May 15 14:06:55 2008 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy) Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 22:06:55 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] BELGIUM: Refugee suicide and uprising after failed attempt at violent deportation Message-ID: <007001c8b6cf$9eb24d70$0802a8c0@andy1> http://www.irr.org.uk/2008/may/ha000017.html Asylum seeker takes his life in Belgium By Cassandra Cavallaro 15 May 2008, 11:00am A Cameroonian national has apparently taken his own life in a Belgian detention centre only days after a failed attempt to deport him to Cameroon. Ebenizer Folefack Sontsa, who is reported to have been either 29 or 32 years old, was found hanged by bed sheets in a bathroom at the detention centre in the northern town of Merksplas on 1 May. Detainees at the centre rioted in protest following the news of his death. The attempt to deport him happened just days before on board a Brussels Airlines flight bound for Douala. Ebenizer was reportedly restrained by police officers and was crying out that he did not want to return to Cameroon. When fellow passengers voiced their concerns about his treatment to flight attendants and began filming the events, police removed Ebenizer from the plane. Police also proceeded to remove three passengers from the Brussels Airlines flight, detaining one of them - Serge Fosso - for ten hours. Fosso, also a Cameroonian, claims he was punched and kicked by Belgian police as they took him away. He was subsequently banned from Brussels Airlines for six months. Ebenizer was returned to the detention centre and was, allegedly, left with significant injuries following the police attempts to restrain him onboard the plane. Officials at the Merksplas detention centre confirmed that his body displayed 'signs of trauma' on his return. An investigation is underway as to whether police used excessive force to restrain Ebenizer during the failed deportation. Following the death, ten years ago of a Nigerian woman, Semira Adamu, who was suffocated during a deportation when Belgian police used pillows to restrain her and stop her from crying out, four police officers were convicted and the interior minister resigned. The 'cushion' technique for subduing deportees was then suspended. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Wed May 21 18:42:16 2008 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 02:42:16 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] UK: Small insurrection after killing by Northumbria police Message-ID: <007b01c8bbad$82e76c00$0802a8c0@andy1> NOTE: Tasered for SHOUTING AT POLICE?! And WHY exactly is legitimate anger so intolerable to these goons? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7410441.stm Arrests follow police car death Hayley Adamson was due to sit her GCSE English exam Northumbria Police have made several arrests after trouble flared following the death of a 16-year-old girl who was hit and killed by a marked police car. Hayley Adamson was struck as she crossed the road in Newcastle's Denton Road, late on Monday night. At one point a 23-year-old man had to be subdued with a Taser stun gun. Northumbria Police have appealed for calm in the area. A spokesman for the force confirmed the driver of the police car had been suspended. Ch Supt Paul Weir said emotions were "running high" in the area and police had met members of the community twice on Tuesday to appeal for calm. An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) spokesman said the driver of the marked police car was responding to the activation of his vehicle's automatic number plate recognition system, when Ms Adamson was hit. He said it was unclear whether the car's siren and warning lights were on. Appeal for calm after police car death Ch Supt Weir said his officers were ready for any further trouble on the streets. He said: "There was a number of incidents last night following the collision and quite understandably emotions were running high. "However, we cannot tolerate that emotion spilling over into violence or disorder. "Some people decided that they would throw bricks at the police and arrests were made." He said he could not comment on the specifics of the accident but confirmed the car, a Volvo T5 marked patrol car, was being driven by a lone officer. A statement from the force said: "We can confirm that the police officer who was driving the unmarked police car is currently removed from operational duty, which includes driving." The teenager, who lived with her mother at Cedar Road in Fenham, Newcastle, and who celebrated her 16th birthday in March, was pronounced dead at Newcastle General Hospital. Patricia Wager, head teacher of Sacred Heart RC High School in Newcastle, said: "Hayley was a happy, popular and fun-loving student. "There is a deep sense of shock at the school today and we are supporting her classmates and friends. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time." Ms Adamson was due to sit her GCSE English exam on Tuesday. Gary Garland, IPCC Commissioner for the North East, said: "This is a terrible tragedy and my sympathies go out to Ms Adamson's family and friends and all those involved in the incident. "The IPCC's investigators have been at the scene since the early hours of this morning following the referral by Northumbria Police. "We will undertake a thorough, independent investigation into all the circumstances of the incident." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1020657/Police-pelted-bricks-schoolgirl-16-killed-patrol-car-lights-siren.html Police pelted with bricks after schoolgirl, 16, is killed by patrol car 'without lights or siren' By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 5:30 PM on 20th May 2008 Comments (12) Add to My Stories Student Hayley Adamson was killed after a marked police car crashed into her in Newcastle A schoolgirl died when she was catapulted 50ft into the air as she was hit by a police car following a suspect vehicle. Hayley Adamson, 16, was with a group of friends when she was struck by the marked patrol vehicle, which witnesses claim didn't have its lights on, at 11.20pm on Monday evening - the day before she was due to take her GCSE English exam. Witnesses also said the scene developed into hysteria after bricks were thrown at officers' cars in retaliation. Miss Adamson, who was on study leave for her GCSE exams, was returning to her sister's home in Newcastle after spending the evening with friends. Eyewitness David Forrest, 20, was among the group walking with the popular youngster when the crash occurred, while a second witness said the police car was "definitely driving without its lights on". The schoolgirl witness said she saw the police car driving down the road without its lights on before it hit Hayley Adamson. Shannon Thorpe, 13, who spoke with the permission of her mother, said: "I was standing on the pavement facing the road. "Hayley was in front of me crossing the road I could see a police car approaching fast from the left and it definitely did not have its headlights on. "I didn't have time to shout for Hayley to get out of the way before the police car ploughed into her sending her flying into the air. She let out a terrible scream. "I'd say she flew 30ft into the air before she landed on the road. The police car skidded and came to a stop and then turned on its headlights and blue flashing lights. "Everyone was hysterical and screaming at the police. We all knew she was dead and were angry it was a police car that had hit her. "Some trouble started and a few car windows were smashed but there was no violence against any police officers. "Hayley's friend George was shouting at the police and saying "you should have seen her." "The police then tasered him and took him away. "I can't believe this has happened. Hayley was such a popular girl and all the young kids around here really looked up to her." Friends comfort each other and pay their respects at the scene where Hayley was killed Second witness Mr Forrest said: "There were seven of us and we were about to cross the road. "I was at the front of the group and as I looked both ways I could not see any vehicles coming. "Hayley was right behind me in the group, but when I crossed the road and reached the curb on the other side I heard an almighty bang. "I turned round to look and a police car had hit Hayley and thrown her about 50ft down the road. "The police car had come out of nowhere. There were two police cars and neither had flashing lights on or their sirens going. "The car that hit Hayley didn't even have headlights on. I knew straight away that she was dead. No-one could have survived that." Chief Superintendent Paul Weir of Northumbria Police said: "Last night at around 11.30pm there was a police-involved collision. Unfortunately a young girl, Hayley Adamson, died as a result. "The IPCC is handling the investigation, so I cannot comment on that. "The officer driving the car was alone and has now gone off duty and is being cared for. He will be investigated in due course. "There were a number of incidents last night following the collision and understandably emotions were running high. "That is understandable however we cannot tolerate that emotion spilling over into violence and disorder. Police officers stand on guard at the scene of the accident on Denton Road, Newcastle "Some people decided they would throw bricks at the police. We now have a lot of police out on the streets." Supt Weir refused to confirm or deny that the police car was travelling without blue lights, siren or headlights. He said that a number of people had been arrested after the collision for public order offences but could not confirm if anyone had yet been charged. Hayley's 23-year-old friend, George Oliver, was apparently tasered by officers and arrested after remonstrating with police. The Independent Police Complaints Commission will download the car's computer system to analyse what speed it was travelling at and to confirm whether or not its flashing lights and sirens were activated. It was one of two patrol cars following a suspicious vehicle that had shown up on the officers' in-car Number Plate Recognition System as having no insurance or tax. From ldxar1 at tesco.net Wed May 21 18:45:02 2008 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy) Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 02:45:02 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] FRANCE: Unrest, blockades and unpopularity hit Sarkozy Message-ID: <007d01c8bbad$83576be0$0802a8c0@andy1> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7412852.stm Fishermen clash with Paris police French police guarded the ministry from angry fishermen French fishermen have clashed with police in Paris as they stepped up protests over rising fuel costs. Protesters threw flares and police fired tear gas outside the agriculture ministry, where Minister Michel Barnier was meeting fishing unions. Ferry traffic with the UK has also ground to a halt, with fishing fleets blockading several French ports. The disruption spread to British roads. It comes as France braces for a major strike over pension reforms. Workers are due to walk out for 36 hours, starting on Wednesday evening, to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to make people work for 41 years, rather then the current 40, before being able to draw a full pension. Price cap The fishermen's blockade began more than a week ago, and was originally confined to a few ports like La Rochelle on the west coast. But it spread until, on Wednesday, Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk on the north coast, all serving cross-Channel ferry services to Britain, were isolated by a ring of fishing boats. The stoppage forced UK authorities to shut the port of Dover, causing such a long build-up of lorry traffic that the M20 motorway has had to be closed. The fishermen say rapidly rising prices for diesel threaten them with bankruptcy. They are demanding a greater subsidy from the French government, in effect putting a cap on prices. In January the government approved an aid package for fishermen worth 310m euros (?248m) over three years. Mr Barnier is seeking approval from the EU commission to give state aid to the sector. But fishermen say that agreement is redundant, since fuel has become 30% more expensive since the start of the year. As the minister met union representatives in Paris on Wednesday, as many as 200 fishermen gathered outside. Dozens of flares were thrown, injuring up to four policemen, according to reports. Riot police surrounded the building and responded with tear gas. Sarkozy confident The fishermen's protest came as the government is facing industrial action from various sectors. French teachers say cuts in numbers affect quality Port workers plan a strike for Thursday against privatisation - which is likely to exacerbate the problems caused by the fishing blockade. Thursday will also see major action by rail, postal, utility and other public sector workers across France. They are protesting against plans to extend the retirement age. It follows a teachers' strike against job cuts last week. Unions are hoping that a head of steam is building up against Mr Sarkozy's economic reform plans, says BBC correspondent Hugh Schofield in Paris. But the president has so far made the calculation that most people accept the changes that he has promised, and there is no sign of him backing down, says our correspondent. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/7412239.stm French strike brings M20 closure Queuing lorries park on the M20 under Operation Stack Strike action by French fishermen has led to the implementation of Operation Stack on the M20 in Kent to ease jams caused by lorries going to Dover port. It follows the closure to all ferry traffic after the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne were blockaded. Dover Harbour Board said there had been no sailings since 0600 BST and it was unclear when the action would end. Under Operation Stack, lorries bound for France park on the M20 when cross-Channel transport is blocked. The coastbound part of the M20 has been closed between junction eight for Leeds Castle and junction nine for Ashford West. The carriageway is being used to park lorries before directing them through to either the Channel Tunnel or Dover. Brian Rees from P&O Ferries explains the consequences Other traffic is being diverted from junction eight onto the A20. Kent Police said phase one of Operation Stack, between junctions 11 and 12 coastbound, was not in place as part of the current measure. It said phase two had been implemented as it had proved to be "highly effective in keeping traffic moving" when it was used in February. Motorists are being urged to plan their journeys in the run-up to the bank holiday weekend, to carry water and food in case of queues. They are also advised to check with cross-channel ferry operators before setting off for scheduled sailings. The Folkestone to Calais Eurotunnel shuttle service that carries freight and cars is running normally. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7299151.stm Sarkozy's UMP suffers poll rebuke Curtains for Mr Sarkozy's ambitious reform plans? Voters in France's local elections have handed key cities to the left in a punishing blow to President Sarkozy. The Socialists seized Toulouse, Caen, Strasbourg, Amiens and Reims, with most results in. They also held on to the power bases of Paris and Lyon. But in a closely-fought contest, the president's centre-right UMP retained the second city, Marseille. The outcome is likely to make it harder for Mr Sarkozy's government to pursue its reform programme, analysts say. The poll was seen as the first ballot box test since Mr Sarkozy's election last May of his popularity, which has plummeted in recent opinion polls. You can't change a great country like ours in a few months - tenacity is needed to reform Prime Minister Francois Fillon The BBC's Emma-Jane Kirby in Paris says that in terms of the share of the vote, these election results do not look too bad for the government - the opposition Socialists won only a very small percentage more of the vote than the UMP. Nationally, partial official results showed parties on the left leading slightly, with 48.7% of the overall vote to 47.6% for the centre-right, according to AP news agency. But our correspondent adds that in losing major cities, the UMP has lost some key power bases and it may be more difficult now for the French leader to push through reforms. 'Divorce' with electorate At Perigueux, in the Dordogne, Mr Sarkozy's minister for education, Xavier Darcos, lost his bid to be re-elected as mayor by just over 100 votes. Segolene Royal called the results a "vote of hope" On Sunday night, the president did not make an appearance - leaving his prime minister, Francois Fillon, to defend his policies in a televised declaration. "You can't change a great country like ours in a few months," said Mr Fillon. "Tenacity is needed to reform." Segolene Royal, the Socialist presidential candidate Mr Sarkozy defeated last May, called Sunday's results "a vote of hope". Former Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius said the government was heading for "divorce" with the French electorate if it refused to change its policies. The elections saw Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe boost his position as a possible contender against Segolene Royal for the presidential elections in 2012. However, analysts say the Socialists remain in some disarray, having lost three presidential elections in a row. Voter anger Our correspondent in Paris says many have used their votes to show their disapproval of the government. The left won a tiny percentage more of the vote than the UMP Many French voters say they are angry Mr Sarkozy has not yet fulfilled his promise to increase their spending power. Since coming to power, he has succeeded where some of his predecessors in the Elysee Palace have failed by reducing pension benefits for some state workers. Although unemployment has dropped to its lowest level in more than two decades, it remains high at 7.5% and analysts warn the French economy shows signs of minimal growth. Correspondents say Mr Sarkozy's recent divorce three months into his presidency and remarriage to supermodel Carla Bruni have turned off many voters. The 53-year-old's well-publicised holidays with the rich and famous and what some see as his extravagant style have seen him dubbed the "Bling-Bling president". Fewer than four in 10 voters now approve of his performance. Last July his ratings stood at 67%. From ldxar1 at tesco.net Fri May 30 05:26:51 2008 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy) Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 13:26:51 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] ALGERIA: Protests and unrest in Berber region, prison Message-ID: <006901c8c250$703569a0$0202a8c0@andy1> http://www.algeria-watch.org/en/articles/2008/confrontations.htm In the wake of burying the 7 haragas in Bibane Mesbah Confrontations between dwellers and Gendarmerie forces El Khabar, 10 april 2008 Bibane Mesbah village has witnessed yesterday confrontations between youth and law order forces following manifestations led in the wake of burying 7 illegal migrants drowned in Arzew coasts. However, Home Affairs Minister denied the existence of any judicial gap in terms of illegal migration by see, saying the Algerian Law bans the exit of any citizen to another territory without owning required documents and visa. Demonstrators in Bibane Mesbah village, Tiaret province have cut off the national road n 23, before the arrival of gendarmerie forces who managed dispersing protestors and reopening the road for traffic. The dwellers told El Khabar "instead authorities come to condole us; they have sent 200 gendarmes with cop-dogs to suppress us." However, 220 gendarmerie elements have surrounded the poor village, chasing and arresting about 10 youth. Furthermore, sources close to the investigation being opened on the drowning illegal migrants in Arzew coast said the illegal migrants were likely drowned because the boat they rode did not support their weight; or because the boat crashed on a trade ship and sunk in the deep sea, regarding wounds noticed on bodies of the drowned victims. It is worth mentioning that coast guards have not found yet any piece of the boat, despite intensive searches. On another side, Home Affairs Minister, Noureddine Yazid Zehouni denied yesterday the existence of any judicial gap in terms of sanctions that should be inflicted to illegal migrants by sea in case they are arrested. Mr. Zerhouni told El Khabar: "the Algerian law bans people from travelling without required document or holding a visa," denying statements made by some jurists and lawyers while saying there is no clear acts sentencing directly illegal migrants with 6 to one year prison. He further made allusion to the elaboration of new preventive measures dealing with illegal migration blight, saying the issue is to be treated outside the law on conditions of entry and movement of foreigners in Algeria. 10-04-2008 By M.R & L.B/ Translation A.A http://www.algeria-watch.org/en/articles/2008/truncheons.htm 3 days strike repercussions: Truncheons to disperse independent trade unions representatives El Khabar, 16 April 2008 Law and order forces have pushed back the public service non affiliated trade unions' representatives yesterday, while being prevented with violence from rallying near the Government headquarter. The security services have found difficulties stopping a rally to which the independent trade unions have called for, after the 3-days strike launched by education, health, and higher education sectors non affiliated unions. They have protested against the new salary scale. The protesters have been stopped by the security barrier formed by Law and order forces managing blocking the way leading to the Government headquarters, while dispersing them with truncheons. In this regard, security services have seized the protesters' banners on which slogans calling the Government opening dialogue channels have been written, while many of them have been beaten and brought to Police Stations. The national league of human rights protection has condemned the conduct of the police, emphasizing that the Constitution guarantees the trade unions freedoms. Moreover, the independent trade unions have agreed creating new trade unions in which all public service independent trade unions will be embraced. 16-04-2008 By L.K/ A.Y/ B.M/ Translation Section http://www.algeria-watch.org/pdf/pdf_en/ak_report_cat_2008.pdf On 18 February 2008, prison guards of El Harrach (Algiers) made the prisoners leave room 1. They wanted to actually deprive them of their common prayer space in the room to install bunk beds for the new inmates. When the prisoners refused to return to the hall in protest, the guards have attached them, handcuffed them, stripped them and beaten them with iron bars and sticks. The same scenario took place with the prisoners of the hall 2. The prison warden attended the se beatings. Altogether 80 prisoners have suffered such repression, and many suffered from various fractures. The lawyers were banned from visiting their clients for 2 days. At the end of the solitary confinement of the detainees, they could see the traces of beatings and other abuses on the bodies of their clients. Some prisoners were locked up with new prisoners in individual cells of 5 square meters, without cover, and were banned from family visits until March 19, 2008. The Algerian press, http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCris is/idUSL18396918 Arab-Berber clashes shake Algeria town Sun May 18, 2008 10:39am EDT By Lamine Chikhi BERIANE, Algeria, May 18 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Algerian security forces were deployed in the town of Beriane on Sunday to try to end three nights of clashes between Arabs and minority Berbers, the worst urban unrest in the OPEC producer in months. Residents said two people, including a 67-year-old, man have been killed and dozens made homeless since the disturbances involving rival gangs of hooded young men broke out in this north Saharan town of about 35,000 on Thursday evening. "They burn our houses, steal and kill. The hatred has made them blind," Slimane Baaziz, 51, a member of the Mozabite Berber community, said of his Arab neighbours. "They hate Arabs. These are criminals. They want to burn and kill. But we won't let them. We will defend ourselves and respond to their attacks," said Arab resident Noureddine Bkar. The unrest stems from long-standing local communal rivalries but shares a feature of riots that have erupted in recent months in other towns due to economic grievances -- the enthusiastic and often violent participation of unemployed youths. The intensity of the unrest means that Beriane is likely to be seen by Algerians as a test for the government's ability to respond to social tensions at a time of growing national discontent over unemployment and lack of housing. Hundreds of helmeted police and paramilitary gendarme reinforcements backed by water canon were entering the town to prepare for possible further trouble on Sunday evening. Provincial governor Yahia Fehim told Reuters: "The town is in turmoil, but it is controllable." PETROL BOMBS Homes and kiosks ransacked by youths throwing stones and petrol bombs on Saturday night lay in smoking ruins in the warren-like residential districts of Baba Saad and Kaf Hamouda. Ruins of 10 burned shops could be seen in the town centre. Mohamed Daghour, a 32-year-old Mozabite, said: "My 67-year-old uncle has been killed -- his body is still in the morgue. They want to exterminate us. We are not afraid, but we are determined to defend our families and our goods." Trucks evacuated tens of families from riot-hit districts. Tensions between Mozabites -- the name given to Berbers from the M'zab valley in which Beriane is located -- and Arabs stem from economic, linguistic and religious differences and have boiled over into clashes periodically over the past 20 years. Residents say Arabs tend to resent traditional Mozabite dominance of private commerce, while Mozabites tend to complain they are excluded from state jobs, particularly senior ones. Mozabites speak their own Berber language, as do other Berber groups in north Africa, and practise the Ibadi form of Islam rather than Algeria's mainstream Malekite Sunni version. Berbers are the original inhabitants of north Africa but have had tense ties with Algeria's central government and often complain of discrimination by the Arab majority. A representative of the Mozabite community in Beriane said: "We need to teach our sons the culture of respecting differences. We are Algerian citizens and the constitution defends our right to freely practise our religion." The Beriane unrest is so far minor compared to a mass revolt by a different group of Berbers in Kabylie east of Algiers in 2001 in which 100 people were shot dead by security forces. But street clashes are sensitive in Algeria, a former French colony with a strong history of revolt and where youth riots in 1988 forced the authorities to abandon one-party rule. Algerians say Arab-Berber ties are a critical issue for the country's search for stability following an undeclared civil war in the 1990s that cost more than 150,000 lives. (Writing by William Maclean; editing by Sami Aboudi) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ldxar1 at tesco.net Sun May 25 17:49:42 2008 From: ldxar1 at tesco.net (Andy) Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 01:49:42 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] KASHMIR: Strike, protests and clashes mark presidential visit Message-ID: <00a401c8beca$67beae00$0202a8c0@andy1> http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6403B32A-C2A9-4E5C-A013-191BBE60267E.htm Police tear gas Kashmir protesters Protesters erected barricades to block police [Reuters] Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have used tear gas to disperse about 150 pro-Pakistan separatist demonstrators amid a strike called to protest against a visit by the Indian president. Police fired the gas on crowds in Kashmir's main city on Saturday, a day after Pratibha Patil began her five-day tour of the disputed region. The protesters, some shouting anti-Indian slogans and throwing stones, had earlier gathered in the streets of Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital, which had largely been deserted except for patrols by large numbers of police and soldiers. Most people had remained at home and many shops, businesses and schools were closed due to a strike, called by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a separatist advocate who heads the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Strike action The move was supported by Hizb-ul-Mujahidin, the main armed group fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. "We appeal to people to observe a complete strike on Saturday to protest against the Indian president's visit," Geelani said. "The strike would be a mark of protest against the Indian occupation of Kashmir." "We want to convey to the Indian president that Kashmiri people are against Indian occupation of Kashmir," he said. Soldiers tightened security by erecting checkpoints at street crossings, while police and the army patrolled the area to prevent protests. Patil, who became India's first female president last year, addressed Indian troops and visited a military control line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan on Friday. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. Both claim it in entirety and have fought two wars over control of the territory since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 1_248885_1_9.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 146520 bytes Desc: not available URL: