[Onthebarricades] Protests - food, electricity, gas, water, transport - January 2009
global resistance roundup
onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca
Mon Nov 2 16:57:10 PST 2009
* CHAD: Charcoal fuel ban sparks protests
* SOUTH AFRICA: Service delivery protest in Limpopo, road blocked
* SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng road blocked in delrivery protest
* SOUTH AFRICA: Azapo in service delivery protest in Gauteng
* US: Massachusetts - Power cuts protest hits power station
* PAKISTAN: Residents block Rawalpindi airport road over gas supplies
* PAKISTAN: Massive protest against Lahore power crisis
* PAKISTAN: Police violence against power protesters in Faisalabad
* NEPAL: Students shut down power supply, storm office over power cuts
* INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Roads blocked after power cut dispute
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest over ration card cancellation
* INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Protest for job scheme
* INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - All-party protest demanding rice price, payments
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Washing clothes as sign of protest over drinking water
* TAIWAN: Protests over gas price hike
* NIGERIA: Protest at poor state of roads
* MALAYSIA: Protest for railway crossing
* NEPAL: Ongoing protests in capital over load-shedding
* INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Rightists protest over water shortages
* INDIA: West Bengal - Near-total shutdown in Phulbani over commodity
supplies
* INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Residents lock government offices in water protest
* INDIA: Kerala - Fuel price protest
* INDIA: Karnataka - Protest over ration card delay
* BULGARIA: Trade unionists protest at Ukrainian embassy over gas crisis
* TRINIDAD: Fiery roadblock protest over bad roads
* INDIA: Karnataka - roadblock protest over roadwork delay
* UK: "Mass squat" toilet protest for global poor
* PAKISTAN: Protest for road construction
* PAKISTAN: Road blocked over poor condition
* US: Local protest over unaffordable water bills
* NEPAL: Electric vehicle drivers protest load shedding
* UKRAINE: Russian flag burnt over gas crisis
* TURKEY: Road safety protest leads to blocked road
* UK: Commuters urged to join rail protest
* INDIA: Jharkhand - Maoists protest plight of poor
* BANGLADESH: Clash with police over road death
* INDONESIA: Lapindo disaster survivors continue protests, block road
* INDIA: Kolkata - Market fire survivors protest
* INDIA: Kolkata - SUCI band over bus fares draws mixed response; roads
blocked, clashes with police
* INDIA: Rudra Sena social organisation stages bandh
* INDONESIA: Protesters block road to demand port repairs
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82436
CHAD: Panic, outcry at government charcoal ban
Photo: IRIN
The Chadian government says its ban on tree-cutting for household fuel
is essential to fight desertification (file photo)
N'DJAMENA, 16 January 2009 (IRIN) - A government ban on charcoal in the
Chadian capital N’djamena has created what one observer called
“explosive” conditions as families desperately seek the means to cook.
“As we speak women and children are on the outskirts of N’djamena
scavenging for dead branches, cow dung or the occasional scrap of
charcoal,” Merlin Totinon Nguébétan of the UN Human Settlements
Programme (HABITAT) in Chad, told IRIN from the capital. “People cannot
cook.”
“Women giving birth cannot even find a bit of charcoal to heat water for
washing,” Céline Narmadji, with the Association of Women for Development
in Chad, told IRIN.
Unions and other civil society groups say the government failed to
prepare the population or make alternative household fuels available
when it halted all transport of charcoal and cooking wood into the
capital in December in a move, officials said, to protect the environment.
Charcoal is the sole source of household fuel for about 99 percent of
Chadians, N’djamena residents told IRIN.
With the government blocking all entry of charcoal into N’djamena, and
reportedly confiscating any found in the city, charcoal has become
nearly impossible to come by, aid workers and residents said. And when
it is found, a bag that used to cost about 6,000 CFA francs (US12) is
now sold, clandestinely, at about four times that.
Climate change
Government officials said the charcoal ban was part of an effort to halt
tree-cutting for fuel, which they said was essential to fight
desertification. The government has attempted to block tree-cutting in
the past but has severely cracked down in recent weeks, aid workers and
residents told IRIN.
“Chadians must find other ways to cook and forget about charcoal and
wood as fuel,” Environment Minister Ali Souleyman Dabye recently told
the media in N’djamena. “Cooking is of course a fundamental necessity
for every household. On the other hand...with climate change every
citizen must protect his environment.”
Officials said the ban includes only charcoal made from freshly-cut
trees, not that made from dead wood lying about. But all wood and
charcoal is being blocked from entering N’djamena, residents said.
...Women giving birth cannot even find a bit of charcoal to heat water
for washing...
Amid panic and protests over the ban another government official said at
a 14 January press conference that the government made a mistake in not
preparing the public, but he announced no change. “It is a gaffe; to err
is human,” said Nouradine Delwa Kassiré Coumakoye, president of the
government’s Social, Economic and Cultural Council.
He called on Chadians to stay calm, saying: “The government can resolve
this crisis and find a solution.”
The Chadian Prime Minister on 15 January met with the leader of a
national consumers’ rights association, according to the government
website.
“Crying out”
Residents and aid experts told IRIN the charcoal ban has complicated
already dire living conditions in the city.
“All families in N’djamena are crying out,” Delphine Djiraibé Kemneloum,
coordinator of the Monitoring Committee for Peace and Reconciliation,
told IRIN.
UN-HABITAT's Nguébétan said: “This is quite a grave situation because
Chadians have always used charcoal for cooking and for heating water."
Many Chadians also make a living from selling charcoal.
“We all agree that desertification is a serious problem that Chad must
address,” he said. “But the government must supplement its measures with
alternatives for the population.”
The government has mentioned alternatives such as propane but “only
abstractly,” Nguébétan said.
Residents said few people use propane in N’djamena, and it is scarce.
People who can afford to are traveling across the border to Cameroon to
buy gas.
Protest put down
Soldiers and police on 14 January dispersed crowds who gathered in the
capital to protest the government’s action as well as the overall high
cost of living, people in the capital told IRIN.
“They hit demonstrators, who were mostly women,” said the women’s
association’s Narmadji, who was among the marchers.
“Until the government makes a change we will not give up,” she said.
“Better to die swiftly and en masse than to continue dying slowly as we
are now.” Then she added: “We are already dead.”
dd/np/aj
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=82550
CHAD: Banging pots and pans to end charcoal ban
Photo: Celeste Hicks/IRIN
One of several vehicles recently torched just outside N'djamena.
Residents said it is not known who burned the vehicles, which were
reportedly transporting charcoal
N'DJAMENA, 24 January 2009 (IRIN) - On 23 January in some Chadian cities
day broke with the sound of citizens banging together pots and pans.
Prohibited by the authorities from demonstrating in the streets,
Chadians banged their utensils from inside their homes to protest the
government’s ban on charcoal, which has people in a panic, burning
roots, furniture and anything they can find in order to boil water and cook.
“Since we cannot go out into the streets, we hope everyone will join us
in this – tap, tap, tap!” Larlem Marie, coordinator of the Chadian
Fundamental Liberties Association, told IRIN.
The protest idea came from the Coalition of Parties for the Defence of
the Constitution, an umbrella group of opposition political parties.
Clanging was heard in the capital N'djamena and the protest was
reportedly widely observed in Chad's third largest city, Sarh, in the
south. Chadians planned to carry out the banging for three consecutive days.
When people tried to march in N’djamena earlier this month -- against
the charcoal policy and the high cost of basic goods -- police and
military dispersed the crowds, beating some demonstrators, a woman who
was among the protesters told IRIN.
The charcoal ban – which government officials say is essential to fight
desertification – has highlighted the need for alternative household
fuels in the country, much of which is rocky desert. Residents and aid
workers say just about the entire population uses charcoal as household
fuel. A consumers' rights association is urging the government to
promote renewable energy use.
But this group and others are calling for a suspension of the ban until
alternatives can be made available.
For now Chadians are burning whatever they can find.
“I am using plants such as palm fruits,” N’djamena resident Nangali
Helene told IRIN on 22 January. “But they make us ill. They do not burn
properly and they give off a horrid smoke and smell.”
...We understand the need to protect the environment but we find it
bizarre that the measures are so sudden and so brutal...
She said: “Last night we started burning the beams from the roof of our
outhouse. Our children are suffering. We cannot even wash them with warm
water in the morning. The government needs to know what things are like
for us.”
Currently the morning temperature in N’djamena averages around 17
degrees Celsius.
The Chadian Association for the Defence of Consumers' Rights, whose
president Daouda Elhadj Adam met with the Prime Minister on 15 January,
said in a memorandum to the head of government: “To fight reckless
tree-cutting for charcoal, the government took a brutal and radical
measure of prohibiting the sale of charcoal and wood as household
fuel....Families do not know which way to turn to cook their meals.”
The group recommends the government suspend its ban for at least six
months during which time alternatives can be developed. It calls for a
look at the supply and demand of propane as one option, as well as the
promotion of energy-efficient cookers.
Many Chadians are not familiar with using propane and would have to
learn to use it properly, N’djamena residents told IRIN. Fear is a
factor, as several Chadians have been killed or injured in accidents
involving gas cylinders.
The government should “promote renewable energy sources, with subsidies
for solar energy,” the consumers' rights group says in its memorandum.
Aid groups have distributed solar stoves or other energy-efficient
cookers to refugees in eastern Chad, but N'djamena residents say such
items are not readily available to Chadians.
Rights advocate Larlem said: “We understand the need to protect the
environment but we find it bizarre that the measures are so sudden and
so brutal.”
A government official acknowledged in mid-January that ordering the ban
without ensuring available options was “a gaffe”, but to date the policy
remains in place.
ch/np/aj
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090104153638329C106551
Limpopo protest turns violent
January 04 2009 at 04:46PM
Limpopo police arrested 20 people during a service delivery protest in
Jane Furse on Sunday morning.
Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said they were arrested for public
violence and malicious damaged to property after Mamone residents
barricaded the Lebowakgomo-Nebo road with stones and burning tyres.
Among their grievances was a tar road which had not been built in Mamone.
They were asked to disperse and, when they failed to do so, police fired
rubber bullets.
The roads had since been cleared.
More arrests were expected. - Sapa
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=79&art_id=nw20090108091627476C815282
Protesters block Gauteng road
January 08 2009 at 09:18AM
Around 100 protesters from Emfuleni blocked a road between Johannesburg
and Vereeniging on Thursday morning, said Gauteng police.
"People were protesting against [poor] service delivery," said Constable
Teboho Lephoto.
Lephoto said that they had gathered at about 4am on Thursday. They
blocked Johannesburg Road near Rothdene with burning tyres and other
materials.
At 8am, the mayor of the local municipality arrived and accepted a
memorandum from the protesters, who then dispersed.
Lephoto said the protest was peaceful. - Sapa
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090127170330774C733212
Azapo in service delivery protest
January 27 2009 at 11:34PM
The Azanian People's Organisation handed a memorandum to the office of
the premier of Gauteng and to the City of Johannesburg on Tuesday in
protest against corruption, crime and poor service delivery
The memorandum focused on a lack of housing delivery, land ownership,
development of infrastructure (such as roads, electricity, water and
sanitation) and against corruption in municipalities in the informal
settlements in Gauteng.
The vocal group of marchers first went to the Civic Centre in Loveday
Street and handed the memorandum over to the office of the speaker,
represented by Peter Kute, who promised to open a file for the
memorandum and to give feedback within a week.
The crowd of around 300 people then proceeded to the premier's office in
Simmonds Street.
Here various community representatives raised their concerns before
Girish Magan accepted the memorandum on behalf of premier Paul Mashatile.
Magan promised to send a copy of the memorandum to Mashatile, the
various municipal departments, to the housing department and to members
of the municipal councils of the areas.
He said Azapo would receive a response within two weeks.
The memorandum called for informal settlements to be formalised by land
expropriation and title deeds given to residents.
"Government is providing less than a tenth of the houses needed to catch
up with the housing backlog by 2014," the memorandum read.
Protesters demanded electricity, water out of taps, proper roads, proper
sanitation and an end to the bucket system.
The memorandum included memoranda from the various communities, five out
of ten specifically demanded an end to corruption (especially in regard
to the housing lists) and an end to nepotism or favouritism (including
"internal vacancies") in municipalities.
The issue of corrupt councillors was often raised during the
presentations by the various communities with Kliptown saying: "We are
forced to relay this memorandum to you because in Kliptown, the Mayor
does not consult the community."
Azapo national spokesperson for local government and housing Stan
Sigotyana said the waiting list for houses was too long.
He said there was no fairness in the manner in which houses were allocated.
"Government must stop promising what they cannot deliver," said
protester Mziyanda Bulani
Gauteng Azapo spokesperson Lehlohonolo Moagi said the memorandum was a
challenge to the highest office in the province because all the previous
premiers including Tokyo Sexwale and Mbhazima Shilowa had failed the people.
"The people have lost patience," he said.
"We are asking that when people vote they must vote wisely, not with
their hearts but with their minds."
Moagi thanked Magan for receiving Azapo's demands before the march
returned to the Library Gardens and dispersed.
The memorandum had been handed over to the Ekurhuleni mayor in June
2006, presented to the Gauteng premier in April 2007 and given to the
president's office in 2008 but no responses were received, the
organisation said. - Sapa
http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO100388/
Lunenburg residents protest power company, 'Blackout Unitil'
LUNENBURG, Mass. -- Residents who lost power during last month's ice
storm took their anger to the streets, protesting the local power company.
Customers of Unitil Power Company faced outages that lasted twelve days
in areas of Lunenburg, Fitchburg, Townsend, and Ashby.
Many were in the dark without heat for the entire holiday season.
Electricity and heat has since been restored, but demonstrators gathered
in the town center holding placards and passing around a petition to
have Unitil removed as the town's power company.
One couple told 7News that Unitil did not respond quickly to phone calls
even when a live wire was lying on their lawn.
"So I called Sunday, Monday, and my husband called ... all of a sudden
on Unitil's message it says if the wires are off your house, it's your
problem."
On December 31st, Unitil issued this apology: "During the storm, 100% of
our customers in Massachusetts lost power. While every effort was
extended to restore service as soon as possible, nearly 20% remained out
for 7 days and 4% were out for as many as 12 days. For this unfortunate
situation we sincerely apologize."
Residents who voiced their frustration say they are prepared for the
worst if another storm strikes and many have already purchased generators.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154947
Protesters block Airport Road in Rawalpindi Police baton charge, teargas mob
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Obaid Abrar Khan
Rawalpindi
Hundreds of protesters including women and children Wednesday blocked
the Airport Road near Dhoke Hafiz area and staged a demonstration
against the non-availability of Sui gas in the locality.
Police baton charged and fired tear-gas shells to disperse the
demonstrators. Residents of Gulzar-e-Quaid, Fazal Town and Dhoke Hafiz
staged the protest against Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limiited (SNGPL)
for loadshedding of gas in their area.
Protesters said the supply of Sui gas remains suspended during morning
and evening timings and it’s become very difficult for us to even cook
meals.
It was a peaceful protest but the situation become worst when police
started baton charging and shelling of tear gas to disperse the
demonstrators. Police started misbehaving with women and stopped media
persons to cover the protest.
The demonstrators blocked the road for around four hours after the
police misbehaved with women. CPO Rao Muhammad Iqbal taking notice of
the police misbehaviour with the women suspended SHO Airport Police Raja
Abdul Rasheed, Sub-Inspector Rana Latif and a reader.
MPA Chaudhary Sarfaraz Afzal reached on the spot and started talks with
demonstrators. Nazim Union Council Chaklala Raja Shahid Yaqoob was also
present there.
All the demonstrators recommended to the Sui Gas authorities to make a
schedule of CNG station in the area and should close them for four hours
in morning and evening so that the residents could get frequent flow of gas.
Razia Bibi, a demonstrator, told ‘The News’ that supply of Sui gas in
their area remained suspended in the morning and evening timings. It is
very difficult for us to prepare breakfast for my family members.”
“In this freezing cold it’s very difficult for us to maintain the
temperature in our houses without gas supply. My children are suffering
from flu and cold but I am helpless and can’t use heaters in my house
because of loadshedding of Sui gas,” said Tahira Naveed, a protestor.
PPI adds: The prolonged power breakdown and frequent Sui gas suspension
irked residents of the metropolis and its adjacent areas of Saddiqabad,
Magistrate Colony, Chaklala Village and along Tanch Bhatta in this
chilly weather.
Talking to this agency, the residents of the various areas complained
they were facing that they were facing many problems because of the load
shedding of Sui gas as well as electricity in this chilly season
particularly at morning time where in many cases children left for
schools without having breakfast.
The residents said that the continuous power break down and now the
suspension of Sui gas have badly affected their kitchens’ work.
They demanded the government to take back the announcement of load
shedding of electricity and also ensure supply of Sui gas without any
break in this chilly weather.
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/massive-protest-against-power-crisis-pakistan
Massive protest against Power crisis in Pakistan
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by Sanjay Jha | January 2, 2009 at 01:28 am
Cold wave has intensified in the South Asia bringing chilly winds and
demand for the electricity has peaked up but Power crisis has deepended
in Pakistan.
A LARGE numbers of Lahorites staged protest demonstrations against
Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) over unscheduled prolonged
loadshedding in different localities in the metropolis on Thursday.
The protestors burnt tyres, blocked roads and chanted slogans against
Wapda, Lesco and over the slumber of rulers regarding basic amenities.
Locals demanded immediate solution of prolonged loadshedding and warned
that if any better solution was not provided to the issue, they would
attack Lesco installations and offices.
The ongoing power crisis in the country has intensified, compelling
people to take to the streets against the prolonged and unscheduled
loadshedding.
Electricity has vanished from the hospitals while other industries are
on the verge of closure.
The saving policy of the Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC)
has further aggravated the problem in the metropolis. Apart from
domestic consumers, industrial and traders are also adversely affecting
from the looming power crisis. The continuous power outages are
affecting the hospitals too where doctors are finding it hard to perform
operations and other necessary medical procedures.
The situation is no different in markets where shopkeepers and traders
are sitting idle. The say that they will have to shut the business if
situation remains unchanged.
On Thursday, People across the country staged protest demonstration
against the unscheduled prolonged loadshedding and drop in gas pressure.
Lahore-based industrialists have threatened to shut their factories for
not issuing loadshedding’s schedule.
http://www.dawn.com/2009/01/03/rss.htm#e9
Police use tear gas to break up power protests Saturday, 03 Jan, LAHORE:
Police in Pakistan's industrial hub of Faisalabad launched tear gas
shells and fired in the air Saturday to disperse hundreds of protesters
angered by months of rolling blackouts, witnesses said. Angry mobs
burned tyres in the streets and pelted police with stones during a day
of protests across Faisalabad, which is located 250 kilometres south of
Islamabad. More than 30 people were arrested. Many of the protesters
were workers at local textile factories, which have suffered badly
during the months of electricity load-shedding, or rolling blackouts,
due to a nationwide power shortage. 'The protesters attacked offices of
the state electricity company and torched office records and furniture,
prompting the police to fire tear gas shells and baton-charge the
people,' local police official Rommen Akram said. (Posted @ 16:58 PST)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Students_protest_against_power_cuts/articleshow/3918307.cms
Students protest against power cuts
1 Jan 2009, 0155 hrs IST, AP
KATMANDU: Students stormed an electricity transmission office and shut
down power in western Nepal affecting hundreds of thousands of residents
in a protest against government imposed power outages.
Government administrator Kaladhar Deuja said, “Students occupied the
Nepal Electricity Authority's transmission office at Mahendranagar,
about 375 miles (600 kilometers) west of the Nepalese capital, Katmandu,
on Monday, and forced engineers to switch off the power then locked the
offices.”
Officials have not returned for fear the students will stage more
protests. “Businesses and schools have had to close because of the
protest shutdown”, Deuja said. “Hospitals were still open but had to
rely on their own generators, if they have them”, he said.
For months consumers faced several hours per day of organized blackouts
to conserve energy, and then the state-run Nepal Electrical Authority
announced that they would be increased to 12 hours per day.
Nepal produces only about half the electricity it needs, in part because
of unusually low levels this year in reservoirs that feed the country's
hydroelectric plants. The amount of power that Nepal imports from
neighboring India is not enough to make up the shortfall.
Nepal's communist-led government has announced an ``electricity
emergency'' and said it will set up diesel-operated power plants early
next year to help meet demand. A decade-long communist insurgency that
ended in 2006 hampered development
work in Nepal, including the building of new power plants.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/videos/2009/jan/jan11/video04.php
NSU organises protest against load-shedding
Nepali Congress (NC) student wing Nepal Students Union organised a
candle light rally in Kathmandu on Sunday against the load shedding. The
protests were organised as the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has
extended the daily load shedding to 16 hours from 12 hours.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/videos/2009/jan/jan15/video03.php
Different organisations stage protest in front of NEA
Different organisations including Electric Vehicle Association of Nepal
organise protest in front of the central office of Nepal Electricity
Authority (NEA) on Thursday, demanding end to the ongoing load-shedding.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/250714,thousands-protest-crippling-power-cuts-in-kathmandu.html
Thousands protest crippling power cuts in Kathmandu
Posted : Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:31:01 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : India (World)
Kathmandu - Thousands of people demonstrated in the Nepalese capital
Kathmandu Thursday, protesting crippling power cuts that have badly
affected industries and businesses. On Sunday, the government announced
16-hour power cuts across the country, saying electricity production and
supply was just a third of the total demand.
About 5,000 people representing small-scale industrialists and operators
of three wheeler electric vehicles known locally as Safa Tempos or
"Clean Vehicles," locked up the main office of the government-owned
Nepal Electricity Authority that distributes power.
The protestors said the power cuts were severely hampering their
business and many are on the verge of closure.
The hardest hit have been the electric vehicles that are used to
transport commuters across the city.
About 300 Safa Tempo drivers parked their vehicles on the main roads in
the commercial district of Kathmandu, bringing traffic in several parts
of the city to a virtual standstill for most of the day Thursday.
"The battery run vehicles need an average of 18 hours to recharge," said
Bijayman Sherchan, chairman of Electric Vehicle Association of Nepal.
"With just eight hours of power, the batteries aren't even charged to
half the capacity."
"Without alternative source of electricity we will no longer be able to
provide services to the people," Sherchan said.
Safa Tempos were introduced in the late 1990s to replace the tradition
petrol power three-wheelers that were blamed for growing pollution in
Kathmandu Valley.
It is estimated that nearly 130,000 people depend on the electric
vehicles each day to commute to and from work in Kathmandu.
In December, the Nepalese government announced "national energy crisis"
and announced measures to reduce power cuts over the next several months.
Nepal's current electricity demand is 800 megawatt but only 250 megawatt
was being supplied, the authorities said.
"The water levels in reservoirs and rivers that feed the hydropower
stations are alarmingly low and that has forced us to cut production,"
said Sher Singh Bhat, chief of load distribution unit of Nepal
Electricity Authority.
Industries say the power cuts have severely reduced output and will
impact the country's economy, which is only now beginning to recover
after years of insurgency.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/12/stories/2009011254640500.htm
Andhra Pradesh
Farmer’s death leads to protest
Staff Reporter
SANGAREDDY: A farmer, Balakishti (45), died of cardiac arrest while
arguing for power supply with a lineman at Zaheerabad on Sunday. This
led to staging of ‘rasta roko’ by all party leaders and their subsequent
arrest.
According to information, the officials cut power supply to some areas
in Benzole village as the arrears were not paid by farmers.
Not knowing this Balakishti sowed sugarcane and was waiting for power
supply so as to water his field. As the officials at the top level did
not respond, he approached the lineman Khaleel staying at Zaheerabad.
Balakishti’s repeated appeals did not yield any result. Down with
frustration Balakishti collapsed.
Declared brought dead
Doctors declared him brought dead when was shifted to the hospital.
On learning about the incident, leaders of all parties held dharna and
‘rasta roko’ on the NH.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010950280300.htm
Tamil Nadu
Protest staged against cancellation of ration cards
Staff Reporter
AMBUR : Ration card-holders ghearoed a ration shop at Mottukollai as
their cards were cancelled without prior information.
Sources said that the Civil Supplies Department had cancelled 134 ration
cards attached to the shop at Mottukollai.
The card-holders were agitated because the action was taken without
prior notice.
As a result, they could not purchase essential commodities.
They wanted Civil Supplies officials to explain the reason for the
cancellation.
On Tuesday, as no officials were available, they ghearoed the ration
shop and raised slogans.
On Wednesday, they protested again near the shop. Civil Supplies
officials from Vellore pacified them saying that they would discuss the
issue with Collector C. Rajendran.
The cards had been cancelled for verification to check if any duplicates
had been issued, officials said.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/19/stories/2009011953220300.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool
CPI(M) to launch protest for job scheme
Special Correspondent
KURNOOL: The CPI (M) would launch a protest urging the district
administration to start NREGS programme to check migration of workers.
District secretary Shadrak said they would protest in mandals for three
days before taking out a rally on the Republic Day with an appeal to
stop hunger and provide work.
Mr. Shadrak said only 2 lakh persons were provided employment in the
district which had a worker population of 7.8 lakh. He said so far 1.30
lakh workers migrated to different places in search of work. The problem
was prevailing in 18 mandals of the district.
He said arrears due from the administration for the work rendered last
year mounted to Rs. 45 crore. The poor families could not put up with
such huge loss of wages due to faulty accounting.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/19/stories/2009011959590500.htm
Andhra Pradesh
All-party protest for good price for discoloured paddy
Staff Reporter
MACHILIPATNAM: The opposition parties, including the TDP, the CPI (M)
and the CPI, threatened to further intensify their protest programmes
demanding minimum support price for paddy and purchase of paddy that had
discolouration up to 50 per cent.
Leaders continued to throng the protest camp in front of the District
Collectorate here on Sunday, even as the parties decided to organise
similar protests in all corners of the district steadily. The opposition
parties’ district units were stepping up pressure on the Government to
bow to the farmers’ demands.
“This protest will continue till the demands are met. There is no way
the Government can escape from its responsibilities this time,” said TDP
MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao. He said injustice had been done to
farmers in all aspects and the Congress leaders should be blamed for all
this. He accused the district ministers of ignoring the farmers’
interests without bothering to resolve their problems.
The all-party leaders decided to hold protest programmes simultaneously
at all paddy purchase centres in the district on Monday. Similar protest
programmes would be held in front of Tehsildars’ offices on Tuesday.
The opposition parties demanded that the subabul farmers be paid Rs.
1,600 a quintal and arrears be paid to cotton farmers. They also sought
immediate steps for payment of compensation for crop damages suffered by
farmers in cyclones.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/22/stories/2009012258010200.htm
Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin
Novel demonstration
Staff Reporter
Over wastage and stagnation of drinking water
— Photo: N.Rajesh.
A hindrance: Damaged drinking water pipeline causing stagnation at VVD
Junction in Tuticorin on Wednesday.
Tuticorin: Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI)
staged a demonstration here on Wednesday in protest against wastage and
stagnation of drinking water thus affecting free flow of traffic.
They washed clothes as a mark of protest and exposing the inaction of
the corporation officials. Over 50 people took part in the
demonstration. It was led by M.S. Muthu, town secretary, DYFI. P.
Puviraj, district secretary, was present.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/20/stories/2009012051520300.htm
Tamil Nadu
Residents stage demonstration
Staff Reporter
OMALUR: Residents of Omalur town staged a demonstration in front of the
town panchayat office here on Monday in protest against the erratic
supply of drinking water.
They pointed out that several residential areas in the town were facing
severe water shortage. They demanded the local body to ensure adequate
supply of water to all the parts in the town. Police personnel and local
body officials pacified the agitators.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/asia/b-taiwan/2009/01/03/190354/LPG-price.htm
January 3, 2009 9:38 am TWN, CNA
LPG price hike draws protest amid drop in int'l gas prices
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A hike in domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) price
drew public criticism yesterday, with Consumers' Foundation Chairman
Hsieh Tien-jen denouncing the price increase, which comes amid a decline
in global natural gas prices, as “absurd.”
The state-run petroleum refiner CPC Taiwan, Corp. announced Thursday
night that it will raise the LPG wholesale price by NT$1.4 per kilogram.
The new price took effect from Friday.
Under the adjustment, the price for a 20kg cylinder of LPG for household
users, which include people operating food stands on street markets, was
raised by NT$28 (US$0.85), or 12.6 percent.
CPC said the price hike was justified due to increasing demand during
the winter season, and a rise in the international contract price for
LPG from US$337.5 per ton in December to US$380 in January.
Hsieh, however, said he cannot understand why a hike in demand in the
winter can be an excuse for the price adjustment.
Besides, “it has been nearly two months since winter came, “ he said.
Since LPG users are mostly street vendors whose incomes are relatively
low, it is inappropriate for the government operated gas company to
raise the LPG price, Hsieh said. Instead, it should cut the price, he said.
However, according to the CPC, after the adjustment Thursday, the
pre-tax wholesale price of LPG for household users in Taiwan stood at
NT$16.08 per kilogram, which is still much lower than the lowest level
among neighboring Asian countries, including South Korea's price, which
was at the NT$39.96 per kilogram.
CPC's latest price increase was its first hike on LPG price for
household users after it cut prices over past two months.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200901020734.html
Nigeria: NLC, Women, TUC and Others Protest State of Benin-Ore Road
Simon Ebegbulem
2 January 2009
THOUSANDS of youths and women, in collaboration with the Edo State
chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress
(TUC) and Civil Society Organisations, yesterday, protested the
deplorable state of the Benin-Lagos expressroad and the Benin-Okene
expressroad.
The protest which was co- ordinated by a multi national organisation,
One Love Foundation, paralyzed activities in Benin City and the state
Government House as the protesters lamented the incessant loss of lives
due to accidents at the two express roads and called on the Federal
Government to take urgent steps in addressing the problem.
The protesters visited the State House of Assembly and Government House,
where they appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to prevail on the
Federal Government to reconstruct the Benin-Lagos expressroad and also
dualize the Benin-Okene expressroad.
In his address, the President of One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick
Eholor stated that "we have flagged off a consistent process to bring
the Federal Government and those concerned to pay urgent attention to
the total repairs and constant maintenance of the Lagos-Benin
expressroad, as against the current situation of makeshift
rehabilitation or total neglect.
"This is with the determination to drastically reduce, once and for all,
the incessant loss of lives through road accident, armed robbery attacks
and loss of property, as a result of the bad state of the roads.
However, our approach is through collective public engagement, along the
principle of non-violence agitation which Mahatma Ghandi, Rev. Jesse
Jackson and others had effectively adhered to," he said.
He stressed that there was every reason to " be alarmed at the human
carnage and the loss of property on the Lagos-Benin express road, in
particular.
Or instance, a skeletal data o human casualty by SAVAN, a Benin based
para-medical NGO, on the Edo section o the road is very high and most
disturbing. But unfortunately, the concerned government officers and our
elitist class chose to disregard the deplorable state of the road.
"But we make bold to say that we may resort to continuously picket the
Benin airport and subsequently more airports in the Niger Delta, South
East and else where in the country I the Lagos-Benin express way and
others in the country are not paid attention to.
We urged President Yar'Adua and the Ministers to take a trip on this
road and enjoy the comfort" he stated.
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=62033
Protest over Petagas crossing
Published on: Friday, January 02, 2009
PETAGAS: More than 10,000 residents of Kampung Petagas, here, are up in
arms over alleged failure of the contractor appointed to upgrade the
railway tracks to provide a proper and safe crossing at the main
junction from the main road to their area.
Some 100 representatives of the residents staged an hour-long protest at
the site of the crossing being built along Jalan Petagas, about 15
minutes' drive from the city centre, Thursday morning.
They claimed the crossing being built by the contractor's workers was
causing more problems, including risk of accidents, than safety to the
residents.
"The crossing was raised to the same height as the Petagas-Putatan main
road, causing motorists entering the junction into the village unable to
see the road which has now become too low on the other side (Kg Petagas
road).
"As a result, vehicles going in or out through the junction crossing now
are unable to see the oncoming vehicles."
Just two nights ago, there was an accident involving three vehicles
there, they said.
"Although it only involved damages to the vehicles, still it shows how
serious the problem or risk is to the residents," said Haji Mahlan
Zinin, the private secretary of Petagas Assemblyman Datuk Yahya Hussin,
who was also at the site.
He said the residents concerned wanted the State Government to stop the
crossing until proper improvements on its safety aspects were made.
"If there is no proper solution, they (the residents) hope the whole
railway upgrade project in Putatan and Petagas would be cancelled, and
that the main railway station be closed and rebuilt in Lok Kawi or
Kinarut," he added.
Under the railway upgrade project, he said 52 main crossings were
proposed along the tracks from the Kepayan railway station in Kota
Kinabalu to Putatan town.
Apart from the "dangerous" crossing, he said the residents were also
furious over the alleged act of the contractor's workers who took out
all the public directional signboards at the Kg Petagas junction.
Saying he had briefed Yahya about the development and expected the
matter to be brought to the State Cabinet for discussion, Mahlan said
the residents concerned were not against development but wanted it to be
done properly taking into account all aspects.
Thursday's protest drew the attention of many people, including
motorists plying the busy main road which links the city to other
districts in the southern west coast, until a police team from Putatan
and Penampang was called in to monitor peace and order.
Among those who stopped by were Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President
Datuk Yong Teck Lee and several party leaders who happened to be passing
the area.
Yong, who also agreed with the danger posed by the crossing being built
at the Kg Petagas junction, said it showed there was total lack of
co-ordination between the relevant departments and the appointed
contractor involved.
Calling for an urgent review of the whole situation, he said the protest
showed the people were really angry, frustrated and desperate for a
positive solution.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/videos/2009/jan/jan11/video02.php
Protests continue as NEA extends load-shedding
Protests against the load-shedding continue in the capital on Sunday as
the Nepal Electricity Authority extended the load-shedding to 16 hours a
day from 16 hours.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010658390300.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad
BJP stages protest at HMWSSB
Staff Reporter
‘Take up the third phase of Krishna drinking water project as per the
master plan’
- PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL
End water woes: BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya at the dharna
outside HMWSSB office at Ameerpet on Monday.
HYDERABAD: Police took into custody scores of BJP workers and their
leaders on Monday after they tried to gatecrash into the office of the
Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB)
demanding that the government take up the third phase of Krishna
drinking water project as per the master plan.
The arrested included State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya,
Himayatnagar MLA G. Kishen Reddy and BJP Greater Hyderabad unit
president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy.
Police presence at the Board office in Ameerpet was heavy and the
demonstration had a telling impact on the movement of the vehicular
traffic on the busy arterial road. The BJP workers raised slogans and
jostled with police while trying to prevent the arrests.
Inadequate supply
“While the city’s requirement is 500 mgd water, only 305mgd is supplied
from various sources like Osman Sagar, Himayath Sagar, Manjeera, Singuru
and Krishna phase-I and II,” Mr. Dattatreya told newspersons.
The combined consumption of domestic, commercial and industrial sectors
stood at 180-280 litres per head a day, which totals to 500mgd, he
explained.
The BJP leaders also criticized the State government for going ahead
with Godavari water project while abandoning the third phase of Krishna
water project.
“The government has gone ahead with Godavari water project costing Rs.
3,375 crore for just 10 tmcft while ditching third phase of Krishna
water project that would have cost just Rs.800 crore for 5.5tmcft,” Mr.
Ramachandra Reddy said.
He added that the city also needed Godavari water and said the
government should immediately implement Krishna third phase while at the
same time expedite works on Godavari water diversion projects.
The BJP leaders also said infrastructure for water distribution for
Krishna Phase II was not in place.
Although the main pipeline was built, interior pipelines for
distribution, tanks, sumps were not yet constructed.
Although Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy promised daily water
supply to all areas in old municipal corporation limits, many areas are
still not getting the same, said Mr. Ramachandra Reddy.
He also highlighted how drinking water was supplied to certain areas at
unearthly hours - midnight and early hours – inconveniencing housewives,
office-goers and the middle class.
The BJP leaders also demanded that water requirements of all areas
coming under Greater Hyderabad region including Cantonment be undertaken
by HMWSSB. These areas should also be supplied daily water, they urged.
Among their other demands were bill collection of apartment residents
according to meter tariffs and complete reduction of reliance on
groundwater supply.
http://www.welcomeorissa.com/orissa_news.php?opt=view&id=18315&ChosenDay=21&ChosenMonth=01&ChosenYear=2009
Archived News [ January 21, 2009 ] ...
Near total shutdown in Phulbani
PHULBANI : Phulbani, the district headquarter town of troubled Kandhamal
district observed a near total bandh today in response to the call given
by the District Bar Association. Streets wore a deserted look as all
commercial establishments and banks remained closed right through the
12-hour bandh. The Bar had given the call to protest against the failure
of the administration in ensuring proper supply of essential commodities
including LPG over the last three years and the recent cancellation of a
gas dealership. Lawyers picketed a different points of the town ensuring
closure of the market and educational institutions. It may be noted that
on 11 January, protestors had demonstrated in front of a oil company
godown. The district administration had intervened and ensured supply of
LPG for three days. The district collector Dr Krishan Kumar had convened
an emergent meeting to try and sort out the problem yesterday but the
members of the Bar Association did not turn up . The district
administrative authorities in general and supply officials in particular
who have shown apathetic attitude towards solving this artificial
scarcity are responsible for the situation, said Mr Biraja Prasad Nahak
President, Phulbani Bar Association.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=LPG+distribution:+bandh+normal+life&artid=SkaVTDKJPAQ=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=
LPG distribution: bandh normal life
Express News Service
First Published : 20 Jan 2009 04:16:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 20 Jan 2009 03:17:17 PM IST
PHULBANI: Normal life in Phulbani was affected today in the wake of the
12-hour bandh call given by members of Kandhamal Bar Association
protesting unfair trade practice by the lone LPG distributor of Phulbani.
They demanded cancellation of licence of the LPG dealer and ensure
transparency in the distribution of LPG cylinders. Sources said time and
again, there has been unrest over irregular supply of the cylinders.
Despite reminders by the denizens, the district administration did
nothing to streamline the distribution.
While vehicles remained off the roads, business establishments downed
their shutters.
The district administration had made adequate security arrangements to
avoid any untoward incident.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/29/stories/2009012957340300.htm
Andhra Pradesh
Alampur residents lock up government offices in protest
Correspondent
MAHABUBNAGAR: Protesting against non-supply of drinking water, residents
of Alampur in the district on Wednesday locked up government offices and
did not allow the officers to open them till evening.
Work was paralysed in the offices of the MRO, MPDO, Registrar and
others. The agitation was led by all political parties including the
Congress, TDP, BJP, TRS and the Left.
The residents alleged that the authorities failed to supply drinking
water in the town even after 15 days. The leaders said that though the
town was located on the banks of Tungabhadra, the authorities failed to
solve the drinking water problem.
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/11/stories/2009011157280400.htm
Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram
DYFI protest
Thiruvananthapuram: The DYFI organised campaigns before petrol pumps in
several parts of the State on Saturday to protest against the Centre’s
failure to reduce fuel price in proportion to the fall in crude oil
price in the international market. It also collected signatures from the
public in support of the cause. — Special Correspondent
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/26/stories/2009012657630300.htm
Karnataka - Udupi
Congress protests against BJP
Staff Correspondent
Udupi: Members of the Congress party held a protest meeting against the
alleged “anti-people policies” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
government in the State here on Saturday.
Former Minister Vasanth V. Salian said that no attempts were being made
to clear the nearly 1.25 lakh applications for mutation pending at the
Udupi Taluk Office. The delay in providing ration cards to the poor had
hit them hard, he added.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=100280
50 Bulgarian Trade Unionists Protest before Ukraine's Embassy over Gas
Crisis
Politics | January 8, 2009, Thursday
50 Bulgarian trade unionists staged a protest rally before Ukraine's
Embassy on Thursday over the natural gas shortage crisis. Photo by
Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
About 50 members of Bulgaria's two main trade unions, the Confederation
of Independent Bulgarian Syndicates, and the Podkrepa Labor
Confederation, protested Thursday noon before Ukraine's Embassy in Sofia
over the terminated supplies of Russian natural gas.
The Chair of the Podkrepa Labor Confederation Dr. Konstantin Trenchev
said Ukraine's actions were in violation of the International Energy
Convention, which had been ratified by the Ukraine, and had been signed
even though not yet ratified by Russia.
"The Convention contains explicit clauses stating that no transit state
for energy resources could hinder the transit. Of course, we do not
believe the Russians have no blame. Don't think that we won't stage a
protest before the Russian Embassy, and before Bulgaria's Council of
Ministers, for that matter, if the crisis is not resolved", Trenchev
declared.
The protesting syndicates did say that all sides involved - the
Russians, the Ukrainians, and the Bulgarian government - were to blame
for the gas shortage.
They demanded that Bulgaria's secret contract with Gazprom for gas
deliveries be made public.
On Wednesday, the syndicates demanded that the government impose
economic and political sanctions on the Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine gas
prices dispute left Bulgaria without Russian natural gas early on
January 6 as the supplies destined for the Balkans were cut off at the
Ukrainian-Romanian border. On January 7, the dispute led Russia to
declare it stopped all supplies for the EU until the conflict was resolved.
Trenchev said Wednesday the protests against the damages that the
Bulgarian economy was suffering because of the gas prices had to be
directed at the Ukraine. Trenchev vowed to hold the Bulgarian
authorities accountable as well.
"The gas dispute hasn't just started but has been going on for years. A
number of countries are affected by it now but it turned out that some
are ready to face such a problem whereas we turn out to be completely
unprepared", he said.
Trenchev also pointed out the government must be held accountable over
the availability of gas reserves at the Chiren Storage Facility. In his
words, it was now to become clear whether Bulgaria did in fact fulfill
EU's requirements for gas reserves, or presented fake data about them.
While Bulgaria's syndicates are out on protest before the Ukrainian
Embassy Thursday morning, Ukraine's Ambassador Viktor Kalnik is going to
give a press conference on "The Situation with Natural Gas Transits for
Europe".
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,92906.html
Protest over bad roads
By Stacy Moore Tuesday, January 6 2009
click on pic to zoom in
BAD ROAD: Villagers at Mendez Village, Siparia, protested the bad
condition of the roads in their area yesterday. ...
PARENTS kept their children home from school and instead embarked on a
fiery protest at the three main roads in Siparia, yesterday, to voice
their disgust with the condition of the roadway.
From as early as 4 am, villagers, accompanied by their children,
marched with placards at Mendez Trace, Scott and Moldable Road.
They demanded that their roads be fixed, and their mantra was “Fix our
roads. We want our roads fixed.”
One resident described the roads as “mud traces.”
Several of the protesting villagers said the roads have not been paved
for the last 40 years and each year the condition worsens.
“Since I was a little boy growing up in Mendez Village, the roads have
been like this.
And nothing has changed although we have complained several times,”
Kimchan Kunjal said.
He said there were “countless potholes” on the roads.“There are schools
all over in the area and children have to walk these roads with
potholes. If some of these children happen to fall into these potholes
they will be injured.” he said.
The frustrated villager also said that taxi drivers have refused to
enter the area because of the roads’ condition.
“Just imagine taxis don’t want to drive along the roads, so many of us
have to walk,” he said, adding that the few taxi drivers who venture in
the area were forced to change tyres regularly. “At a time like this,
people cannot afford to buy new parts for their cars on a weekly basis.
But now they have to because of the state of the roads.”
Sunil Ramlakhan said he had to spend a lot of money on his car because
of the damage sustained due to the road’s condition.
“It is not fair to be spending money to fix your car because of the
condition of the roads,” he said.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161421086
Burning debris blocks pupils
Protest horrors on first day...
Phoolo Danny-Maharaj South Bureau
Tuesday, January 6th 2009
ablaze: A Penal resident runs past burning debris yesterday at Scott's
Road during residents' protest over the state of the roads in the area
and the lack of a regular supply of pipe-borne water. -Photo: DAVE PERSAD
BURNING debris on roads from Mendez Village, Siparia, to Scott's Road,
Penal, yesterday prevented hundreds of pupils from attending the first
day of classes for the year.
The debris, including tyres, barrels and tree branches, also thwarted
the free flow of traffic, preventing workers from getting to their jobs.
The early-morning protests, which caused a full turnout of armed police
and firemen, were described as expressions of villagers' frustration
over deplorable roads. The police monitored the protest while
firefighters eventually put out the blazing debris.
"These roads have not been paved for over 30 years. Every time election
comes around, they come and patch the roads and promise to pave it
later, but that never happens," villager Khimchan Kunjal said.
He added: "From Mendez to Scott's Road is pothole bigger than man. Parts
of the roads have pavement and others do not, so the children are also
at risk, especially when it rains and drivers swerve to miss the
potholes. The cost to repair vehicles is very high."
Kunjal said, three months ago, he dropped a petition with the Siparia
Regional Corporation, "but I never received any responses".
He swore: "If nothing is done to repair the roads, the villagers would
continue the protests."
The Penal Quinam Government School remained closed yesterday because of
the protests.
Member of Parliament for Siparia, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, said she had
raised the issue several times in letters to the Minister of Works and
also for it to be considered in the national Budget, but that did not
happen.
"So the Government continues to neglect the rural areas in our
constituencies. Now, a company has been established to look after road
repairs, so the regional corporations have no control of road repairs,"
she told the Express.
She added: "I empathise with my constituents. I understand the
situation. Those roads are in very, very bad condition and totally
neglected. Their protest is a reflection of people power. They were
forced to take action to demand attention and I do hope that the
Government would respond."
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/04/stories/2009010454230500.htm
Karnataka - Tumkur
CPI protests delay in roadworks
Staff Correspondent
Activists of the Communist Party of India staging a rasta roko in Tumkur
on Saturday.
TUMKUR: Members of the Communist Party of India (CPI) staged a rasta
roko here on Saturday against the delay in the implementation of
roadworks in the city.
Fifty members of the CPI gathered in front of the Kodi Basavanna Temple
at Amanikere Circle and staged a rasta roko on Bangalore-Pune national
highway. Traffic on the highway was disrupted for sometime. Freedom
fighter and veteran trade union leader T.R. Revanna led the agitation.
District unit secretary of the CPI K. Kambe Gowda, convenor of All India
Youth Federation Vasudeva Kumar and K. Girish, secretary of All India
Trade Union Congress addressed the members.
Mr. Kambe Gowda told presspersons that the Congress and the BJP were
responsible for the delay in the implementation of roadworks.
While the Congress defended the encroachments upon the road by members
of a minority community, the BJP supported the encroachers from a
majority community, he alleged.
He said the CPI would intensify its agitation against the delay in
roadworks.
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/80-people-use-London-pavement.4902138.jp
80 people use London pavement as toilet in mass protest
Published Date: 22 January 2009
Protesters made a bid for better toilet facilities for the world's poor
by staging a mass "squat".
About 80 people gathered to squat on the pavement on London's South
Bank, facing the Houses of Parliament, for two minutes before leaving
behind a fake reminder of their visit.
They were marking the end of the International Year of Sanitation, in
2008, which the End Water Poverty (EWP) Campaign claims has been ignored
by those in power.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=157817
Protest against delay in road construction work Sunday, January 18, 2009
Obaid Abrar Khan
Rawalpindi
The inhabitants of Dheri Hassanabad Saturday staged a protest
demonstration against the slow pace of development work on an excavated
road in the area for the last one-month.
They demanded of Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) to complete the work at
the earliest to end their miseries.
Talking to ‘The News’ the shopkeepers of the area said we are suffering
business loss because customers avoid visiting this market.
Javed Saleem, a shopkeeper said, “We are facing business loss, as
customers can’t enter the shops because both sides of the road are also
dug up for laying down of gas and water pipelines.”
Mumtaz Ahmed, another shopkeeper said, “The concerned authorities should
take serious notice of the issue and complete this work as soon as
possible. The construction work in
Dheri Hassanabad has aggravated the miseries of the shopkeepers as well
as the residents.”
Pervez Sajid, a shopkeeper said, “We have been facing electricity
loadshedding and low gas pressure and now slow construction work has
aggravated our problems, as we can’t even move on this road.”
Naila Syed, a housewife said, “It has become very difficult for us to go
out of our home because of this construction work. We can’t park our car
inside our home, because a huge trench has been dug outside our home.
Its good that the concerned authorities are making new roads and laying
down gas and water pipelines to facilitate public, but they should
complete the work early instead of moving at snails pace.”
A high official of Chaklala Cantonment Board on condition of anonymity
told ‘The News’ that the delay in completion of work was because of Sui
Northern Gas Pipeline, as they have to lay down their gas pipes. He said
that the road in Dheri Hassanabad was excavated around 25 days back, and
it would be complete in around 30 to 40 days.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=158509
Residents of Dhoke Syedan stage protest Thursday, January 22, 2009
Khalid Iqbal
Rawalpindi
Lodging a strong protest against dilapidated condition of Dhoke Syedan
Road, the residents Wednesday blocked the traffic on the road for almost
half-an-hour.
They demanded of the concerned authorities to start repair work within a
week otherwise they would block the traffic on the road for 24 hours.
They also lambasted the local MNA and MPA for promising them repair of
the Dhoke Syedan Road before election and not fulfilling their promise
after the polls.
Addressing the protesters, Anjuman-e-Tajran Dhoke Syedan Road President
Shafiq Rao said that residents of the area are facing great difficulties
due to dilapidated condition of the road particularly during rainy season.
He said light and heavy traffic from Misriyal Road, Dhamyaal Camp Road
and Chakrri Road passes through Dhoke Syedan Road, but due to its
dilapidated condition traffic remains blocked for hours and people face
hardships in reaching their destinations on time.
Anjuman-e-Tajran Dhoke Syedan Road General Secretary, Gafoor Kiani, said
that people particularly business community was suffering due to
dilapidated condition of the road, as people avoid coming to the road
from other areas for shopping.
Azra Bibi, a resident of the area told ‘The News’ that rickshaw or taxi
drivers avoid Dhoke Syedan because of dilapidated condition of the road.
Later on police and traffic wardens controlled the situation and
dispersed the protesters.
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1232187344208260.xml&coll=3
Marchers protest utility rates in Prichard
Saturday, January 17, 2009
By DAVID FERRARA
Staff Reporter
Facing water bills they cannot afford, more than two dozen people
marched through downtown Prichard on Friday, four days after the city's
Water Works and Sewer Board approved pay raises for employees and the
superintendent.
A water and sewer bill for Paul Washington and his wife, Cassandra
Scott, was once so high, they said, that they needed to borrow money
from their church to pay it.
She teaches preschool-age children and he performs industrial work. They
live in a single-family home with five children, and their bills from
the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board regularly run more than $80.
Most recently, Scott said, their bill was $115.
"We can't afford a lot of things we're used to having around the house,"
Washington said. "And we don't even use that much water."
Rosa Blackston, a lifelong Prichard resident, said she receives bills so
high that she wonders whether she can regularly treat her high blood
pressure and diabetes.
"Every month it's a different price, and it doesn't make sense," she
said. "I have to think about what to do — pay my water bill or get my
medication."
They were among a group of about 30 people who gathered for a march
through downtown Prichard on Friday morning to protest recent rate
increases and other fees imposed by the board that they considered
excessive. For instance, according to the board's attorney, Willie
Huntley, the board charges $275 for copies of meeting minutes.
Willie Huntley said a 5 percent salary increase the board approved
Monday for eight employees was mandated by the Mobile County Personnel
Board. The charge for copies of meeting minutes, he said, included
"copying costs, employees having to stop what they're doing, and
attorney time to review the information before it's released."
While Alabama meeting law states that records of meetings must be made
and made available to the public, state law is largely silent about what
sort of fees can be charged for minutes. The director of the Alabama
League of Municipalities in Montgomery has said fees for copies of
public records ought to be reasonable.
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2009/01/15/water_plan_protested.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
Metro Atlanta water plan draws protesters
By STACY SHELTON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The last of three public hearings on metro Atlanta’s long-term water
plan drew about 30 umbrella-carrying protesters into sunny downtown
Atlanta on Wednesday.
“The metro district plan is basically ‘hope and wish for more rain,’”
said Sally Bethea, executive director of the Upper Chattahoochee
Riverkeeper, a clean water advocacy group.
Enlarge this image
VINO WONG / vwong at ajc.com
Sally Bethea, executive director of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper,
a clean water advocacy group.
The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District is finalizing an
update to its original 2003 water and wastewater plan that includes
conservation goals, six new water-supply reservoirs and increased
withdrawals from drought-depleted Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee
River through 2035.
Environmentalists say the plan relies too much on expensive 20th-century
technology — reservoirs and transferring water from one basin to another
— while shorting less expensive conservation methods.
Water planners counter that the proposal includes the most effective
conservation tools available, from increasing the price of water for
sprinkling lawns to requiring car washes built in the future to use
recycled water.
Pat Stevens, the region’s environmental planner, said the water district
is doing more in terms of requiring county and city governments to adopt
conservation measures than any other metropolitan region in the country.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1232043422.34/
Ukrainian nationalists burn Russian flag in gas protest
16 January 2009, 00:28 CET
(LVIV) - Ukrainian nationalists burned a Russian flag outside Moscow's
consulate in western Ukraine on Thursday and threatened to cut off its
gas supply unless Russia resumed its gas supplies.
About 50 people protested outside the consulate in the city of Lviv
against the cutting of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine and the stopping
of gas flows through Ukraine to Europe in a bitter dispute between
Moscow and Kiev.
"This protest is a warning. If the Russians do not react, we are going
to cut the gas to the consulate," a leader of the Ukrainian Party, Ostap
Stakhiv, told AFP at the protest.
Lviv is a bastion of nationalist and anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine.
Russia cut off supplies to Ukraine's domestic gas market on New Year's
Day in a payment dispute. Supplies to Europe were subsequently cut off
after Russia accused Ukraine of illegally siphoning gas -- a charge
denied by Kiev.
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=165267
Protestors block highway over lack of safety
A group of demonstrators blocked the Cizre Highway yesterday in protest
of a fatal accident in southeastern Şırnak province on Monday that
resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.
An oil tanker collided with several vehicles on Monday in Şırnak; four
people were killed and 13 others were injured in the accident. A group
of around 100 protestors blocked the Cizre Highway yesterday, protesting
the deadly accident. The group barricaded the highway with trash bins
and rocks, stopping the flow of traffic. The group shouted slogans
denouncing the inadequacy of traffic safety measures in place to protect
the people in the city. Police stepped up security in the vicinity of
the demonstration and clashed with protestors after the demonstrators
started to throw stones at them. Police officers fired warning shots in
the air and used tear gas on the protestors. The highway was opened to
traffic after two hours of blockage.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/commuters-urged-to-join-rail-union-protest-1518373.html
Commuters urged to join rail union protest
By Alan Jones, PA
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Rail union leaders today called on commuters to join their campaign
against plans to cut ticket office opening hours.
Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union met passengers at
London's King's Cross station and urged them to object to the proposals
by First Capital Connect.
The union warned that ticket office opening would be slashed by 800
hours a week if the proposals went ahead.
General secretary Bob Crow said: "This is an attack on passenger service
and safety and an attack on our members' jobs at the worst possible time.
"Like all the other private rail operators, FCC have just imposed
massive inflation-busting fares hikes despite raking in huge profits,
and hot on its heels comes another blow to passengers and rail workers
alike.
"But these cuts can be beaten, and the rail watchdogs have the power to
ask the Government to block them, so the more passengers who object the
clearer it becomes that people want to see more staff on stations, not
fewer."
Val Shawcross, chairman of the Greater London Authority's transport
committee, said: "I know that station safety is a key concern.
Passengers feel reassured knowing that a real human being is on site in
the event of any incident.
"This move will affect some stations in my own constituency and I very
much hope that FCC will see sense and put passenger security above
saving money."
http://www.indianpoliticalmail.com/nws09/nws09jan/nws2609jan/nws2609jan006.html
Maoists hoist black flag in Jharkhand's Palamu
Ranchi: As the nation marked the 60th Republic Day on Monday in
different parts of the country, maoists in Jharkhand's Palamu district
hoisted black flags atop several building and institutions to protest
against the government's policies on this occasion. Black flags were
seen flying over several government offices across the district.
Earlier, maoists had also given a public call for a boycott of the
Republic day celebrations. "We are protesting against the government
which has done little to address the plight of the poor. The poor are
still being exploited and living in penury, we do not consider it as
independence," said Pramod, one of the maoists. Palamu is considered to
be the den of naxal activities with several maoist training camps
operational in the dense forests here.
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=103418
BANGLADESH: 11 policemen among 50 hurt in clash with mob
ATN Bangla and 'Naya Diganta' reporters sustain injuries while covering
a mob protesting the death of a local man
The Daily Star
Thursday, January 15, 2009
At least 50 people including 11 policemen and three newsmen were injured
in clashes marked with firing of rubber bullets by police yesterday.
Police tried to remove a barricade on Nilphamari-Saidpur highway, raised
by locals protesting death of a man under the wheels of a bus.
The injured included ASP Sazzadur Rahman.
A police van and an ambulance were also damaged as police clubbed the
protesters who barricaded the road for over three hours, creating a
snarl-up of vehicles on both sides.
Locals and police sources said betel leaf trader Abdul Jabbar, 18, son
of Habibar Rahman of Nagor Darwani Molla Para village in Sadar upazila,
was killed on the spot and another man was seriously injured when a
Saidpur-bound mini bus carrying passengers dashed his rickshaw van from
behind at Darwani Textile Mill gate market.
The driver fled away with the mini bus towards Saidpur.
Several hundred people gathered there and blocked the highway as this
was the third death on the spot under wheels.
The officer-in-charge of Sadar police station said as locals raised the
barricade, police team was dispatched, who tried to clear the road but
the protesters pelted brickbats at police, injuring ASP Sazzadur Rahman
and 11 police men.
Police at first charged batons to disperse them, fuelling the violence.
Then police fired at least 15 rubber bullets.
Three local newsmen were also injured. They are Ratan Sarkar of ATN
Bangla, Anjarul Islam Jewel of Bangla Vision and the daily Naya Diganta
correspondent.
The injured ASP, 10 police men and six locals were admitted to
Nilphamari Sadar Hospital. Others were taken to other hospitals.
Later, local lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor of Awami League and high police
officials rushed to the spot. They persuaded the agitated people to
withdraw the road blockade at about 1 pm.
Police filed a case with Nilphamari police station accusing 300 unnamed
people, detained the mini bus and arrested its driver from Saidpur.
Date Posted: 1/15/2009
---------------------------------------------------
Lapindo victims demand to meet president
Tempo Interactive - December 2, 2008
Rohman Taufiq, Jakarta -- Around one thousand
victims of the Lapindo mudflow disaster from the
Tanggulangin Anggun Sejahtera housing complex,
Sidoarjo, came to the Presidential Palace this
morning (2/12).
As planned, they are now gathered at the Istiqlal
Mosque and will demand that the president to push
Lapindo Brantas Inc. to fulfill its commitment as
regards paying them compensation.
"We just want to meet with the president today. So
far, we have only met with a minister who cannot
apparently make any decision," said Sumitro, the
action leader.
Several of the victims said they were disappointed
because during their meeting with the Public Works
Minister yesterday, they were asked to leave.
Nothing satisfactory was resolved during the
meeting as far as the victims were concerned.
A direct meeting with the president is expected to
be able to answer their concern as they have not
received any confirmation regarding the
compensation up until today.
"The President issued the presidential regulation
regarding the compensation. Therefore, he should be
the one implementing it," added Sumitro.
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Mudflow victims jaded over 'lying' Lapindo,
government
Jakarta Post - December 5, 2008
Indra Harsaputra, Sidoarjo -- Despite a
compensation agreement in Jakarta on Wednesday,
thousands of mudflow victims staged a massive rally
along the Porong highway on Thursday, paralyzing
the main road between Surabaya and Malang.
Carrying banners and distributing pamphlets
branding energy company PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. and
the government liars, protesters blocked a large
section of the road, forcing police to redirect
traffic through Krian. Thousands of commuters,
buses and trucks had to return to Surabaya and take
alternate routes to Pasuruan, Malang and Batu.
Arguments between protesters and the police broke
out when the latter tried to stop the demonstrators
from impeding traffic on the Pasuruan-Malang
intersection. After a drawn-out negotiation with
police, the demonstrators agreed to cease their
blockade of the Porong bridge and move to a nearby
mudflow site.
The protesters were expressing their dismay over
negotiations with Lapindo and the government, who
had promised to pay 20 percent of victims their
compensation by Monday.
"Of the 500 families who signed a deal with
Lapindo's subsidiary PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya in
September, only 50 have received compensation,"
said Pitanto, deputy chairman of the Renokenongo
mudflow victim association.
Hundreds of mudflow victims from different villages
staged a rally in front of the Presidential Palace
in Jakarta on Wednesday, demanding Lapindo pay the
remaining compensation immediately.
In a meeting later in the day, the victims of the
mudflow disaster reached a deal with Lapindo and
the Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency (BPLS) to
settle the remaining 80 percent of the compensation
through monthly settlements of Rp 30 million
(US$2,500) to each affected family.
The deal was reached ater President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono reportedly lost patience with the
company's failure to pay the compensation.
The company was supposed to pay the remaining
compensation in a lump sum by December, but the
global financial crisis and debt troubles within
the Bakrie family business empire slowed down the
process, officials said.
Pitanto said the two candidates campaigning in the
East Java gubernatorial election had made no
political commitment to deal with the social impact
of the mudflow disaster.
"Neither the candidates nor the President, who wept
when he visited the area two years ago, can solve
the problem or press the Bakrie family to pay the
compensation," he said.
Minarak spokeswoman Yuniwati Teryana appealed to
the mudflow victims to exercise patience, saying
the company was facing financial difficulties due
to the global economic slowdown.
"We will pay the compensation in accordance with
the presidential instruction, but payment cannot be
carried out at the moment because of the financial
crisis," she said.
The muflow disaster, which engulfed several
villages and hundreds of hectares of farmland that
began spewing from Lapindo's gas exploration site
in Sidoarjo, near Surabaya on May, 2006.
---------------------------------------------------
Mud flow victims blockade Raya Porong highway
Sidoarjo -- Hundreds of victims of the Lapindo
Brantas mud disaster in East Java blockaded the Raya
Porong highway on December 4 demanding the payment
of outstanding compensation money.
The protest, which was carried out by residents from
10 villages whose houses and land have been
inundated by the mud flow, was held to express their
disappointment with the government that has only
agreed to pay compensation in 30 million rupiah to
each resident in monthly installments.
As a result of the blockade, a two kilometre traffic
jam occurred on the main highway connecting the East
Java cities of Sidoarjo and Malang. Hundreds of
police could be seen watched over the protest
although they made no attempt to remove the
blockage. (Detik.com, 4/12/2008)
Lapindo mud disaster victims scuffle with police in
Jakarta
Jakarta -- Disappointed by being unable to meet with
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on December 3
victims of the Lapindo mud disaster tried to close
of Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta. A
scuffle with police was unavoidable.
Initially the protesters demonstrated by occupying
one of the lanes on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara. However
after there was no information about whether the
president would meet with them, they decided to
blockade the entire road.
During the ensuing scuffle with police, one of the
protesters collapsed and had to be carried to the
pavement. Fortunately, the situation was diffused
after one of the speakers called on protesters
return to main crowd. (Detik.com, 3/12/2008)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Kolkata_/Trade_bandh_over_Nandaram_apathy/articleshow/3965718.cms
Trade bandh over Nandaram apathy
TNN 12 January 2009, 04:42am IST
KOLKATA: The smoke has vanished, the embers have died down. But the
tragedy that was the Nandaram Market fire has left scars that may not
heal in a lifetime.
Remembering the disaster and protesting against government apathy, the
displaced traders have called a trade bandh on Monday, a year after the
fire broke out at the adjacent Tripal Patty and then spread to the
13-storey market complex. As the fire engulfed floor after floor,
firefighters fought the blaze over the next four days. By the time it
was brought under control, 1,100 traders had lost their livelihood and
several thousand were left jobless.
A year later, many are still waiting for aid. In many cases, help has
come from private trusts and not from the government. "We got Rs 2 lakh
from Birla Trust," said Deepika Baid, who lost her father Tej Kiran on
January 13, 2008. Tej, a cloth trader, had a heart attack as he watched
the flames engulf his godown on the eighth floor. No government agency
has got in touch with his family yet.
At present, people have access to only the first six floors. The upper
storeys have been gutted badly. "Traders are yet to get any aid from the
government. During a meeting with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
and finance minister Asim Dasgupta on January 19, 2008, we were assured
monetary aid," said Samar Choudhury, general secretary, Nandaram Market
Disaster Management Welfare Committee, which has called Monday's strike.
"We are fed up with the government's attitude. I lost my business in the
fire and now work as a supplier for others," said C R Rathi, a trader
who had a room on the 12th floor. Madan Nahata, another displaced
trader, recounted his travails over the past year. "I come here every
day. I don't have a place to sit, so I spend my time at other traders'
shops," he said. Another trader, Sunil Agarwal, said he lost investments
worth Rs 30 lakh in the fire. His shop was on the 11th floor.
Ram Bhajan, a porter working in the area for decades, remembered that
even a year ago, his daily income was around Rs 300. Today, he earns
merely Rs 20-30 on most days. "Hum aag mein mar gaye (the fire killed
me)," he says aloud.
The displaced traders have now decided to block the road and sell their
wares on the streets in protest.
Local CPM MP Sundhangshu Sil said there was a plan to set up a shopping
complex as a joint venture. "The plan is to demolish 12 buildings in the
area, including Nandaram Market and others on Jamnalal Bajaj Street. But
as traders aren't too keen, the matter could not be taken forward," he
said.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200901221321.htm
Normal life partially hit by bandh in West Bengal
Kolkata (PTI): Normal life was on Thursday partially disrupted by a dawn
to dusk shutdown called by left opposition party Socialist Unity Centre
of India, with bandh supporters clashing with police and blocking road
and rail traffic at some places.
Though government buses were on the roads, private buses starting from
adjoining districts, particularly South 24 Parganas where the SUCI has a
presence, were very few, but taxis and minibuses ran as usual, police said.
Railway sources said train services in Eastern Railways Sealdah
division, especially on the Sealdah South section and partially in
Howrah division were disrupted as bandh supporters threw banana leaves
on overhead wires.
There were obstructions by bandh supporters at some stations since early
morning, the sources said.
In the metropolis, bandh supporters were involved in a scuffle with the
police at Hazra in south Kolkata and Shyambazar in north Kolkata before
courting arrest, police said.
SUCI leader Swapan Ghosh claimed the police baton-charged supporters in
Habra in North 24 Parganas, Farakka in Murshidabad and at the Bankura
district headquarters town while they were picketing in support of the
shutdown.
Ghosh said there were clashes between supporters and those opposed to
the bandh and the police at Toofanganj in Cooch Behar.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia said the bandh
evoked 'limited response' in the districts. Kanojia said 40 bandh
supporters were arrested for blocking road and rail services in the
districts.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/suci-calls-for-a-bandh-today-mamata-opposes/413855/
SUCI calls for a bandh today, Mamata opposes
Express News Service
Posted: Jan 22, 2009 at 0224 hrs IST
Kolkata Back in business — the state will experience its first bandh of
2009 on Thursday. Courtesy: the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) —
a small Left party and an ally of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress —
who has called the 12-hour Bangla bandh protesting against price rise
and demanding reduction in bus fares.
Though Mamata has opposed the bandh, SUCI believes that the bandh will
by and large be successful. “We do not want to go for a bandh. SUCI is a
different political party and can call a bandh on its own,” said Mamata.
The party plans to disrupt railway services and has asked its cadres to
block busy roads throughout the city.
The SUCI had joined Trinamool-led West Bengal Democratic Secular Front
and had shared seats in the May 2008 panchayat polls.
The SUCI has taken strong exception to Mamata’s decision of not
supporting the bandh even though the party was now a part of the common
platform Mamata had launched to fight the CPM in the state.
The SUCI, on the other hand, is being criticised by a number of Left
Front partners for calling the bandh in a very calculated manner.
“The bandh has been called on Thursday, when Friday is a holiday owing
to Netaji’s birthday. Saturday, too, is government holiday. This will be
followed by Republic Day celebrations,” said Jyotiprasad Basu, leader of
CPM backed state government employees union.
“The SUCI has taken advantage of this and called the bandh on Thursday
to enable the government employees to enjoy their holidays,” he added.
To this, Prabhas Ghosh, a SUCI leader said: “We wanted to hold the bandh
on January 19. But a state government employees organisation had
requested us to call the bandh on Thursday as they had some agitation
programme slated for January 19.”
The CPI (Maoist) has also called a 24-hour bandh on the same day
condemning police actions in Lalgarh and other parts of West Midnapore.
The traders, meanwhile, fear that normal business will be disrupted to a
great extent. Mahesh Singhania, chairman of West Bengal Federation of
Trade Association, said: “We are opposed to the bandh. Traders will be
forced to shut down their shops. Though some of the demands of the
protestors may be reasonable, but bandh is not the solution.”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090123/jsp/calcutta/story_10426941.jsp
Bandh for babudom...
...not for rest of the city
A STAFF REPORTER
YAAWWWWN!
Rows of empty chairs told the story at Writers’ Buildings on Thursday
afternoon. (Sanat Kumar Sinha)
Much of Calcutta went to work as usual during the SUCI-sponsored bandh
but half of babudom didn’t, proving that where there is no will there is
no way.
Attendance in the Sector V offices of almost all IT companies was close
to 100 per cent on Thursday but Writers’ Buildings wore a deserted look
with 50 per cent of the employees deciding to start the January 23-26
weekend two days early.
A section of those who did turn up at Writers’ Buildings and the
Calcutta Municipal Corporation left after signing the attendance registers.
Metro Railway ran without a hitch and other forms of public transport —
buses, taxis and autos — were available to people who wanted to reach
their offices.
But a random survey by Metro at 12.30pm revealed only one-third of the
government workforce was at work.
“I am leaving for Santiniketan later in the afternoon and won’t be back
before Monday evening. The SUCI bandh has added an extra day to my
trip,” a clerk in the municipal affairs department said.
In contrast to the nonchalance of the babus, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s
blue-eyed techie and BPO brigade at the Salt Lake IT hub were out in
full force. “Nobody faced any problem in reaching their workplaces,”
said S.A. Ahmed, the chairman of the Nabadiganta Industrial Township
Authority.
Officials of IT companies confirmed that it was business as usual for
them. “We had almost 100 per cent attendance. Only a handful who commute
from the suburbs by train did not report for duty,” a TCS superviser said.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
Sector V was as busy as ever with big IT companies recording “nearly 100
per cent” attendance. (Amit Datta)
Train services in Eastern Railway’s Sealdah division and South Eastern
Railway’s Kharagpur division were affected by bandh supporters.
Police arrested 67 SUCI supporters for putting up roadblocks at the
intersections of Lenin Sarani and JL Nehru Road, Hazra Road and SP
Mukherjee Road, and at the Shyambazar five-point crossing. “More than
4,500 policemen and 76 police jeeps were patrolling the city,” said
Pradip Chatterjee, the joint commissioner of police (administration).
The airport was busier than usual despite — or rather because of — the
bandh. “The footfall was nearly 10,000. Normally the number is between
7,000 and 8,000,” airport director V.K. Monga said.
Airline officials attributed the rush to the extended weekend ahead.
“There was a flood of last-minute bookings for the Republic Day
weekend,” said Anil Punjabi, the chairman (east) of the Travel Agents
Federation of India.
Howrah station, too, witnessed frenetic footfall of the getaway gang.
“There is a heavy rush on north Bengal and north India-bound trains.
Darjeeling Mail was the top draw,” said an Eastern Railway spokesperson.
http://www.orissadiary.com/ShowDistrictNews.asp?id=10355
Ganjam bandh called by Rudra Sena peaceful
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Report by Manoj K.Dash; Berhampur: Today the annuncement by RUDRASENA
Ganjam Bandh was partly success. Bus communication and School,Colleges
were closed.
Rudrasena activators demonstrate at old Bus stand.Railway service was
useal but some major Market area was closed.While discussing with
Inspector In-charge B.N.Pur he stated on a table discussion to this
reporter that the Bandh was overall peaceful.Adequete police were
deployed in different senitive areas. At evening Market was opened.
Residents blockade road, paralyse access to Belawan
port
Medan -- Fed up because the road never gets
repaired, on November 9 hundreds of residents from
the Medan Belawan sub-district in North Sumatra
blockaded the road and totally paralysing access to
the Belawan port. The action was held as a form of
protest against the government that has failed to
pay attention to infrastructure on the highway
heading towards the port.
One of the residents, Muhammad Raiz, said the Medan
municipal government and the North Sumatra
provincial government should take care of the road.
“The Belawan port contributes a large amount of PAD
(locally generated revenue) for the government. But
the road is like a pool. Many residents have become
victims [of accidents on the road]”, said Raiz.
According to the residents, if the government does
not respond to the blockade, they will mobilise even
more people. The blockade ended after negotiations
with police and vehicles were able to begin moving
again. One of the truck drivers said that while they
supported the action, holding it at mid-day
disrupted their delivery of goods to the port.
(Detik.com, 9/12/2008)
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