From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Fri Oct 23 21:33:18 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:33:18 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Anti-neoliberal, anti-corporate and anti-capitalist protests, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE2838E.20509@tesco.net> * NIGERIA: Workers disrupt Chevron in peaceful blockade * TANZANIA: Barrick gold mine stormed by villagers * HAITI: Marchers denounce occupation, foreign aid * NIGERIA: Police violence mars women's march against poverty * INDIA: Bhopal survivors protest in Delhi * INDONESIA: Mudslide survivors protest delays * INDIA: Insurance privatisation sparks wave of protests * US: Washington mayoral event protested * US: San Francisco - man chains self to tree in cuts protest * TAIWAN: Civic groups protest regressive tax reforms * INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Privatisation protested by local council workers * US: Bail out the people, not the banks - protests across America * ICELAND: Parliament besieged, TV station forced off air, banks stormed as protests escalate * UKRAINE: Thousands protest over crisis * RUSSIA: Bank customers protest after closure * RUSSIA: Tax protests rock Vladivostok * UK: Protesters dress as Santa in anti-poverty protest http://allafrica.com/stories/200812040610.html Nigeria: Chevron Vs Workers - Security Men Manhandle Nupeng Chief, Workers Emma Amaize 4 December 2008 NO fewer than 15 workers, including the chairman of the Warri Zonal Council of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG) were manhandled and injured, yesterday, in an attempt by security operatives in Warri to stop members of the union from disrupting the operations of the Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), as threatened, Tuesday. Some of the injured workers were taken to the hospital for medical attention. NUPENG is protesting alleged attempt by the company to sack 122 contract staff for indicating their interest to join the union. Vanguard gathered that as early as 7.00 am, yesterday, tankers numbering over 100 barricaded the ever busy NPA Expressway housing the oil firm thereby temporarily halting vehicular movement on the ever busy road. A combined team of anti-crime mobile, regular policemen and soldiers who were drafted to beef up security at the company threw teargas and used gun butts to beat members of the union in an orchestrated effort to break up their rank. Comrade Williams Akporeha, Chairman, NUPENG, Warri Zonal council who was also beaten up by security operatives said yesterday that, "We are here to tell Deltans and Nigerians of police and soldiers brutality on innocent Nigerians". "NUPENG, as it is known today in this country is not a violent body. NUPENG is a peaceful body and we carry out our protest peacefully. Today, we are at Chevron's gate right now to protest CNL management grand design to flush out NUPENG members in the company's operations. As we stand here talking to you, about 122 workers are on the firing line because they decided to join NUPENG and management has said that they do not have the right to join NUPENG," he stated. According to the NUPENG boss, as a free country, the 122 contract staff of Polmaz being threatened with sack by CNL had the right to join any Union of their choice. "We came here peacefully today with over 100 trucks to barricade CNL's entrance and the major NPA Expressway to register our protest, but Chevron gave the security operatives shoot-on-sight order. A soldier told me that they were just having pity on us that the order that they received was to shoot us on sight," he claimed. (Vanguard) http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15263 TANZANIA: Villagers storm Barrick gold mine: Inflict much damage, FFU police deployed to disperse them This Day (Tanzania) December 13th, 2008 Thousands of villagers raided the North Mara gold mine owned by Barrick Gold Corp on Thursday night and caused damage to various mining equipments worth more than $16 million (approx. 21bn/-). Reports from Tarime district in Mara region where the mine is located say at least one person, identified as Mang?weina Mwita Mang?weina, died in the ensuing skirmishes. The Mara regional crimes officer (RCO), Deusdedit Kato, confirmed to THISDAY that at least one person was shot dead during the mine invasion. Barrick Gold Tanzania spokesman Teweli Teweli also confirmed to THISDAY that approximately 4,000 people had participated in the raid of the mine site. ??The intruders went into the Nyabirama open-pit deposit and started stoning the security personnel there,?? Teweli said. He stated that the security guards at the gold mine were ??totally outnumbered and forced to retreat.?? Teweli said the damaged equipment include a caterpillar loader worth $1.6m, two shovel machines valued at $7m and $4m respectively, and a drill rig worth $4m, amongst others. ??They stole some of the components from these equipments and then set the machinery on fire,?? the Barrick Gold Tanzania spokesman explained. He said riot police from the Field Force Unit (FFU) arrived at the scene at around 10 pm and set about dispersing the intruders. ??After the FFU police managed to clear the area, emergency response teams at the mine were able to put out the fires set by the intruders on the mining equipments,?? he said. According to the Barrick Gold website, the North Mara mine consists of three open-pit deposits Gokona, Nyabirama, and Nyabigena. Such invasions are understood to have become a fairly common occurrence at the North Mara gold mine, whereby residents of surrounding villages tend to force their way in to try and steal gold ore from the open pit deposits. http://news.ino.com/headlines/?newsid=20081215001706 Tanzania Barrick Mine Intruders Steal Gold, Disrupt Output 208 days ago DOW JONES NEWSWIRES Tanzania's North Mara Gold Mine has been invaded by around 4,000 intruders who stole gold ore and destroyed property worth $15 million, a spokesman for Barrick Gold Tanzania Ltd. said Monday. "There will be significant loss of production and revenue as a result of the invasion" last week, Teweli Teweli said. A group of intruders attacked Nyabirama pit where Barrick employees had just completed blasting high-grade ore. The attackers stole gold ore and destroyed mining equipment, Teweli said. "The well-organized groups started stoning the security personnel. Under relentless attack and outnumbered the security personnel were forced to abandon their posts and retreat to safety," he said. After around four and half hours, the company's field force unit vehicles were able to reach the pit and successfully cleared it and the surrounding areas. This enabled Barrick's emergency response teams to fight the fires started by the intruders at the mine premises, he said. Barrick Gold Tanzania is a unit of Canada-based Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX), the world's leading gold producer. Last year, North Mara Gold Mine produced 237,000 ounces of gold. Barrick also owns Bulyanhulu, Kahama and Tuliwaka Gold Mines in Tanzania. Barrick has since the start of the decade been embroiled in disputes with communities surrounding its mines in Tanzania. Activists have in the past accused large mining companies in Tanzania of uprooting tens of thousands of smallscale miners and locals from their ancestral lands to pave the way for large mines without adequate compensation. Since last year, the Tanzanian government has been resurveying mining regions to demarcate land for smallscale miners and lessen conflicts with large mining companies. Tanzania is Africa's third leading gold producer after Ghana and South Africa. -By Nicholas Bariyo, contributing to Dow Jones Newswires; +256-75-2624615; bariyonic at yahoo.co.uk http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/17/2448993.htm?site=goldfields No WA workers injured in Tanzania mine clash Posted December 17, 2008 13:46:00 ? Map: Kalgoorlie 6430 Barrick Gold, the world's largest gold miner, says no workers from Western Australia were injured when one of its mines in Tanzania was stormed by thousands of people. Millions of dollars worth of equipment was destroyed last week when thousands of villagers and criminals attacked its North Mara gold mine. There were concerns for two former goldfields' residents who are working in Africa for Barrick, but the company says none of its staff were injured. International media organisations have reported one person was killed during the mine invasion, but Barrick says it is unaware of any deaths. The mine site's security manager, Kevin Moxham, says all personnel are now back at work. http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/world/2008/12/6/30326/Haitian-voodoo-protest-denounces-foreign-aid-UN-peacekeepers Haitian voodoo protest denounces foreign aid, U.N. peacekeepers Print Email Bookmark Save to my profile 146 Comments - last on Dec 28 at 4:49 PM Port-au-Prince.? Voodoo priests say foreign aid and the presence of 9,000 U.N. peacekeepers in Haiti are holding back the chronically impoverished country. Voodoo supreme chief Max Beauvoir says Haitians cannot live comfortably among heavily armed U.N. troops and that aid groups accomplish little while preventing locals from helping themselves. About 300 adherents wearing patron spirits' colors marched Friday near the presidential palace. They poured alcohol before a statue honoring Haiti's rebel slave founders. Marchers also denounced the Dec. 5 anniversary of Christopher Columbus's 1492 arrival in what is now northern Haiti. Voodoo is an official religion in Haiti http://allafrica.com/stories/200812030184.html Nigeria: Bayelsa Women Protest Neglect Samuel Oyadongha 3 December 2008 What could be described as a peaceful protest march by Bayelsa women yesterday almost degenerated into violence when a senior police officer attached to the Government House otherwise known as 'Creek Haven' descended on a cameraman covering the rally. The timely intervention of one of the soldiers manning the Armoured Personnel Carriers in front of the Government House gate however averted a possible show down between the protesters and the security operatives. The cameraman was taking shots of the protesters when the police officer, a Deputy Superintendent, ordered him out of the arena with slaps threatening to smash his camera if he failed to leave. Sensing trouble, one of the soldiers around, a sergeant quickly stepped in and prevailed on the officer to exercise some measure of restraint given the charged scenario. Angered by the action of the officer, the women drawn from the eight local government areas of the state under the auspices of HOST Communities of Nigeria (HOSCON), Oil and Gas, Bayelsa State chapter, who were protesting the continued refusal of the state government to constitute a board to manage the oil revenue accruing to the state, resorted to booing at the officer. Armed with placards some of which read, "We have the right to manage our oil fund," "Give us Bayelsa State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (BASOPADEC) or face a showdown from oil communities in the state." The women said they can no longer fold their arms and watch the state resources being wasted while the oil producing communities are wallowing in abject poverty and denied the basic necessities of life. The governor had repeatedly said there was no need for such commission as virtually all communities in the state are in one way or the other linked with oil production. But the women leader of the HOSCON in Bayelsa State, Violet Obun, in a statement made available to newsmen lamented the deplorable situation in the oil producing communities saying the communities have the right to manage the resources coming from their land. She said they took to the street to let Bayelsans know that the host communities are not feeling the impact of the derivation proceeds which runs to several billions monthly since the advent of constitutional democracy in 1999 when the enforcement of the 13 per cent derivation payment to oil producing areas commenced. "We wish to affirm in unequivocal terms that the proceeds of the 13 per cent derivation do not belong to the Bayelsa State government and most importantly, Timipre Sylva, but, the host communities in the swamps and creeks, who bear the brunt of the oil exploration and exploitation. "Therefore, the governor should as a matter of urgent public importance release from January, 2008 the funds to a commission to enable the host communities participate and manage our resources and determine our development imperatives", she said. The oil communities appealed to the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko, traditional institutions in the state and oil majors to prevail on the governor to "create the commission and allow peace in our communities". (Vanguard, Nigeria) http://www.dailyindia.com/show/284813.php Bhopal gas disaster victims stage protests in Delhi From ANI New Delhi, Dec 3: To support the struggle of Bhopal gas victims, various organizations, supporting groups and students held a protest here last evening. The protesters alleged that even after 24 years of the tragedy in which 3,800 people died, the victims are still awaiting help and support. The protest was organised by the International Campaign for Justice inhopal (ICJB), a worldwide coalition of some 20 people's organizations, NGO'snd individuals to express solidarity with the groups. "All the Delhi supporters, supporting groups and students want the empowered commission for Bhopal and also block an extra legal exit for the Dow Chemicals. We have gathered in memory of the Union Carbide victims and also in solidarity with the longest-running struggle. We are with them in full view for justice and life with dignity and demand for accountability," said Shalini Sharma, a volunteer associated with the ICJB. On the night of December 2, 1984, tons of a toxic gas leaked from a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide in India's central Bhopal, killing about 3,800 people almost instantly. Thousands more were maimed. Union Carbide in 1984 accepted moral responsibility for the tragedy and established a 100 million dollars charitable trust fund to build a hospital for victims. Later Union Carbide was taken over by Dow Chemical.The Union Carbide, after a protracted legal battle, paid 470 million dollars to the Indian Government in a settlement reached in 1989. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/indonesia/2008/12/03/185951/Indonesia-mud.htm Updated Wednesday, December 3, 2008 10:15 am TWN, Reuters Indonesia mud volcano victims protest delays JAKARTA -- About 500 people made homeless by a mud volcano in Indonesia?s East Java held a rally in the capital on Tuesday to protest against delays in compensation by an energy firm blamed by some scientists for the disaster. The mud volcano, which started erupting in May 2006 near Indonesia?s second-biggest city of Surabaya, has inundated 12 villages and displaced more than 50,000 people. Some scientists have said that energy firm PT Lapindo Brantas? drilling for a gas exploration well set off the mud volcano. Lapindo has denied it is to blame, saying the mud disaster was triggered by tectonic activity. But the government has ordered Lapindo to pay 3.8 trillion rupiah (US$310.2 million) in compensation to the victims. ?We need them to pay up so we can rearrange our lives again,? said Lusita Wiji Lestari, one of the protesters outside the presidential palace in Jakarta. Lapindo is linked to the Bakrie Group, controlled by the family of Chief Social Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie, who earlier this year was named as Indonesia?s richest man. Lapindo was due to pay 80 percent of the compensation by this month after paying 20 percent last year. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last week called on Nirwan Bakrie, the younger brother of the welfare minister, to pay some victims who had not received the 20 percent payment. A spokesman for the protesters, Wisnu Aji, said Lapindo had recently offered 15 million rupiah (US$1,255), but said the amount was too small to pay for a new house. Yuniwati Teryana, a Lapindo spokeswoman, said it would pay the rest ?gradually?, without elaborating. ?We cannot deny that in this global financial crisis situation, the company is suffering a decrease of productivity and performance so the payment is a bit slow,? she said in a telephone text message. The Bakrie group, whose interests span energy, property and telecoms, has been struggling to raise money in order to repay about US$1.2 billion of debt. Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla said in September the government had given up all hope of halting the mud. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122655410700.htm Kerala Kerala unit of DYFI to hold demonstrations Special Correspondent THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has decided to organise demonstrations across the State on Friday to protest against the Central government?s move for privatisation of the insurance sector. In a statement here on Thursday, the DYFI State secretariat termed the government decision to introduce a bill seeking to raise the FDI cap in the insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent in Parliament as a move that would place the insurance sector at the mercy of foreign monopolies. It said this would result in the economic crisis spreading in the country with greater speed. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122451990300.htm Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin Demonstration TUTICORIN: Members of the All India Insurance Employees? Association staged a demonstration on Beach Road here on Tuesday against the move to rise foreign direct investment in insurance sector from 26 to 49 per cent. It was led by S. Sekar, divisional vice-president. K. Kanagaraj, district secretary, CPI (M), spoke. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122453620300.htm Karnataka - Mysore Insurance employees stage demonstration Staff Correspondent MYSORE: Members of the Insurance Corporation Employees? Union (ICEU), Mysore division, boycotted work and staged a demonstration at K.R. Circle here on Tuesday in response to a nationwide call given by All India Insurance Employees? Association opposing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector. Alleged Addressing the protesters, general secretary of ICEU S.S Nagesh and president N. Vijayakumar alleged that the United Progressive Alliance Government was enhancing the cap for FDI in the insurance sector according to the wishes of certain foreign companies. The global meltdown was already taking a toll on the country and the financial sector was reeling under the recession. The Government was not serious about addressing the problems of the financial sector, they alleged. Leaders of various trade unions including, Bharath Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Medical Representatives Association, All India Trade Union Congress and Centre for Indian Trade Union took part in the protest. http://www.nowpublic.com/world/dc-mayor-b-day-bash-protest-street-repairs DC: Mayor B-Day Bash/Protest/Street Repairs Share: by fwinstead | December 7, 2008 at 04:11 pm Washington, DC ? Hundreds attended Mayor Adrian Fenty's birthday party/2010 re-election fundraiser at the historic Owl's Nest, home of real estate developer Chris Donatelli on Saturday. Many arrived in cars sporting Maryland and Virginia license plates. While outside a comparable number of protesters arrived via walking from the public transit Metro station blocks away. A flurry of snow greeted all. Attendees partied in a large tent on the front lawn. Protesters gathered across the street on a freshly re-built sidewalk. Protesters included many from: Empower DC, Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, Jobs with Justice and other groups. They wanted Mayor Fenty to stop supporting monied developers and other private interests who destroy DC families and communities with their short-term profit taking. In addition several people walked up to inquire about the traffic jam backed up to Connecticut Avenue. When informed of the circumstances, they joined in protesting the Mayor. The 2 blocks of road and sidewalk on Chesapeake Street from Connecticut Avenue to Chris Donatelli's front entrance is being resurfaced and replaced by the city. Chris Donatelli is known for real estate development and now for supporting Adrian Fenty's 2010 re-election. Signs posted earlier in the week indicated the work closest to the fund raiser would be finished within an 1 ? hours of the Mayor's birthday party start. Like most publicly financed construction in DC, it was not completed on time. This post-Thanksgiving road work was not well publicized. Several cars received tickets for being in the path of the construction zone that popped up. With Ward 3 Councilmember Mary ?Boss? Cheh living just 3 blocks away, many wondered why there was no advanced notice for this city project which will give Donatelli a smooth ride from his house to Connecticut Avenue. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/25/BAQD14UVVO.DTL Man chains self to City Hall tree in protest Erin Allday, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, December 25, 2008 (12-25) 04:00 PDT San Francisco -- A San Francisco man was arrested in City Hall on Wednesday after using a bicycle chain and handcuffs to attach himself to a giant holiday tree in protest of recent budget cuts. Aaron Buchbinder, 25, chained himself to the so-called Tree of Hope at around 11 a.m., wrapping the bicycle chain around the trunk and locking himself to it with handcuffs, said Eileen Hirst, a spokeswoman with the Sheriff's Department. He also poured glue into the handcuff lock, forcing deputies to cut him free from the bindings before they could detain him. He was chained to the tree for about an hour. Buchbinder was arrested on suspicion of disruption of public business, Hirst said. The Tree of Hope - a 20-foot pine tree covered with hundreds of origami cranes - was not harmed in the incident. Buchbinder was criticizing Mayor Gavin Newsom's recent budget cuts, especially cuts to the Public Health Department and services for low-income residents, said Elihu Hernandez, who said he and Buchbinder are members of the "Citizens Committee to Save Tiny Tim." "Our protest goes with what Charles Dickens wrote in 'A Christmas Carol.' When there were no public safety nets, he wrote a book to stir the human spirit, to remind us that life is precious," Hernandez said. "Mayor Newsom is ignoring the voices of the poor. He makes Ebenezer Scrooge look like Santa Claus." The city is facing a budget deficit this year of more than $100 million, and the next fiscal year's deficit is expected to exceed half a billion dollars. The Public Health Department has suffered the most cuts in part because it is the city's largest agency. http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=143783&CtNode=39 Civic groups protest against proposed tax reforms 12/13/2008 (CNA) Taipei, Dec. 13 (CNA) The Fair Tax Reform Alliance, with support from 17 other civic groups, staged a protest against the government's proposed tax reforms in Taipei Saturday, drawing about 4,000 demonstrators. According to spokesman Chien Hsi-chieh, the alliance is against the proposed reforms as it believes they will only benefit big business and the wealthy. Wang Jung-chang, the alliance's founder, said the reforms, if implemented, will favor the rich but generate debts for future generations. The protest lasted about two hours, with protesters moving from the Liberty Square at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall complex and marching past the Legislative Yuan building before ending their protest at Kategelan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office. The 17 civic groups that took part included the National Federation of Bank Employees Unions, the Union of Bank SinoPac and the National Teachers' Association, Chien said. He added that the protest was just a start and that the alliance will invite the public to refuse to pay their taxes next April and May if the government does not improve its tax policies. One specific appeal of the alliance is to oppose a government's plan to cut inheritance and gift tax from 50 percent to 10 percent. According to the alliance, the cut will only profit the rich while shaving NT$20 billion (US$600 million) from the government coffers. It also took issue with the Ministry of Finance insistence that the proposed tax cut would help attract investment to Taiwan and expressed doubt as to the effectiveness of such a move. Chien also criticized the Tax Reform Committee, which was established in late June to give objective and professional advice on the government's tax policy making and reform proposals, as being a tool of President Ma Ying-jeou. Chien was a consultant for the committee but dropped out last month after deciding that the committee only serves the interests of big companies and the rich. (By Ruth Wang) http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/asia/b-taiwan/2008/12/14/187555/Over-4000.htm December 14, 2008 9:28 am TWN, The China Post news staff Over 4,000 people protest against tax reforms, inheritance rate cut TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Fair Tax Reform Alliance, backed by 17 other civic groups, yesterday staged a protest against unfair tax reforms proposed by the government, with over 4,000 demonstrators taking to the streets in Taipei. Chien Hsi-chieh, spokesman of the alliance, said that the alliance is against the proposed reforms as they will benefit only big business and the wealthy. Wang Jung-chang, convener of the alliance, said the reforms, if implemented, will favor the rich but generate debts for future generations. One specific appeal of the alliance is to oppose a government?s plan to cut inheritance and gift tax from 50 percent to 10 percent. According to the alliance, the cut will only profit the rich while shaving NT$20 billion (US$600 million) from the government coffers. Wang called for President Ma Ying-jeou to discharge Finance Minister Lee Shu-der for destroying the finance discipline and make the national coffers suffer losses by supporting the tax reforms. Lee insisted that the proposed tax cut would help attract investment to Taiwan. The protest lasted about two hours, with protesters moving from the Liberty Square at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and marching past the Legislative Yuan building before ending their protest at Kategelan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office. Among the 17 participating civic groups were the National Federation of Bank Employees Unions, the Union of Bank SinoPac and the National Teachers? Association, Chien said. He added that the protest was just a start and that the alliance will invite the public to refuse to pay their taxes next April and May if the government does not improve its tax policies. Chien also criticized the Tax Reform Committee, which was established in late June to give objective and professional advice on the government?s tax policy making and reform proposals, as being a tool of President Ma. Chien was a consultant for the committee but dropped out in November after he found that the committee only serves the interests of big companies and the rich. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/14/2003431047 Thousands protest against ?unfair? tax cuts in Taipei FEED THE RICH: Data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs show that eight of the top 40 richest people in Taiwan pay no tax, while wage earners pay the bulk By Loa Iok-sin STAFF REPORTER Sunday, Dec 14, 2008, Page 2 Participants raise placards in a demonstration organized by the Alliance for Fair Tax Reform in Taipei yesterday to protest against corporate tax reductions. The signs read ?Fairness? and ?Demand a fair tax system.? PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FENG, TAIPEI TIMES Led by the Alliance for Fair Tax Reform (AFTR), thousands of people took to the streets yesterday to show their opposition to government tax cuts, which they believe only benefit the rich. ?We had a cut in the securities exchange transaction tax earlier this year, and now the big corporations are pushing for a cut in the inheritance tax and an extension of the Statute for Upgrading Industries [????????],? AFTR spokesman Chien Hsi-chieh told the demonstrators at Liberty Square before the march began. The statute, first adopted in 1990, was designed to boost the economy by giving favorable treatment such as tax breaks to selected industries or businesses choosing to invest in selected areas. As the statute is supposed to expire next year, business lobbyist groups are pushing for its extension. ?Business leaders always tell us that tax breaks would help them prosper, and in turn, they would be paying more tax,? Chien said. ?Decades have passed since we first had tax breaks favoring the corporations and we?ve yet to see any increase in tax revenue.? ?No tax breaks for the rich? and ?we want a fair tax reform,? the crowd shouted as they marched through Taipei streets. Confederation of Taipei Trade Unions executive director Chou Chia-chun (???) agreed. ?According to figures released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs [in 2005], eight of the top 40 richest people in Taiwan did not pay a cent in taxes ? while we the ordinary wage-earners are shouldering more than 70 percent of the tax burden,? Chou said. ?The government should collect more tax from the rich and lift a little bit of the tax burden off the laborers,? she said. Garden of Hope Foundation executive director Chi Hui-jung (???) voiced concern that unfair tax cuts would only widen the gap between the rich and the poor. ?As a result, more people will need to depend on the social welfare system, but I don?t know where the government will get the money as it?s already deep in debt after all the tax cuts,? Chi said. The parade stopped as it passed by the Legislative Yuan and released a list of 13 lawmakers across party lines who strongly support what they consider ?unfair tax reform? plans. The legislators on the list included: Chen Chieh (??), Lin Te-fu (?? ?), Pan Wei-kang (???), Hsueh Ling (??), Lee Chun-yee (???), Wang Sing-nan (???), Chen Ken-te (???), Lo Shu-lei (???), Lai Shyh-bao (???), Chang Chia-chun (???), Sun Ta-chien (???), Lu Shiow-yen (???) and Ting Shou-chung (???). Youth Labor Union 95 spokesman Chen Poh-chien (???) urged voters to boycott the lawmakers on the list in the next legislative election. The demonstrators marched peacefully to Ketagalan Blvd in front of the Presidential Office, where alliance convener Wang Jung-chang (???) called on President Ma Ying-jeou (???) to oppose unfair tax reforms and remove Minister of Finance Lee Sush-der (???). http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121659010500.htm Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam Delay in holding GVMC meet: TDP stages novel protest Staff Reporter VISAKHAPATNAM: Deploring the ?delay? in conducting the general body meeting of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, the TDP on Monday held a ?Mock Council? in front of the corporation office. The ?mock council? was organised as representations twice to the Mayor to conduct the council meeting had failed to elicit any response, TDP floor leader Nalluri Bhaskara Rao said reminding that the council last met about five months ago. TDP?s senior corporator Gogineni Sambasiva Rao was the ?Mayor? and Kona Tata Rao ?the Commissioner.? More than 25 TDP corporators attended meeting. The TDP fielded some of its own men as Congress corporators in the meeting. Host of problems Mr. Bhaskara Rao deplored the host of problems that faced the corporation and criticised the functioning of its officials. Among them was poor sanitation and corruption charges against various wings of the corporation. Criticising the GVMC move to develop its sites in public-private partnership, a ?proposal? on handing over GVMC for PPP was also taken up. ?Noisy debate? This was done by enacting the ?noisy debate? in the corporation, rushing to the podium and the TDP corporators assailing the Congress? use of its majority to pass such resolutions. Several women TDP corporators participated in the meeting which lasted for about one and a half hours. http://www.workers.org/2008/us/emergency_protests_1218/ Emergency protests demand: ?Bail out the workers, not Bank of America? By Monica Moorehead Published Dec 10, 2008 9:16 PM Dec. 10?Today, the sixth day of the workers? occupation of the Republic Windows and Doors plant in Chicago, emergency actions took place in cities across the country in support of the takeover targeting local Bank of America offices and buildings. Today?s demonstrations are part of a Dec. 8-13 week of solidarity with the Republic workers and were called on one- to two-day notice by community and political activists to raise a broader awarenss. Buffalo, N.Y. WW photo: Ellie Dorrittie A Dec. 7 Bail Out the People Movement statement reads in part: ?About 250 employees of Republic Windows and Doors plant in Chicago began an occupation of the plant on Friday, Dec. 5, the last scheduled day of the plant?s operation. The workers, members of the United Electrical Workers Union Local 1110, were not given the legally mandated 60-day prior notification of the plant?s closing; also the plant?s management and owners did not show up to a meeting with the workers scheduled for Dec. 5. ?The workers decided to occupy the plant. They have vowed to stay in the plant until they receive, at the very least, 60 days pay. The owners say that they had to close because Bank of America refused to extend them any more credit. The Bank of America has received hundreds of billions of dollars over the past three months in bailout money from the government. ?These workers, who are overwhelmingly Latin@ immigrants, have taken a courageous stand by putting their bodies on the line in their fight for the right to feed their families and to be treated with respect and dignity like all human beings. In a way, they are fighting for the rights of all workers who are under attack, whether they are restaurant workers, public employees or auto workers fighting to hold on to their jobs and union. ?We must stand with them.? In Baltimore about 25-30 people came out in the rain to protest against Bank of America where an open microphone rally took place. A delegation of four people attempted to deliver a protest letter to the bank manager, who refused to accept the letter. The delegation pledged to hold another picket in front the bank in the near future. A noisy and militant demonstration in support of the Chicago UE workers was also held in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of the downtown Bank of America headquarters building. It was well received in a city that was hit the same day with another round of local job losses and threats to auto workers. Representatives from the International Action Center, WNY Peace Center, an anarchist youth group, and Citizen Action participated. Two rallies in Chicago In Chicago, a thousand protesters of many nationalities surrounded a downtown Bank of America office on a bitter cold day. Among the labor unions represented were UE and SEIU locals. Two support rallies were held. Activists traveled from Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Baltimore and elsewhere to demand justice for the Republic workers. Detroit In Detroit, 75 protesters held a very spirited and militant demonstration at the Detroit headquarters of Bank of America in the Guardian Building downtown in the heart of the financial district. Called by the Moratorium Now! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and Evictions, the action received media coverage from FOX 2, USA Today, the Detroit Free Press, a documentary film crew, Peoples Tribune and others. Besides raising the demands of the Republic workers, there was support for Lorene Parker, who is being foreclosed by Bank of America in Detroit. Ms. Parker addressed the crowd and the media. Detroit The protesters went into the lobby of the building and occupied it for about ten minutes, chanting slogans against foreclosure and for a moratorium. Security was nowhere in sight. The receptionists threatened to call the cops. The response from the protesters was, ?Go ahead; we pay your salaries, not the bank.? In downtown Los Angeles, the Bank of America office near Pershing Square shut their doors before the official closing time to avoid the real possibility of having protesters come in to disrupt business there. Picketers chanted, ?Bank of America, shame on you, save the plant for Chicago workers;? ?Bail out the people, not the banks;? and ?Banks got bailed out, they got sold out, justice, justice for UE workers.? Protesters included activists from Bayan-USA, SEIU Local 721, Labor-Community Coalition and the International Action Center. New York City WW photo: Monica Moorehead ?Chicago workers lead the fight; A job is a right?, was one of many chants heard on a picket line in front of a New York City Bank of America office across from City Hall. The action was co-sponsored by the Bail Out the People Movement and the May 1st Coalition for Immigrant and Worker?s Rights. When the New York police tried to tell the protesters that they could not hold a protest in front of the bank, activists told them that the sidewalk is public property and that they had the right to stay. The police then backed off and picket line proceeded. Workers World spoke with a veteran UE supporter Lillian Liftlander?her name was Rosenberg in the 1940s when she worked as a researcher for the union in the national office. ?I came out today because it is the UE. I really like the slogan, ?Bank of America gets bailed out; we got sold out.?? This Manhattan resident still gets the UE news and tries to weigh in when she can. ?The UE took part in a demonstration in Washington, D.C., a few years ago,? she said, ?and the workers all wore shirts that had printed on the back: ?The members run this union.? That?s what?s best about the UE.? Liftlander sent greetings from her 98-year-old union buddy who just wasn?t up to picketing this rainy day. In Philadelphia, a protest was held at the Center City Bank of America in the rain. Ten minutes before the picket was scheduled to start, there were already people there with their own hand made signs and banners. Twenty or more people came for some part of the rally and received a significantly positive response from people going by. Activists from the International Action Center, IWW, Action AIDS, Code Pink, and from union participated. There was also a ?honk against the bailout- solidarity with the Chicago workers? sign which got a very good response. Raleigh, N.C. WW photo: Dante Strobino In Raleigh, N.C. many public workers, members of UE local 150 and community supporters gathered at the legislature chanting ?Bail Out the Workers, Not the Banks? and then marched down to the Bank of America financial buildings to deliver a message of solidarity to their brothers and sisters in Chicago at Republic Windows and Doors plant. In San Francisco, ANSWER, San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement-SF Chapter (LCLAA) co-sponsored a solidarity demonstration with the Chicago Republic workers at the Bank of America office. Four people were arrested at the protest. Supporters of death row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal also joined this demonstration. ILWU Local 10 members, including Clarence Thomas, were in attendance. Contributors to this round-up are Abayomi Azikiwe, Sharon Black, John Catalinotto, Steven Ceci, Ellie Dorrittie, Jerry Goldberg, Larry Hales, Kris Hamel, Cheryl LaBash, Joan Marquardt, Betsey Piette and Dante Strobino. ________________________________________ Articles copyright 1995-2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. http://newsok.com/capitol-protester-misses-holidays/article/feed/34850 Capitol protester misses holidays Comments 0 Buzz up! By RON JENKINS Published: December 31, 2008 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) ? Susan Mills, a 23-year-old college student, sunbathed at the Capitol last spring to protest state lawmakers getting expensive gifts from lobbyists. Now she's bundled up in frigid weather to publicly express outrage over federal bailouts. Mills used up her spring break in her earlier protest and missed much of the holiday season in her second demonstration, which she began Christmas Eve and planned to end after New Year's Day. A pre-engineering student at Oklahoma City Community College, she said she doesn't belong to any local political organizations, but believes one person can make a difference by standing up for beliefs. "I really just want to help the situation," she said Wednesday morning after emerging from the one-person tent she pitched on the Capitol's south steps. Mills said she is incensed that federal bailout funds have gone to corporations and financial institutions when the middle class suffers economically and women continue to get unequal pay in the job market. "I understand what it's like to be in a male-dominated field and feel like you're not getting treated equally. I feel like being out here is bringing attention to the issue," she said. She said she was a certified "3G welder" who was treated differently than her male counterparts when she worked five months for a local company. Mills got a permit from the Oklahoma Department of Central Services to stage the demonstration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Temperatures were in the 20's early Wednesday and Mills dressed appropriately in a winter coat and gloves, with a handwarmer nearby in her tent. "It's all been pretty positive," she said when asked if anyone had questioned her sanity for doing what she is doing in such cold weather. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/protests+force+icelandic+pm+off+air/2895607 Protests force Icelandic PM off air Print this page Last Modified: 31 Dec 2008 Source: PA News A nationally televised meeting between Iceland's prime minister and other political leaders has been forced off the air by angry protesters. For more than two decades, the leaders of Iceland's political parties have met every New Year's Eve over champagne and spiced herring to talk about the year ahead on Iceland's Channel 2 television. But this year's programme with Prime Minister Geir Haarde was cut short after 45 minutes when a torch-wielding crowd stormed Reykjavik's Hotel Borg in an attempt to get to the studio. http://www.nowpublic.com/world/police-and-protesters-fight-reykjavik-protest Police and protesters fight in Reykjavik - protest Share: by dorisig007 | December 31, 2008 at 10:16 am 139 views | 20 Recommendations | 2 comments Videos Police and protesters fight in Reykjavik - protest-Video-01 see larger video uploaded by dorisig007 Today at around 13:30 ,one of the TV news channels hold every year ,on the last day ,a tv brodcast ,live,where they talk about the year with political party chairmens. But today ,the hotel,wich is located near the parliement building,was attacke by protesters. TV equipment was destroyed,so the brodacast could not be sent. Then the protesters tried to get into the hotel,but police stopped them,and later use gas to get them out. Protesters where angry ,shouting " goverment out " and " fascists " Some of the TV people ,protesters and police ,got minor injuries . http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=26196 Article posted Nov 29 2008, 1:20 AM Category: Geopolitics Source: Scotsman A near-riot and parliament besieged: Iceland boiling mad at credit crunch By Omar Valdimarsson THOUSANDS of Icelanders have demonstrated in Reykjavik to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Geir Haarde and Central Bank governor David Oddsson, for failing to stop the country's financial meltdown. It was the latest in a series of protests in the capital since October's banking collapse crippled the island's economy. At least five people were injured and Hordur Torfason, a well-known singer in Iceland and the main organiser of the protests, said the protests would continue until the government stepped down. As crowds gathered in the drizzle before the Althing, the Icelandic parliament, on Saturday, Mr Torfason said: "They don't have our trust and they are no longer legitimate." The value of the Icelandic krona has been cut in half since January. Four Nordic countries, as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have pledged to lend the country a combined $4.6 billion to help revive its deflated economy. The loan would be the first by the IMF to a Western nation since 1976. One young man climbed on to the balcony of the Althing building, where the president appears upon inauguration and on Iceland's national day, and hung a banner reading: "Iceland for Sale: $2,100,000,000" ? the amount of the loan the country is getting from the IMF. A separate group of 200-300 people gathered in front of the city's main police station, throwing eggs and demanding the release of a young protester being held there. Police in riot gear used pepper spray to drive back an attempt to free the protester during which several windows at the police station were shattered. The pro-tester was later released after his fine was paid. As daylight began to wane, demonstrators drifted away into the nearby coffee shops. Here, as currency tumbles, the price of a cup of coffee has shot up by about one-third since before the crisis struck. The demonstrators accuse the government ? elected last year ? of not doing enough to regulate the banking industry and have called for early elections. Iceland's next election is not required until 2011. Opposition parties tabled a no-confidence motion in the government on Friday over its handling of the crisis, but the motion carries little chance of toppling the ruling coalition which has a solid parliamentary majority. Gudrun Jonsdottir, a 36-year-old office worker, said: "I've just had enough of this whole thing. I don't trust the government, I don't trust the banks, I don't trust the political parties, and I don't trust the IMF. "We had a good country and they ruined it." BACKGROUND ICELAND'S three biggest banks ? Kaupthing, Landsbanki and Glitnir ? collapsed under the weight of billions of dollars of debts accumulated in an aggressive overseas expansion, shattering the country's currency. Iceland's government seized control of all three institutions in early October. This week, the North Atlantic island nation, which has a population of only 320,000, secured a package of more than US$10 billion (about ?6.7 billion) in loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and several European countries to help it rebuild its shattered financial system. Despite the intervention, however, Iceland still faces a sharp economic slowdown and surging job losses while at least one-third of Icelanders are also at risk of losing their homes and life savings. Geir Haarde, the Icelandic prime minister, has promised that the government will use the IMF money to bring back a flexible interest rate scheme and rewrite financial laws, particularly legislation relating to insolvency. Iceland was the first country to ask the IMF for help as the turmoil in the credit markets in October hit home. The UK government used anti-terrorism legislation to freeze money deposited by UK savers in Icelandic banks in order to ensure that their money was protected. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/4047235/Icelandic-TV-program-featuring-PM-forced-off-air-by-protesters.html Icelandic TV program featuring PM forced off air by protesters An annual nationally televised meeting between Iceland's prime minister and other political leaders was forced off the air on New Year's Eve when a group of 500 angry protesters disrupted the broadcast. Last Updated: 10:52PM GMT 31 Dec 2008 For more than two decades, the leaders of Iceland's political parties have met every New Year's Eve over champagne and spiced herring to discuss the year ahead on Iceland's Channel 2 television. But this year's show with Prime Minister Geir Haarde was cut short 45 minutes into the program when a torch-wielding crowd stormed Reykjavik's Hotel Borg in an attempt to get to the studio. Protesters inside and outside the hotel clashed with police, who fired pepper spray to disperse the crowd. Some demonstrators threw water balloons, while others tossed firecrackers. At one point, the broadcaster's television cables caught fire, interrupting the live broadcast. The program cut to advertisements, followed by an announcement that Channel 2's equipment had been damaged and the show would be suspended. Outside the hotel, a policeman hit on the head with a brick had to be hospitalised. Three protesters were arrested. The disruption was the latest in a series of demonstrations that have rocked Iceland since the country's economy imploded this autumn under a mammoth load of bad debt. Unemployment has increased and inflation has soared. Demonstrations have been largely peaceful - some protesters were reportedly invited in for coffee when they showed up at President Olafur Grimsson's home earlier this month. But other events have turned violent. Icelandic authorities used tear gas for the first time since 1949 when a huge crowd tried to storm a police station in Reykjavik in November, and on Dec 18, protesters smashed the windows of the country's financial watchdog agency. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-12/2008-12-01-voa79.cfm?CFID=162342052&CFTOKEN=39463820&jsessionid=66308619ee8ebea550604d8683e6d2032826 Icelanders Protest Economic Crisis By VOA News 01 December 2008 Demonstrators crowd into a city square in Reykjavik, Iceland, 01 Dec 2008 Thousands of Icelanders marked the 90th anniversary of sovereignty from Denmark Monday by demanding the government resign over the country's economic crisis. Hundreds of marchers tried to storm central bank headquarters in Reykjavik. They left after a tense hour-long standoff with riot police. The global financial crisis has left Iceland's economy in shambles. Three major banks have collapsed, unemployment has soared, and the value of the krona has plunged. Prime Minister Geir Haarde has refused to resign or call for early elections. He blames Iceland's economic calamity on commercial bankers. The government was forced to ask the International Monetary Fund and several countries for a multi-billion-dollar loan. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/business/news/article_1446012.php/Protesting_Icelanders_storm_bank_streets_over_economy_crisis_ Protesting Icelanders storm bank, streets, over economy crisis Business News Dec 1, 2008, 20:23 GMT Reykjavik - What began Monday as a celebration of Iceland's 90th birthday since its independence from Denmark in 1918 turned into protests by several hundred people who stormed to the central bank in anger over the government's handling of the financial crisis. The protests were a continuation of demonstrations over the weekend that drew several thousand people despite freezing conditions. Monday's protestors pushed into the Central Bank foyer, loudly demanding the resignation of Central Bank chief David Oddsson. Over the weekend, angry Icelanders demanded that Prime Minister Geir Haarde step down. Similar calls for the two men to step down have punctuated recent weeks. The two men are being held accountable for the financial breakdown, bank collapses and accumulation of huge debt in the country of 320,000 on the island nation in the icy North Atlantic. The crisis followed on the US financial crisis that started unravelling in earnest in mid September. The Icelandic krone has lost three-quarters of its value over 12 months. The government has only been able to ward off bankruptcy through credits from the International Monetary Fund and other governments. Iceland is in for a tough year in 2009 as the economy is expected to shrink by 10 per cent, unemployment to quadruple, and inflation to hit 20 per cent. Recent central bank figures for November have inflation at 17 per cent. Possible options that Haarde's Independence Party may seek include applying for membership in the European Union. The party has traditionally been a sceptic toward the 27-nation bloc, but a reassessment has been forced in the wake of the global credit crunch that in October contributed to the collapse of Iceland's three major banks. Coalition partner the Social Democratic Alliance party is more favourably inclined toward EU membership. http://www.nowpublic.com/world/video-thumb-december-1st-2008-protest-and-attack-central-bank-iceland Video Thumb December 1st 2008 protest and attack on the central bank in Iceland Share: by dorisig007 | December 1, 2008 at 02:50 pm 169 views | 2 Recommendations | add comment Videos Video Thumb December 1st 2008 protest and attack on the central bank in Iceland see larger video uploaded by dorisig007 Today ,the 1st december 2008 - Iceland celebrated it 90th annivercary of Self Rule from Denmark. We got independence in 1944. People went to Arnarholl ,the hill between the govermnet house and the Central bank. There protest speaches where held ,and still demanding the ressignation of the goverment ,and the Central Bank managers. After the protest was over ,people went to the central bank ,and tried to get in . To do what ,i dont know. Police tried to stop the protesters. Protesters got into the lobby,but there big glass doors where shut,and police where in front of the door. But later the Police left,and the people got into the inner lobby,and another glass door -and behind that door,was riot police ready. Protesters tried to get the Police to help them . The central bank was under siege for about one and a half hours. Protesters used eggs and paint at the building. Police warned the protesters ,that they would use pepperspray. But in the end ,the Police informed the protesters ,that mr: David Oddsson ,the ceo of the central bank,was not in the building. So the protesters told the police ,they would go out peacefully,if they would go out first. And leave three officers to confirm that the protesters had left the building. So all in all - a peaceful protest in Reykjavik - Iceland http://www.nowpublic.com/world/peaceful-and-silent-protest-iceland-today Peaceful and Silent Protest in Iceland Today Share: by dorisig007 | December 13, 2008 at 03:03 pm 359 views | 49 Recommendations | 2 comments Videos Peaceful and Silent Protest in Iceland Today-Video-02 see larger video uploaded by dorisig007 Today ,saturday 13th ,there was a peaceful protest in front of the Icelandic parliement building. There was silence for 17 minutes,and one minute for every year that the Independence party has been in power in Iceland. In the end ,ladies burnt clothes,representing the corruption,how relatives and friends got the big jobs ,at the banks and so forth. The govermnet has taken over the banks in Iceland,but the same guys that controlled the banks before the crisis,are still in controll of the banks. Corruption here in Iceland ,between the political members of parliement and the buisness controllers ,is huge. There is now an investigation about the crisis ,and who should be responsible,in the goverment and banking sector. And who is controlling that investigation ? Well ,the goverment ,of course. Time magazine ,has put Iceland on the top ten list ,of huge buisness mistakes. On that list are also ,Freddie Mac ,Fannie Mae,Lehman Brothers ,AIG and more. But Time also says - Iceland might be broke ,but the have geothermal heat,so Icelanders wont freeze to death. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414768.html Protestors Barge into Iceland's Central Bank MR | 09.12.2008 18:01 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | World Around 100 protestors broke their way into the entrance of the Central Bank headquarters in Reykjav?k, throwing eggs and splashing paint, after the Sovereignty Day national meeting on Arnarh?ll yesterday Protestors wanted a word with Central Bank governor and chairman Dav?d Oddsson but riot police prevented them from going any further than into the entrance of the building. They barged into the bank after one of the speakers at the meeting urged, "Now let's go to the Central Bank and talk with Dav?d." The demonstrators' message was rather clear, "Dav?d out!" as they repeatedly chanted. "It is a very simple demand and no one listens to it. Ninety percent of the nation wants him gone," said protestor Gudj?n Heidar Valgardsson. Police warned people that teargas would be used if the situation couldn't be kept under control otherwise. Demonstrators said they would leave if police would unarm. Once police complied with people's demand, they kept their word. "Long live the people. We will be back!" a demonstrator shouted on the way out. MR http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a2gMphgAVl3U&refer=home Iceland ?Like Chernobyl? as Meltdown Shows Anger Can Boil Over Share | Email | Print | A A A By Ben Holland Dec. 23 (Bloomberg) -- It was the week before Christmas in Reykjavik, and all through the town Eva Hauksdottir led a band of 60 whistle-blowing, pan-banging, shouting demonstrators. ?Pay your own debts,? they yelled as they visited one bank office after another in Iceland?s capital. ?Don?t make the children pay.? When she isn?t leading one of the almost daily acts of protest in this land devastated by the global financial meltdown, Hauksdottir sells good luck charms made from the claws of ptarmigans, a local bird, and voodoo dolls in the form of bankers. She says she expects to lose her home, worth less than when she bought it two years ago, after the amount she owes jumped more than 20 percent. Unrest following the end of a five-year economic boom is overshadowing the holidays in a country of 320,000 near the Arctic Circle, where the folklore is filled with magic, trolls and elves. Expansion ended with the collapse of the U.S. subprime mortgage market. The fallout in Iceland may presage civil disruptions elsewhere, as job losses multiply and credit bills come due. Few nations can count themselves safe, says Ian Bremmer, president of the New York-based Eurasia Group, which analyzes political risk for businesses. ?As people have their expectations changed radically, you can have protests come out of nowhere,? even in developed countries, Bremmer said. ?Maybe Axes? Riots in Greece this month, sparked by the police shooting of a teenager, became tinged with economic dissension. A group of Kuwaiti equity traders marched on the emir?s office in October to demand the closing of the stock exchange to stem losses. Even in U.S. cities, civil disorder is ?conceivable? if unemployment rises above 10 percent from November?s 6.7 percent, Bremmer says. Hauksdottir, the owner of a Reykjavik witchcraft shop, says over a cup of thyme and juniper tea that only civil disobedience can force banks to stop collecting debts that people can?t pay. ?We?ll use our voices, and then if we have to we?ll use our hands, and maybe axes,? Hauksdottir says. At Reykjavik?s half-built concert hall, a symbol of the good times that juts from the harbor toward the North Pole, the visitor center is closed to visitors. The principal owner, Landsbanki Islands hf, failed in October. Marketing director Thorhallur Vilhjalmsson says he?s making ends meet on severance pay. ?Iceland right now is like Chernobyl after the blast,? Vilhjalmsson says. ?It looks normal, but there?s radiation.? Kicking Down Doors The protests may escalate as bills come due and severance pay runs out for those who lost jobs at the three biggest lenders, including Landsbanki, the second-largest, says Stefan Palsson, a historian. He once led the Campaign Against Militarism, opposing NATO bases in the 1960s. He said he?s surprised ordinary people are backing activists once considered ?hooligans.? There was public outrage three years ago when environmentalists poured yogurt over aluminum representatives to protest a new plant. ?Now you have protesters kicking down doors at police stations, and respectable elderly people saying ?Well, they?re young and full of enthusiasm, and anyway, they?re right!?? he said. Inflation rose to 18.1 percent this month, and the International Monetary Fund predicts that Iceland?s economy will shrink 9.6 percent next year. The Washington-based global lender of last resort put together a rescue package for the country worth as much as $5.3 billion last month. No-Debt Ethics The decline in the krona and surge in prices are creating a triple whammy for borrowers whose home loans are typically linked to inflation or foreign currencies. Households owed more than double their disposable income at the end of 2006, almost twice the level in the U.S., according to the IMF. Some Icelanders say the easy money of the past decade eroded the island?s traditions. A sheep farmer in the 1934 novel, ?Independent People,? by Iceland?s only Nobel laureate, Halldor Laxness, preferred freedom from debt to any material comforts. His motto was: ?I don?t owe anyone a penny.? That philosophy may return, says Birgir Asgeirsson, 63, the priest at Reykjavik?s Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran church. ?I grew up learning that you work for what you get, but kids today just get what they want,? Asgeirsson says. ?Now I can hear parents say ?No, my little boy, it?s not that easy.?? Gunnlaugur Gudmundsson is an astrologer and chief executive officer of a company that provides horoscope predictions for phone operators such as Vodafone Group Plc. Customer numbers have more than doubled since the crisis broke, he said. ?The classic question used to be, ?I?m in love with this guy, will he marry me??? he said at a table strewn with star- charts. ?Now the questions are about jobs, and when the good times will return.? Two-Year Contraction The answer may be 2011, according to the IMF, which projects two years of economic contraction first. That may take Iceland back to the income levels of five or 10 years ago, ?and we weren?t badly off then,? said Hannes Holmstein Gissurarson, professor of politics at the University of Iceland and a central bank supervisory board member. Banks and politicians were victims of an ?external shock,? and weren?t behaving much worse than their counterparts elsewhere, he said. The difference was one of scale. As governments worldwide pumped money into stricken banks, Iceland couldn?t follow suit. By the end of last year, local banks had accumulated assets almost nine times the size of the country?s $12 billion economy, according to the IMF. The lack of backup was a ?systemic error no one thought of,? Gissurarson said. ?Cocktail Party? The Reykjavik concert hall was budgeted at 170 million pounds ($252 million), Vilhjalmsson says. That was more than 2 percent of gross domestic product -- equivalent to a $250 billion project in the U.S. Pointing to miniature models, Vilhjalmsson says the building?s glass shell was designed to refract the low Arctic sun in kaleidoscopic shades. In midwinter in the world?s northernmost capital the sun appears for just four hours a day, leaving long evenings for Icelanders to figure out how their country got caught up in the global boom-and-bust. Vilhjalmsson has his own version. ?The West is having this great, long cocktail party,? Vilhjalmsson says. ?And then, late in the evening, in comes this cute little dwarf, Iceland. And he gets drunk.? To contact the reporter on this story: Ben Holland in Istanbul at bholland1 at bloomberg.net. Last Updated: December 22, 2008 19:05 EST http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415934.html Mass protests continue in Iceland aftaka | 22.12.2008 20:57 | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | World Since early this winter, Iceland has been facing economic crisis. More protests and direct actions against capitalism and the government are taking place. Here is a summary of what has been happening for the last week or so. The original article comes from an Icelandic anarchist website, Aftaka, and can be seen here with photos. Before you read this article you might want to check out another article to read about what has been happening in Iceland before. Click here to check it out. Saturday, December 13th, one more mass demonstration had been planned on Austurv?llur, a square in front of the parliament. But this time, after 9 weeks of speeches, people decided to keep silent for 17 minutes, one minute for each year that Sj?lfst??isflokkurinn (a right wing conservative party) has been in power. It was rather lame and embarrassing to stand there in silence but after the 17 minutes of silence, an alarm clock rang, which was supposed to symbolize the waking of Icelandic people. Jacket suits and other symbols of the male dominated authority, were burned. Children sold Before the demonstration started, Food Not Bombs took place like every Saturday, but with an extra event this time. On the same square were Food Not Bombsd takes place, a big piece of art has decorated two high walls for more than half a year; big photos of over 400 children. This Saturday a group of radicals glued a price ticked over the kids? faces saying ?11,2 millions - SOLD!? A banner said ?Your social cost in capitalism is:? since the 11,2 million Icelandic Kr?nur (ISK) is the minimum price every single person in Iceland will pay if Iceland receives a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Fliers were distributed, explaining the impacts of the IMF loan and the social cost of ?continuing capitalism?. The children kept ?sold? until couple of days later when a unlucky city worker got the job of picking the price tickets of their faces. Coca Cola vs. SantAnarchist Clauses Later this same Saturday, Coca Cola had organized its annual boner-parade to take place in the center of Reykjav?k. Every year, the company?s trucks are decorated with Christmas lights and loudspeakers playing American Christmas pop songs. The trucks then drive around the city, stopping in shopping malls and on busy shopping streets, were (for some absurd reason) parents have gathered with their children to experience this one big advertisement of one of the most cruel corporations in the world. Two years ago, a small group of people tried to stop the Coca Cola train from driving down the center of Reykjav?k, but were stopped by the police which drove in front of the company?s trucks. This year, people had other plan in mind. Around 40 people and 10 SantAnarcist Clauses entered the parade, in between the trucks and the police, with a big banner saying ?Coke is capitalism?s shit - Enjoy!? For about an hour, Christmas songs with anti-capitalistic texts were sung and fliers given out, explaining Coca Colas human and environmental crimes around the world. Only with the help of 6 police pigs could the Coke trucks continue their way from the center, which means that a lot of parents had to answer their kids? question: ?Why did the police stop the nice and fun Santa Clauses?? Ministers enter a meeting through the ?ass? On Tuesday morning, December 16th, the government had scheduled it?s weekly meeting in the prime minister?s office. Just like week earlier people gathered around the building to try to stop the ministers from entering and the meeting from taking place. This time the action had been more broadly announced, which meant that the police knew about it and could make all necessary arrangements. But it also meant that more people were expected to come. Between 150 and 200 people met together few hundred meters from the office and marched towards it from two different directions. The police later announced they had not expected this many people to show up and therefor not made enough arrangements. Still, between 60 and 70 pigs welcomed the protesters. Next to the prime minister?s office there is a kindergarten and in the windows, the children sat and watched, exited. The police?s first action was to enter the kindergarten and tell the workers there to take the kids to another part of the house, were they could not see the street. They do not want the kids to how they real work, do they? The street was completely packed with people who were there only to prevent a government meeting from taking place. After a bit of a struggle the protesters managed to close the street from two sides. But quickly it became clear that the minister?s would enter from the back, so people entered the garden from different angles. The police reacted like usually, by stopping people with force and putting up police lines. Soon one minister after another started to arrive, having to walk through a hallway of angry protesters, shouting at them. The garden was full of snow and ice, so the pigs gently helped the ministers to enter the meeting. It was beautiful and ugly at the same time to witness the fact that a government meeting could not take place without police help, as well as watching the ministers having to enter from the back - ?from the ass? like protesters shouted. The actions was peaceful for sure, but more aggressive and angry than before. When all ministers were in (at least people though so) and the meeting had been disturbed for a while with noise and snowballs, people decided to use their time differently and leave the place. But when the group was about to walk down the street, almost the whole police force built a chain and for some unknown reason, prevented people from walking. This ended up in a sort of a fight were the pigs tried to take masks of people and violently throw people away. Few individuals tried to negotiate with the police, ending with all the pigs getting an order to move and let people through. Once again the police showed it?s robot behavior. In to the banks The next morning people gathered again, this time in front of the parliament, but not to enter the parliament again. After a short meeting the group of 50 people entered one of the many buildings of Landsbankinn bank, first the technical crew?s office and later the headquarters. A statement was read out loud were it was demanded that the banks and it?s directors would pay their own debts instead of putting it all on people who had nothing to do with the current financial crisis. It is estimated that the Icelandic people will have to pay 250 billion ISK, only to pay up Landsbankinn?s so called IceSave debts. The loan from IMF was also denounced, since it fundamentally turns every person in the country in to slaves. People made noise, chanted slogans, banged on drums and walls. Work was stopped for a while, but most of all, a clear message was sent to the bank: ?We will come whenever we want and stop work in the corrupt institution. Take responsibility for your own stupid business!? The action was short but clear. And again? Thursday morning, people gathered once again and now the Financial Supervisory (FS) was hit hard. 50 people marched to the building, which was heavily guarded by security guards, who had locked all possible entrances. People demanded to get to speak to the director of the FS but were denied again and again. When not let in, people took up stones and broke their way in to the outer entrance. There they banged on windows and shouted slogans against the FS. The security guards contacted the police, who came quickly, but people had formed a chain in front of the doors to protect the ones inside. The windows of the inner entrance were now broken, the message against the FS sent out once again, and than the group left the building and marched away. People did not walk far, but straight in to the next bank, Glitnir, were a similar action to the one the day before took place. Apart from stopping work with noise, people started reading leaflets from the bank out loud, entertaining themselves with all the bullshit in there. After a while, the group left, but again the message was clear: ?We will come back!? Today, Monday December 22nd, the entrance of the Financial Supervisory was closed again, this time with chains and locks. The future Let?s face it, these actions have not been very high profile, especially compared to other countries. But they are a very important step forward in the Icelandic society. Finally people seem to be waking up, realizing the real impacts of capitalism and the nature of authority. For the last decades, only one direct action campaign has been active in Iceland, the environmental campaign Saving Iceland. For the last four years, Saving Iceland has done direct actions against one of the major heads of the neo-liberalism, heavy industry. Apart from SI?s action, Icelandic resistance has been at level zero. Without it, nothing of what we have been witnessing for the last few weeks would have been possible. The resistance is getting stronger and it has to get the change to grown organically. It might take some time, but at least it has started. --- Some of the photos in this article are gently stolen from Jakob Fannar and Lj?svaki, others are from Aftaka. Click here to see more photos from protests and direct actions in Iceland. A video from the action by the Financial Supervisory can be seen by clicking here and the action by the Prime Minister?s office is here. The website of the environmental campaign mentioned above, Saving Iceland, is here. E-Mail: aftaka at riseup.net Website: http://www.aftaka.org aftaka http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/12/18/2227081-windows-broken-at-icelands-financial-regulator Windows broken at Iceland's financial regulator Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:57 PM EST business, eu, protests, iceland Valur Gunnarsson, Associated Press Writer A small group of demonstrators smashed windows at the offices of Iceland's financial regulator Thursday ? the latest in a series of demonstrations in the financially stricken island nation. Some 50 or so people gathered out front of the Financial Supervisory Authority Thursday to demand the resignation of the organization's top officials. Some threw rocks, shattering windows. The group dispersed as police arrived and there were no arrests. Protests have been a fixture of Iceland's political scene since the country's debt-laden economy collapsed spectacularly earlier this year under the impact of the credit crunch. Unemployment has risen and prices have soared. On Wednesday, a group of about 100 people marched into the headquarters and two branches of Iceland's recently nationalized Landsbanki bank to demand the resignation of the institution's board. On Tuesday another crowd surrounded a building where Iceland's cabinet was due to meet. Ministers had to enter through the back door as demonstrators jeered. Earlier this month several hundred Icelanders stormed the central bank to demand the ouster of its chief, David Oddson, singing songs and facing off with riot police inside the bank's lobby. Thousands more have gathered for regular anti-government rallies held since October. Most protests have been peaceful. But, in this country of just over 300,000 people, some people have had occasion to communicate directly with those they hold responsible for the economic collapse. On Wednesday, media magnate Jon Asgeir Johannesson, one of Iceland's richest men, was hit by a snowball when protesters heckled him outside his upscale hotel in Reykjavik. "We wanted to have a word with him as he was walking out," Gudjon Heidar Valgardsson, one of the protesters, told Icelandic media. "I asked him whether he had censored the press. When he refused to answer, I said 'censor this' and threw a snowball at him." Johannesson was unhurt by the incident. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/europe/2008/12/24/188989/5000-Ukrainians.htm December 24, 2008 9:58 am TWN, AFP 5,000 Ukrainians protest amid economic crisis KIEV -- About 5,000 Ukrainians took part in a union-led protest in Kiev on Tuesday to demand higher wages and more social protection in the ex-Soviet republic, which has been hit hard by the global economic crisis. Holding signs such as ?No to the impoverishment of the people? and ?Patience is not unlimited,? the protesters gathered in a central Kiev square before heading to the seats of the Ukrainian government and parliament. They gave authorities a petition calling for higher wages and lower fees for communal services. They also demanded a law prohibiting commercial banks from raising interest rates on consumer loans. ?We are protesting against the arbitrariness of the government. They are freezing our wages,? said one protester, Irina Kulich, a 46-year-old from the Black Sea port city of Odessa. ?We call on the president and the prime minister to stop the destruction of the national economy,? another protester said. The demonstration was organised by the Federation of Ukrainian Trade Unions with support from two pro Russian opposition parties, the Regions Party and the Communists. Similar protests took place in major cities on Dec. 17. Ukraine has been among the countries hardest hit by global financial turmoil as the plunging price of steel, the country?s main export, has exacerbated a credit crunch and a sharp fall in its stock market. Industrial production in the country crashed 15.2 percent in November compared to the previous month and 28.6 percent compared to November 2007. Meanwhile the country?s currency, the hryvnia, has lost nearly half its value against the dollar over the past six months. http://www.euronews.net/2008/12/23/thousands-protest-in-ukraine/ Thousands protest in Ukraine 23/12/08 19:59 CET Ukraine The following article has been retrieved from the archive and no longer contains the original video. Thousands of trade unionists have taken to the streets in Ukraine to protest against cuts in wages and benefits and to demand action to ease the country?s economic crisis. The demonstrators marched through Kiev calling for social justice, and called for an end to food price rises. Ukraine has been hard hit by the global financial crisis, and its currency has plummeted in value. The protestors came from across the country. They warned that if their demands were not met by February, they would strike to force the government to do its job or resign. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has said several times that she will not cut benefits. However, with industrial production in severe decline and unemployment expected to double in the coming months, she faces a daunting winter of discontent. http://www.sptimes.ru/story/27917 Depositors Hold First Bank Protest in Russian Capital Reuters Depositors with a small bank took to the streets in central Moscow on Friday to demand the return of their funds, the first publicized bank protest the capital has seen during the credit crisis. On Friday, around 15 protesters lined up across the street from Capital Credit bank?s offices, some holding posters that read ?2008 = 1998.? The organizers said they had requested a permit to accommodate 70 members of its depositors? organization but received a permit for just over a dozen. They said they had been unable to make withdrawals from the bank for two to three months. ?The bank has effectively suspended withdrawals but has not put this down in writing. Depositors are being told to write a statement [demanding their withdrawal], but it goes nowhere,? said Dmitry Trofimov, a member of the depositors? group. Bank officials declined comment. The government has attempted to sooth depositors? worries that the financial crisis will consume their savings, as the ruble collapse did in 1998. Government deposit insurance has been raised to 700,000 rubles, far more than the average depositor is likely to have. Deposit outflows reached 6 percent in October in the weeks after a crisis of confidence in the financial system after liquidity fears forced the state to bail out a few small banks. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/europe/2008/12/15/187760/Thousands-of.htm Updated Monday, December 15, 2008 11:15 am TWN, AFP Thousands of Russian car lovers protest higher tariffs VLADIVOSTOK -- Thousands of car lovers rallied on Sunday in Russia?s far eastern city of Vladivostok to protest a government decision to raise tariffs on imported foreign automobiles. About 3,000 people gathered in the city center?s to hold signs with slogans like ?Against Tariffs? as passing drivers honked their horns in solidarity. Meanwhile at the Vladivostok airport more than 3,000 people gathered for an unexpectedly large protest, forcing airport authorities to summon police to maintain order. http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9169&Itemid=65 Putin Sends OMON Troops from Moscow to Suppress Vladivostok Protests December 22, 2008 WINDOW ON EURASIA Paul Goble? Vienna, December 22 ? In yet another indication that Moscow fears protests in the regions could get support from local governments and thus represent a threat to itself, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin send OMON units from Moscow, Daghestan and two Siberian cities to ruthlessly suppress a second weekend of demonstrations in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok. But his transparent effort to send a message to more than just the residents of the Russian Far East appears to have backfired. Not only have people elsewhere organized similar protests, but some Russians are asking why Moscow television has not reported on the Vladivostok events and even whether the Duma should reverse Putin?s order imposing tariffs on foreign cars. And consequently, like anyone who tries to put out a grease fire by throwing water at it --and highlights his own weakness by bringing the water from so far away -- Putin may now be learning that his actions have had the unintended consequence of transforming what had been a regionally-based demonstration about cars into an all-Russian protest against himself. The current situation began on December 9 when Putin in the name of protecting Russia?s domestic automobile producers imposed an additional tariff on imported cars. That hit the Russian Far East especially hard because people there who own cars generally own Japanese brands with steering wheels on the right. Then on the weekend of December 13-14, a column of 700 cars paraded through Vladivostok and blocked access to the airport for some hours to protest the new tariff. Leaders of the group said that they would stage a larger protest meeting on December 20 or 21st if Putin did not reverse himself. While the Russian government offered some subsidies to those who would be hit hardest by the tariff, Putin refused to back down. And yesterday more than 2,000 people demonstrated in Vladivostok, this time not only against the tariffs but with a demand that Putin be dismissed as prime minister. Yesterday?s Vladivostok protest followed demonstrations of a similar kind in Kaliningrad, Tomsk, Barnaul, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Chita, Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Kazan, Abakan, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, St. Petersburg, Moscow and other Russian cities. According to one source, local officials in Vladivostok, many of whom were openly sympathetic to the demonstrators a week ago, were so concerned with the possibility that yesterday?s demonstration might get out of hand that they appealed to regional and Moscow officials for aid. But even if that appeal was made, it seems more likely that Putin decided that he could not count on the local militia to control the situation in the way that he wanted and that only by sending in forces not linked to the city could he count on the suppression of what was rapidly becoming an anti-Putin manifestation. (That Moscow views regional militias as increasingly unreliable is suggested by a report this week that the Russian interior ministry is replacing senior commanders in various parts of the country not with their deputies as had been true earlier but with officials dispatched from elsewhere who have few local ties.) In any case, the Putin government sent in ten busloads of forces from the capital, the North Caucasus, and other cities far from Vladivostok in the expectation that they would behave more forcefully than the locals. That expectation proved entirely reasonable, and the OMON militia from elsewhere beat up many, including journalists and arrested up to 200 demonstrators. Worse, the OMON officers did not limit their attacks to protesters after the latter refused to disperse but lashed out at people walking by with their children who had, nothing to do with the demonstration, according to the Japanese automobile news site, www.drom.ru, and photographs carried on various blogs. Among the journalists who suffered were some from the Russia television channel, TV Tsentr, NTV, Channel One, ?Izvestiya,? Interfax, and PTR. According to many reports, the OMON beat some of these so severely that they were hospitalized where according to some reports at least one remains 24 hours later. According to Polit.ru, the journalists were shocked by the behavior of the OMON units from Moscow, including one that has gained notoriety in the past from its efforts at crowd control and intimidation of the opponents of the regime: The ?manners? of these outsiders were very different than those of the militia in Vladivostok. Putin and the imported OMON units achieved some of their goals but not all of them. On the one hand, they succeeded in blocking television coverage of these events, thus limiting the number of Russians who would know about protests taking place in a city nine time zones away from the Russian capital. But on the other, this very suppression of information has led many Russians to become even more cynical about television and to turn to the Internet and, where they are still available, foreign radio broadcasts, for information, channels which Putin and the Russian government do not control. And while workers at Russian automobile factories back what Putin has done and while many Moscow writers dismiss all these events as being about a small city far away, there are indications that within the political class, some are worried enough that there is even talk of reversing Putin?s decision. That probably won?t happen anytime soon but neither will there be a quick end to protest demonstrations like the ones that have been taking place in Vladivostok or ? and this is far more important ? the rising tide of popular anger against Moscow?s pretensions in many regions of the Russian Federation. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/23/world/fg-russia-autos23 Russians protest plan to raise taxes on imported cars The tax hike pits the nation's ailing auto industry against working people, many of whom depend on the import of foreign cars for transportation and jobs. By Megan K. Stack December 23, 2008 A planned tax hike on imported cars is roiling Russia, whose government is caught between the populist demands of middle-class protesters and a crumbling automobile industry. ? We Make $5K+ Week OnlineWe'll show you how to use this online system. Investment required.OnlineBusinessOnAutopilot.com ? Ride One Auto SalesAffordable, low mileage used cars, trucks, SUV's. Financing available.rideone.localplacement.com ? car sale UsedCompare prices and retailers to get great deals at Yahoo! Shopping.shopping.yahoo.com Sponsored Links The dozens of demonstrations that have cropped up across Russia in recent weeks haven't been particularly big. However, they have been significant as the first notable show of widespread dissent in the near-decade since Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cemented his hold on power. Organizers say they will keep up the pressure unless the government reverses its decision to raise taxes on imported automobiles. The tariff, which takes effect in January, has pitted an ailing domestic auto industry against working people, especially in Russia's eastern flank, who have come to rely upon the import of inexpensive Japanese cars for transportation and employment. Underscoring the depth of the problem, the country's biggest carmaker today announced plans to suspend production until early February. All three of Russia's largest automobile companies have turned to the state for help in recent months as car sales plummeted. AvtoVAZ, makers of Lada cars, was forced to temporarily halt production because the supply of parts had been interrupted, Russian media reported. The company did not answer questions sent today by e-mail. In the past, the country was flush enough with oil revenue that the government could avoid this kind of disruption. But with unemployment rising rapidly and car sales plummeting, the country's leaders have been forced to prioritize. So far, Putin appears determined to save the domestic auto industry. Over the weekend, amid the protests, he promised subsidized loans to motorists willing to buy Russian. He also floated the idea of offering "state support" to foreign carmakers operating plants in Russia. Infuriated drivers say it's not enough. In Russia's eastern lands, an influx of cheap cars from Japan has spawned an explosion in car ownership -- and created jobs for importers, car parts wholesalers and mechanics that helped shore up the region as industry slumped. The tax hike, which will be determined for each vehicle based on a complicated formula, will drastically increase the cost of foreign cars and trucks. Vehicles older than five years will be slapped with a duty of at least 70%, making their importation unprofitable. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-12/2008-12-22-voa57.cfm?CFID=167005345&CFTOKEN=57787780&jsessionid=6630c4b705fea8f1816d1962182094d5f203 Dilemma: Could Effort to Help Russian Auto Makers Hurt Other Russian Workers? By Peter Fedynsky Moscow 22 December 2008 On Sunday, Russian riot police in the Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok used force to break up a demonstration against a plan to increase tariffs on imported cars in order to help the country's ailing domestic auto industry. But, Moscow's proposal on behalf of autoworkers could be shifting, rather than solving, the country's economic problems. Russian PM Vladimir Putin, right, visits Russian truck maker OAO Kamaz in Naberezhnye Chelny, the region of Tatarstan, about 700 kilometers east of Moscow, 19 Dec. 2008 Russia's auto industry, like that of many countries, has fallen on hard times. In an effort to help domestic manufacturers, Prime Minister Putin last week imposed steep duties on used right-wheel drive vehicles imported from Japan. He says the federal government will also offer credit assistance for the purchase of domestic-built cars and will pay the cost of transporting them as far as 7,000 kilometers from factories in western Russia to the Far East. But the economy of that distant region has also fallen on hard times, and several hundred people demonstrated their displeasure with Mr. Putin's plan Sunday in Vladivostok. About 100 were arrested and some reporters were beaten. Similar demonstrations were also held in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. Many residents of Vladivostok fear that subsidized domestic cars will not offset the losses they could suffer from restrictions on their import-export business, which they say is a mainstay of the economy in Russia's Pacific Primorye region. Vladimir Litvinov, representative of the Russian Car Owner's Federation in Vladivostok,says the Primorye region does not have any industrial firms, agriculture is dilapidated, there is no fish processing industry, ports are working at only 10 to 15 percent of capacity. So according to Litvinov, Primorye survives on the import and export of goods to and from Russia. People hold Russian and Japanese flags as they protest against authorities' plans to raise tariffs on imported used Japanese cars in Vladivostok, 20 Dec. 2008 Political observers say the force used to disperse the demonstration in Vladivostok could reflect Kremlin fear of potential protests over growing nationwide unemployment and inflation during the global economic downturn. The Kremlin is also seeking to amend Russia's treason law to include not only hostile acts, but any acts deemed to be a threat to the security of the country, including its constitutional order and sovereignty. Nina Tagankina of the Moscow Helsinki Group, a human rights organization, told VOA the protesters in Vladivostok not only had every legal right to demonstrate, but also good reason. Tagankina asks if the workers of Vladivostok will be able to maintain adequate living conditions for themselves and their families, and their very lives. She notes that if worker salaries will be lower than the minimum needed to survive, they will not be able to support their families. A representative of Russia's AvtoVaz car company declined VOA's request for a telephone interview on the necessity of government support for the auto industry at the apparent expense of Vladivostok's car import business. But Kirill Tachennikov, industrial analyst at the Otkrytia Financial Corporation in Moscow, says the government's decision to support domestic manufacturers boils down to a matter of numbers. Tachennikov says a choice must be made, either to support those involved in the import of used cars, which in the final analysis does not bring any substantive benefit to the federal budget, or to close domestic car factories that have demand, but whose further existence is now complicated by the economic crisis and need government assistance. The analyst adds that many thousands of people work in the auto industry. Vladimir Litvinov notes that the import business is the primary source of capital in the Vladivostok area. He says the loss of that source means many people will leave the area or even Russia, and those who remain will not have the means to survive. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20081222_Protest_over_Russia_s_car_tariffs_intensifies.html Posted on Mon, Dec. 22, 2008 Protest over Russia's car tariffs intensifies By Liya Khabarova Associated Press VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - Riot police clubbed, kicked and detained dozens in the Pacific port of Vladivostok yesterday in a harsh crackdown on a protest that was one of dozens across Russia by people outraged over an increase in car import tariffs. With unemployment spiking, prices rising and the ruble sliding, the protests over a seemingly mundane tariff appear to be broadening into a wide expression of public discontent - and beginning to present a genuine challenge to the Kremlin. "The Russian people have started to open their eyes to what's happening in this country," said Andrei Ivanov, 30, a manager who joined about 200 people at a rally in Moscow. "The current regime is not acting on behalf of the welfare of the people, but against the welfare of the people." The government announced the tariffs on imported automobiles this month to bolster flagging domestic car production and try to head off layoffs or labor unrest among the country's more than 1.5 million auto-industry workers. But imported used cars are highly popular among Russians, particularly throughout the Far East, where private cars imported from nearby Japan vastly outnumber vehicles built in Russia. Protests against the tariffs, which are scheduled to go into effect next month, have been most vehement in Vladivostok, Russia's largest Pacific port. Second weekend Hundreds rallied in the city Saturday for the second weekend in a row, and demonstrators hoped to rally again yesterday. But authorities refused to authorize the demonstration, and hundreds of riot police blocked off the city square where it was planned. Soon after, several hundred people gathered on Vladivostok's main square - not the planned site of the demonstration. Waiting riot police ordered them to disperse, saying the gathering was illegal. The group refused and began singing and dancing around a traditional Russian New Year's tree on the square. Police - some shipped in from Moscow, 5,750 miles to the west - began hauling men and women into waiting vans as people chanted "Fascists!" and "Shame! Shame!" A reporter saw police beat several people with truncheons, throw them to the ground, and kick them. Several parents were detained as their children watched. "Riot police encircled the group . . . even those just passing by, and they started taking people away without any sort of comment," said Olga Nikolaevna, 62, a retiree who witnessed the incident. A reporter saw at least 10 journalists detained by police, who demanded that several journalists turn over videotapes and photo memory chips. Police wrecked a Japanese TV crew's video camera, and some journalists were beaten and kicked. Police criticized Vladimir Litvinov, who heads a local rights group, said police behaved "like beasts" and had no right to break up the gathering, since it wasn't overtly political. "We support a civilized resolution to all the problems but when they send Moscow riot police to break up a gathering in our city, and they start breaking arms and legs and heads . . . ," he told the Associated Press. "People are very, very angry. It's hard to predict what might happen now." Regional police officials said they were forbidden from saying how many people had been arrested. Protest organizers and witnesses counted more than 100. Protests over the car tariffs were held in more than a dozen cities, with motorists driving in long columns with flags waving. National TV channels, which are state-controlled, ignored the demonstrations. In Moscow, about 200 protesters wore yellow ribbons on their jackets and held placards decrying the tariffs, the government and the rise in consumer prices. "At the same time, we're registering general discontent with the policies of this government," said Yulia Marova, 28, a Moscow resident. The Kremlin has sidelined political opponents and put tight controls on civil society and the media, rolling back many post-Soviet freedoms. But in recent weeks, migrant workers in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg protested wage arrears and pensioners in the Siberian town of Barnaul took to the streets to protest the withdrawal of discounted fares on public transport. http://en.rian.ru/video/20081222/119084599.html 09:43 22/12/2008 Protest in Novosibirsk against the government's decision to raise import duties on used foreign cars The Russian government passed a resolution on December 10 to raise import duties on foreign cars and trucks from January 12, 2009 amid the ongoing global financial crisis to protect domestic auto producers and foreign companies assembling vehicles in Russia. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/140ad268-cfca-11dd-abf9-000077b07658.html Russian police break up protest against rise in car import duties By Isabel Gorst in Moscow Published: December 22 2008 02:00 | Last updated: December 22 2008 02:00 Riot police in Vladivostok in the far east of Russia broke up a protest yesterday against a steep rise in car import duties. Witnesses said at least 100 people were detained as police closed in on the unsanctioned rally, beating protesters and reporters who were covering the event. Motorists staged similar rallies in 30 cities across the country, prompting fears of a surge in social unrest as the country's economic crisis deepens. Vladimir Ryzhkov, an independent opposition leader, said the authorities had deployed Moscow-based units of the Omon special forces to control the demonstration in Vladivostok 3,750 miles away. "They are scared. Local forces will not strike their own people," said Mr Ryzhkov. The rise in duty will add about 50 per cent to the cost of imported vehicles in a move intended to protect the struggling domestic auto industry. The Pacific port of Vladivostok is a hub for imports of used Japanese cars and will be hit particularly hard. AvtoVaz, Russia's largest independent carmaker, which is 25 per cent-owned by Renault, warned last week that the Russian car market could contract by between 40 per cent and 50 per cent next year. Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, unveiled a $5bn (?3.3bn, ?3.6bn) package of protectionist measures to prop up the auto industry last week including $3bn of cheap credits for buyers of Russian cars and a $2bn bail-out for manufacturers. Russian railways will transport new cars to the far east of the country free of charge. Mr Putin said that it was "inadmissible" to import cars while Russian carmakers were struggling. Mr Ryzhkov said the measures were designed to support Russian oligarchs rather than the people and would fail. "No one will buy Russian cars because they are bad cars," he said. The crisis has pitted car buyers against carmakers. Workers at the idled Gaz truck factory, controlled by Oleg Deripaska, the indebted metals tycoon, demonstrated in favour of the protectionist measures last week. In Moscow, however, about 300 mainly young people protested against the higher car duty under close watch by the police. "This is not a political demonstration," said Sergei Kanaev, a lawyer and head of the Association for the Protection of Motorists' Rights. "We are here to protect our right to buy cars that we like and that are safe." Until the crisis, Russia had been Europe's fastest growing auto market with cheap credit bringing foreign cars within reach of ordinary people for the first time. Most of the big foreign carmakers have established local assembly ventures in the past two years to cater for Russians' liking for foreign brands. Renault and Ford announced production cuts at their Russian assembly plants after car sales there plunged by 15 per cent in November. However, some dealers in luxury foreign sports utility vehicles said Russian sales have risen since the onset of the crisis, with buyers seeking a safe haven for their cash as stock markets slumped. http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/12/21/russia-protest.html?ref=rss Russian police put end to protest against auto tariffs Last Updated: Sunday, December 21, 2008 | 8:41 PM ET Comments51Recommend42 CBC News Police clubbed, kicked and detained dozens of people in eastern Russia on Sunday as hundreds of people protested higher import taxes on used foreign vehicles. Police officers detain a protester in Vladivostok during a demonstration against the government's plans to raise tariffs on imported used cars. (Liya Khabarova/Associated Press) Reporters said they saw officers in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok beat several people with truncheons, throw them to the ground and kick them. About 500 people gathered in the city's central square to demonstrate the government's decision to bring in the higher tax on Jan. 11. The measure means all foreign cars more than three years old will be subject to a 54 per cent tax, instead of the current 48 per cent. Police rounded up at least 100 people and put them in waiting vans during the unsanctioned protest, witnesses said. A television camera operator was among those detained, video footage showed. The government announced the tariffs hike earlier this month in an effort to shore up the struggling domestic auto industry and discourage Russians from buying second-hand foreign vehicles, which are popular in Vladivostok, a city some 9.300 kilometres east of Moscow, Since the announcement, there have been demonstrations in at least 12 cities denouncing the tariffs. Sunday's protest in the port city, where many make a living selling used Japanese-made cars, was the third held in the last eight days. On Friday, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin publicy urged Russians to shun foreign cars in favour of locally produced ones. About three-quarters of all automobiles sold in Russia over the past year have been imports. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/22/world/europe/22russia.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Protests Erupt in Russia Over Raising of Car Tariffs By CLIFFORD J. LEVY Published: December 21, 2008 MOSCOW ? Small demonstrations occurred in several Russian cities over the weekend in reaction to the government?s plan to raise tariffs on imported automobiles, and the riot police broke up one protest on Sunday in Vladivostok in the country?s far east, briefly detaining scores of people, news agencies reported. While the demonstrations each drew only a few hundred people, they were perhaps the most visible evidence of discontent with the government over the financial crisis. When the price of oil was high and Russia?s economy was soaring, the government was broadly popular, but the recent downturn has caused growing public anxiety as unemployment has spiked and the value of the ruble has dropped. In an apparent sign of the Kremlin?s concern over the tariff issue, it sent special riot police units to quell the protest in Vladivostok, according to witnesses quoted by news agencies. Other demonstrations over the tariffs have occurred there this month. Amateur video posted online by people who said they were at Sunday?s demonstration in Vladivostok shows riot police officers dragging protesters into vans. The authorities said they broke up the demonstration because its sponsors had not received official permission to hold it. A reporter for The Associated Press in Vladivostok said that police officers had beaten several people with truncheons, thrown them to the ground and kicked them. Several journalists were arrested. Vladimir Litvinov, who leads a local rights group, told The Associated Press that officers behaved ?like beasts? and should not have ended the gathering because it was peaceful and not political. ?We support a civilized resolution to all the problems, but when they send Moscow riot police to break up a gathering in our city, and they start breaking arms and legs and heads,? he said, adding: ?People are very, very angry. It?s hard to predict what might happen now.? Vladivostok, Russia?s largest port on the Pacific, is a major point for importing foreign cars into Russia. The government announced the tariffs on imported cars in an effort to protect the beleaguered domestic car industry. The Federation of Russian Car Owners, a grass-roots advocacy group, has helped sponsor the protests, under the slogan, ?Authorities: Raise the Standard of Living, not the Tariff.? http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=United+Kingdom+%26+Europe&month=December2008&file=World_News2008122232533.xml Russian police detain 100 protesters Web posted at: 12/22/2008 3:25:33 Source ::: REUTERS Police officers detain protesters in the centre of Russia?s far eastern city of Vladivostok yesterday. VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: Russian riot police detained at least 100 people yesterday protesting against government measures linked to the economic crisis, a crackdown that highlighted official sensitivity to growing hardship. Riot police broke up an unsanctioned rally organised against new car import duties, kicked a protester as he was being held and hurled a cameraman?s gear to the ground. Police used a loudhailer to order demonstrators to go home as they gathered near the city centre, and the OMON riot police started snatching people after an uneasy 30-minute standoff. Local media said 100-200 of the 500 participants were detained but authorities declined to confirm this figure. Further protests were due to take place across Russia on Sunday against car import tariffs, which are being raised to prop up struggling domestic car producers and discourage Russians from buying second-hand vehicles. They are particularly popular in Russia?s Far East which is a major importer of used Japanese cars and political analysts say the protests are the first serious challenge by Russians to measures directly linked to the financial crisis. The global economic crisis has battered Russian financial markets and oil, a chief source of foreign currency revenue, has plunged from $147 to under $40 per barrel in six months. Protestors in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, 6,000 km east of Moscow, are urging Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to reverse the car import tariff hike, which they say will destroy livelihoods. ?For me, the car business is the only way to support my family,? said car dealer Nikolai Kostalenko who took part in the protest. Nikolai Markovtsev, a local parliamentarian with the pro-Kremlin Fair Russia party, said protesters were seeking to protect their jobs. ?The government has shown how it interacts with the people. They should talk to people, not twist their arms,? he said. The car duty is largely a defensive measure to protect Russia?s domestic motor industry, which is largely based around the Volga region cities like Togliatti, home of the Soviet-era Lada cars, several time zones to the west. http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/police-clash-with-rioters-as-protests-sweep-russia-1582818.html?r=RSS Police clash with rioters as protests sweep Russia By Miriam Elder in Moscow Monday December 22 2008 More than 100 people were arrested in Russia yesterday as riot police clashed with demonstrators protesting against the economic crisis and rising car tariffs. Demonstrations were held across Russia to protest an increase in import tariffs, in the strongest challenge yet to the government's handling of the financial crisis that is ravaging the country. Riot police reportedly beat and detained at least 100 people in an illegal protest in Vladivostok that turned violent. The protests began there several weeks ago, and have since spread across Russia. People are unhappy with a government decision to raise tariffs on imported cars by as much as 50pc -- a move that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin argues would increase demand for Russian-made cars. Protesters blame him directly for the move, as well as the country's declining economic situation, in a rare challenge to a government that has worked hard to crush dissent. In Moscow, several hundred people gathered in a square directly across from the Kremlin, carrying banners calling on Putin to withdraw the tax increase. Russians tend to prefer foreign made cars, especially in the Far East, where Japanese imports are cheaper and better quality. "I don't want to drive around in a Zhiguli, it's dangerous. "I'd never drive my family around in one," said Yuriy (40) at the Moscow protest. "When times were good, they didn't use our oil money to develop industry, just to build yachts and villas," said Andrei, a 29-year-old metal worker at the Moscow rally. He, like many others, said it was the first time he had attended a protest. Mr Putin built his popularity on years of economic growth fuelled by high oil prices. The financial crisis hit Russia in September and, in the past month, it has led to mass layoffs and a depreciating currency, fuelling social discontent across the country. Most protests in Russia usually involve pensioners, but Sunday's demonstrators were mainly young men. (? Daily Telegraph, London) - Miriam Elder in Moscow http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/21/russia-protest-update/ Russia: Protest Update Sunday, December 21st, 2008 @ 23:34 UTC by Veronica Khokhlova Sean's Russia Blog writes about today's protests in Russia: ?The barrage of mass protest fired in Russia?s far east ten days ago echoed with a whimper as opponents of the import car tax hike staged actions across Russia. Today?s protests lacked the manpower of the previous ones, and in Vladivostok, the epicenter of the movement, OMON easily dispersed a crowd of around a 500 people. [?] To Solidarity?s and other Russian liberals? chagrin, the domestic upheaval they?ve all been wishing and waiting for didn?t happen. And if recent polls are any indication, they won?t happen anytime soon. [?]? http://cbs5.com/national/Russsia.protest.violence.2.892351.html Dec 21, 2008 11:45 am US/Pacific Russians Riot Over Increase In Car Tariffs AP Photographer Witnesses Russian Riot Police Beat, Kick Several People CBS News Interactive: About Russia VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AP) ? Click to enlarge Russian riot police hold a training exercise in Moscow on February 20, 2008. (File) Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images Riot police clubbed, kicked and detained dozens in the Pacific port of Vladivostok on Sunday in a harsh crackdown on a protest that was one of dozens across Russia by people outraged over an increase in car import tariffs. With unemployment spiking, prices rising and the ruble sliding, the protests over a seemingly mundane tariff appear to be broadening into a wide expression of public discontent ? and beginning to present a genuine challenge to the Kremlin. "The Russian people have started to open their eyes to what's happening in this country," said Andrei Ivanov, a 30-year-old manager who joined about 200 people at a rally in Moscow. "The current regime is not acting on behalf of the welfare of the people, but against the welfare of the people." The government announced the tariffs on imported automobiles earlier this month to bolster flagging domestic car production and try to head off layoffs or labor unrest among the country's more than 1.5 million car industry workers. But imported used cars are highly popular among Russians, particularly throughout the Far East, where private cars imported from nearby Japan vastly outnumber vehicles built in Russia. Protests against the tariffs, which are scheduled to go into effect next month, have been most vehement in Russia's largest Pacific port ? Vladivostok. Hundreds rallied in the city Saturday for the second weekend in a row, and demonstrators hoped to rally again Sunday. But authorities refused to authorize the demonstration and hundreds of riot police blocked off the city square where it was planned. Soon after, several hundred people gathered on Vladivostok's main square ? not the planned site of the demonstration. Waiting riot police ordered them to disperse, saying the gathering was illegal. The group refused and began singing and dancing around a traditional Russian New Year's tree on the square. Police ? some shipped in from Moscow, 5,750 miles to the west ? began hauling men and women into waiting vans as people chanted "Fascists!" and "Shame! Shame!" An Associated Press reporter saw police beat several people with truncheons, throw them to the ground and kick them. Several parents were detained as their children watched. "Riot police encircled the group ... even those just passing by, and they started taking people away without any sort of comment," said Olga Nikolaevna, a 62-year-old retiree who witnessed the incident. An AP reporter saw at least 10 journalists detained by police, who demanded that several journalists turn over videotapes and photo memory chips. Police wrecked a Japanese TV crew's video camera, and some journalists were beaten and kicked, including an AP photographer. Vladimir Litvinov, who heads a local rights group, said police behaved "like beasts" and had no right to break up the gathering, since it wasn't overtly political. "We support a civilized resolution to all the problems but when they send Moscow riot police to break up a gathering in our city, and they start breaking arms and legs and heads...," he told AP. "People are very, very angry. It's hard to predict what might happen now." Regional police officials said they were forbidden from saying how many people had been arrested. Protest organizers and witnesses counted more than 100. Protests over the car tariffs, which take effect next month, were held in more than a dozen cities, with motorists driving in long columns with flags waving. National TV channels, which are state-controlled, ignored the demonstrations. In Moscow, about 200 protesters wore yellow ribbons on their jackets and held placards decrying the tariffs, the government and the rise in consumer prices. "At the same time we're registering general discontent with the policies of this government," said Yulia Marova, a 28-year-old Moscow resident. The Kremlin has sidelined political opponents and put tight controls on civil society and the media, rolling back many post-Soviet freedoms. But in recent weeks, migrant workers in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg protested wage arrears and pensioners in the Siberian town of Barnaul took to the streets to protest the withdrawal of discounted fares on public transport. Domestic and foreign car companies' announcements of production cutbacks in Russia and warnings of potential layoffs have added to the Kremlin worries. The industry employs more than 1.5 million workers nationwide. While auto industry workers have applauded the tariff increase, Russian consumers and others involved in the $30.5 billion car import business have not. Many Russians say they have a right to buy what they want without paying to support the Russian auto industry. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081221/119034240.html Police block unsanctioned auto protest in Russia's Far East 15:38 | 21/ 12/ 2008 VLADIVOSTOK, December 21 (RIA Novosti) - Police dispersed over a hundred of protesters on Sunday during an unauthorized protest in the Russian Far East against the government's decision to raise import duties on used foreign cars. The Russian government passed a resolution on December 10 to raise import duties on foreign cars and trucks from January 12, 2009 amid the ongoing global financial crisis to protect domestic auto producers and foreign companies assembling vehicles in Russia. The government's decision will see actual import duties rise 50% on second-hand foreign cars and 100% on used foreign trucks. The decision has sparked a wave of protests in the Primorye Region in the Russian Far East where over 90% of vehicles are used Japanese cars. The police urged demonstrators to go home as they gathered on the city's central square. After protesters refused to leave the square, the police broke up the rally, detaining several protesters who tried to put up resistance. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin urged on Friday that natural monopolies and state-run companies buy only Russian-made cars, and recommended private companies to do likewise. "I'd like to say straight off that budget money, the funds of natural monopolies and, I hope, the largest private companies should be spent on buying domestically produced products," Putin said. "Now that our producers are forced to slash production, I think it is absolutely unacceptable to spend money on acquiring foreign cars," he said, specifying that Russian-made cars included foreign cars assembled in Russia. http://www.euronews.net/2008/12/21/arrests-at-anti-car-duty-protest-in-russia/ Russia Arrests at anti car-duty protest in Russia 21/12/08 20:06 CET The following article has been retrieved from the archive and no longer contains the original video. Russian riot police have detained dozens of people demonstrating against higher import duties on used foreign cars. Violence erupted as police in the eastern port city of Vladivostok moved in to arrest as many as 100 protesters, including a press cameraman who was bundled unceremoniously into a waiting police vehicle. Several protests took place across Russia against punitive tariffs designed to prop up struggling domestic car producers. The arrests underline official sensitivity to any gatherings linked to growing economic hardship. In Moscow protesters clutched posters deriding the country?s leaders. ?Of course nobody will buy (Rusian) Zhiguli and Volga because thy are of very poor quality,? said one demonstrator. ?People would rather save money to buy a foreign car and curse the authorities, or, they will give up the idea of buying a car. So it won?t have any economic effect but it will result in rancour, for sure. People will get the impression that the authorities, who drive expensive cars, are mocking them.? Another man said: ?I think it?s a test of slavery. If we eat this it means they can treat us like dirt. Yes, there were Soviet cars, I personally had a Zaporozhets and was happy, but that was 30 years ago. Time moves on but the cars stay the same rubbish.? But in the Volga region, several time zones to the West of Vladivostok and home of the Soviet era Lada car, about a hundred people attended a subdued rally supporting the government?s measures. Their banners read, ?Yes to the increase ? no to the speculators?, and urged people to buy Russian. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,24832652-401,00.html?from=public_rss Riot police break up protest From correspondents in Moscow Agence France-Presse December 22, 2008 04:20am POLICE violently broke up a protest in Russia's Far East against higher tariffs on used imported cars against the backdrop of a worsening economy. Riot police flown in from Moscow detained about 200 people as up to 1000 demonstrators protested for a second day running in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. About 200 protesters rallied in Moscow today in support of motorists in Vladivostok. Behind the protest was a government move earlier this month to increase tariffs on used cars from abroad, notably from nearby Japan, to shield Russian automakers from the worst of the global economic crisis. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/santas+protest+over+bankers+bonuses/2890902 Santas protest over bankers bonuses Print this page Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008 Source: PA News Anti-poverty activists staged a protest at a bank as part of a demonstration against bonuses being paid to bankers despite the economic downturn. Up to 30 members of the London Coalition Against Poverty handed out leaflets which said You Owe Us, and Bonuses For The Homeless, Not Bankers, as they entered the RBS building in the City of London. The demonstrators, some dressed as Father Christmas, complained that three out of four City bankers will be receiving substantial bonuses this year. They were ejected from the building by security staff. Spokeswoman Ellie Schling said: "For the vast majority of us this Christmas will be more difficult than most. But the majority of bankers will again be receiving obscene amounts of money in Christmas bonuses and to make it worse it's our money they're getting this year. "While the Government is giving them the means to pamper themselves for another year it is instigating welfare reform that will drive more people into poverty and turning a blind eye to the tens of thousands of people left homeless due to inadequate social housing. "We need to stand up to the banks and the Government and tell them this is unacceptable." From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Fri Oct 23 21:46:34 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:46:34 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Antiracist and antifascist protests, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE286AA.2070300@tesco.net> * GERMANY: Antifa confront Nazi march, fight back against police * SWEDEN: Antifascist potest in Lund * SWEDEN: Uprising over police racism rocks Malmo * INDIA: Thousands arrested as Muslims mark anniversary of Ayodhya atrocity * SPAIN: Murder of immigrant sparks uprising * CURACAO: Protests over ongoing Dutch colonialism * INDIA: Goa - Protests against police repression of Muslims * US: Georgia - Protests after woman jailed over hijab * INDIA: Kerala - Attack on Christian churches sparks protests * PAKISTAN: Protest at exclusion of minorities from conference * US: Texas - Protester interferes with border fence * US: Philadelphia - Protest alleges drugstore racism * US: Georgia - Protest at use of police against immigrants * INDIA: Dalits blockade rails, take direct action * US: California - Farm workers protest visa rules * NEW ZEALAND: Protests at bilingual class delay * ISRAEL/ERITREA: Refugees protest lack of status * INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Desecration of Ambedkar statue sparks Dalit protests * GREECE: Police violence against refugees sparks protests * GREECE: Migrants fight back after police attack * INDIA: Lingayat demand reservations * AZERBAIJAN: Opposition party protest racism in Iran * RUSSIA: Muslims protest exclusion from anthem contest * US/PHILIPPINES: Filipino veterans continue protests over Christmas http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245002,police-make-70-arrests-in-berlin-left-right-clashes.html Police make 70 arrests in Berlin left-right clashes Posted : Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:21:38 GMT Author : DPA Berlin - Police used water cannon and made 70 arrests Saturday as they struggled to keep 700 neo-Nazis and even more leftists apart on the streets of Berlin. The rightists had earlier announced a march through the capital's Lichtenberg district. Mainly leftist opponents, determined not to let them pass, sat down on the road. Volleys of stones were thrown towards the neo- Nazis, who replied by hurling beer bottles in the other direction, witnesses said. After warnings, the water cannon, mounted on riot-police trucks were used to drive the blockers off the roadway. Police said several demonstrators on both sides and one police officer were slightly hurt. Police had deployed 1,600 officers in a bid to cordon the two crowds, and keep them to different routes and times, so that there would be no clashes, but mobile groups from the left managed to approach the neo-Nazis. Both groups were exercising a constitutional right of freedom to demo nstrate. The neo-Nazis were demanding the right to set up a "nationalist" youth centre. A police spokeswoman said the 70 arrested came from both sides of the conflict. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/244069,police-and-demonstrators-clash-in-southern-swedish-city.html Police and demonstrators clash in southern Swedish city Posted : Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:21:29 GMT Author : DPA Stockholm - Police arrested at least four people Sunday in the southern city of Lund after clashes between left-wing activists who opposed ultra-nationalists commemorating the 1718 death of Swedish King Karl XII. According to police and local news media, left-wing activists tried to prevent some 50 right-wing supporters from marching to a memorial on the outskirts of the university city of Lund. Counter-demonstrators reportedly threw stones and other missiles at police deployed to protect the right-wing marchers, who had been granted permission to march. Scores of people were briefly apprehended. The king, who reigned from 1697-1718, is regarded as a hero by ultra-nationalists and neo-Nazi groups, who mark the anniversary in Lund and the capital, Stockholm. Several arrests were also made in Stockholm, where two right-wing groups marched in the afternoon and early evening through parts of the downtown area. Sweden was at war with Russia, Denmark, Saxony and Poland during the king's reign. He was killed November 30, 1718, when he was hit in the head by a bullet during a siege in neighbouring Norway. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415876.html Malmo riots, Sweden: Some context and pics @ | 21.12.2008 14:10 | Repression | Social Struggles | World Here are some (badly translated) statements from Malmo AFA and others regarding the recent riots in the city. Following that is some background to the events. AFA Julia (Malmo): Riots in the Manor in Rosengard continues. Young people who occupied the basement of the mosque Ramel road is tired of police abuse and taken to more drastic methods to be seen and heard, when they had not heard in any other way. In this, they have helped and supported by activists from Malm? autonomous environment. We support the young people in the Manor just as we committed ourselves in squatter fights in Malmo and Lund and fight for the youth house. Fight for frirum is important, whether out of "young Muslims" or "Swedes." It is important that we ensure that we have common interests with other groups than other autonomous, and discrimination based on ethnicity and religion and abuse from authorities and the police is something we always have to fight. We therefore call on all Trade activists to get to the Manor this weekend and show their support for the young people there and their struggle. Statement put out by AFA Malmo: Protests in Rosengard is self-defense against the class 2008-12-20 Young people occupied the room for 23 days. During those days was almost no discussion in the newspapers. At the eviction on Wednesday December 17, the police went in with a great strength. Dogs and pepper spray were used against young people gathered there to defend their local. After this incident the media has suddenly become very interested in what happens in Rosengard. But again, the issue ended up in the shadows. We know that you journalists like violence, you eat it for breakfast, breathe it during the day and dream about it at night. It is therefore not surprising that Rosengard again is focused on the front page. Manor is an area of Rosengard, which has long been neglected. Preschools dare not let their children play on the part of the courtyard are among others due to open the drain and dangerous electricity which may hang freely. The people who live in the Manor may not pitch for his complaint about the standard of the apartments and the lack of utemilj?n. The three landlords in the area Contentus, Newsec and EIA of Malm? has, together with the Municipal Ilmar Reepalu (s), Rosengard city politicians and Residents' Association formed a working group called the Estates Group. Malmo is composed of different districts, which look very different. In some areas of Rosengard, such as the Manor, living many people with foreign backgrounds. City sees it as a problem that the area is crowded lived and that people are segregated. Additional debt on the residents of the area by landlords are consistently blaming the wear on the tenants, rather than the total lack of maintenance that has characterized the town for a long time. What is the politicians' solution to the problems? Within the framework of the Manor group's work, it does not seem possible to find a solution to people's overcrowding by, for example, build more rental flats or raise the standards of the apartments which already exist. Instead, they want to throw out a number of compounds from a local business they had in a long time, an activity that has been a gathering place for young people after school hours. Politicians claim that Rosengard is the city of Malmo who spends most of the activities for young people. And so be it, it is not so much emphasis necessary to outdo the other city, the youth activities. Ilmar Reepalu and accomplices in the Tenants' Association believes that the activities of the locale does not fit the area's new profile. What is it for activities that fit in? Manor Group proposes instead that room now to contain an activity known as Boskolan, driven by the Tenants' Association. There will be immigrants learn to live on Swedish way. It has not come with any explanation of what to live on Swedish way means. It is cramped lived in the Manor probably depends unlikely that people want to live crowded, rather that the politicians in City Hall are not interested in building housing for ordinary people. The only option in today's class society is being forced to live in apartments managed by SHARK who just want shoes themselves. The Malm? is a segregated city we know already, the situation is hardly better of the municipality entirely let the free market rule over new construction. People are tired. They are tired of their voices are not heard and that once they noted, so the question is not on the merits of the case anymore. When society wants to make a contribution in the district will send the police. Police targeted weapons against children. Instead of investing resources in leisure activities for young people, jobs for those who want jobs and decent housing, and your government watchdogs in order to maintain the monopoly of violence. In the media, police have in recent days made a big thing of it is traveling behind many of the violence. They called for traveling are other residents in Malmo, no traveling troublemakers who have nothing better to do than to create riots. We who have been there living in Malmo and Rosengard is a part of Malmo which people both live in and visit daily. By attempting to separate the Rosengard from other Malmo to assist the media to further exotifiera image of the district. Rosengard is not an isolated island living their own lives. The area affected, like the rest of Malmo of the policies of the current situation, whether it is socialist or bourgeois. The district politicians and the police are terrified of the unrest that is currently underway at Rosengard will spread to other parts of Malmo. Events such as those on Rosengard will continue to flare up as long as there is an ongoing disarmament of leisure activities around Sweden. This is not a point of order that can be solved with batons and pepper spray, it is a social problem that politicians themselves have created. Now when they painted himself into a corner they desperately try to draw attention elsewhere. So grateful that once more put the blame on the many young people living in the district. It is clear that politicians can not solve the problems they themselves created. The media is not interested in highlighting the real problems that create class society is not so surprising. It sells just no news. All fine talk of a democratic dialogue works as long as people are shut up and is satisfied with the little they get. The welfare policies that politicians say they will bring is an insult to the working class, the only possibility for change is sj?lvorganiserng. None of the rights enjoyed working today have been free, they have come about thanks to their own initiative from below by collective struggle. This is regardless of whether it is right to a decent working environment, meaningful leisure activities or homes free of cockroaches. We are not surprised by the development of Rosengard and sees it as a logical result of the lack of societal resources to the residents there. That a Shell Mack fire is nothing to get worked up over, it happened throughout the 1990s by understandable reasons, and will happen again. To some trash cans into the fire is not in proportion to the violence that the police against Malm?'s young people. The police have a proportionality principle, they will work after, a principle that they consistently seem to forget in some contexts. Criminal damage is not violent riots, to defend themselves against police attacks are no riots, there is self-defense. Direct action has always and will always, to be used by people to change and take power over their daily lives. To quote the IHT: Anger and despair are strong driving forces. At best, they can be turned into something constructive. BACKGROUND from mainstream media: Riot police from Stockholm and Gothenburg are being sent to provide back-up for their colleagues in Malm? as tensions in the southern city continue to flare. After two nights of intensive rioting, police in the city requested assistance from units specially trained to deal with mass violent demonstrations. "We don't think it's over yet. We think it's going to continue and we have to be prepared to work around the clock," said regional police spokesman Charley Nilsson. Emotions have been running high in Malm?'s predominantly immigrant Roseng?rd district since police forcibly removed three squatters from the basement offices of an Islamic cultural centre. The premises had been occupied since November 24th as part of a protest against the landlord?s decision not to renew the association?s lease for the space, which it had held for the past fifteen years. Thursday night saw the most extreme rioting in Roseng?rd since the disturbances began. Police were pelted with Molotov cocktails and bomb threats were issued against a local petrol station. Police spokeswoman Ewa-Gun Westford said she would not even hazard a guess as to how many police vehicles were damaged in the rioting, as locals were reportedly joined by left-wing extremists, or "autonomists", from outside the area. The city's fire and rescue services have been refusing to enter the area until their safety can be guaranteed. One person was arrested for rioting, while another was detained for disturbing the peace. By 3am on Friday the situation had stabilized somewhat and police were able to move in and remove burning trailers and other objects from the streets with the aid of a bulldozer. @ Homepage: http://www.motkraft.net/ http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/12/2008122017426130267.html Sunday, December 21, 2008 04:57 Mecca time, 01:57 GMT Anti-police riots ease in Sweden The rioters assembled quietly in Rosengard on Friday after days of violent clashes with police [AFP] An uneasy calm has settled over the southern Swedish city of Malmo after hundreds of Muslim youths rioted against police for two consecutive nights. Gangs of youths gathered again late on Friday in the Rosengard district of Malmo, but no serious clashes have taken place. Protests spilled over into violence on Wednesday after the owner of a building in Rosengard housing an Islamic cultural centre and a mosque chose to use the space for other purposes. Centre workers moved out peacefully and handed over the keys, but a group of youths decided to camp in the basement. Police officers were told to remove them, sparking protests and violent clashes. Garbage bins burnt While the city has been generally calm since Friday, some demonstrators set off firecrackers and five cars and several large garbage bins were set on fire, police said. "They [the rioters] have to stop, they have to take it easy. We can't resolve the problems with violence" Montaser Eneim, Rosengard City District Council Five people were arrested. A firebomb was also thrown at a school window in Rosengaard, starting a blaze that police rapidly brought under control. Much of the rioting was concentrated in Rosengard district - which has a large immigrant population. Community leaders have appealed for calm, with Montaser Eneim, from Rosengard City District Council telling Al Jazeera: "They [the rioters] have to stop, they have to take it easy. We can't resolve the problems with violence." 'Unpredictable anger' Richard Bestic, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Malmo, reported that an "unpredictable anger" was still evident among youths who had gathered again, so far peacefully, over the weekend. The police "think they can appease us by joking with us, but they hassle us all the time, they arrest us for nothing and then they're surprised that we fight back", said Ahmed Baccar, a 20-year-old unemployed Palestinian. His friend Rached El Ali, an 18-year-old Palestinian, said: "And they hit 11- and 12-year-old kids, set their dogs on us like they did yesterday, and then you want us to like them." Police reinforcements had been called in from Stockholm, the capital, and Gothenburg to quell the unrest. Immigrants make up around 14% of the Swedish population but, as suggested by a number of official studies, many face discrimination in housing and employment. http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2444343,00.html Calm in Sweden after riots 2008-12-20 12:11 Malmoe - Hundreds of youths who have rioted against police in the southern Swedish town of Malmoe for two straight nights this week gathered again late on Friday but no serious clashes took place. After cars and garbage bins were set ablaze and stones were thrown against police in violent clashes on Wednesday and Thursday in the heavily-immigrant populated neighbourhood of Rosengaard, youths assembled relatively quietly on Friday. They were watched by a large police deployment that had switched to a new tactic of engaging them in dialogue in a bid to prevent a third night of riots. The troubles began as a quiet protest linked to the recent closure of an Islamic cultural centre in Rosengaard that housed a mosque, but have spread to become a general expression of discontent among disadvantaged youths. The police "think they can appease us by joking with us, but they hassle us all the time, they arrest us for nothing and then they're surprised that we fight back," Ahmed Baccar, a 20-year-old unemployed Palestinian with a shaved head, told AFP. "And they hit 11- and 12-year-old kids, set their dogs on us like they did yesterday, and then you want us to like them," said his friend Rached El Ali, an 18-year-old Palestinian. Police reinforcements had been called in from Stockholm and Gothenburg. While the evening was primarily calm, demonstrators did set off firecrackers and five cars and several large garbage bins were set on fire, police said. Five people were arrested. - SAPA http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415787.html Riot in Malmo, Sweden @ | 19.12.2008 13:26 From email: "Conflict is centered around a ex-mosque in Roseng?rd, Malm?, in southern Sweden. But it will be interesting to follow the developments. Note that the cops also claim that several "extreme left wingers" from AFA has been arrested in the area." http://sydsvenskan.se/malmo/article399913/Valdsamt-upplopp-i-Rosengard.html More details anyone? @ http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ Rioting breaks out in Malm? suburb Published: 19 Dec 08 07:15 CET Online: http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ Dictionary tool Double click on a word to get a translation Scores of young people rioted on Thursday night in Roseng?rd, the Malm? suburb in which tensions have been running high since the recent closure of an Islamic cultural centre. Some 100 youths ran amok for the second straight night, setting cars and garbage bins ablaze and throwing stones at police, police said. "We've had a very difficult evening. There have been fires burning since this afternoon in garbage bins and cars, there's extensive damage to public property, and there's been stonethrowing and bomb threats against police," police spokeswoman Ewa-Gun Westford told AFP. One person was arrested during the riots, she said. Westford said the troubles were linked to the recent closure of an Islamic cultural centre in Malm?'s heavily-immigrant populated neighbourhood Roseng?rd. The owner of the building wanted to use the space for other purposes, and the Islamic centre, which housed a mosque among other things, moved out and handed over the keys. But a group of young people squatted the office space on November 24th, and police intervened early this week to remove the occupants and empty the offices. Police guarded the location until Wednesday, and once they left youths tried to occupy the building again. Riots broke out on Wednesday night, when youths set fires in the area and threw stones and bottles at police. Seventeen youths were detained during those clashes. "The origin of the riots is the occupation of the building. But that's not really the reason now, now other troublemakers have just joined in, taking advantage of the situation," Westford said. AFP/The Local (news at thelocal.se) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7791553.stm Friday, 19 December 2008 Swedish city hit by youth riots Police said all sorts of "troublemakers" had got involved Dozens of youths have rioted in the southern Swedish city of Malmo for a second consecutive night, setting cars on fire and clashing with police. "We've had a very difficult evening," a police spokeswoman told the AFP news agency late on Thursday. "There have been fires burning since this afternoon... extensive damage to public property, and... stone-throwing and bomb threats against police." She said the trouble was linked to the closure of an Islamic centre. The owner of the building, in an immigrant neighbourhood, had decided not to renew the centre's lease. The centre, which included a mosque, had to move out. But some youths squatted in the premises, until they were evicted by police earlier this week. Once police left the premises, the youths returned, setting fires in the area. They then clashed with police. "The origin of the riots is the occupation of the building. But that's not really the reason now, now other troublemakers have just joined in, taking advantage of the situation," police spokeswoman Ewa-Gun Westford told AFP. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120757920100.htm Front Page Thousands of protestors held Special Correspondent ? Photo: M. Karunakaran STRIDENT PROTEST: TMMK supporters courting arrest at the Central railway station in Chennai on Saturday. CHENNAI: Thousands of protestors, including many women, were taken into custody on Saturday, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid, when they attempted to block rail and road traffic in different parts of the State. Amid tight security, members of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam and the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath gathered in large numbers in front of railway stations, bus stands and government offices and raised slogans in support of their demands, including reconstruction of the masjid at the same site in Ayodhya. The protestors entered the rail track at Tambaram and Tirupur, resulting in the detention of a couple of trains for a few minutes, a police officer said. Director-General of Police K.P. Jain said 16,000 persons, including 12,500 belonging to the TMMK, were arrested. They were released in the evening. Nearly 1,600 Hindu Munnani workers were also arrested for staging demonstrations and obstructing road traffic. Armed police personnel were guarding vital installations, he said, and no untoward incident had been reported. Mr. Jain said a sweeper working as casual labour at the Coimbatore airport was arrested on Friday for scribbling a message in the customs clearance area, warning of a bomb explosion, in the name of the film artists? association, Chennai. On the basis of video footage in a surveillance camera, M. Kalimuthu (20) was arrested. Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) T. Rajendran said another person, who sent an intimidating email to the Madurai Collector with copies marked to the Chief Minister?s cell and the Madurai Police Commissioner, was arrested at Tirupur on Saturday. Manimaran (30) claimed that explosions would be triggered in many places, including temples at Madurai, Srirangam and Rameswaram on December 6 and January 26. A team of the Special Division Police took the help of the cyber crime cell and traced the IP address to a private firm. Manimaran, who confessed to having sent the emails, had used the name and mobile phone number of a person, who was creating problems for his family. ?It was an attempt to implicate him in the case,? a police officer said. Later in the day, Mr. Jain reviewed the security at the airport, the central railway station and the U.S. Consulate. He was accompanied by Commissioner of Police K. Radhakrishnan and Suburban Commissioner S.R. Jangid. ?The enhanced security measures will continue for some more time,? Mr. Radhakrishnan said. As part of security arrangements officials at the Chennai Central railway station shifted the issuance of unreserved tickets to the Moore Market Complex. Railway authorities said the arrangement would continue till Sunday noon. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120753710400.htm Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram Protest against denial of permission for march Special Correspondent Thiruvananthapuram: A number of human rights and Muslim organisations have come out against the reported denial of permission by the State government for a march and dharna planned by the Kerala Imams Council to mark the 16th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid. In a joint statement here on Saturday, they described it as denial of the fundamental rights and basic justice. The police at the same time provided protection for the Hindutva organisations? violent protests, the signatories alleged. They resolved to launch a campaign on the issue. http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/12/05/0812051316_tn_on_high_alert_protests_banned.html TN on high alert; Protests banned Friday, December 05, 2008 13:13 [IST] Chennai: Rapid Action Force personnel and commandos of state police have been deployed at sensitive places as security across Tamil Nadu was beefed up in view of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary tomorrow and terror threats following the Mumbai attacks. "We have deployed state police battalions, Special Task Force (STF) personnel and commandos to beef up security across the state," Director General of Police K P Jain told PTI today. The Chennai airport and star hotels in the metro have also been brought under heightened security cover, following an alert sounded by Bureau of Civil Aviation based on intelligence inputs that these could be targeted by terrorists. Meanwhile, protest and demonstrations have also been banned across the state tomorrow "keeping in mind the law and order situation, he said. Some Muslim organisations, including the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, have called for demonstrations demanding to rebuild the Babri Masjid. The police was "fully aware of the vulnerable and sensitive areas," and three battalions of Rapid Action Force (RAF), one in the city, and two in Coimbatore, rocked by serial blasts in 1998, have been deployed, Singh added. The police have also intensified patrolling and vehicle checks across the city, he added. Several security measures have been put in place at Chennai airport to prevent any untoward incident. Restrictions have been placed on movement of visitors in the area and passengers were being allowed after thorough frisking. The corridor in front of the airport terminal, used for parking of vehicles, has also been closed. Source : PTI http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120752320300.htm Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur Protests mark masjid demolition anniversary day Special Correspondent ? Photo: M. Srinath In memory: Members of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam staging a demonstration in Thanjavur on Saturday. Thanjavur: A total of 1250 members of Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath were arrested by the police here on Saturday when they tried to take out a procession and lay siege to the Collectorate demanding handing over of the Babri Masjid land to Muslims. They also demanded ban on Sangh parivar organisations. A. Mujibur Rehman, district secretary led the agitation. Three hundred and fifty memebrs of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam were arrested by the police when they participated in a rail roko agitation at the Thanjavur railway station. They demanded construction of Babri Masjid again at the site where it was demolished as assured by the then prime minister Narasimha Rao. They also demanded expediting cases related to the demolition of Babri Masjid. The agitations were held in connection with the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. Tiruvarur Nearly two hundred Muslims including about 50 women belonging to the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam staged a demonstration in front of the head post office here on Saturday, condemning the demolition of Babri Masjid and urged the government to book the culprits. They also demanded renovation of the Babri Masjid. Police personnel were posted in Tiruvarur town and other parts of the district to avert any untoward incident as the Muslims observed Babri Masjid demolition day on Saturday. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Protesters_arrested_in_Tamil_Nadu/rssarticleshow/3802153.cms Protesters arrested in Tamil Nadu 6 Dec 2008, 1819 hrs IST, PTI COIMBATORE: Police on Saturday arrested activists of various Hindu and Muslim groups, who defied ban order and staged demonstrations over varied demands in communally-sensitive Coimbatore and Tirupur districts on the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition. Over 2,000 activists of Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) and Tamil Nadu Towheed Jamaat (TNTJ) were held for attempting to stage rail roko and demonstration, demanding rebuilding of Babri Masjid, police said. About 730 activists of various Hindu groups in the district were also taken into custody for trying to stage demonstrations in support of construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. The Tamil Nadu Government had banned any sort of protests on the 16th anniversary of the razing of the Masjid. Police said over 500 TMMK activists were taken into custody when they were proceeding to stop trains at the city railway station, while 390 workers were arrested in nearby Podanur for a similar reason, police said. About 650 workers of TMMK and 450 activists of TNTJ were arrested for attempting to stage demonstrations in Tirupur and Pollachi, defying regulatory orders, they said. Security was tight in the communally-sensitive district, with armed guards keeping vigil at city airport, places of worship, vital government installations, bus stand and other public places. Blackflags were hoisted in some places by the Indian National League as part of the day being observed as 'Black Day.' A Madurai report said 400 members of the TNTJ were arrested, when they staged a demonstration in front of the railway junction. A total of 34 activists of Hindu Youth Federation were held for staging a demonstration for 'retrieval' of Mathura and Kasi temples. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120750230100.htm Front Page Thousands of protestors arrested across State Special Correspondent Babri Masjid demolition anniversary passes off peacefully ? Photo: M. Karunakaran STRIDENT PROTEST: TMMK supporters courting arrest at the Central railway station in Chennai on Saturday. CHENNAI: Thousands of protestors, including many women, were taken into custody on Saturday, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid, when they attempted to block rail and road traffic in different parts of the State. Amid tight security, members of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam and the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath gathered in large numbers in front of railway stations, bus stands and government offices and raised slogans in support of demands, including reconstruction of the masjid on the same site at Ayodhya. The protestors entered the rail track at Tambaram and Tirupur, resulting in the detention of a couple of trains for a few minutes, a police officer said. Director-General of Police K.P. Jain said 16,000 persons, including 12,500 belonging to the TMMK, were arrested. They were released in the evening. Nearly 1,600 Hindu Munnani workers were also arrested for staging demonstrations, obstructing road traffic. Armed police personnel were guarding vital installations, he said, and no untoward incident had been reported. Mr. Jain said a sweeper working as casual labour in the Coimbatore airport was arrested on Friday for scribbling a message in the customs clearance area, warning of a bomb explosion, in the name of the film artists? association, Chennai. On the basis of video footage in a surveillance camera, M. Kalimuthu (20) was arrested. Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) T. Rajendran said another person, who sent an intimidating email to the Madurai Collector with copies marked to the Chief Minister?s cell and the Madurai Police Commissioner, was arrested at Tirupur on Saturday. Manimaran (30) claimed that explosions would be triggered in many places, including temples at Madurai, Srirangam and Rameswaram on December 6 and January 26. A team of the Special Division Police took the help of the cyber crime cell and traced the IP address to a private firm. Manimaran, who confessed to having sent the emails, had used the name and mobile phone number of a person who was creating problems for his family. ?It was an attempt to implicate him in the case,? a police officer said. Later in the day, Mr. Jain reviewed the security at the airport, the central railway station and the U.S. Consulate. He was accompanied by Commissioner of Police K. Radhakrishnan and Suburban Commissioner S.R. Jangid. ?The enhanced security measures will continue for some more time,? Mr. Radhakrishnan said. As part of security arrangements officials at the Chennai Central railway station shifted the issuance of unreserved tickets to the Moore Market Complex. Railway authorities said the arrangement would continue till Sunday noon. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120752250300.htm Tamil Nadu - Erode Activists held for trying to take out protest rallies in Erode Staff Reporter Members of Hindu Munnani and Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam removed by police PHOTOS: M. GOVARTHAN Protest: Activists of Hindu Munnani took out a rally in Erode on Saturday, demanding the return of the disputed land in Ayodhya to Hindus and (right) members of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam took out another to press for action against demolition of the Babri Masjid. ? ERODE: Members of the Hindu Munnani and Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam tried to take out separate rallies in different parts of Erode on Saturday to mark the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary, which fell on Saturday. Nearly 100 members of the Hindu Munnani assembled near the Telephone Bhavan on Brough Road and took out a rally. Prevented As they tried to march towards the P.S. Park junction, the police prevented them from doing so and took them into custody. The police said that they had arrested 91 persons, including the Munnani?s State vice president Poosappan and Saravanan of BJP. Demand The Munnani members who took part in the agitation wanted to press their demand upon the Union Government to take steps to hand over the disputed land in Ayodhya to the Hindus for the purpose of building a Ram temple there. At Kalaimattu Silai, around 300 members of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam attempted to take out to a rally from the Silai junction to the railway station in order to press their demand on the occasion. As the group marched towards the station, the police intervened, stopped them from proceeding further and arrested the members. The police said that they had arrested a total of 290 persons who had taken part in the agitation. The TMMK members wanted the Union Government to keep the promises that the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao had made to Muslims and also to pursue legal action against those who had been responsible for bringing down the structure in Ayodhya. In Dharapuram, the police arrested 54 members of the Tamil Nadu Towheed Jamat for staging a protest near Anna Statue. The arrested include two women. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1211170 Babri anniversary, police warns protesters PTI Wednesday, December 3, 2008 18:48 IST CHENNAI: As some Muslim outfits in the state called for demonstrations on the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, police Wednesday said permission had not been given for any form of protest and warned that those staging agitations would be arrested. "We have not given permission to any sort of protest. If they try to picket, we will arrest them," Police Commissioner K Radhakrishnan told reporters here. His warning came following the announcement of some organisations, including Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), that they would stage demonstrations in various parts of the city to mark the demolition of Babri Masjid. The Commissioner said the police would make routine arrangements for security. http://www.twocircles.net/2008dec06/muslim_body_decide_not_hold_protest_against_babri_mosque_demolition.html Muslim body decide not to hold protest against Babri Mosque demolition Submitted by admin4 on 6 December 2008 - 4:10pm. ? Indian Muslim By IRNA, New Delhi : A Muslim body, All India Babri Masjid Re-building Committee (AIBMRC) fighting for rebuilding Babri Mosque in Ayodhya will not organize any protests on Saturday on the anniversary of demolition of the mosque to express solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The AIBMRC said it will, instead, send a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil urging her to order the rebuilding of Babri Mosque at its original site in Ayodhya or refer all disputes related to the issue to a Supreme Court for final order. "We will not be holding any demonstration or dharna on the 16th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Mosque due to the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai and to extend solidarity with the families of the hundreds of innocents who lost their lives or injured in the attacks," AIBMRC president Mohd Younus Siddique said in a statement today. Stating that President Pratibha Patil would be moved to transfer the Ayodha disputes to the apex court, Siddique said, "Whatever the decision (the Supreme Court takes, it) will be acceptable to the community as the community has full faith in Constitution, Judiciary and law and order." The Babri Mosque or Mosque of Babur was constructed by order of the first Mughal emperor of India, Babur, in Ayodhya, a city of Uttar Pradesh in the 16th century. It was demolished by 150,000 fanatic Hindus during a planned ceremony on December 6, 1992 despite a commitment to the Indian Supreme Court that the mosque would not be harmed. Since then Muslims are observing "Black Day" on 6th of December every year. More than 2000 people, were killed in the ensuing riots following the demolition. Riots broke out in many major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL891061 Immigrant stabbing prompts S.Spain riot, 6 arrests Mon Dec 8, 2008 10:40am EST MADRID, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Rioting immigrants set fire to cars, shops and rubbish containers in a town in southern Spain overnight after a Malian was stabbed to death while being mugged, police said on Monday. A Civil Guard statement said Sega S., 24, was stabbed on Sunday night and died from his injuries early on Monday. Police arrested three Moroccans, one of them the suspected killer. After the stabbing, a score of angry sub-Saharan immigrants gathered in La Mojonera, in southern Almeria province, and started fires in shops and rubbish bins. Police in riot gear were deployed to quell the riot and arrested two men from Ivory Coast and one from Guinea Bissau. There were similar riots in September in nearby Roquetas de Mar after a Senegalese man was stabbed to death when he tried to intervene in a dispute. Many emigrants from sub-Saharan Africa drown or die of exposure trying to cross the Straits of Gibraltar to Spain aboard small vessels and flimsy rafts in the hope of finding a better life in Europe. Some five million of Spain's 45 million population are immigrants, many of whom found work in a 12-year construction boom that has collapsed in the last year. Spain's unemployment rate is now the highest in the European Union, and the government has said it will pay unemployed foreigners to go home, an offer few seem to have taken up. (Reporting by Emma Pinedo; writing by Martin Roberts, editing by Tim Pearce) http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/081215-antilles-protest Stars of David in 'Dutch colonialism' protest RNW News 15-12-2008 Negotiations between the Netherlands and its former colonies in the Caribbean have been marred by protests and complaints of colonialism. Reacting to a demonstration on Sunday in the Cura?ao capital, Willemstad, Dutch Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Ank Bijleveld, said protesters had gone too far when they wore Stars of David to express their feeling of being discriminated against. During World War II, Jews in countries occupied by the Nazis were forced to wear a Star of David. The use of the symbol in the Cura?ao protest was "totally inappropriate", Ms Bijleveld told NOS television. Anti-colonialist protesters in Willemstad wearing Stars of David. (NOS tv screenshot) The protesters were accusing the Netherlands of neo-colonialism, because changes in the kingdom's make-up will give the Dutch government a greater say in the finances of Cura?ao and St Maarten. Both of these islands will get an autonomous status, as Aruba did earlier. Restructuring Deputy Minister Bijleveld and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende are in Willemstad for a Round Table Conference with political leaders of the Netherlands Antilles to discuss a restructuring of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom consists of the Netherlands in Western Europe and the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. Currently five of the six Antilles islands form one country with a single government, while Aruba gained semi-autonomy in 1986. Their status will change. National debt There is agreement in principle that the islands of Sint Maarten and Cura?ao will follow Aruba's earlier example and be granted autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The smaller islands of Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become special Dutch municipalities, resorting immediately under the Dutch Interior Ministry. The Dutch government has agreed to clear the Antilles' national debt of 1.7 billion euros, in exchange for a greater say in the finances of the islands. Precisely when the changes will go into effect is not yet clear. However, 1 January is now expected to be the new target date. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121954760300.htm Karnataka Protest in Goa against ?police high-handedness? Special Correspondent ________________________________________ 88 madrassa students, five teachers taken to police station ________________________________________ PANAJI: Muslims organisations led by the Association of All Goa Muslim Jamaats on Wednesday protested against what they described as police high-handedness against students and teachers of a Darul Uloom-cum-madrassa in Vasco on Tuesday. According to the management of the institution, the police took 88 schoolgirls and five teachers to the Vasco police station saying that the institution had failed to submit identity verification forms of staff and students despite being served sufficient notice. According to the verification details, which were submitted at the police station, the students mainly hail from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa, and a few are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. There are 94 girls and 37 boys studying in the madrassa. Outrage Addressing presspersons, leaders of the association and those of other organisations such as the All India Mili Council (Goa) expressed outrage and said the action of the police was uncalled for.. Darul Uloom in-charge Shaik Abdul Munaf and president of the madrassa Tahir Dawood said the police could have taken the management to task but had no business taking the children, most of whom were teenage girls, to the police station. They demanded suspension of Deputy Superintendent of Police Deu Banaulikar and Inspector Harish Madkaikar. They also announced that they would approach various human rights authorities to seek justice. The Vasco police tried to justify their action stating that a notice was sent to the madrassa asking it to send its students to Vasco police station to complete the identity verification process. The intervention of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat saved the situation from deteriorating further, the association members said. Mr. Munaf said that the institution had been running for 10 years. ?Every month, we have been submitting our report to the police,? he said. A police official said, ?We had been requesting the in-charge of the madrasa to submit the verification forms for the past 21 days, but they failed to do so. Their lethargic attitude forced us to go to the madrassa and round up the students, who are all outsiders.? ?Shock? The Citizens? Initiatives for Communal Harmony , a socio-activist organisation, on Wednesday expressed shock at the alleged police excesses and condemned the same, according to a press release. http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/18317828/detail.html?rss=lnta&psp=news Activists Protest Treatment Of Muslim Woman Lisa Valentine Refused To Remove Hajib In Courthouse POSTED: 12:21 pm EST December 19, 2008 DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. -- Civil rights activists gathered in Douglasville Friday to protest the treatment of a black Muslim woman who was briefly jailed Tuesday for refusing to remove her head scarf at a courthouse security checkpoint. Representatives of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations joined local members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to rally outside the Douglasville Municipal Court where police arrested Lisa Valentine, 40. A judge ordered Valentine to serve 10 days in jail for contempt of court after she refused to remove her traditional Muslim scarf, then uttered an expletive. Officials freed her hours later, after a national group urged a federal investigation. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/29/stories/2008122955180700.htm Kerala Vandalisation sparks protests among Christians Staff Reporter ALAPPUZHA: Three places of worship attached to different churches in Alappuzha were found vandalised on Sunday morning. The incident came to light when people came for the regular service. The St. Sebastian?s shrine of St. Mary?s Chapel at Vadasseri was the first to be found damaged. The same saint?s statue and shrine were found vandalised near the Mount Carmel Cathedral while a statue of St. Antony at St. Michael?s Church, Thathampally, was found damaged later. The incidents have sparked protests among the Christian community who took out a protest march. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=150667 Protest against non-inclusion of Julius Salik Friday, December 05, 2008 by Our correspondent Islamabad By putting dust all over himself, World Minorities Alliance President Julius Salik and other Christians held a protest here on Thursday against the government for not inviting even a single minority leader to the two-day National Security Conference convened by the Prime Minister recently. Around 200 members of the Christian community, including women and children, gathered in front of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club camp office under the leadership of Julius Salik raised slogans against the government and delivered short speeches with intervals. Julius Salik said that minorities constitute a substantial proportion of Pakistan?s population. He said that they had shed their blood in building Pakistan and defending it in the 1965 and 1971 wars. He regretted that now they are being neglected by the government. He also criticised the Capital Development Authority for not regularising services of contractual employees in its Directorate of Municipal Administration. He said almost half of sanitary workers have again been subjected to the cruel ?thekedari? system under which labourers get extremely minimal salaries. He said if the services of sanitary workers were not regularised by December 25, they would come on roads to protest against the CDA. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/121808dntexborderfence.1d6d615.html Protester interrupts work on Texas-Mexico border fence 02:48 PM CST on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Associated Press EL PASO, Texas ? A 55-year-old Army veteran hunkered down in front of construction crews who were building the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border Wednesday, halting work for several hours as authorities figured out who was responsible for removing her. Judy Ackerman was one of about a dozen people at a peaceful protest east of El Paso on Wednesday, and the white-haired woman sported a reflective vest and hard had while cheerfully chatting with authorities. About 20 workers milled around the site, leaning against heavy equipment and dump trucks and taking pictures of her with their cell phones. "They have a job to do, but today their job is to take a break," said Ackerman, a retired sergeant major who spent 26 years in the Army. Ackerman crossed a canal before workers arrived and took up a position on a levee where large steel poles were being erected. Border Patrol spokesman Ramiro Cordero said federal, state and local officials have spent several hours trying to determine who had the authority to remove her so work could resume. Work had been stopped for several hours in the desolate area several miles east of downtown El Paso, near the 370-acre Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. "They have this wonderful park here, and the wall is messing it up," said Ackerman, who said she's never been arrested before but said she wasn't worried about it. "This is life. The river is life. But not the wall; the wall is death." Ackerman was on land maintained by the International Boundary and Water Commission land, the binational agency that maintains the boundary between Mexico and the U.S. Al Riera, the principal engineer for the IBWC, said officials there were notified about her presence early Wednesday and told to contact authorities to have her removed. Officials were still trying to figure out the proper authority. Riera said this is the first such protest on IBWC land. Government officials said Tuesday 500 miles of fence has been built along the Southwest border. Congress authorized the fence in 2005. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks revived the immigration debate and advanced the idea of a border fence. Intelligence officials have said gaps along the Southwestern border could provide opportunities for terrorists to enter the country. http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=227230 Protester stops work on border fence 12/17/2008 1:28 PM By: Associated Press EL PASO, Texas ? A protester has stopped construction of a small section of the U.S.-Mexico border fence by standing in the path of workers and heavy equipment in El Paso. Judy Ackerman was one of about a dozen people at a peaceful protest Wednesday. Wearing a reflective vest and hard hat over her white hair, Ackerman stood on a levee where large steel poles were being erected in the middle of a canal. Border Patrol spokesman Ramiro Cordero said federal, state and local officials were conferring to determine who had the authority to remove her so work could resume. Work on the barrier had been stopped for several hours in the desolate area several miles east of downtown El Paso. Ackerman went to the levee early Wednesday, before workers arrived. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/from_the_source/Local_NAACP_protests_CVS.html Thursday, December 4, 2008 Local NAACP protests CVS J. Whyatt Mondesire, president Philadelphia NAACP, holds a news conference to react to the results of an investigation into CVS. The report claims that the drug store chain fails to provide equal and fair access to minorities. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer Philadelphia Daily News Philadelphia Inquirer The Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP and other community groups yesterday assailed CVS Pharmacies, alleging that a study reveals that the drugstore chain fails to provide equal and fair access to its stores and services in urban communities, overcharges customers and offers products of questionable quality. "After a year-long study, CVS, the largest retail drugstore chain in America today, is lousy corporate citizen." said Philadelphia NAACP president J. Whyatt Mondesire said at a press conference today. "We have found that the services and the stores provide evidence of questionable product quality, overcharging, lax privacy protection, consumer safety issues at CVS stores. ?.CVS is failing our community." http://www.cbsatlanta.com/news/18335409/detail.html?rss=lnta&psp=news Protest Held Against Immigration Training POSTED: 12:21 pm EST December 22, 2008 UPDATED: 12:30 pm EST December 22, 2008 ATLANTA -- Concerned Black Clergy protested an application by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department to deputize members of the department to implement portions of a federal immigration law. The group of primarily black ministers from predominantly black congregations in metro Atlanta held a news conference at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Vicars Community Center. Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway has applied for his department to receive training from the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Once trained, deputies would have access to federal immigration databases and would be able to begin deportation proceedings for illegal immigrants. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122057600300.htm Andhra Pradesh MRPS protesters arrested in Adilabad, Sangareddy Staff Reporter ADILABAD: Police on Friday arrested agitating activists of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) in Adilabad town as one of them climbed a cell phone tower. Earlier in the day, a few activists were arrested before they could block the passage of the Patna Purna Express at the local railway station. The MRPS activists were agitating for introducing of SC categorisation Bill in the current session of Parliament. Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: MRPS activists staged a ?rail-roko? at Ramayampet and Zaheerabad. Scores of them squatted on the tracks for some time and were later arrested by the police. http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=21553df6ea2bfd6f775c75b9e4a53126&from=rss Farm Workers Protest New Visa Rules Vida En El Valle, Posted: Dec 18, 2008 FRESNO, Calif. -- Activists denounced changes to the H-2A visa program, which they say reduce labor protections for farm workers who come to the United States from other countries, reports Vida En El Valle. The rule changes were proposed by the departments of Homeland Security and Labor and published on the DOL Web site Nov. 8, but they have not been formally adopted. Page 1 of 1 http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2008/12/17/124385d0cfda Parents protest at bilingual decision delay Updated at 9:04am on 18 December 2008 The parents of five Christchurch primary school children say they have nowhere to go next year after plans for an intermediate-level bilingual class were put on hold. The children have been studying te reo and tikanga Maori at Aorangi Primary School's bilingual unit. Principal Stephanie Thompson says she has been waiting for the Ministry of Education to decide whether the unit can expand to include Year 7 and 8 students. Ms Thompson says she was told on Tuesday that the decision has been put off for a year. The parents held a protest outside the ministry's Christchurch office on Wednesday morning, saying they will keep sending their children to Aorangi until a decision is made. In a statement, the Ministry of Education said it needed more time to ensure a solution is found that meets the needs of students in the wider area. It said it is exploring ways to help the small group of students affected by the decision. The principal of Finlayson Park School in Manurewa, Shirley Maihi, who is an advocate of bilingual education, said the ministry does nothing to promote it. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1047273.html Last update - 13:25 17/12/2008 Eritrean asylum seekers protest over lack of refugee status in Israel By Nurit Wurgaft Tags: Eritrea, asylum seekers Some 200 Eritrean nationals held a quiet demonstration outside the Defense Ministry offices in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, protesting limitations on their movement imposed by the state. The protesters, some of the estimated 4,000 Eritreans who have entered Israel illegally, thanked the Israeli authorities and people for their treatment, yet asked that limitations be dropped and that they be recognized as refugees. One of the protesters said he fled his country after being jailed and tortured for his political opinions. He said he managed to escape prison and arrived in Israel by land via Sudan and Egypt. Eritrea's ambassador to Israel, Tesfa Mariam, accused the protesters of lying in their claims of political persecution, and claimed Eritrea was a place where "harmonious ties exist between Muslims and Christians." The Interior Ministry has issued the Eritreans work permits and has not tried to repatriate any of them. However, it refuses to recognize them as refugees. "The protesters' complaints are unclear," a ministry spokesman said yesterday. "They have been issued work permits, even though they are not recognized as refugees, as a humanitarian gesture." http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121757880300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur Desecration of Ambedkar statue sparks protest Staff Reporter A Praja Rajyam activist cleansing an Ambedkar statue in Anantapur on Tuesday. ANANTAPUR: Activists of all political parties and Dalit organisatons staged a roadblock on Kadiri-Hindupur road in Obuladevara Cheruvu in the district on Tuesday protesting desecration of an Ambedkar statue. Miscreants allegedly garlanded the statue with footwear and liquor bottle with a notice against categorisation of SCs tagged to it. The protest disrupted the vehicular traffic on the road for about five hours. The statue beside the PR office there was found desecrated in the morning and activists of all parties gathered at the point within no time. Dharmavaram DSP Subramanyam, Nallamada Circle Inspector D.V. Kishore and Obuladevara Cheruvu SI Rami Reddy went to the protesters and assured them of action against the culprits. The protesters called off the agitation after the assurance was . In Anantapur, Praja Rajyam activists cleansed an Ambedkar statue with milk and submitted a memorandum to the SP demanding action against the culprits. http://www.daily.pk/local/other-local/8588-greek-rights-activists-protest-over-pakistanis-injury.html?tmpl=component&print=1&page= Greek rights activists protest over Pakistani?s injury Written by www.daily.pk Tuesday, 16 December 2008 04:01 Activists in Greece demanded the interior minister?s resignation on Monday over the severe injury of a Pakistani man in an alleged police attack on asylum-seekers. The 24-year-old Pakistani man has been in a coma since December 6. Petros Constantinou, an organiser with the Socialist Workers Party, said the migrant suffered head injuries when he fell into a dry riverbed trying to avoid a police charge. The allegations came as Greece faced its worst riots in decades, sparked by the fatal police shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Athens ? also on Dec 6. Activists called for concerted protests over the two incidents. Constantinou said the Pakistani was injured when police attacked 5,000 immigrants lining up overnight to submit asylum applications at a western Athens police office. Police say they are investigating the incident. They say riot police repulsed asylum-seekers who tried to jump the line. ?It was a brutal and obscene attack,? Constantinou said. ?We want (Interior Minister Procopis) Pavlopoulos to resign.? In October, another Pakistani asylum-seeker died after falling into the same riverbed while allegedly trying to avoid police. http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/world/10521329.asp Asylum-seekers riot in Athens after a man falls into a canal Hundreds of migrants waiting to submit asylum applications rioted in downtown Athens on Saturday, setting fire to garbage bins and attacking passing cars. Protesters said the riot began when one man fell into a nearby canal after authorities told the crowd that no more applications could be submitted Saturday. Only a small number of applications can be submitted each week. It was not immediately clear how the man fell into the canal. Police said he was injured and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. They said they were investigating the incident. Outraged asylum-seekers began setting fire to garbage cans and throwing them into the street, and ripped branches off trees to set them alight. A smaller group threw rocks at passing cars, stopping some vehicles and banging on them with their hands. There were no reports of any passers-by being injured. The riot lasted for about an hour, and riot police who were on standby nearby did not intervene. A fire truck extinguished the blazes. In October, a human rights group said a Pakistani man was fatally injured when he fell into the same canal. The group, Stop the War Coalition, said that the man had been trying to escape police after immigrants queuing to submit applications clashed with authorities. Police rejected claims they had any involvement in the mans death and said they had tried to repulse an attempt by a large group of migrants to jump the queue. Rights groups have often criticized Greeces treatment of illegal immigrants and the living conditions in detention centers. Greece approved only 140 of the 20,692 asylum applications made in 2007, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Tens of thousands of illegal migrants enter Greece each year. Many attempt dangerous sea crossings from nearby Turkey or brave minefields to make their way in. Greece has frequently asked for more help from the European Union to deal with the problem. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1214193 Workers protest demanding reservation for Lingayat community PTI Monday, December 15, 2008 20:39 IST Aurangabad: AURANGABAD: Shiva Akhil Bhartiya Veershaw Sanghatna demonstrated in Aurangabad and Nanded demanding reservation for the Lingayat wani and Lingayat communities, on Monday. Hundreds of workers of the association were arrested in both the cities and later released. In Aurangabad, the activists of the association staged a rasta roko in the Kranti Chowk area under the leadership of Manohar Dhonde. Dhonde, Ashok Phulsahar, Santosh Samberao and other activists were arrested and later released. Dhonde said that Lingayat community should be included in the Other Backward Class. The OBC reservation should be extended to 24 per cent from the present 19 per cent and five per cent should be given to the Lingayat community. http://www.anspress.com/nid98630.html Politic / 29.12.2008 16:04 Azerbaijani opposition party to hold protest action before Iranian Embassy Protest action is aimed at calling Iranian authorities to stop their pressure against Azerbaijanis living in the country. An Azerbaijani opposition party, Classic People`s Front Party will hold a protest action before Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan on December 31. The member of the party`s Supreme Council Shirin Jafari informed ANS PRESS that the aim of holding the protect action was due to increasing pressure exercised by Iranian authorities upon ethnic Azerbaijanis living in the country. According to him, although the party requested the Baku City Executive Power, their request was turned down. Therefore, the party decided to hold unsanctioned action. Anar Mammadov /ANS PRESS/ http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=249353 Russian Muslims Protest Anthem Contest Over Church Bells Requirement "There should be no political or religious themes in the anthem. It should be something that uplifts people and brings them together." http://philippinenews.com/article.php?id=3768 Activists continue protests throughout Christmas Published: December 27, 2008 | Author: Pasckie Pascua Total Views: 825 | Rating: LOS ANGELES? Activists here continue their unrelenting advocacy in support of various causes and in protest of other issues even as the community savors Christmas and the advent of a new year. The Filipino Veterans Support Bill, or SB 3689, remains as the foremost concern of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV). Despite failing energy, living FilVets stay active on the road, making their presence felt in mass actions and community gatherings, and taking the opportunity to speak their minds. On December 8, JFAV announced the formation of a partner organization, the Association of Widows, Advocates and Relatives for Equality (Aware) at a meeting held at the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) here. In San Francisco, FilVets Gomer Bondad and Reggie Nacua, with activists Ago Pedalizo and Violy Reyes, discussed the seemingly unresolved impasse on the lump sum clause of SB 36879, now pending in the US Congress, at a community meeting held at the ABS-CBN studio in Redwood City last December 10. ?The JFAV does not endorse SB 3689. We criticize the fact that it has no recognition for Filvets, it comes with a quit claim clause, and there?s no provision for widows of the veterans. We will pursue a different strategy and tactics on the veterans? equity struggle,? says a JFAV statement furnished Philippine News. On December 11, JFAV veteran leaders Faustino Baclig and Jack Vergara were present at a rally staged by the United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) union local at the Radisson Hotel here against the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Trouble has been dogging SEIU?s California locals. Last summer, some 6,000 UHW union members staged a rally in Manhattan Beach to oppose a plan by SEIU for ?centralize bargaining? and other issues. Local leaders charged that Andrew Stern, SEIU president, wants to divide and weaken their local union?by pressuring 65,000 of their members to transfer to ?his favored local??and punish them for demanding their own voice. Filipinos comprise more than 30 percent of the total healthcare workforce in California. Meanwhile, a group of ?First Quarter Stormers? here, collectively known as Kilusang Dekada 70, issued a statement to local media calling for the release by the Philippine government of peasant rights advocate Randall Echanis, a known First Quarter Storm activist. The First Quarter Storm was a period of unrest in the Philippines, composed of a series of heavy demonstrations, protests and marches against the government from January to March 1970, two years before the country was placed under Martial Law. Kilusang Dekada 70 questions the administration of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo why Jocelyn Bolante, a former Cabinet person who was accused of diverting the 780 million pesos of fertilizer fund for his ex-boss?s 2004 presidential campaign, should be freed and not Echanis. ?What is the difference between Bolante and Echanis? Is it because Bolante served Arroyo, that is why he is treated royally, and Echanis isn?t?and should rot like a common criminal?? queries KD70 spokesperson Bonifacio Inkana. Echanis, deputy secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Farmers Movement of the Philippines), was arrested in January this year by police agents as he prepared to attend a conference of agricultural workers in Bago City, Negros Occidental. Located in the western Visayas region of the Philippines, south of Manila, Negros Occidental is the second largest province in the country. Most of its people are sugarcane workers and farmers. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Fri Oct 23 22:11:32 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:11:32 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Protests, December 2008 - women, gay and disability rights Message-ID: <4AE28C84.50100@tesco.net> Women's liberation and gender protests * INDIA: Protests over BJP insult, TDP remarks * SCOTLAND/UK: March against domestic violence * GLOBAL: Protest over Facebook breastfeeding crackdown * KOREA: Riot cops attack comfort women protest * US: Indiana - Protest against slave trafficking Gay rights protests * ITALY: Protest against Vatican homophobia at UN * US: Seattle - Students protest anti-gay newspaper column * US: Florida - Protest targets governor's wedding * US: Arizona - Protest targets Mormon church * US: "Day without a gay" falls short of expectations * US: California - Bigot forced to resign after gay rights pickets * US: California - Gay marriage protest wave continues Disability rights protests * INDIA: Candlelight vigil for disability rights * UK: Direct action over benefits harassment * US: Texas - Protesters storm meeting over disability school * INDIA: Protest by special needs school students, teachers http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/naqvi-draws-flak-for-remarks-against-women-protesters_100126334.html Naqvi draws flak for remarks against women protesters December 2nd, 2008 - 7:55 pm ICT by IANS - New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is drawing flak for his remarks that some women ?wearing lipstick and powder? were running down politicians in Mumbai, with a group holding protests outside the party headquarters here Tuesday.Around 25 protesters from the voluntary organisation Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD) carried lipsticks and talcum powder boxes with them, besides placards. They asked passers-by to sign a statement condemning the BJP leader?s remarks and demanding an apology from the BJP. ?Shame on BJP?s politics of reaping hate harvest from terror tragedy,? read a placard. ?Stop dividing the nation,? read another. ANHAD?s Shabnam Hashmi told IANS: ?Women who use lipsticks and powder also have a right to protest. Democracy does not debar them.? Naqvi Monday evening said: ?Some women wearing lipstick and powder have taken to the streets in Mumbai and are abusing politicians, spreading disaffection against democracy.? ?This is what terrorists are doing in Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of saying ?Pakistan murdabad? (down with Pakistan), they are saying ?politicians murdabad?,? he said, referring to protests against the perceived inefficiency of the political leadership in preventing the terrorist strike that claimed 183 lives last week. ?These women have no faith in democracy and are similar to separatists who also worked with the same motive. There should be an inquiry into who these protesters are,? Naqvi told reporters in response to a query about the protests against politicians in Mumbai. The BJP Tuesday distanced itself from Naqvi?s remarks. Party general secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters the comment might be Naqvi?s personal opinion. ?An expression of dissent should be dignified. This statement has gone beyond that,? Jaitley said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122654810500.htm Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam Mahila Congress protests against Naidu?s remarks Staff Reporter VISAKHAPATNAM: In a novel protest, women activists of the Congress gagged themselves with black ribbons on Thursday condemning certain remarks made by Telugu Desam leader and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu against women in an interview with a TV channel. About 300 activists from the Mahila Congress went to the Gandhi statue near Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation and staged a protest by squatting on the lawn. City Mahila Congress president Vijaya Reddy later said that Mr. Naidu, who served the State as Chief Minister for nine years made uncharitable comments against women on Wednesday. He had lowered the image of women and shown utmost disrespect to them. Hence, he should tender unconditional apology, she said. Ms. Vijaya Reddy alleged that Mr. Naidu had behaved in most uncivilised manner at a time when Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was trying a lot for empowerment of women. She said Mr. Naidu should hang his head in shame for his remarks. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7762336.stm Wednesday, 3 December 2008 E-mail this to a friend Printable version Protesters to march against abuse Research suggests a victim will be abused 35 times before asking for help Campaigners against domestic violence are to take part in a special march through Stirling city centre. Marchers wearing white ribbons from local support groups, Central Scotland Police, the area's three councils and NHS Forth Valley are taking part. Those involved will make their way from Stirling Castle to the city's municipal buildings at Viewforth on Thursday as part of the 16 days of action project. The campaign aims to eliminate violence against women and raise awareness. Research shows a victim of domestic violence will be abused 35 times before they go to police. Figures also suggest that one in four women will be affected by domestic abuse at some time in their lives. Supporters of the campaign are being encouraged to wear white ribbons. Anne Salter, Stirling Council's lead officer for child protection, said: "A man wearing a white ribbon is making a personal pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. "By participating in the white ribbon campaign men can help create a culture where the behaviour of a minority, who treat women and girls with contempt or violence, becomes unacceptable. "Men can help to create a world based upon gender equality." The march, led by Central Scotland Police pipe band, is due to begin at Stirling Castle Esplanade on Thursday at 1800 GMT. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5417278.ece December 31, 2008 Protest as Facebook removes breastfeeding photos As part of a Facebook users' rebellion against the site, a group blitzed it with breastfeeding photos, some of which were taken down Mike Harvey, Technology Correspondent Alpha Mummy: Facebook needs to grow up A mass online protest movement is gathering pace after Facebook banned some breastfeeding photos from the social network site. Angry mothers even picketed the Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California, in a live "nurse-in" to complain about a ban on photos of mothers suckling their children that exposed too much of the mother's breast. Hundreds of women have had their pictures removed without warning and have been informed that they may be barred from using the site. More than 80,000 people have joined a Facebook petition group "Hey Facebook, Breast-feeding is not Obscene" with hundreds joining every hour. More than 11,000 women from around the world have also taken part in an online "nurse-in" protest on Saturday by posting more breastfeeding pictures. The protest's organisers reported that many have since had these photos removed from the site. Facebook has said that it has no problem with breastfeeding but photos that showed nipples or aureolae were indecent and had to be removed. Barry Schnitt, a Facebook spokesman, said the website takes no action over most breast-feeding photos because they follow the site's terms of use. "We agree that breast-feeding is natural and beautiful and we're very glad to know that it is so important to some mothers to share this experience with others on Facebook.'' But, he added, some photos were removed to ensure the site remains safe and secure for all users, including children. "Photos containing a fully exposed breast - as defined by showing the nipple or areola - do violate those terms on obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit material and may be removed," he said in a statement. "The photos we act upon are almost exclusively brought to our attention by other users who complain." Patricia Madden, from San Jose, had a photograph of her breastfeeding her daughters Zoe and Isobel removed from the site. The birth doula, who encourages new mothers to breast-feed, was photographed by her husband while feeding in the bathtub. "It's amazing to me that we're living in a world where people are upset by this,'' she said. "You can't see my nipples. It's completely legal to breast-feed in public. Breast-feeding is completely natural and healthy. They took off the photo, without my permission," she told the San Jose Mercury News. The live protest in Palo Alto, under the banner of the Mothers International Lactation Campaign, attracted a handful of mothers and supporters who picketed peacefully, armed with suckling children and placards. It is legal to breastfeed in public in most states in America and in many countries around the world including Britain but Facebook's terms of service give it the right to remove content that it deems it to be inappropriate. Campaigners say that breastfeeding is natural and healthy and should be not bracketed with pornography. Facebook's stance demeans and stigmatises women, they say. Heather Farley, 23, of Provo, Utah, said she was surprised when Facebook took down two photos of her nursing her 6-month-old daughter, one of which was her profile picture. She became of the protest's organisers. She said: "Where I live, I can breast-feed in public or private, and there are laws that say it's not obscene or lewd or indecent. If I can do it in public, why can't I do it on Facebook?" Censoring such images, she said, reinforces stigmas that discourage mothers from a healthy, natural practice. Angry at the site, but not wanting to lose her online friend network by unsubscribing, she decided to take action. The online petition on Facebook, which has more than 120 million members around the world, has sparked a furious debate with more than 1,500 discussion topics on the petition's homepage. Most comments are supportive but some ask why, if breastfeeding mothers don't like being censored on Facebook, they don't join another free site which does allow them to post their pictures. http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/16/south-korea-riot-police-suppressed-comfort-women-protest/ South Korea: Riot Police Suppressed Comfort Women Protest Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 @ 06:24 UTC by Oiwan Lam Michael Solis from Ohmynews! reported (with a video) about the Korean comfort women protest on 10 of December, 60th anniversary of the United Nations' proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, the government sent riot police to suppress the peaceful protest. http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_337212845.html Published: December 02, 2008 09:28 pm ISU Students protest sex slave problem in the world By Crystal Garcia The Tribune-Star TERRE HAUTE ? Indiana State University?s Dede Plaza was filled with chains and signs Tuesday as members of the International Justice Mission student chapter worked to bring awareness to human trafficking. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., students chained themselves to pillars, holding signs that read ?Children are forced to have sex in 112 countries (including the U.S.),? or ?4 and up = sex slaves.? They are expected to be out again today during the same time. ?We?re out here trying to raise awareness about the truths of human trafficking,? said Ashley Chase, chapter president. Chase said there are 27 million slaves around the world, which is more than at any other time in history. Of those, 2 million are sex slaves as young as 4, she said. She emphasized that this is a problem in the United States as well, which will be showcased in a movie the group is showing for free at 7 p.m. Friday at the Cunningham Memorial Library. ?Ninety-two percent of adult Americans believe slavery no longer exists,? Chase said, noting that 17,000 people are trafficked across American borders a year. Reactions from passersby varied, she said, explaining that some people knew about the issue but didn?t know how to get involved. Others ignored them altogether. What surprised her, though, were the people who told them they didn?t care about the problem, Chase said. She said she has expected some people to ignore them, but not to actually tell them they didn?t care. ?These people are not that different from us,? she said. ?They?re not from impoverished nations where we can?t relate.? International Justice Mission began in 1997. It focuses on seeking relief for the abused and oppressed as well as raising awareness and educating citizens about the injustices around the world. Cases include bonded slavery, commercial sexual exploitation and abuse, illegal land seizure, wrongful imprisonment and police brutality. ISU?s chapter was established three weeks ago and has between 30 and 40 members. For more information, visit www.ijm.org, or contact Chase at achase2 at indstate.edu. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/244506,gay-rights-activists-protest-vaticans-stance-on-undocument.html Gay rights activists protest Vatican's stance on UNdocument Posted : Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:12:19 GMT Author : DPA Category : Europe (World) Genoa, Italy - A group of gay rights activists in Italy staged Wednesday a protest against the Vatican's refusal to endorse a proposed United Nations resolution calling on governments to de- criminalize homosexuality. The demonstrators, numbering around 20, unfurled a banner reading "The Vatican is an accomplice in our martyrdom," in front of the offices of the archdiocese of Genoa, the ANSA news agency reported. The north-western port city is scheduled to host Italy's national Gay Pride celebrations in 2009. Also Wednesday, Italian Communist daily Liberazione invited protestors to take their grievance directly to the Vatican when the resolution will be tabled in New York, possibly later this month. Protestors could attend the Pope's traditional Angelus blessing in St Peter's Square "wearing pink, a shirt or something else," in a reference to the colour of the triangle gay people were forced to wear in Nazi death camps during World War II, Liberazione said. The protests stem from remarks on Monday by the Vatican's permanent observer to the UN, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, that the Holy See would oppose the resolution, which France is due to propose later this month on behalf of the 27-member European Union. Migliore said its implies the possibility that nations which did not recognize same-sex unions as "matrimony" would face pressure to do so. Gay rights groups and many commentators in Italy and elsewhere have assailed the Vatican's stance towards a move which they say is intended to safeguard human rights. Homosexuality is currently punishable by law in more than 85 countries and by death in a number of them, including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen. The Vatican has since moved to quell some of the uproar caused by Migliore's remarks. Pope Benedict XVI's spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, said "no one wants the death penalty or jail or fines for homosexuals." However, he noted the Holy See was not in the minority on the resolution as "fewer than 50" member states of the UN have adhered it while more than 150 have not. The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are. It also says that sexual intercourse between men and women should only take place within marriage with the objective to procreate. http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/Protest_near_Vatican_denounces_policy__1206.html Protest near Vatican denounces policy on gays by AP News Protest near Vatican denounces policy on gays Peaceful protest near St. Peter's Square denounces Vatican policy on gays Staff AP News Dec 06, 2008 15:02 EST Gay rights proponents have denounced the Vatican's policy on homosexuals in a small protest near St. Peter's Square. About 200 people, including some Italian politicians, gathered just outside Vatican City's borders Saturday evening to protest the church's opposition to initiatives to decriminalize homosexuality in all countries. The Vatican's envoy to the United Nations recently said that the Holy See opposes a proposed U.N. declaration to decriminalize homosexuality. The Vatican says unjust forms of discrimination must be avoided. But it is worried that any U.N. resolution against discrimination on gender could pressure countries to recognize same-sex marriages. The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual activity is sinful. Source: AP News http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/156252.asp?source=mypi Students protest anti-gay column in UW paper Students at the University of Washington are assembling in the Husky Union Building to protest the publication of an opinion piece in their student newspaper last month that argues against gay marriage and calls homosexuality an "emotional" tendency and a "problem that needs to be dealt with, not denied." For a campus issue, this has wide interest. The Facebook group associated with the protest has more than 1,100 members. And events leading up to the protest have received frequent, aggressive and by no means neutral coverage from the Seattle weekly The Stranger -- as well as coverage from the P-I School Zone blog and this article in today's Seattle Times. "The Daily has the right to post what it wants," rally organizer Kyle Rapinan told The Stranger. But "we want The Daily to apologize for the image it chose and not checking Fay's article for accuracy." Daily editor-in-chief Sarah Jeglum told the Times she supports balanced viewpoints and doesn't plan to give the apology student protesters have asked for. The protest is scheduled from 12:30 to 1:30. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008474894_webuwrally05m.html Originally published December 5, 2008 at 6:05 PM | Page modified December 5, 2008 at 6:20 PM Comments (36) E-mail article Print view Hundreds rally at UW against anti-gay marriage column in campus newspaper About 200 people attended a rally Friday at the University of Washington to protest an anti-gay marriage column that ran in the student newspaper, The Daily. Protesters say language in the column, including a reference to bestiality, coupled with the accompanying image of a man standing next to a sheep, amounted to hate speech. But speakers differed on whether the paper should be censured. By Nick Perry Seattle Times higher education reporter About 200 people attended a rally Friday at the University of Washington to protest an anti-gay marriage column that ran in the student newspaper, The Daily. Protesters say language in the column, including a reference to bestiality, coupled with the accompanying image of a man standing next to a sheep, amounted to hate speech. But speakers differed on whether the paper should be censured. Ana Mari Cauce, the UW's dean of arts and sciences, talked about her own struggles coming out as a lesbian and the hurt she felt in reading the column. "But the antidote to free speech is more free speech," she said. "I am thankful that I am living in a country where everyone has the right to express their opinions." On the other hand, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) this week passed a resolution demanding the paper apologize. However, the editor-in-chief of The Daily, Sarah Jeglum, said this week she stands behind the decision to run the column and isn't planning any sort of apology. In a Friday column, Jeglum said she'd learned "Free speech is for everyone. It's not just for the majority, and it's not just for the minority." That difference of opinion, if not resolved, could lead to a showdown between the editors of the paper and the elected student-body representatives who sit on the publications board which oversees The Daily. Dave Iseminger, GPSS vice president, hinted at such a showdown when he said at the rally that lacking an apology, his group may work to change the composition of the paper's editorial board. UW President Mark Emmert has also weighed in, taking out a half-page ad in The Daily on Friday in which he says the university is committed to ensuring a welcoming environment for students from "all different backgrounds, including sexual orientation." He goes on to say the university is also committed to free speech and the free exchange of ideas. Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry at seattletimes.com http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008475558_uwrally06m.html December 6, 2008 at 12:00 AM Comments (119) E-mail article Print view Voices raised over column at UW About 200 people attended a rally Friday at the University of Washington to protest an anti-gay marriage column that ran in the student newspaper, The Daily. By Nick Perry Seattle Times higher education reporter KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES From left, University of Washington students Kyle Rapinan, Katy Rice and Jessica Eggerth and Carl Davis, a senior at The Evergreen State College, lead a protest against The Daily, which published an anti-gay-marriage column with a controversial illustration. About 200 people attended a rally Friday at the University of Washington to protest an anti-gay-marriage column that ran in the student newspaper, The Daily. Protesters say language in the column, including a reference to bestiality, and the accompanying image of a man standing next to a sheep amounted to hate speech. But speakers differed on whether the paper should be censured. Ana Mari Cauce, the UW's dean of arts and sciences, spoke of her struggles coming out as a lesbian and the hurt she felt in reading the column. "But the antidote to free speech is more free speech," she said. "I am thankful that I am living in a country where everyone has the right to express their opinions." On the other hand, the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) this week passed a resolution demanding the paper apologize. However, The Daily's editor-in-chief, Sarah Jeglum, said she stands behind the decision to run the column and isn't planning an apology. In a Friday column, Jeglum said she had learned "Free speech is for everyone. It's not just for the majority, and it's not just for the minority." That difference of opinion, if not resolved, could lead to a showdown between the editors of the newspaper and the elected students who sit on the publications board that oversees The Daily. Dave Iseminger, GPSS vice president, said his group might seek changes at the newspaper through its seat on the publications board ? unless the paper apologizes. UW President Mark Emmert has weighed in, taking out a half-page ad in Friday's issue of The Daily in which he says the university is committed to ensuring a welcoming environment for students from "all different backgrounds, including sexual orientation." He went on to say the university is committed to free speech and the free exchange of ideas. Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry at seattletimes.com http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/02/na-gay-rights-protest-set-for-nuptials/news-breaking/ Gay Rights Protest Set For Nuptials By CATHERINE DOLINSKI cdolinski at tampatrib.com Published: December 2, 2008 TALLAHASSEE - Gay rights activists plan to demonstrate outside Gov. Charlie Crist's wedding to Carole Rome this month. The group Impact-Florida has called on its members to gather in pink T-shirts outside First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg on Dec. 12 to "congratulate" Crist and Rome while their wedding takes place inside. The demonstration will continue outside the wedding reception at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in downtown St. Petersburg. "After the positive congratulatory observance, there will be a candlelight vigil close to the Vinoy in downtown St. Pete to mourn the loss of gays' right to get married," the group's Web site states, referring to the gay marriage ban that passed by ballot initiative in November. Crist endorsed Amendment 2 before its passage. It needed 60 percent of the vote to become part of the state Constitution; it got 61.9 percent. Impact-Florida spokeswoman Lorna Bracewell said the event will be peaceful and respectful. The group hopes for 1,000 protesters. "Our goal is to celebrate the governor's and every Floridian's fundamental right to marry," said Bracewell, a singer and songwriter from St. Petersburg. "Our theme is going to be, Congratulations Governor - When I Can Get Married?" Bracewell, who voted for Crist in 2006, said she does not blame Crist for the amendment's passage. "But our organization sees in his wedding an opportunity to illustrate the unfairness and the injustice of Amendment 2." She was surprised when Crist endorsed the measure and said she would not vote for Crist again. Bracewell and her partner of three years entered into a domestic union in May 2007. John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council, which led the charge to pass Amendment 2, said the activists "ought to be ashamed of themselves" over protest plans. "It's just extraordinarily bad taste," Stemberger said. "Irrespective of politics and what you think about the man, this is his and his new bride's special day. It's very upsetting to me that they would take advantage of that and turn it into some kind of political thing." Crist's office did not respond to a request for comment. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081213-177811/Gays-protest-Florida-governors-wedding Gays protest Florida governor's wedding Agence France-Presse First Posted 16:04:00 12/13/2008 Filed Under: Politics, relationships and dating, Wedding, Protest ST. PETERSBURG, Florida -- Hundreds of protestors convened on the church where Florida Governor Charlie Crist was married Friday to express their anger at the state's decision to outlaw same-sex marriage. Around 250 demonstrators gathered outside downtown St. Petersburg's red-brick First United Methodist Church where Crist, 52, and Carole Rome, 39, were married. It was the second marriage for both. Some held up signs of protest while others wore pink T-shirts with black decals on the front and back that read "Congratulations Governor Crist. When can I get married?" The demonstration was organized by a group called Impact Florida, which opposes Amendment 2, a ban on same-sex marriage that was added to the state's constitution in the November election. Similar state amendments banning same-sex marriage passed last month in California and Arizona. The US federal government does not recognize gay marriage, which is currently allowed only in Massachusetts and Connecticut. "Our goal is to have marriage for all Floridians," said the group's director, Lorna Bracewell. "There's not a pleasant way of bringing out injustice and there's no version of protesting injustice without hurting somebody's feelings." http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/02/1202gay.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=76 Ceremony affirms gay partnerships, protests legal barrier to marriage By Ken Kaye South Florida Sun-Sentinel Tuesday, December 02, 2008 FORT LAUDERDALE ? They stood hand in hand and exchanged vows on a breezy, cloudy morning on the front lawn of a church. When the ceremony came to an end, the Rev. Durrell Watkins declared, "You may now kiss your significant other." And so they did, about 50 couples in all, in what appeared to be a mass wedding. In reality, however, it was more of an affirmation between partners because most of the participants were gay. In Florida and 29 other states, gay couples are not allowed to legally marry. For that reason, the ceremony Sunday at Sunshine Cathedral, a Christian church that welcomes gay and lesbian members, also was a protest against the recently approved Amendment 2. The new addition to the Florida Constitution defines marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. "We are gathered here as friends, and we are gathered here as justice seekers," Watkins said, addressing the congregants. "We are waiting for the day when all partnerships will be legally recognized." Among the gay couples were men and women, young people and senior citizens. While some have been together for 25 years, Dennis Winstead and Richard Killian met only last week. Winstead said the ceremony was an opportunity for gay people to be more visible. "We can express true feelings for each other and for our fellow man - and woman," he said. Russ Wilson and Scott Lappin of Boca Raton, who have been together four years, wore matching white shirts and gave each other a single red rose for the ceremony. "We're just celebrating the plunge we've already made together," Lappin said. "This is a milestone," Wilson added. During a sermon prior to the ceremony, Watkins noted the gay community is battling two "oppressive" diseases, one being AIDS and the other homophobia. He said hope is needed to combat both. "Now, discrimination is being written into state constitutions," he said. "We will speak out. We will reclaim our sacred value and we will not give up hope." Although Watkins made clear that his Rite of Blessing ceremony was not legally binding, he still provided certificates commemorating the event to those couples who wanted them. "Today we stand in the open to celebrate who we are," Watkins told the participants. "We are bound not by a law, but by integrity." http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705266867,00.html Gay-marriage supporters protest at Arizona LDS temple Associated Press Published: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 11:31 a.m. MST 57 comments SHARE | E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - Facebook Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon MESA, Ariz. ? Supporters of gay marriage were out in force when Christmas displays were lit Friday night at an LDS Church temple. They were upset with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' opposition to same-sex marriage and the passage of state constitutional amendments banning gay marriage in Arizona, California and Florida in the Nov. 4 election. LDS Church leaders urged members to support the gay-marriage bans through fundraising and grass-roots organizing. "They're shining their light, we're shining ours," said Bobby Parker, a gay Mormon who organized the event. Many members of the gay, lesbian and transgender community view Mormon votes and dollars as the deciding factor behind the passage of Proposition 102 in Arizona and Proposition 8 in California. Proposition 102 amends the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman and maintains the current statutory laws that ban gay marriage in Arizona. Proposition 8 amended the California Constitution in a similar way and nullified a state Supreme Court ruling that allowed gay marriage. Members of the LDS Church contributed about $3 million of the $8 million raised in the "Yes on 102" campaign to amend the Arizona Constitution, according to the East Valley Tribune/Scottsdale Tribune. Community members and organizers spread word of Friday night's vigil through the Internet and by word of mouth. Protesters holding candles, rainbow flags, peace signs and banners with the words love, acceptance and harmony gathered at a park in support of gay marriage rights. Others raised concerns that political and religious suppression of gay rights contributed to the suicide of religious gay teens, and many were upset about church involvement in political affairs. Many counter-protesters said the core definition of a family was at risk from gay marriage. Others said their rights as a voter would be violated if the recent Nov. 4 decision were to be overturned. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/10/BAUV14LPE2.DTL 'Day without a gay' protest fizzles Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, December 11, 2008 Activists had billed Wednesday as "a day without a gay," when gays and lesbians across the country would call in sick, boycott shopping and show the impact of their absence from everyday life. Designed to be a protest against the Nov. 4 passage of Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, the day's events drew only scattered support in the Bay Area, the heart of the gay rights movement, and also criticism. Several gay and lesbian people said they couldn't afford to take the day off, particularly in a tightening economy where many are concerned about their jobs. And in the Castro district, business owners were livid that people were encouraged to not shop during the holidays, a peak time for retailers. "Our rights have been taken away as much as anyone else's," said Rich Boutell, who runs Whatever comics on Castro Street and whose marriage was thrown into limbo with the Nov. 4 election. He and his husband, Cougar Andrews, kept their store open and wished the "day without a gay" organizers had encouraged gay-allied individuals to patronize gay-owned businesses. "The whole purpose should be to support your own, not to boycott. If you're going to have a protest, it should be a positive thing. The gay dollar is powerful." Those who did take off work said they did it with the cooperation of employers. They included Glenn Coffee, 48, a Noe Valley resident who works at Macy's and said the store has always been supportive of gay employees and the gay community. The main purpose, he said, of calling in sick was to show that "as a community, we can show we have worth." The day's events prompted a mixed response, which might indicate that the gay rights movement is still finding its voice. Gay and lesbian people are included in ways never imagined decades ago, such as domestic partnership rights in states across the nation and being included by a presidential candidate in his election-night victory speech. But there are also dramatic challenges. Thirty states, including California, explicitly ban same-sex marriage, and Arkansas voters recently passed a ballot measure to ban unmarried couples from adopting children, an initiative directly aimed at thwarting gay and lesbian parenthood. Religious groups, students, business owners and shoppers all had different views of a day focused on gay rights. A group of Bay Area Catholics gathered in the Castro district on Wednesday evening for a prayer vigil to atone for the actions of church leaders. Because Wednesday was also International Human Rights Day, they focused their efforts on the rights of gays and lesbians. "The church we belong to, that I adore, that I feel very much a part of in terms of social justice, supported the passage of Proposition 8," said Linda Swan, 57, of San Francisco, who attends St. John of God Church in the Inner Sunset. "That just doesn't seem to be right. The church has the right to say who can receive the sacrament of marriage in the church, but not to keep people from their civil rights. " Some of the most disparate ideas emerged at a noontime rally at Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus. Organizers joined two causes not often put in the same context: financial aid for undocumented immigrants and same-sex marriage rights. "We're all Californians," said Yvette Felarca, as she stood with roughly a dozen activists speaking to students. "We all have a right to the dignity and respect of the state we built." One audience member, Mary Pham, said she was listening because she came to learn. "I'm not sure what a day without gays is," said Pham, 21, who is bisexual and who heard of the events through friends and Facebook, an online social networking site. She wasn't aware of the movement for financial aid for undocumented students, but, she said, "I want to undo Prop. 8." A larger event occurred Wednesday evening in San Francisco's Mission District, where roughly 500 same-sex marriage supporters gathered for a rally at the 24th Street BART station before marching north on Valencia Street while joining in chants such as "Gay, straight, black, white/Marriage is a civil right." One speaker, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, said that continued protests in response to the passage of Prop. 8 are important "so people understand that this is sustainable ... What I like is that it's organic." Earlier, In the Castro district, Luis Felix said that he learned of the "day without a gay" only on Tuesday night. Even if he'd learned earlier, he still would have come into work at Louie's Barber Shop. The reason was simple, he said: "I need to work." http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8517 The Protests Are Working--Keep Them Up! by: MauraHennessey Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 10:11:14 AM EST The protests are working. Every time that the enemies of our equality fire back and try to intimidate us into disavowing the protests, they are admitting fear of us and that we are succeeding. If we buy into their propaganda by reacting to it this time, we lose what is obviously a winning strategy. We cannot win the war of words or a debate because they are incapable of compromise or change. Their understanding of their God forbids it. Yes, we are protesting, yes it is directed at a conspiratorial organisation claiming to be a religion as well as individuals. And yes, we will KEEP ON protesting to deter others from denying us citizenship, equality. Come on, people, we are human beings and American Citizens. Have we bought into their "special rights" claim and thereby ceeded our right to demand, to insist upon freedoms guaranteed in the US Constitution and the California Constitution? Are we giving away our right to oppose an oppressor who for over two centuries has used Biblical Nuremberg Laws to try and to exclude us from American Life, as the ones in Germany excluded the Jews? Wake the f+ck up!!!! MauraHennessey :: The Protests Are Working--Keep Them Up! Denying us rights to adopt sets in stone our status as unfit parents for cases involving biological parents. Denying us marriage keeps the mythos of promiscuous fornicators alive. And they will deny us our freedom to love, they want Lawrence reversed. These same groups are very clear on that. Denying us equality sets us apart from the American mainstream and lends a governmental sanction in favour of those groups inciting violence against us in the end.. We cannot be scared off by this propaganda from these Goebbels' of the Christian and Mormon Right. Yes, we protest; yes we make their activities against us a burden and yes we are interfering in their lives just as they have interfered with the most intimate aspect of our lives And yes, we will continue to do so til we have full American Citizenship http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,465413,00.html Major Victory for Prop 8 Protesters Thursday, December 11, 2008 | FoxNews.com By Greg Gutfeld Today, I salute gays for a major civil rights victory: They forced some old lady to quit her job. After Proposition 8 passed, angry gays discovered that Margie Christoffersen ? who fills pitchers at El Coyote restaurant in Los Angeles ? had given cash to the cause, which restricted the definition of marriage to include only straights. So they picketed her place of business with hilarious protest signs until the evil lady finally resigned. Now, some might say this is nothing like Rosa Parks on the bus. But they're wrong. I mean, it takes guts to ruin some old lady's life just because she supports a bill based on her silly religious beliefs! Seriously, if I was there, I would have thrown paint on her ? a soft lilac shade, of course. But why stop there? Now that you banished the old broad, get your ass down to those other parts of town where you don't brunch and give those blacks and Mexicans a piece of your mind. And, when you're done, why not the Muslims ? who are not only against you marrying, but living too! Look, I'm all for gay marriage, but just because some folks aren't as enlightened as you are, doesn't mean you can treat them like poop. No one is going to take you seriously until you protest more seriously. Blacks sat in restaurants where they weren't welcome and women protested outside the White House for days on end. But instead of picketing a Cineplex playing a Tyler Perry movie, gays hit a joint in West Hollywood a few blocks from a busy gay bar. And to that I say: Comer con gusto! http://www.wsoctv.com/politics/18330880/detail.html?rss=char&psp=nationalnews Prop. 8 Opponents Stage Protests Debate Over Same-Sex Marriage In California Continues Posted: 4:09 pm EST December 21, 2008Updated: 5:01 pm EST December 21, 2008 SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The debate over same sex-marriage in California continues. Calif. Sees More Prop 8 Protests California Attorney General Jerry Brown is now urging the state's Supreme Court to void Proposition 8. Those against gay marriage said they are hoping the courts will nullify marriages that happened before the proposition was passed. Opponents of Proposition 8 staged protests across the nation and around the Central Coast Saturday. The stories are different in scope. "I don't believe that this is a sexual preference issue. I believe that it's an issue of civil rights and equal rights," said Julie Wooden, of Boulder Creek. Yet, they remain connected. For Louis Bonsignore, a former member of the Log Cabin Republicans, most members in his party have taken their opposition to same-sex marriage too far. "To see the Republican Party become so anti-gay, to see it become intolerant of any lifestyle, other than the one they believe in, has really upset me," Bonsignore said. It's why Bonsignore and nearly 500 others said they held a vigil in downtown Santa Cruz to support the 18,000 same-sex marriages in question because of Proposition 8. "We have friends and relatives I believe should have the same rights we do, as a happily married couple," Wooden said. Wooden said she and her family braved the brisk elements to participate in this battle to change hearts and minds. "I believe that lots of peoples' resistance is based on fear and ignorance and I believe that once that's removed, people will understand and change their minds," Wooden said. Wooden, her family and many others said they intend to continue their rallying cry until Proposition 8 is overturned. "I will stand and fight for their rights as long as I'm breathing," Wooten said. "We will continue this fight until marriage equality is the law of California," Bonsignore said. The California Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling on the validity of Proposition 8 in the spring of next year. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-naftali/proposition-8-and-religio_b_140716.html Timothy Naftali Posted November 3, 2008 | 07:57 PM (EST) Los Angelinos won't naturally see the corner of Imperial Highway and Yorba Linda Boulevard in Northern Orange County, if they can conceive of where it is, as a mirror of social change. But every night last week dozens of people were demonstrating on both sides of Proposition 8, the attempt to roll back the California Supreme Court's decision in May to end the state ban on same-sex marriages. The marching formed a revealing pattern. Late in the afternoon a group of middle-agers (with a few kids) would start waving "Yes" signs only to be equaled in number by young people waving "No on 8" signs, some handmade, by dusk. Both sides believed they were standing up for the best traditions of this country. Some of the "Yes on 8" signs made the argument that voting against this civil right was a vote for "freedom of religion" and "free speech." Meanwhile, on Tuesday and Wednesday at least, I noticed that the only demonstrators carrying an American flag were those with "No on 8" signs. American history, logic and justice are on the "No" side. The "Yes on 8" forces are trying to win by confusing people about what this proposition means. Freedom of religion or free speech is not at stake. Our governments -- local, state and the federal government -- regularly license activities by consenting adults that some religious groups find incompatible with their beliefs. But do the existence of state liquor licenses imply a curb on the freedom of religion of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? And what about the Food and Drug Administration's monitoring of pork products? Is this, in any way, an attempt by government to hamper the religious practices of Orthodox Jews or Muslims? No, of course not. Our earliest founders were Puritans who had experienced discrimination because their beliefs and practices differed from those of the Established Church in England. As a result, from the Mayflower through the formation of the United States, our civic leaders sought to create a society where individuals were free to practice whatever religion they chose and where government would remain neutral on religious preferences. The "No on 8" kids carrying the US flag had it right because Proposition 8 would do what this country was set up not to do: to use government (state government, in this case) to take sides in a religious debate. In its decision, the Supreme Court of California did not mandate that churches perform same-sex religious ceremonies or that same-sex marriages be discussed in schools. It is left to churches and school boards to make those decisions. Voting "Yes," on the other hand, would place a clause in the California state constitution that would discriminate against gays and lesbians. It would send a message that as a matter of principle same-sex marriages were illegitimate. One handmade "No on 8" sign in Yorba Linda pointedly reminded passing motorists that some of the same arguments used by the "Yes" side were once trotted out to outlaw interracial marriages. Indeed, until the Supreme Court of California's decision in Perez v. Sharp in 1948, interracial couples did not share the constitutional "right to marry" in California. Somehow gays and lesbians forming enduring, loving couples is a threat to traditional families. It boggles the mind why American society would have an interest in promoting promiscuity and a sense of exclusion in our community. We are your friends and neighbors. The "No on 8" kids marching in Yorba Linda get that. The fate of this issue is still too close to call. But if "Yes" should eke out a victory tomorrow, it is only a matter of a few years before this blot on the California constitution is repealed. Let's hope that we don't have to wait more than a matter of hours for Proposition 8 to be consigned to the ash heap of bad political ideas. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=421076 GLOBAL NEWS : New star-studded Web video protests Proposition 8 Updated December 04, 2008 09:16 AM NEW YORK (AP) -Since Proposition 8 passed in California, much of Hollywood has been up in arms. Now, they are singing and dancing, too, in a new Web video called "Prop 8: The Musical." The video was posted Wednesday on FunnyOrDie.com, the video site co-founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. The site has found a niche in getting professional talent to quickly create topical comedy videos. "Prop 8: The Musical" may be a 3-minute Internet video, but it has a blockbuster cast including Jack Black (who plays Jesus), Neil Patrick Harris, John C. Reilly, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Margaret Cho, Rashida Jones and others. Though Jesus doesn't bring the two sides together, Harris has better luck. He argues gay marriage could save the economy: "Every time a gay or lesbian finds love at the parade, there's money to be made." The video was conceived and written by Marc Shaiman, the Tony Award-winning composer of "Hairspray" and "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut." McKay, who had previously collaborated with Shaiman on the song-and-dance routine Ferrell, Black and Reilly did at the Oscars earlier this year, sent him an e-mail floating the idea of a video. Shaiman had been involved in a more serious debate over Proposition 8. After voters approved Proposition 8, which changed the state's constitution to ban same-sex marriage, it was revealed that Scott Eckern, the artistic director of the California Musical Theater in Sacramento (the state's largest nonprofit musical theater company) had donated $1,000 to the "Yes on 8" campaign. Shaiman's "Hairspray" had played at the theater and he said he would never allow anything he wrote to play there because of Eckern's donation. Others protested and Eckern resigned in November. In an interview Wednesday, Shaiman regretted that it came to Eckern losing his job and said: "It's a tragedy for everyone involved. You'll certainly see that no one called for him to resign." The video for Funny or Die was a lighter-hearted protest. Shaiman wrote the piece in a day, recorded it the next and shot it in a single day last week. "It was like, `Eureka! That's right, that's what I do!" said Shaiman of the mini-musical. "If I'm going to stand on the soap box, at least let me sing and dance." http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08345/933978-51.stm?cmpid=generalbusiness.xml Gays, lesbians weigh protest plans, work as volunteers Wednesday, December 10, 2008 By Ann Belser, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette In the wake of the passage of Proposition 8 -- the California initiative that reversed the ability of gay men and lesbians to marry in that state -- some activists began calling for a protest that would carry economic heft. Modeled after the "day without a Latino," in which Hispanic immigrants called in sick to protest immigration laws, the "day without a Gay," planned for today, was supposed to show how vital to the economy members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community were. But one activist is trying to turn that anger into something useful by encouraging gay people who weren't going to work to, instead, give back to the community by making it a day of volunteer service. Sean Hetherington, 30, of West Hollywood, Calif., is now a stand-up comedian, but he worked in a restaurant when Latinos staged a boycott in 2004. In that situation, he said, he saw many people who couldn't afford to lose even a day's wages lose that and, in some cases, their jobs. "It didn't go well," he said. "The truth of the matter is [that] this is the worst economy I have ever seen. This is an insane time for gay people to be planning a boycott." He thought the protest could have more impact if, instead of people just staying at home, they made it a chance to help someone. "Let's at least do it in a positive way," he said. His idea has taken off. There are volunteer opportunities all across America, such as baking cookies for firefighters in California, wrapping Christmas presents for family and children's services in Minnesota, and stuffing envelopes for the American Civil Liberties Union in Philadelphia, all listed on Web site www.daywithoutagay.org. None were listed in the Pittsburgh area. Members of the gay and lesbian community in Rome, Italy, are looking for people to stage a sit-in outside the U.S. Embassy. For those who don't feel comfortable taking time off work, Mr. Hetherington suggested using their lunch hour to write a letter to their U.S. senators to support the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/thousands-of-disabled-people-stage-candlelight-protest-lead_100126827.html Thousands of disabled people stage candlelight protest (Lead) December 3rd, 2008 - 10:50 pm ICT by IANS - New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) Some were on wheel chairs, others were using sign language to communicate and hundreds were standing firm with white sticks - over 10,000 physically challenged people took part in a candle-light march here to highlight their plight on World Disability Day Wednesday.Having come together at the India Gate lawns in the heart of the capital, these differently-abled people from across the country stood shoulder to shoulder and later sat with lit candles to protest ?the lack of political will to deal with disability? and demanded a separate ?ministry for disability affairs?. ?The event was not for celebrations but to demand a separate ministry for disability affairs and fulfilment of promises in the 11th Five Year Plan - that every ministry should have a clear cut plan of action on disability issues and each ministry should allocate three percent of resources for improving the disableD people?s condition,? Javed Abidi, convenor of the Disabled Rights Group (DRG), told IANS. The wheelchair-bound Abidi said they did not stage an agitation keeping in mind the terror attacks in Mumbai that had claimed 183 lives. Voicing the sentiments of the hundreds of deaf and mute, blind, autistic and other physically challenged individuals, Abidi said: ?We, the 70 million disabled people, are very much Indian. We just want equal treatment to be self-reliant and to be able to serve our nation.? ?We are ready to become tax payers and not a burden on society.? Neha, who cannot hear, shared her personal wish to watch captioned TV soaps. ?I know that being deaf there are certain things one misses out on. But if the government (information and broadcasting ministry) makes a little effort, I could at least understand what my relatives are glued on to on TV,? she said. Mohan Chowdhury, president of the Bihar Disabled Development Association, said small efforts like a ramp at bus stands and schools, and more spacious toilets in government and business establishments can go a long way to ease their problems. ?Authorities need to be little sensitive,? said Chowdhury, who is himself confined to a a wheel chair. The massive gathering of people hailing from states like Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi also expressed their condolences to the families of those who died in the Mumbai terror strikes. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/disabled-stage-mass-protest-at-india-gate_100126778.html Disabled stage mass protest at India Gate December 3rd, 2008 - 8:01 pm ICT by IANS - New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) Over 10,000 people with various disabilities assembled at the India Gate in the centre of the capital Wednesday for a night-long vigil and silent protest to demand, among other things, a separate ministry for disability affairs.Delhi-based Disabled Rights Group (DRG) organised the protest on the World Disability Day (Dec 3) initially to draw attention of the government authorities to the plight of the disabled. ?The event was not for celebrations but to demand for a separate ministry for disability affairs and fulfillment of promises in the 11th five year plan - that every ministry should have a clear cut plan of action on disability issues and each ministry should allocate three percent of resources on the same,? Javed Abidi, convenor DRG, told IANS. Voicing the sentiments of the hundreds of deaf and mute, visually impaired, autistic, physically challenged individuals that had gathered, he said: ?We, the 70 million disabled people of India, just want to be equal partners to be able to work, to be self reliant, to be able to serve our nation, to be able to contribute its economy, become tax payers and not to be a burden society.? The participants also lit candles of ?hope? in light of the recent terror strikes in Mumbai. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414258.html DAN protest today about the welfare reforms an ally | 03.12.2008 13:54 | Social Struggles Just been Fwd'ed this about the action carried out in london today by the Disabled Action Network (DAN) DISABLED PEOPLES' DIRECT ACTION NETWORK PRESS RELEASE (3/12/2008) DISABLED PEOPLE TAKE DIRECT ACTION IN CENTRAL LONDON TO PROTEST AND DRAW ATTENTION TO NEW BENEFIT HARASSMENT Instead of celebrating the International day of Disabled People today, we - and our supporters - are in central London protesting against the government's "Employment Support Allowance" (ESA) and "Work Capability Assessment" (WCA) which are replacing "Incapacity Benefit" (IB). This punitive economic attack will hit thousands of the poorest in society, forcing them further into poverty and a discriminatory job market, while thousands more are losing their jobs due to the deepening recession. A DAN spokesperson said: "If the government were sincere in their attempts to help Disabled Claimants, they wouldn't be cutting benefits or adding new hoops in the process. They would target discriminatory employers and fully appreciate the difficulties those with Invisible and Fluctuating conditions will have in the job market. This is a cynical exercise designed to move the goal-posts in assessments and ensure that many will no longer qualify for the benefits they have been legitimately receiving." * Political and media spin - suggesting there has been significant increases in Incapacity Benefit claims - is misleading. The DWP confirms there has actually been a drop in IB claims since 2000. * A much higher percentage of Disabled People than previously are now living in the community and claiming benefits, rather than being institutionalised. * A long hours / short breaks culture (instead of providing flexi-time or work from home) makes it harder for Disabled People and those with medical conditions to cope with employment. * There is a lack of access to meaningful education and training for Disabled People, leading to a lack of qualifications, job skills and therefore decent jobs with adequate incomes. * ESA and the WCA is an even more punitive benefit and assessment than the previous procedure (IB). Claimants who fail the new assessment will lose entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) as well as ESA. CONTACTS (ON ACTION): Barry: 07508 634 228 Clair: 07970 959 791 FOR PHOTOS (ON ACTION): Nick: 07956 682 830 PRESS CONTACTS: Stella: 07904 935 413 Mike: 07956 856 060 an ally http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-stateschools_11tex.ART.State.Edition1.4ac8359.html Protesters disrupt meeting about Texas' state schools for the disabled 12:00 AM CST on Thursday, December 11, 2008 By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News eramshaw at dallasnews.com AUSTIN ? Advocates for closing Texas' state schools for the disabled disrupted a state board meeting Wednesday morning to protest mistreatment at the facilities, which a recent federal report blamed in part for the deaths of more than 50 people in the last year. JACK PLUNKETT/The Associated Press Candie Reyes and other protesters disrupted a meeting of the Department of Aging and Disability Services council Wednesday. Some chanted 'people are dying, shame on you' and '53 deaths on your watch,' and threw red spray-painted wristwatches at the dais. With chants of "people are dying, shame on you" and "53 deaths on your watch," close to 20 protesters shouted at members of the Department of Aging and Disability Services council and threw red spray-painted wristwatches at the dais. "Who's standing up for these people?" asked Jeff Garrison-Tate, who heads Community Now, an organization that supports moving people with disabilities into community-based care. "If 53 dogs died, people would be marching in the streets." After 10 minutes and efforts by agency Commissioner Addie Horn to calm the group, the protesters were escorted out by security. The routine meeting resumed. "It's unfortunate that this small group of narrow-minded people came to disrupt this public meeting," said agency spokeswoman Cecilia Fedorov. "We asked them to behave in an orderly manner and told them we wanted to hear from them during the public comment period." In a letter to Gov. Rick Perry last week that threatened legal action, the Justice Department said all the residents at Texas' 12 state schools ? which care for the mentally and physically disabled ? are in imminent danger of neglect and mistreatment, a violation of their constitutional rights and of federal law. Andrea Williams said she's been trying for too long to be heard. In the year her 26-year-old son has lived at the Austin State School, she's found him in unclean conditions and with red choke marks on his neck. She's been trying to get him out for more than six months, she said. That's one reason she came to Wednesday's protest. "I'll walk in and see gnats flying everywhere, a strong urine smell," she said. "But they keep telling me they can't reach his level of need in the community." http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/09/stories/2008120951780300.htm Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad Special children stage demonstration Staff Correspondent DHARWAD: Special children and their educators took out a protest march here on Monday seeking better facilities to the special schools and also for the teaching staff. The children and the educators staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner to press for their demands under the aegis of District Association for Special Educators and Supportive Staff. The special educators and the supportive staff of the special schools complained that although ?World Disabled Day? was being observed regularly, successive governments had failed to take note of the problems being faced by the staff of the special schools, which are mostly run by private organisations. According to statistics, there were around 9.4 lakh mentally challenged persons in Karnataka and of them 3.67 lakh were children. These children were being taught in 210 private schools where 1,500 special educators, 3,500 assistant teachers and more than 2,500 supporting staff were working. But there was no job security to the employees of these schools, they said. President of the association Tara Fernandez and secretary Saroja Narsapur, who led the protest, said that the staff of special schools were making every effort to bring the mentally challenged children into the mainstream, but their efforts were not being recognised and they were not being paid wages in commensurate to their work. They said they would urge the Government to bring all the special schools under the jurisdiction of Department of Education and to extend the facilities being given to the teachers of aided private schools. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Fri Oct 23 22:31:18 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:31:18 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Protests, December 2008 - Food, water, electricity, transport, disasters Message-ID: <4AE29126.8050004@tesco.net> * SENEGAL: Living conditions lead to youth uprising - police kill 2 as protesters torch buildings * SOUTH AFRICA: Service delivery protest in Mafikeng * SOUTH AFRICA: Clashes at Pretoria protest * TRINIDAD: Residents blockade water authority offices, demand provision * ZIMBABWE: Uprising over water shortages * ZAMBIA: Mass protests called over food prices * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protests over spiralling prices * NEPAL: Students block roads over power cuts * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest for flood relief * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - DMDK protest for amenities * INDIA: Bihar - Flood survivors clash with police over inadequate relief; supporters protest * PHILIPPINES: Protesters block roads over hunger, job cuts * PAKISTAN: Anti-India protesters allege water theft * INDIA: Left parties, Congress protest price rises * TRINIDAD: Taxi fare increase leads to roadblock protests * PHILIPPINES: Transport caravan arrives in Manila * INDIA: Puducherry - Protest for fuel price cuts * BOLIVIA: Protest, clashes over used car ban * PAKISTAN: Opponents hold demonstration, give deadline over disaster deaths * INDIA: Karnataka - Protest over poor road condition * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - PMK protest over school bus safety * INDONESIA: Housing aid protest targets tsunami commemoration http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j23YqVwzID5dmYJRDSV2Nq3pOfkg 26 arrested in Senegal after deadly riots: police Dec 27, 2008 DAKAR (AFP) ? Senegalese police said Saturday they had arrested 26 people in the southeast of the country, days after youths staged violent protests over poor living conditions that led to at least two deaths. "Twenty six people were arrested and placed in police custody. They will appear in court no later than Monday," police spokesman Commander Daouda Diop told AFP. He added that they will be taken to court in Tambacounda, 460 kilometres (285 miles) east of Dakar, because the court in Kedougou where they are currently being held was burnt down during the riots. A number of public buildings were torched Tuesday, including the police station and a health and a military camp, as demonstrators protested against their living conditions and the lack of mining jobs in the mineral-rich region of Kedougou, 700 kilometres from Dakar. According to an official toll, two people died and a further 35 were injured in the protests, during which youths also tried to release prisoners but were held back by riot police, the government said. But Dakar-based rights group the African Assembly for the Defence of Human Rights (Raddho) said "three people died and six were seriously injured." Diop said security forces were looking for the eight remaining missing guns that protestors took from police. On Friday Senegal's opposition Socialist Party condemned the violence but urged the government to spread the wealth generated from the area's gold, iron and marble supplies. The government should "take responsibility for Kedougou inhabitants' aspirations and well-being and their right to benefit from the exploitation of the region's mineral resources and gold stocks," it said in a statement. Also on Friday, Interior Minister Cheikh Tidiane Sy and Defence Minister Becaye Diop visited the region on the border with Mali and Guinea to assess the situation, APS news agency said. "Those who were involved (in the rioting) will answer for their actions. It was not a spontaneous act. What happened was carefully thought through," APS quoted Tidiane Sy as saying. http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2446249,00.html 26 held in Senegal after riots 2008-12-27 18:05 Dakar - Senegalese police said on Saturday they had arrested 26 people in the southeast of the country, days after youths staged violent protests over poor living conditions that led to at least two deaths. "Twenty six people were arrested and placed in police custody. They will appear in court no later than Monday," police spokesperson Commander Daouda Diop told AFP. He added that they will be taken to court in Tambacounda, 460 kilometres east of Dakar, because the court in Kedougou where they are currently being held was burnt down during the riots. A number of public buildings were torched on Tuesday, including the police station and a health and a military camp, as demonstrators protested against their living conditions and the lack of mining jobs in the mineral-rich region of Kedougou, 700 kilometres from Dakar. According to an official toll, two people died and a further 35 were injured in the protests, during which youths also tried to release prisoners but were held back by riot police, the government said. But Dakar-based rights group the African Assembly for the Defence of Human Rights (Raddho) said "three people died and six were seriously injured". Diop said security forces were looking for the eight remaining missing guns that protestors took from police. On Friday Senegal's opposition Socialist Party condemned the violence but urged the government to spread the wealth generated from the area's gold, iron and marble supplies. The government should "take responsibility for Kedougou inhabitants' aspirations and well-being and their right to benefit from the exploitation of the region's mineral resources and gold stocks", it said in a statement. Also on Friday, Interior Minister Cheikh Tidiane Sy and Defence Minister Becaye Diop visited the region on the border with Mali and Guinea to assess the situation, APS news agency said. "Those who were involved (in the rioting) will answer for their actions. It was not a spontaneous act. What happened was carefully thought through," APS quoted Tidiane Sy as saying. - AFP http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20081228115740996C355418 Eleven arrested in North West protest December 28 2008 at 12:35PM Eleven people have been arrested at Makouspan near Mafikeng in the North West during a service delivery protest, the SABC reported on Sunday. They barricaded roads, including the main road. Residents had been protesting about a lack of clean drinking water, electricity and bad roads, especially during the rainy season, for several years. Those arrested were expected to appear in court on Monday. - Sapa http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Crime%20And%20Courts&set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20081225170732579C419390 Schubart Park protest turns violent December 25 2008 at 06:22PM About 50 Schubart Park Flats residents were arrested on Thursday after service delivery protests at the block of flats in Pretoria turned violent, Gauteng police said. Police spokesperson Captain Dumisani Ndlazi said the protest began at 11am and involved all the residents. Apparently there was no water or electricity at the flats for the last three days. Residents threw bottles and stones at the police. They also burnt dustbins and tyres in the middle of the street. Police had to fire rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. "The only way to get order was to use rubber bullets," said Ndlazi. He said one woman was taken to hospital after being "traumatised". Those arrested were expected to appear in court on Monday. - Sapa http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161408763 La Costena protesters block WASA entrance Phoolo Danny-Maharaj South Bureau Wednesday, December 3rd 2008 ARMED with placards and empty water containers, residents of Penal blocked the entrance to the Water and Sewerage Authority's (WASA) San Fernando offices yesterday, demanding a pipe-borne water supply. The residents of La Costena Gardens (formerly Sou Sou lands), Rock Road, Penal, said they paid for water connections more than two years ago, but were never connected. A few of them who were connected have never received pipe-borne water. Letters to "every department in WASA, Regulated Industries Commission (RIC), Penal/Debe Regional Corporation and the National Social Development Programme" have not secured a drop of pipe-borne water for the 1,000-plus residents, they said. Yesterday, residents protested in front WASA's offices on St James Street, San Fernando. They said they had to buy water or depend on rain "because we do not get a truck-borne supply either". Protesters' placards bore slogans such as "Water for all except at La Costena Gardens", "Water is life... Mr Minister", "Dry taps for Christmas", "WASA bills up to date, but no water to date". Anthony Owen Baptiste, public relations officer of the La Costena Gardens Community Council, said he paid for water connection on November 20, 2007, "and up to now, they have not connected me". He said some people were connected after evaluations were made to their property and after they paid their house taxes, but "those people never received a pipe-borne water supply but they have received bills from WASA". The residents were most upset because having dug a pond just two miles from their settlement, WASA has been taking the water to the surrounding districts "but we cannot get pipe water", Baptiste said. Following a meeting between WASA officials and representatives of the council, the residents were promised that their situation would be considered. In the interim, they will be given communal tanks. WASA's general manager-corporate communications, Ellen Lewis, said: "We are activating a well along Scott Road to adequately supply residents with water. Two communal tanks will be installed in the short term." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5269909.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093 December 2, 2008 Mob runs riot as Zimbabwe runs out of water (Desmond Kwande/AFP/Getty Images) The Zimbabwe National Water Authority turned off the pumps in the capital after it ran out of chemicals needed to to purify supplies Image :1 of 2 Jan Raath in Harare Water supplies to residents in Harare were cut by the authorities yesterday as Zimbabwe?s cholera epidemic tightened its grip and the city witnessed its worst unrest for a decade. The Zimbabwe National Water Authority turned off the pumps in the capital after it ran out of purifying chemicals. With cholera cases soaring above 11,000 across the country, and an anthrax outbreak ravaging the the countryside, David Parirenyatwa, the Health Minister, urged Zimbabweans to stop shaking hands to avoid spreading disease. Companies and government offices, especially those in high-rise buildings, were sending workers home by midday as lavatories became blocked. ?My office stinks and the toilet is a disgusting site,? said Mary Sakupwene, a secretary. ?I won?t go back until the water?s on again.? The four-star Jameson Hotel stopped taking guests and other less exclusive ones closed. Restaurants provided buckets of water for hand-washing and flushing. There was a sharp increase in people turning up at the Harare Sports Club ? served by boreholes ? for their ablutions after their home taps ran dry. It notified members that from today they would be charged $US2 (?1.34) for a shower. In Harare?s townships, some of which have been without water for two years, 20 litres of water from one of the thousands of backyard hand-dug wells can cost $1. All wells hold the danger of cholera. ?What I am afraid of is now that the rainy season has come, the faeces lying in the bushes will be washed into shallow wells and contaminate the water,? said Mr Parirenyatwa. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) urged President Mugabe to accept international humanitarian help. ?The country is reaching a catastrophic level, in terms of food, health delivery, education,? said Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader. ?Everything seems to be collapsing around us.? The seething anger felt by ordinary Zimbabweans exploded yesterday as hundreds of off-duty soldiers went on the rampage in the centre of Harare. Witnesses said that the violence erupted at a bus depot on the edge of the city centre where soldiers, frustrated at not being able to draw cash from banks, confronted illegal moneychang-ers. The dealers scattered and the soldiers turned on the city, followed by civilians spurring them on. The mobs stoned cars and looted shops. In the panic, home-bound workers fled and traffic jammed as motorists tried to turn back from the scene. It was the first serious public unrest since the riots over food price increases ten years ago. The disturbance brought a swift and brutal response from the authorities who swamped the area with heavily armed para-military police and troops. At least one man was shot. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812020508.html Zambia: UPND Denounces PF Mass Protests 2 December 2008 UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) members of Parliament (MPs) have denounced the Patriotic Front (PF)'s call for mass demonstrations as a way of pressing the Government to address the rising food prices. The MPs said at a joint Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the problem of rising prices and hunger were serious and required dialogue with the Government and not the mass protests that the PF was advocating. The Press briefing was attended by Robbie Chizhyuka (Namwala), Request Muntanga (Kalomo), Jack Mwiimbu (Monze Central), Siavonga's Douglas Syakalima, Mazabuka Central's Garry Nkombo and Sinazongwe's Raphael Muyanda. Mr Mwiimbu appealed to the Government to declare the hunger situation a national disaster so that the country could receive assistance from cooperating partners and other well-wishers. He said although the hunger situation in Zambia and the Southern Province in particular was depressing, it was still inappropriate to demonstrate at this stage because the option of engaging the Government in dialogue was still open. "As UPND we are strategising and feel demonstrating is not right. You only demonstrate if there is failure to reason and you do not demonstrate if you have not engaged the other party," Mr Mwiimbu said. He said as a result of the worsening hunger situation in the Southern Province, some pupils had abandoned education so that they could concentrate on assisting their parents to look for wild fruits. Mr Muntanga said that the hunger situation was worsened by the increase in mealie meal prices. During the coming season, he anticipated that the hunger situation would worsen as out of the 1.2 million small-scale farmers, only 200,000 would benefit from the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP). Mr Muntanga said that small-scale farmers contributed extensively to alleviating hunger in the nation and that it was important that the Government ensured that the number of FSP beneficiaries was increased. Major Chizhyuka said that what had compounded the hunger situation in Southern Province was the displacement of over 8,000 people in the Sichifulo Game Management Area (GMA). Meanwhile, marketeers at Choma's main Makalanguzu market have said calls by the PF for protests over mealie-meal prices are ill-conceived and unjustified. Market chairperson, Charles Siazilo, told ZANIS in Choma yesterday that marketeers were not in favour of PF's move and would not support any political party agitating for such protests. He claimed that the PF had a hidden motive for calling for protests, adding that the issue of mealie meal prices was merely being used as a scapegoat. Mr Siazilo said it was surprising that the PF could think of protests when all avenues of dialogue with the Government had not been exhausted. He said the PF should realise that Zambians were wise enough to know that what was happening in the country was reflective of the global economic situation and Zambia was not immune to the financial crunch. Mr Siazilo said politicians should exercise maturity and avoid inciting people to resort to violent means to resolve issues of national concern. He said the issue of protests was a non-starter in Choma as the people in the area did not like violence. (Times of Zambia) http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=6427 Demonstrations not biblical ? Shikapwasha ? Monday, December 15, 2008, 8:54 ? Headlines ? 23 views ? 277 comments Information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha stresses a point during the BIGOCA graduation ceremony in Lusaka The Chief Government spokesperson has taken a swipe at clergy men supporting the planned country wide demonstrations over mealie meal prices. Ronnie Shikapwasha says it is not biblical for the church to support demonstrations because the bible has no record where these protests are supported. He was speaking in Lusaka when he officiated at the graduation and ordination ceremony of pastors at the Bible Gospel Church in Africa,BIGOCA. The minister also called on opposition leaders who are concerned over the rising mealie meal prices to dialogue with Government instead of resorting to demonstrations. Lieutenant General Shikapwasha who is also Information Minister said demonstrations might turn out to be violent and plunge the nation into chaos. And BIGOCA overseer Bishop, Peter Ndhlovu, said the church should not be part of any form of demonstrations but provide guidance in solving problems affecting the country. ZNBC http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/13/stories/2008121353140300.htm Tamil Nadu - Salem Demonstration against spiralling prices Staff Reporter SALEM: Members of United Communist Party of India staged a demonstration here on Friday urging the Central and State governments to check the spiralling prices of essential commodities. They condemned the State Government for the shortage of power. The frequent disruptions in the power supply had increased the unemployment rate. http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/dec/dec29/news05.php Protests in the capital as load-shedding woes get worse There were protests at different parts of the capital valley on Monday as the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) extended the daily power cuts to 12 hours, adding two more hours, effective from today. The protests caused traffic snarls in busy roads for several hours in the morning. A man leads a group of protesters, blocking vehicular movement at... Students in various campuses including Trichandra Campus at Ghantaghar, Ratna Rajya Campus at Pradarsani Marg and Pashupati Campus, Chabahil, staged demonstrations in front of their campuses in the morning, demanding the government take quick measures to end load-shedding. They blocked the traffic, burned tyres on the road and chanted slogans against the government for imposing crippling hours of load-shedding. Meanwhile, residents of Naxal and Bhagawati Bahal came out on the streets to protest the NEA's decision to extend load-shedding hours. They placed empty drums on the road to obstruct traffic. Notice published by NEA said there will be 12-hour load-shedding for six days a week and 10 hours for one day. Industrial production has gone substantially down with many factories in major industrial estates already suspending operation while businesses in general have been badly affected -- not to mention the woes of households -- due to the ever-increasing load shedding. nepalnews.com mk Dec 29 08 http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/29/stories/2008122957290200.htm Tamil Nadu Nagalkeni residents protest for including names in list of beneficiaries Special Correspondent TAMBARAM: Protesting the alleged demand for cash by a group of local politicians to include their names in the list of beneficiaries eligible for flood relief, a section of residents of Nagalkeni of Pammal Municipality near Tambaram squatted on Pallavaram?Tiruneermalai Road on Sunday evening. Police said that a group of local politicians had allegedly demanded Rs.100 each from residents of Nagalkeni, particularly those coming under Ward No. 19 of the municipality. Police said a woman resident protested and the politicians had verbally abused her . Personnel from Shankar Nagar police station and staff of the Revenue Department from Tambaram Taluk office came to the spot and pacified the residents. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122451580300.htm Tamil Nadu - Salem DMDK cadres stage demonstration Special Correspondent SALEM: Cadres of Desiya Murppoku Dravida Kazhgam (DMDK) staged a demonstration here on Tuesday demanding basic amenities in Salem city and urged the administration to expedite the Panamarathupatti drinking water project. Led by its deputy general secretary A R Elangovan, the cadres raised slogans against the tardy supply of drinking water in the city and insisted that Vellakottai Lake project must be taken up. Drainage water mixed with rain water stagnated in Utharappan Kadu and Podaran Kadu. The Tirumanimutharu project also should be completed on time they said and pointed out that overhead water tanks such as the one in ward 60 remained unutilised even after the completion of construction. The roads in the city, they said, were very poor and with many pot holes. The rise in property tax had put all the citizens under strain and hence needed to be postponed for another five years in view of the spiralling price hike of essential items. The underground drainage scheme should be expedited. They pointed out that many schemes that were announced in the Corporation budget remained unexecuted. http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/12/30/0812301201_another_day_of_protest_after_bihar_flood_victims_clash_with_police.html Another day of protest after flood victims clash Tuesday, December 30, 2008 12:00 [IST] Patna: A day after over 50 flood victims clashed with police while protesting against the inadequate assistance provided by the Bihar government, the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday observed an anti-repression day condemning the police action. Thousands of flood victims from Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul districts had blocked roads and railway lines Monday and disrupted normal life at different places. They were led by the CPI-M. Over 50 victims, including women, were injured in a series of clashes with the police in all three districts and about 1,000 were arrested. Condemning the police action, the CPI-M decided to observe Tuesday as anti-repression day. "The flood victims were peacefully protesting massive loot of relief materials in the Kosi region but the state government tried to suppress the voices and police were given a free hand," State CPI-M Secretary Vijay Kant Thakur said. More than three million people in Bihar were rendered homeless when the Kosi river breached its bank upstream in Nepal and changed course Aug 18, causing the worst flood in the state in the past 50 years. Large tracts of land were flooded, forcing people to flee their homes. They were then forced to live along the roads under the open sky without food, clothes and drinking water or in the relief camps set up by the state government. CPI-M had last week announced an indefinite strike in the three districts to draw the government's attention to the plight of the flood victims. Adequate relief and a permanent solution to the problem of recurring floods were demanded. "Indefinite kisan (farmer) curfew began in Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul districts. It will continue till the government provides adequate relief to flood victims," Thakur had said. He said 25 percent of flood victims were yet to receive the first instalment of relief material. Source : ians http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122359260300.htm Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi CPI(M) stages demonstration demanding flood relief to all affected Staff Reporter ? Photo: R. Ashok Seeking equality: Members of the CPI(M) staging a demonstration in Tiruchi on Monday. TIRUCHI: Cadres of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a demonstration in the city on Monday demanding disbursement of flood relief amount to all those affected by the recent heavy rains without any discrimination. Led by the party district secretary S. Sridhar and city secretary K. Annadurai, the demonstration was held near the Khadi Kraft junction. Confusion and bias The demonstrators claimed that there were lot of confusion and bias in providing flood relief to the affected people. Arrest condemned The party cadres condemned the police action of arresting the general public while they demanded flood relief. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120251090300.htm Other States - Puducherry 270 held for staging protest PUDUCHERRY: Around 270 persons from various rain-affected fishing hamlets were arrested on Monday for staging a protest at Maraimalai Adigal Salai demanding immediate relief from the government. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20081223-179484/Batangas-police-arrest-15-protesters Batangas police arrest 15 protesters By Marrah Erika Lesaba Southern Luzon Bureau First Posted 02:40:00 12/23/2008 Filed Under: Regional authorities BATANGAS CITY ? At least 15 protesters were arrested by authorities and will face different charges after rallying without permit and resisting arrest, which wounded a police officer on Monday afternoon, the chief of police said. City police chief Supt. Manuel Abu said they would file charges against the protesters, whose rally had caused a heavy flow of traffic at the city?s main streets. Senior PO4 Tadeo Chavez of the city police said that at around 9 a.m., at least 200 protesters gathered at D. Silang and Rizal Avenue streets. ?Not all of them had a permit to rally, we requested them to leave but they did not listen,? Chavez said. Police Officer 2 Neil De Guzman was injured because the protesters allegedly threw big stones at him. Abu added that the protesters blocked the intersections, which caused heavy traffic from 9 a.m to 12:30 p.m. ?They will be charged for illegal assembly, direct assault and resisting arrest,? Abu said. The protesters raised the issues of hunger, loss of jobs and allegedly unpaid Philippine Ports Authority obligations to them. The arrested group was led by former Barangay Sta. Clara (in Batangas City) chair Thelma Maranan. http://www.dawn.com/2008/12/19/rss.htm#12 Protesters burn Indian flag, Singh?s effigy in Chaman Friday, 19 Dec, CHAMAN: Hundreds of Pakistani protesters on Friday burnt an Indian flag and an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, underscoring mounting tensions in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. Tribal elders, politicians and residents attended the anti-India rally in the southwestern town of Chaman, in Baluchistan province on the border with Afghanistan. ?India wants to steal our water in Kashmir, and that is why it is piling pressure on Pakistan following the attacks in Mumbai,? local politician Naseer Ahmed Bacha Khan told the protesters in Chaman. (Posted @ 14:53 PST) http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1215353 Hundreds in Balochistan hold anti-India protest over water sharing PTI Friday, December 19, 2008 18:57 IST Islamabad: ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of people held an anti-India demonstration in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Friday to protest agaist the neighbour "stealing" water of common rivers that flow from India's Jammu and Kashmir state, media reports said. Tribal elders, politicians and residents attended the anti-India rally in the South-Western town of Chaman, in Balochistan province on the border with Afghanistan, Dawn reported on Friday. The protesters also burnt an Indian flag and an effigy of Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. "India wants to steal our water in Kashmir, and that is why it is piling pressure on Pakistan following the attacks in Mumbai," politician Naseer Ahmed Bacha Khan told the protesters in Chaman. Pakistan has alleged that India is building dams in its part of Kashmir in violation of a 1960 Indus water sharing accord brokered by the World Bank. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/Pakistani_protesters_burn_Indian_flag_PMs_effigy/articleshow/3862480.cms Pakistani protesters burn Indian flag, PM's effigy 19 Dec 2008, 1525 hrs IST, AGENCIES CHAMAN, Pakistan: Hundreds of Pakistani protesters on Friday burnt an Indian flag and an effigy of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, underscoring mounting tensions in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. Tribal elders, politicians and residents attended the anti-India rally in the southwestern town of Chaman, in Baluchistan province on the border with Afghanistan. "India wants to steal our water in Kashmir, and that is why it is piling pressure on Pakistan following the attacks in Mumbai," local politician Naseer Ahmed Bacha Khan told the protesters in Chaman. India and Pakistan each govern part of disputed Kashmir but claim it in full. Pakistan has charged that India is building dams in the Himalayan region in violation of a 1960s water sharing accord brokered by the World Bank. Khan said that the Pakistani people had been angered by India's alleged recent violations of Pakistani airspace, which prompted Islamabad to summon India's deputy ambassador on Thursday to lodge a formal complaint. India said Tuesday that the peace process with Pakistan was on hold, but reiterated it was not preparing for war. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed confidence Wednesday that the dialogue between the nuclear-armed South Asian states would resume. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122053240100.htm Front Page SP protests rise in prices of essentials PTI NEW DELHI: The Samajwadi Party staged a demonstration here on Friday against the rise in prices of essential commodities. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120357520300.htm Other States - Orissa Left parties stage protest demanding reduction in fuel price Staff Reporter BERHAMPUR: Left parties held demonstrations in the city demanding roll back of price of petroleum products in the country. The Ganjam district unit of the CPI took out a rally against the Central government for continuing to put financial burden on the common mass while the price of crude oil was on the decline in the world market. The rally started from their party office and it moved around the city before reaching the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division. This rally was led by district secretary of the party Prakash Patro and MLA of Chatrapur N.Narayan Reddy. They organised a public meeting in front of RDC office before handing over a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister to the RDC. Mr. Patro said non-roll back of hiked petroleum products? prices spoke of the anti-people policies of the Congress led UPA government. ?Hike of LPG has also affected the rural people also as it happens to be the common fuel even in rural areas,? said Mr. Reddy. The Ganjam district unit of the CPI(M) organised a road blockade at engineering school square on the NH-217 that passes through the city. Led by the district general secretary of the CPI (M), Kalu Panda, DYFI leader Basant Nanda and Ram Chandra Nayak the CPI (M) activists stopped vehicular traffic at the spot for more than an hour demanding the Central government to reduce the price of petroleum products including LPG. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121656760300.htm Karnataka Protest rally Bagalkot: Members of the district unit of the Congress on Monday took out a rally here to protest against what they termed the failure of the State Government to provide basic facilities to people. The protesters gathered at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle and took out a procession on the main streets of the city under the leadership of S.R. Patil, MLC; Ajay Kumar Sarnaik, former MLA; R.S. Patil, former MP; and R.V. Timmapur, former Minister. The protesters raised slogans against the State Government and burnt an effigy of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at B.R. Ambedkar Circle. Mr. Timmapur alleged that corruption and mismanagement had become the order of the day during the BJP government?s rule. ? Staff Correspondent http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121652390300.htm Karnataka Congress takes out protest rally Staff Correspondent Procession: Members of the district unit of the Congress taking out a protest rally in Bagalkot on Monday. Bagalkot: Members of the district unit of the Congress on Monday took out a rally here to protest against what they termed the failure of the State Government to provide basic facilities to people. The protesters gathered at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle and took out a procession on the main streets of the city under the leadership of S.R. Patil, MLC; Ajay Kumar Sarnaik, former MLA; R.S. Patil, former MP; and R.V. Timmapur, former Minister. Slogans The protesters raised slogans against the State Government and burnt an effigy of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at B.R. Ambedkar Circle. Mr. Timmapur alleged that corruption and mismanagement had become the order of the day during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government?s rule. Though Mr. Yeddyurappa had promised to provide uninterrupted power supply to irrigation pumpsets, he had failed to provide power for even basic requirements, he said. Demands He demanded that immediate steps be taken to provide uninterrupted power supply to farmers and the common man and basic amenities be provided to the poor in the State. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the Headquarters Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, Shivanand Kapse, and warned that the Congress would intensify its agitation if the Government failed to rectify its mistakes and solve the problems of the people. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161409192 Fiery protest in Claxton Bay Yolandra John South Bureau Thursday, December 4th 2008 HIKE IN TAXI FARES: A Police Officer instructs residents at Sum Sum Hill, Claxton Bay to return to their homes following their protest over an increase in taxi fares yesterday. -Photo: TREVOR WATSON CLAXTON Bay residents burned tyres and blocked the main roads to protest a $1 increase in taxi fares yesterday. The hike in fares affected all areas from Claxton Bay Junction to the Flyover on the Solomon Hochoy Highway. Around 6 a.m. scores of residents blocked the three -mile stretch from Claxton Bay Junction to Joe Fleming Hill with discarded appliances, burning tyres, broken bottles, water tanks, utility poles, fallen trees and car parts. They said the taxi drivers and PH drivers, (private cars illegally used as taxis), had no reason to raise their fares. Hundreds of people on their way to work and children on their way to school were unable to leave the area, as the taxi drivers decided not to work. Several business places in the area were affected. Marketing coordinator at Informative Data, a printing and construction company, Andre Lall said: "Our delivery trucks couldn't go out and customers were not coming in as usual due to the protest which means for us the loss of sales." Armed police from Chaguanas under Sgt Yusof Gaffar and the Guard and Emergency Branch were called out to stop the fiery protest which lasted a little over five hours. One of the GEB officers told residents, "Find yuh home and disperse". A Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) bus runs every hour in the area, however, it was unable to make its regular rounds because of the protest. A spokesperson for the taxi drivers said, "Taxi fares were increased by one dollar last Monday in an attempt to deal with the rising maintenance costs. Oil was $20 a quart. Now it costs $30 and $35 a quart". He also said, cost of living was going up and vehicle maintenance was costlier than anything else. "Cars do not run on gas alone," one PH driver said. Of some 40 "taxis" working the route about 30 "of them were said to be PH drivers. Several residents, said there was no need to raise the fares, because all of the drops from the Claxton Bay Junction were short drops. "Imagine we have to pay $2 and up for trunk space when we make our groceries that is ridiculous," said Judy Anthony. Residents said, if the fare increase does not go down within the next 24 hours they would stage another protest. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/140277/Transport-groups-protest-caravan-arrives-in-Makati-pickets-Chevron Transport group's protest caravan arrives in Makati, pickets Chevron 12/19/2008 | 11:08 AM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis MANILA, Philippines - Militant transport groups on a protest caravan to push for further rollbacks in fuel prices arrived in Makati City before noon Friday. Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported that the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and Pasang Masda first picketed the office of Chevron (Caltex). No untoward incident was reported during the picket. The two groups, which started the caravan in Quezon City, led other jeep operators and drivers in pushing for the further rollback of diesel prices to as low as P26 per liter. After Chevron, the transport groups plan to move on to the offices of Pilipinas Shell and Petron Corp. Security was beefed up at the offices of the oil firms in anticipation of the caravan. - GMANews.TV http://www.gmanews.tv/story/140251/Groups-start-massing-for-protest-caravan---report Groups start massing for protest caravan - report 12/19/2008 | 08:33 AM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis MANILA, Philippines - Militant jeep drivers started gathering in front of Quezon City Hall early Friday morning for a protest caravan to Makati City to demand another major rollback in fuel prices. Radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported that the drivers from Pasang Masda and the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) were to lead the caravan. Pasang Masda head Roberto Martin said they will proceed to the offices of Shell, Petron and Chevron to demand a rollback of diesel prices to P26/liter. Piston and Pasang Masda were to head a transport strike Friday to dramatize their demands but other groups declined to join them, citing the welfare of commuters. On the other hand, Martin said they are looking into whether to accept the invitation of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to attend a meeting to discuss "alternatives." - GMANews.TV http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20081220-178982/Transport-activists-stage-shoe-protest Transport activists stage ?shoe protest? By Allison Lopez Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 00:19:00 12/20/2008 Filed Under: Local authorities, Protest MANILA, Philippines ? About 100 militants from two transport groups symbolically hurled old shoes near the Pilipinas Shell main office in Makati City Friday during a protest caravan to push for bigger rollbacks from the Big Three oil companies . The activists from the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and Pasang Masda took part in the protest caravan from Quezon City to demand the further rollback of diesel prices to P26/liter from its current rate of P34.95. ?Symbolic lang because we did not want to cause tension. Na-inspire kami nung reporter na nagbato ng sapatos kay US President Bush to express our disgust sa pa-piso-pisong rollback,? said Piston secretary general George San Mateo. They also lit 26 black candles to mourn the plight of public-transport drivers affected by high oil prices during the program near Shell on Valero Street around 11:30 a.m. The protest caravan first tried to picket at the Chevron (Caltex) office but they were blocked by police near the 6750 building on Ayala Avenue around 10:45 a.m. It was there where they left P26 change to show how much they were only willing to pay for diesel, San Mateo said. At about the same time as the rally, Shell and Petron announced a P2 rollback on oil products ? but the transport-group leader said it was not enough. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122150850300.htm Other States - Puducherry CITU stages protest Staff Reporter PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) staged a protest on Saturday to urge the Central government to reduce the price of petrol, diesel, oil and gas. According to a release, the CITU said that the Centre should immediately reduce petrol price by Rs. 20, diesel price by Rs. 10, oil price by Rs. 50 and gas by Rs. 50. CITU?s honorary president T. Murugan said that the price of spare parts for autorickshaws was increasing and the government should take steps to provide the spare parts through co-operative societies. The CITU said that the rule to issue licence badges to autorickshaw drivers who have passed Standard VIII should be dropped. Housing facilities should be provided to unorganised workers, the CITU said. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15523741.htm Bolivian police, protesters clash over used car ban 16 Dec 2008 00:51:20 GMT Source: Reuters LA PAZ, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Monday to break up a protest by Bolivians angry over a new government law banning the import of older used cars, killing at least one person. The government of President Evo Morales issued a decree earlier this month prohibiting importers from bringing cars manufactured before 2004 into the country, saying they posed an environmental and safety risk. Some Bolivians who work in the car import industry blocked a key road on Monday in protest. One protester was killed when a rubber bullet hit him on the neck, Bolivian daily La Razon reported on its website. Deputy Interior Minister Marcos Farfan confirmed the death and said three policemen were injured while dispersing protesters blocking the road linking Bolivia's administrative capital La Paz with the central Oruro city. Protest leader Jaime Rueda, speaking to local radio Erbol, warned more protests were possible because thousands of jobs are at risk. Most vehicles in South America's poorest country are tattered cars imported from Asia via ports in neighboring Chile. The government estimates that most of the 10,000 vehicles imported into Bolivia every month are at least 10 years old. "We want the vehicles coming into Bolivia to ... be safe and not pollute," deputy Finance Minister Roberto Ugarte told the state-run television network. Although recent polls indicate that leftist President Morales is highly popular, trade unions often turn to roadblocks and rallies to protest against government policies they think could threaten their livelihoods. (Editing by Mohammad Zargham) http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154331 Protesters give Friday deadline to authorities Monday, December 29, 2008 by Muhammad Anis Islamabad The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and local leaders of other parties on Sunday gave a deadline of next Friday (January 2nd), to the concerned authorities for the recovery of remaining bodies from the debris of collapsed Gakhar Plaza. The JI leadership of Rawalpindi organised a protest demonstration near razed plaza, which was also addressed by leaders of Pakistan People?s Party and Sunni Tehrik. The members of the bereaved families of those died in the sudden fire at plaza also took part in the protest demonstration. The speakers threatened the administration that all roads in Saddar would be blocked and no traffic be allowed to move inside if remaining bodies were not recovered by Friday. They said that at least three bodies of Nadeem Ashraf, Mansoor Malik and Ehsan Abbasi were still buried under the debris while the efforts to recover them were stopped. Those who addressed the protestors at site of tragic incident, which left hundreds of families with no source of income, included JI Nazim Rawalpindi Raja Abdul Waheed, Naib Amir Brigadier (r) Abdul Qayyum, General Secretary Shamsur Rehman Swati, Masood Akhtar advocate of PPP and some leaders of Sunni Tehrik. Addressing the demonstration, Raja Abdul Waheed said the authorities should immediately stop demolishing remaining building of the plaza, as it could make search of bodies more difficult. He said at least three bodies were still under the debris while it was feared there could be more bodies there. The personnel of authorities concerned on Sunday resumed search operation for remaining bodies following a press conference addressed by JI leaders on Saturday at the site. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/29/stories/2008122951120300.htm Karnataka - Hassan Protest against poor roadwork Staff Correspondent The Bangalore-Mangalore Road near Thannerhalla is full of potholes Unprofessional: Work on the Bangalore-Mangalore Road under way in Hassan. The people, however, say the quality of material being used is poor. HASSAN: Students, residents and shopkeepers here have demanded that potholes on the Bangalore-Mangalore Road on National Highway 48 near Thannerhalla be filled up using quality material. They also sought tarring of the road, and staged a ?rasta roko? in protest. Officials of the Public Works Department came to the spot and promised the protesters that better quality work would be carried out. Heavy traffic At Thannerhalla, this road connects Belur and Madikeri, and more than 35,000 vehicles pass through it every day. Of late it has become difficult to travel on this road as it is full of potholes. Earlier in the month, the principal of the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunath Institute of Ayurveda, Prasanna N. Rao, too participated in a dharna along with his students, seeking a better road. Those visiting the college and hospital have a tough time reaching the place. The Public Works Department started tarring the road on Sunday morning, but the work was found to have been done using poor quality material. Social Worker Jagadish, who was present during the agitation, said the work was done haphazardly. This ?interim measure? would not last long, he said and added that the road would be back to its original shape sooner or later. Congress activists who also participated in Sunday?s demonstration demanded that the department ensure that the potholes were filled in a professional manner. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122151260300.htm Tamil Nadu Demonstration by PMK cadres Special Correspondent To demand safety for school students ________________________________________ Procession taken out with body of student He was killed while attempting to board a bus on Friday ________________________________________ METTUR: Pattali Makkal Katchi?s (PMK) Taramangalam MLA P. Kannaiyan, accompanied by cadres and general public, staged a demonstration in front of the depot of the State Transport Corporation here on Saturday, to demand safety for school students travelling in Government buses with free bus passes. Earlier, they also took out a procession carrying the body of 14-year-old M. Selvakumar, a 9th Standard student of Government Higher Secondary School, Mecheri, who was killed in an accident when he ran along with a bunch of students to board a State Transport Corporation town bus on Friday evening. As the bus was stopped a few yards away from the bus stop, the students ran to catch the bus. But in the melee, Selvakumar, son of a peasant from a nearby village, fell and died. Condemning the incident, Kannaiyan said that the tragedy could have been averted had the bus driver stopped the bus at the stop. The MLA said that the students had claimed that a few bus drivers used to show utter disregard for the safety of the school children who possessed free bus passes. Later the MLA met the officials of the transport corporation and urged them to ply more services at peak school hours to avoid the bunching of children at bus stops. They were also told to sensitise the bus crew about the safety of school students. Teachers should be deputed to organise the bus boarding in a regulated manner, it was pointed out. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122151750300.htm Tamil Nadu MLA, public stage demonstration Special Correspondent Demand safety for school students travelling in govt. buses ? Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan In one voice: Taramangalam MLA P. Kannaiyan staging a demonstration in front of the State Transport Corporation depot in Mettur on Saturday. METTUR: Demanding safety for the school students who travel in government buses with free bus passes, Taramangalam MLA of Pattali Makkal Katchi P. Kannaiyan, accompanied by cadres and general public, staged a demonstration in front of the depot of the State Transport Corporation here on Saturday. Earlier, they also took out a procession carrying the body of 14-year-old M. Selvakumar, a Class IX student of Government Higher secondary School, Mecheri, who was killed in an accident when he ran along with a group of students to board a town bus on Friday evening. As the bus was stopped a few yards away from the bus stop, the students ran to catch the bus. In the melee, Selvakumar, son of a peasant from a near-by village, fell and died. Condemning the incident, Mr. Kannaiyan said that the tragedy could have been averted had the bus driver stopped the bus at the stop. The MLA said that the students had claimed that a few bus drivers used to show utter disregard to the safety of the schoolchildren who possessed free bus passes. Later, the MLA met the officials of the transport corporation and urged them to ply more services during peak hours. They were also told to sensitise the bus crew to the safety of school students. Teachers should be deputed to organise the boarding of buses in a regulated manner. -------------------------------------------------- Rally for housing aid taints tsunami commemoration Jakarta Post - December 26, 2008 Dozens West Aceh citizens staged a rally Friday marking the fourth anniversary of the tsunami to demand the government organize the reconstruction of the devastated areas in the province more equitably. The protesters, who called themselves the Tsunami Housing Fighter Movement (GPRS), staged their rally in Meulaboh, the capital city of Aceh Barat, the region least assisted by the government or by donor-funded reconstruction programs under the Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR). Rally coordinator Adi Chandra told tempointeraktif.com the demonstrators were people who had not received aid in the form of housing from the government even though they had sent numerous proposals and requests. One protester, 28-year-old Ainul Mardhiah, said she had been living with relatives since the tsunami struck four years ago on Dec. 26. "I submitted a proposal. At one time we were told all tsunami victims would get a house," she said. Meanwhile, local officials and other citizens prayed together in Meulaboh the same day to commemorate the disaster and remember the hundreds of family members who perished or vanished in the calamity. (and) --------------------------------------------------- From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 16:53:09 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:53:09 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Uprisings, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE39365.6060605@tesco.net> * NIGERIA: Police murder protesters in unrest over police violence * YEMEN: Southern mobilisations continue * ZAMBIA: Roadblocks, damage in protest over police extortion * GHANA: Offices besieged in election protest * COLOMBIA: Unrest over pyramid scheme collapse * ZIMBABWE: Clashes at bank as inflation, crisis bite http://allafrica.com/stories/200812020580.html Nigeria: Five Feared Dead As Police Shoot Protesters in Ondo Dayo Johnson 2 December 2008 NO fewer than five people including a pastor were reportedly killed in Idanre, Ondo State, as police in the town allegedly opened fire on a mob protesting the death of a woman whose death was allegedly caused by policemen at a check-point. However, uneasy calm pervades the town following the incidents which had attracted wide condemnations while a self-imposed curfew has taken over the town. Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred last Friday when some mobile policemen at a check-point in the Yaba area of Idanre were said to have stopped the driver of a 911 trailer conveying banana who did not obey the order. The pastor, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, was said to be riding on a motorcycle when he was reportedly hit by a stray bullet fired by one of the policemen to disperse protesting okada riders in the town. An eyewitness told newsmen that one of the policemen shot at the tyres of the trailer which made him lose control, knocked down a commercial motorcycle killing a female passenger instantly. The development angered other okada riders and residents who mobilised by dumping the corpse of the lady at the police station in the town. It was further learnt that the policemen reportedly fired into the protesters. In the melee, five people were said to have been killed. A medical doctor said only two persons died while one of the protesters was hit by a bullet from the police. He said the injured person is still on the danger list at a hospital where he was rushed to for treatment. Meanwhile, the police have denied any involvement in the deaths. The police image-maker, Mr. Adeniran Aremu, said the divisional police officer in the town only said that a vehicle ran on a commercial motorcyclist and killed his passenger. Aremu, who denied that the police opened fire on the protester said that the incident was "a pure case of accident and not police brutality." (Vanguard, Nigeria) http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/195229.php December 01, 2008 Pro-Democracy Demonstrations in Ibb, Yemen Yemen Post: Many demonstrations were held in various districts of Ibb province in protest against what protestors claim is the election expropriation and the coup against democracy. While demonstrations in the South have been going on for over a year, and there have been some tied to specific grievances throughout Yemen, since voter registration was announced, the entire country has witnessed large scale demonstrations. The catalyst is the demand for electoral reform prior to the April Parliamentary elections in Yemen. In essence, the people are demanding a clean election. They know that the outcome is pre-determined as it stands now with President Saleh's ruling party in charge of the voter registration committees and electoral commission. By Jane at December 1, 2008 09:05 PM http://allafrica.com/stories/200812020507.html Zambia: Minibus Drivers Protest 2 December 2008 PUBLIC drivers operating on Lusaka's town centre-Chilenje route yesterday parked their minibuses and damaged others in protest against a traffic police officer whom they alleged has been demanding money from them for any road regulation contravention. But acting Inspector General of Police, Francis Kabonde refuted the allegations and warned that the police would not allow anarchy among the drivers because they were risking lives of members of the public. The drivers, who abandoned the route as early as 04:00 hours, started gathering at selected bus stops where they ambushed any minibus seen carrying passengers as a way of picketing. Several residents of Chilenje South township and other areas serviced by the route were stranded at various points and some of them could not make it to work while others resorted to walking. Those at town centre could not reach the township and other areas on the route because no minibus was allowed to operate. A number of minibuses, mainly belonging to Flash, were damaged and by 08:00 hours about five of them were found parked at Kabwata Police Station with shattered window panes. A driver talked to said that the drivers operating on the route were angered by a traffic police officer who allegedly demanded a lot of money from them whenever they were found contravening the laws. A driver who sought anonymity said the officer was recently transferred from Central Police station to Chilenje and since his relocation, he had been demanding money from them and whoever refused was allegedly threatened with stiff charges. On why they were targeting Flash minibuses, the driver alleged the police treated the buses and drivers from the company like "sacred cows." Mr Kabonde and Road Transport and Safety Agency (RSTA) director Fredrick Mwalusaka are planning to introduce a law in which road contraveners will be taken to court instead of paying admission of guilt fees to the police. Mr Kabonde and Mr Mwalusaka said the decision follows the continued complaints over charges, especially among bus operators, which in some cases has brought about protests. Mr Kabonde who was speaking to journalists was reacting to yesterday's protests among bus drivers in Lusaka over the alleged impounding of buses, charging and claims of not being given receipts. He said so far, police had not received any report of any traffic officer who was alleged to have been over charging minibus drivers and challenged those with evidence to report to his office. He said following confusions yesterday, he summoned the officer to his office. He produced a receipt book and a number of people who have paid after admitting the charge. He said the receipts also showed that out of 18 minibuses which were impounded, 15 had paid admission of guilty fees while the other three had not. He said police officers would not sit and watch such lawlessness. He said police would soon be meeting the owners of the minibuses with a view of finding a lasting solution to what he termed as "life threatening " behaviour. And Mr Mwalusaka described the confusion, which erupted yesterday morning as sad because his organisation and drivers representatives had been holding talks over various concerns raised so far. He said that allowing the courts to rule over the situation would address the matters of payments. He further said the agency had no plans to increase the users fees and that it would soon be holding a public hearing on the conduct of the minibus drivers. (Times of Zambia) http://www.modernghana.com/news/197178/1/afp-violent-protest-over-ghana-poll-results.html AFP: Violent protest over Ghana poll results By AFP General News | Thu, 01 Jan 2009 Ghanaian police fired water cannon late Wednesday on ruling party supporters who besieged the country's Electoral Commission in protest at presidential election results, witnesses and local media said. Dozens of angry protesters wielding machetes and sticks attacked passing vehicles and local journalists after partial results from the run-off vote gave the opposition candidate a lead. Completed official results for 229 of the 230 constituencies have shown opposition leader John Atta-Mills maintaining a slim lead over governing party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo. The demonstrators only dispersed after the regional minister for greater Accra addressed the crowd and assured them of victory after the decisive vote in a remote constituency which has emerged as decisive. Voters in Tain, a western constituency of just over 50,000 eligible voters, will cast their run-off ballots on Friday. They failed to vote Sunday because of problems in the distribution of ballot papers -- and because the official results so far are too close to call, the result there could effectively decide who runs Ghana for the next four years. The protest lasted roughly two hours, according to security sources at the scene. An AFP reporter saw broken glass and other debris in the aftermath of the demonstration. Electoral commission officials at the scene refused to comment. Meantime, the NPP has officially lodged its complaint to the electoral commission over alleged electoral irregularities in the opposition stronghold of the Volta region. Senior NPP officials led by campaign director Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, were seen entering the EC offices to hand over the petition early evening on Wednesday. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=155512 Wednesday, 31 December 2008 NPP youth in protest demonstration Accra, Dec. 31, GNA - A number of New Patriotic Party (NPP) youths on Wednesday afternoon besieged the Electoral Commission (EC) offices in Accra to protest against the holding of the Presidential Election Runoff in the Tain Constituency on Friday. They were shouting and demanding that the votes from the Volta Region should be audited before the holding of the election in Tain. Some of them were holding placards one of which read: "No Volta No Tain". The youths, who were wearing NPP tee-shirts and other NPP paraphernalia, sang and danced behind crowd barriers mounted by the Police on the roads leading to the offices. At a certain stage they surged forward and the Police drove them back by spraying water on them. Sheik I.C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, later invited them to his residence at Ridge. As they moved from the EC offices to the residence of Sheik Quaye, they destroyed a bill board of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC), mounted along the Liberation Road at the junction to the residence of Former President Jerry John Rawlings at Ridge. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Opong-Boanuh, in charge of the operation; told GNA that everything had been brought under control. He advised that, party leaders should take pre-emptive action by talking to their youths to refrain from acts that undermined the security of the State. The GNA Reporter had a taste of the youths' anger when they seized his pen and notebook from him. One of them asked: "Are you from Radio Gold? Adding, Radio Gold has been inciting the NDC youth." Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), on Tuesday announced that because the results of Tain Constituency could mathematically determine the outcome of the Runoff, he was deferring the declaration of the winner of the 2008 Presidential Election Runoff. He explained that the number of voters in the Tain constituency was more than the difference between Professor Mills and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of New Patriotic Party (NPP). "He announced that the results from 229 out of the 230 constituencies that have been certified by the EC, gave Prof Mills 4,501,466 votes representing 50.13 per cent of the total valid votes cast while Nana Akufo-Addo garnered 4,478,411 votes, representing 49.87 per cent. Thus the difference of 23,055 votes could not give Prof Mills the presidency since the number of voters in the Tain constituency was more than the figure. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081231150130.zuaq6kryp1&show_article=1 Thousands of opposition activists have staged a protest vigil Soldiers try to calm supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress in Accra. Ghana's presidential rivals were gearing up Wednesday for a final push in a remote constituency yet to hold its second-round ballot, which could decide who governs their country. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081223/pyramid-scheme-protest-injures-5-in-colombia.htm Pyramid scheme protest injures 5 in Colombia By AP 23 December 2008 @ 11:22 am EST Next Politics & Policy Article BOGOTA, Colombia - Six people are in custody after a crowd ransacked the home of an alleged pyramid scheme representative. About 300 people went to the man's home to demand the return of their money. But when they found the house empty, they broke inside and tried to set it on fire. The group then set ablaze the man's business, as well as the offices of a local judge and prosecutor. The protest began late Monday in La Hormiga, a town in Colombia's coca-growing southern region. Five people were injured. Mayor Leandro Romo says officials sent in extra police to regain control of the town. President Alvaro Uribe shut down DMG Group Holdings, S.A. after investigators found it had laundered drug money and raked in $435 million this year. http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=324042&CategoryId=12393 Collapse of Pyramid Scheme Spurs Riot in Colombia The mob burned several courts, the office of the public prosecutor and local offices of the firm that ran the pyramid scheme, as well as the home of one of the managers of that firm and some cars in the street. BOGOTA -- Four people were hurt and several buildings burned when investors defrauded by a pyramid scheme went on the rampage in a town in the southern Colombian province of Putumayo, authorities said Tuesday. In radio interviews, La Hormiga Mayor Leandro Romo issued an urgent plea for help from the national government. The mob burned several courts, the office of the public prosecutor and local offices of the firm that ran the pyramid scheme, as well as the home of one of the managers of that firm and some cars in the street. "The community is furious. Since last night (Monday) they began plundering and causing disturbances and there is no public authority that can control the situation," Romo said. "More than 300, some 400 people have taken advantage of the dark of night to cause these disturbances," said the mayor, who added that his town has only 33 police officers. Romo also regretted that "there is not a military or police authority capable of enforcing" the curfew imposed to curb the disorders. While in Bogota, National Police Gen. Orlando Paez announced that 150 members of the force's riot squad were sent to La Hormiga to restore order. The recent collapse of a number of companies that lured investors with promises of 300 percent returns led to serious disturbances and the declaration by the government of President Alvaro Uribe of a state of "social emergency" to try and calm the situation. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/393900/1/.html Zimbabwe police beat up protesters as country issues 100-million-dollar note Posted: 03 December 2008 1747 hrs Zimbabweans waiting outside a bank in Harare. (file pic) HARARE: Zimbabwe police beat up about 20 people protesting on Wednesday over their inability to get their money out of banks as the authorities prepared to issue the first 100-million-dollar notes. Officers used batons to hit the protesters, members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) who had gathered for a protest march, an AFP correspondent at the scene reported. No arrests have been made yet and the ZCTU said it would release a formal statement later Wednesday. Zimbabwe has issued three new denominations of banknotes, including a one-hundred-million-dollar note, as the impoverished country struggles to cope with runaway inflation, state media reported Wednesday. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) said the release of the new notes followed a recent review of the limit on cash withdrawal. The limit has been revised upwards to 50 million Zimbabwe dollars for individuals and 100 million for company account holders, The Herald said. Before the recent increase, the withdrawal limit for individual account holders was 500,000 dollars while companies were allowed to withdraw one million dollars a day, it said. The introduction of the new notes ? 100 million, 50 million and 10 million ? comes at a time when depositors have been spending hours in long queues at banking halls and cash dispensers to withdraw, the newspaper said. The new notes will come into circulation on Thursday, it said. RBZ governor Gideon Gono, whose five-year term has just been renewed, recently announced that the bank was working to ensure that workers had enough cash during the festive season. The new move comes less than a month after the central bank introduced one million, 500,000 and 100,000 notes, to deal with the skyrocketing prices of basic goods. The 100,000 banknote is worth only one US dollar on the widely-used parallel black market and is only half the amount needed to buy a loaf of bread. Twenty-seven new currency denominations have been introduced in Zimbabwe this year alone. Once described as a model economy and a regional breadbasket, Zimbabwe's economy has collapsed over the past decade and there are now shortages of basic foodstuffs like sugar and cooking oil. When Gono was appointed in November 2003, inflation was 619.50 per cent but as of July, annual inflation hit 213 million per cent. - AFP/so http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=79&art_id=nw20081203113933377C131480 Zim cops smash cash protest December 03 2008 at 11:47AM Harare - Zimbabwean riot police on Wednesday beat a group of unarmed protesters and detained a number of trade union leaders during the latest in a series of demonstrations over crippling cash withdrawal limits that have rattled Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's regime. The police used batons to beat back a group of around 50 protesters that attempted to march on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in central Harare to demand an end to cash restrictions. Over 20 people, including several senior officials of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the body that called the protest, were taken away in police trucks. The demonstrators carried placards reading "No to cash limits" and "We are tired of sleeping at the banks." The police action followed a warning by the government that "rogue soldiers" who rioted in central Harare on Monday and had to be subdued by police would be apprehended and "brought to justice." In the regime's first reaction to an orgy of looting and attacks by soldiers on illegal street currency dealers, it indicated that the unrest was much more widespread in Harare than previously known. Defence Minister Sydney Sekeremayi was quoted in the state-controlled daily Herald as saying that similar incidents "perpetrated by by unruly elements of the defence forces" had occurred in and around the capital four days before Monday's violence. Sekeremayi has also accused the ZCTU of colluding with the disgruntled officers, who ran amok on Monday, apparently in frustration at having to queue for hours at ATMs to withdraw their salaries. The incident appears to have shocked the regime, which appeared confident of the loyalty of the army, despite the country's economic meltdown, characterised by world-record inflation, widespread hunger and a severe cholera outbreak. Nine-figure inflation has made cash extremely short and led banks to impose unrealistically low maximum withdrawal limits. Zimbabweans are increasingly frustrated at having to queue for hours to withdraw less than price of a loaf of bread. The limit has just been increased to 100-million Zimbabwe dollars (about 50 US dollars) a week, from 500 000 Zimbabwe dollars (about 25 US cents). Also Wednesday, the central bank announced the issue of new 100-million Zimbabwe dollar bank notes, only four months after it slashed 10 zeroes off the previous set of denominations. Sekeremayi said that over the five days up to Monday, "a number of properties were damaged, innocent people injured, money and property stolen," by off-duty soldiers, the minister said, calling the acts "unacceptable, deplorable, reprehensible and criminal." But the "vast majority" of defence forces were disciplined and loyal, he assured, vowing to put in place measures to ensure such incidents did not occur again. "Those who may try to incite some members of the uniformed forces to indulge in illegal activities will equally be found culpable," he warned. - Sapa-dpa http://allafrica.com/stories/200812011319.html SW Radio Africa (London) Zimbabwe: Bank Cash Withdrawals Increased Again as Protests Gather Momentum Alex Bell 1 December 2008 Zimbabwe's central bank will yet again raise daily cash withdrawal limits this week, amid mounting tension and threats of serious protest action by civil society. Zimbabwe's official inflation rate stands at a record breaking 231 million percent, but experts say the rate has reached far beyond the quintillion mark. In an attempt to harness the country's runaway inflation, the Reserve Bank capped daily cash withdrawal limits - a move that promptly backfired. This week's limit increase will be the third in as many months, and each change has brought with it immediate price hikes. The current limit of Z$500,000 a day does not cover even the most basic of living costs and Zimbabweans spend days in queues just to buy food. At the same time, amid a national cholera crisis that has claimed hundreds of lives, Zimbabweans cannot withdraw enough money to pay for critically needed medication or the transport to get the sick to hospitals and clinics. The situation has led to last week's call by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) for Zimbabweans to converge on banks this Wednesday and stage demonstrations if they fail to withdraw their funds from the banks. The action is set to go ahead in spite of it being a day before the withdrawal limits increase. As of Thursday the daily limit of Z$500 000 will be increased to Z$100 million a week - which has been averaged at an estimated Z$14 million a day. It is still unclear how the banks will determine the public's daily withdrawal limits, but there are doubts this drastic increase will make any difference on the ground. Madock Chivasa from pressure group the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) said these measures taken by the Reserve Bank are 'not addressing the problem', arguing the root of the economic crisis is a crisis of 'governance'. "The central bank can raise the withdrawal limits time and time again, but it has been proved it makes no difference," Chivasa argued. "Until the governance crisis is addressed there will be no change for average Zimbabweans." Chivasa made the comments while explaining the NCA's decision to postpone its weekly protest to Thursday, in solidarity with the ZCTU action on Wednesday. He explained the move would allow members of the NCA to join the ZCTU action and urged the public to add more pressure by taking part in both demonstrations. "There is great need for civil society and the public at large to continue to facilitate numerous and diverse protest actions until democracy is established in Zimbabwe," Chivasa said. Meanwhile, Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe said in a statement on Monday that it calls upon all Zimbabweans and other civic organisations to join in protests to "register anger for the unresolved political, socio-economic multi-layered crises in Zimbabwe." More than 350 members of the group in Bindura, as well as residents, took to the streets on Monday as part of ROHR's "multilayered campaign for Democracy and Justice." The protests are calling for a quick resolution to the political impasse and the creation of a transitional government that should be able to quickly deal with the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by a total breakdown of the socio-economic fabric of the country. The protesters marched from the CBD of Bindura along the main street and ended at Chipadze, where a strong police presence forced people to disperse. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 17:08:03 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:08:03 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Protests, land grabs and land rights, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE396E3.2070205@tesco.net> * SOUTH AFRICA: Macambini residents block roads, resist "apartheid" state over land grab * INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Farmers in "war-like situation" in battle over SEZ land grab * INDONESIA: Police attack villagers in land grab protest * BANGLADESH: Hundreds protest against road extension * KENYA: Traders fight back over eviction * BURMA: Land grab for dam sparks local protests * DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Farmers protest militarisation of national park * KENYA: Protest for cash for displaced people * PHILIPPINES: Farmers demand land reform bill, occupy parliament * MALAYSIA: Naked protest planned over social housing * INDIA: Mumbai - Slum dwellers demand land * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Evictions spark protests * INDIA: Kerala - Villagers protest land grab for industrial park * INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Vigil over plight of displaced people * INDIA: Orissa - Protest over trader evictions * INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Landless Dalits protest for land * INDONESIA: Navy land dispute continues * INDONESIA: Flood plain residents demand eviction delay * INDIA: Tiger reserve land grab protested * INDIA: Karnataka - Evicted shopkeepers protest compensation delay * INDIA: Kerala - Evicted residents protest delay in rehabilitation * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Residents protest land grab for collectorate building * INDIA: Karnataka - KRRS besiege bank over foreclosures against farmers * NEPAL: Maoists clash with locals in dispute over land rights * US: Rhode Island - Activists protest against foreclosures * IRELAND: Rally for social housing * US: Massachusetts - Protest against foreclosures * UK: Caravan dumped in homelessness protest * IRELAND: Protests as residents fear depopulation in designated zone http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081205110652344C943369 Police 'shoot' Macambini protesters December 05 2008 at 11:47AM By Mpume Madlala Angry Macambini residents near Mandini on Thursday said they were shocked at the brutality of the police, saying that the treatment meted out to them smacked of the apartheid regime. At least 10 people were arrested and several injured when a crowd of 3 000 people clashed with police. The community is opposing a R44-billion Dubai development proposal by the provincial government on their ancestral land - a move that will see them relocated. The crowd blockaded the N2, after Premier S'bu Ndebele did not respond to the memorandum that they had given to him a week ago regarding their grievances over the development. Police spokeseperson Superintendent Vincent Mdunge denied that police were brutal, saying the use of rubber bullets was necessary. "These people placed burning tyres on the road and threw stones at passing motorists and that, according to the Gatherings Act, is illegal. Police asked them to disperse several times, but they refused and this was the end result," he said. Khayelihle Mathaba, the chief for the area, said he was angry about what had happened because the police were there to protect the community and not to harm them. He said that there was no difference between the police of today and those of the apartheid era. "We just want our premier to protect us by stopping the development because thousands of people will lose their homes. I have been advised to sign with another developer and that is what I will do." Residents said they were still very shocked at the force used by police. A 76-year-old woman could not contain her tears as she described how police allegedly pulled her son down from a tractor, which he had been driving just outside his home. "They pulled him down and tied his hands behind his back before beating him and shooting him with rubber bullets. What had he done to be treated like that? They even went into my room and emptied my wardrobe and turned my bed upside down. I was pushed to the floor when I tried to protect him. I must say this has reminded me of the pain we went through under the apartheid regime," she said. Mthembiseni Dube, who was hit several times with rubber bullets, said he was just standing on the side of the road when he was hit in the legs and back. "It was so painful that I fell to the ground. I really don't understand why we had to be shot at, because we were not abusing anyone. What we are against is being moved off our land. I will never leave my parents' graves here. This is where I come from and this is who I am," he said. Resident Thulani Mathonsi said they were very angry that the premier had not responded to their memorandum. "Until he does, we will continue doing what we have started today. We want him to understand we really are against moving. I have been living here for 57 years. I am going nowhere," he said. Logan Maistry, the premier's spokesperson, said they understood that people were worried about their heritage in the area. Maistry said they would only do what was in the best interests of the people of Macambini, the people of KwaZulu-Natal and the people of South Africa. "The premier has responded to the people on numerous occasions by consultation, which is what they had requested in their memorandum," Maistry said. In a statement issued by the ANC on Thursday, the party expressed great disappointment over what had happened, saying it was unfortunate and unnecessary. ANC provincial general secretary, Senzo Mchunu, said they would like to assure the community that no-one would forcibly remove them from their land. They also called on the government to engage with the community so that the present confusion was cleared. Ablaze: A police officer tries to put out a burning tyre which was set alight by angry Macambini residents in KwaZulu-Natal. http://www.arabianbusiness.com/540448-arrests-injuries-at-protest-against-dubai-developer Arrests, injuries at protest against Dubai developer's scheme by Andy Sambidge on Friday, 05 December 2008 UGLY SCENE: Ruwaad's South African mega-project has sparked violent demonstrations. (ITP Images) Fifteen people were arrested and another 12 were seriously injured in protests over a Dubai-based company's plan to build a $4 billion project in South Africa. Protests against Ruwaad's proposal to develop vast tracts of Macambini land for Amazulu World, a 16,500 hectare-entertainment and destination development turned ugly on Thursday. Billed as the continent's largest development and located in the northeast of South Africa, the project will target national, regional and international visitors. Thousands of demonstrators blocked the N2 freeway and pelted motorists with stones. Fifteen people were arrested and 12 others seriously injured, community leader Khanyisani Shandu told the local Sowetan newspaper. A police spokesman said about 3,000 people set up barricades at several bridges along the N2 freeway and were ?very violent?. He added that the police initially used pepper spray to try to disperse the protesters. When that failed they used rubber bullets. The protesters threw stones at motorists and set up barricades of burning tyres in a bid to get Ruwaad to withdraw their proposed Amazulu World project. Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sibusiso Ndebele, last week was sent an ultimatum by protesters giving him seven days to respond to their demands to withdraw the Ruwaad project. Ndebele is quoted by the Sowetan as saying: ?I do do not understand why the community is marching. There has been no agreement on the project. It is just a proposal. ?We met the community and explained to them that this is a proposed development with private investors. ?The process of consultation will continue and people have a right to accept or reject the project.? http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/andhra-villagers-clash-with-police-over-land-acquisition-for-sez_100134439.html Andhra villagers clash with police over land acquisition for SEZ December 23rd, 2008 - 11:07 pm ICT by IANS - Hyderabad, Dec 23 (IANS) Villagers protesting against Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday clashed with the police as authorities allegedly tried to forcibly acquire their lands.The clashes took place in six villages of East Godavari district in coastal Andhra Pradesh. A war-like situation prevailed in the villages as protesters, including several farmers, fought pitched battles with the police. The villages of Tondangi and Kuttapalli mandals witnessed tense situation since early morning as officials with the support of the police tried to acquire the lands for Kakinada SEZ. Local people resisted their attempts, leading to clashes. The protesters erected roadblocks in at least two villages to prevent police officials from entering their villages to provide security to the civil authorities engaged in land acquisition, eye-witnesses said. A large number of policemen were mobilised by the authorities since early morning for the land acquisition. The villagers, including women, squatted on the road to resist acquisition of tehir lands. The villagers also removed the stones and pillars fencing erected by officials for SEZ. Raising slogans against the government, they refused to part with their lands. ?We will sacrifice our lives but will not leave our land. This is our home and our livelihood,? said a farmer. The villagers had last year foiled a similar attempt by the authorities to forcibly acquire their lands for the SEZ. Some farmers had also approached the state Human Rights Commission, which had directed the state government not to use coercive methods to acquire the lands. Some farmers also filed petitions in the high court, questioning the procedure of land acquisition. The SEZ is spread over 10,000 acres of land across 12 villages. The SEZ, which is coming up five km away from the deep water port, will also have Rs.60 billion refinery of Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC). Under the first phase, Kakinada SEZ Private Limited, a special purpose vehicle formed for the project, plans to acquire 4,146 acres of land. This is the second incident where villagers have resisted the attempts to acquire their lands for an SEZ. A similar protest was witnessed in Polepalli in Mahabubnagar district recently as villagers refused to part with their lands for pharma SEZ. Following the controversies over Polepalli SEZ and the coastal corridor, the Congress government had announced it would not acquire even an inch of land without the consent of the local people. The largest number of SEZs are coming up in Andhra Pradesh. Out of 250 SEZ notified in the entire country, 56 are being established in Andhra Pradesh. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122453860400.htm Andhra Pradesh Villagers protest land acquisition Staff Reporter Agitators in no mood to part with their lands in East Godavari district ________________________________________ Police had to beat a hasty retreat at some places as villagers virtually chased them Officials incur people?s wrath and had to be escorted to safety by the police ________________________________________ ? Photo: S. Rambabu Convincing act: DSP S. Surya Rao trying to pacify the protestors of Kakinada SEZ at Vakadaripeta in Thondangi mandal of East Godavari district on Tuesday. Kakinada: Tension prevailed in U. Kotthapalli and Thondangi mandals on Tuesday as attempts by officials to fence around nearly 2,000 acres purportedly acquired for the development of Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ), pitted a large number of people, against over 1,000 armed policemen. The people, mostly marginal farmers, were refusing to allow their lands to be taken over for the purpose on the grouse that either the compensation paid to some of them was paltry or lands of unwilling farmers were also being usurped. The agitators resolved not to part with their lands whether or not higher compensation is offered or the terms of relief and rehabilitation package are sought to be modified in their favour. Nearly 3,000 out of 6,000 acres acquired in those two mandals, were taken into possession and the remaining land is to be fenced. Verbal duels Fresh trouble broke out on Monday night when a large posse of policeman descended on the villages even as people entered into verbal duels with them and demanded that they go back. However, the policemen stuck to their positions till Tuesday morning. Two leaders of All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangh N. Ramanna and B. Narayana Swami were said to be taken into custody in the early hours of Tuesday. After the break of dawn, the policemen tried to erect fencing at Srirampuram, Moolapeta, Vakadaripeta, Thondangi, Perumallapuram and Chodipallipeta and other villages in the presence of Revenue officials but they faced stiff resistance from the villagers. At some places, the police successfully erected fences but elsewhere they had to beat a hasty retreat as the villagers virtually chased them. Scores of concrete poles were destroyed by the agitators. People at Vakadaripeta grilled the policemen and the latter maintained restraint as per the orders of their superiors. DSP stopped The vehicle of Kakinada DSP S. Surya Rao was stopped at Srirampuram but he managed to wriggle out of the situation with the help of constables. He told mediapersons that the process of fencing would continue even if the villagers obstruct them at a few places. Fencing work was stopped in the afternoon as the villagers appeared to be in no mood to relent but policemen were still posted in the KSEZ area. Kakinada RDO G.C. Kishore Kumar visited the KSEZ affected villages and monitored the situation. He also incurred the people?s wrath and was escorted to safety by the police. The situation continues to be tense. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2008/12/24/1243863c4415 Protesting Indonesian villagers driven out Updated at 8:56pm on 24 December 2008 Amnesty International has called on the Indonesian government to investigate a crackdown on protesting Sumatran villagers that left two children dead. The people of Suluk Bongkal village in Riau province have been engaged in a land dispute with a pulpwood supply company since Indonesia's forestry ministry awarded the company rights to develop the area in 1996. According to Amnesty, two children died and nearly 400 people fled into the forest last week when police and other officials fired bullets and teargas in an attempt to clear the village. A two-year-old girl died after falling down a well in the attack, says Amnesty campaigner Josef Benedict, while a two-month-old baby died from burns. Two other people were injured by gunshots. Two helicopters reportedly dropped what was thought to be a fire accelerant, burning about 300 homes before bulldozers went in and flattened the area. A Riau police spokesman confirmed that an incident had occurred but declined to respond to Amnesty's specific allegations, saying an investigation was under way. --------------------------------------------------- Amnesty calls for probe into fatal shooting Jakarta Post - December 26, 2008 Jakarta -- Rights group Amnesty International urged Indonesian police Wednesday to investigate a crackdown on protesting villagers in which hundreds of houses were destroyed in Riau. Two children died following the violence and nearly 400 people were left homeless last week after police and other officials fired bullets and tear gas while evicting residents of Seluk Bongkal village, Amnesty said in a statement. "Hundreds of people are now living in the forest, their homes destroyed, and two families are grieving the loss of their children," campaigner Josef Benedict said in the statement published on its official website Wednesday. The global rights group also called on police to allow the National Commission on Human Rights and the local government access to the area to ensure the safety of the villagers. Quoting local sources, Amnesty said a two-year-old girl died after falling down a well during the clash, while a two-month-old baby died from burns. Two other people were injured from gunshots. The villagers have been engaged in a land dispute with pulpwood supplier PT Arara Abadi, a subsidiary of Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper, since the forestry ministry awarded the company rights to develop the area in 1996. Spokesman for the Riau police Adj. Sr. Comr. Zulkifli said 79 members of the Riau Labor Union (STR) had been detained for allegedly inciting the unrest. Following the incident, a platoon of police personnel stood guard at the disputed area, located around 180 kilometers north of the provincial capital of Pekanbaru. Representatives from six local NGOs went to the Riau police Wednesday to express their support for an investigation into the individuals behind the incident. "This support for a police investigation suggests there are people who regret the actions of the labor union," Zulkifli said. The clash erupted after around 800 local residents, all suspected members of the STR, resisted a police order to leave a property they claimed ownership of Thursday last week. Police opened fire when residents wielded sharp weapons and threw stones at the officers, police said. General Manager of PT Arara, Nurul Huda, said the eviction concluded 20 reports it had filed against the residents, who he said had occupied the company's land for years. "The land belongs to the state, we only lease it," he said, dismissing allegations that the company had brought in the police to evict the people. [Rizal Harahap contributed to the story from Pekanbaru.] http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=68525 Published On: 2008-12-24 Metropolitan Protest against road project under DAP Huge traffic jam on Dhaka-Ctg highway Staff Correspondent Several hundred people staged a demonstration on Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Shanir Akhra in the city yesterday in protest against a road extension project under the Detail Area Plan (DAP) of Dhaka metropolitan city. They also put up a barricade on the highway during their three-hour protest from 8:30am, creating a huge gridlock from Sayedabad in the city to Sonargaon at Rupganj. Zakir Hossain, a demonstrator, said that several hundred houses inside Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) embankment will have to be demolished if Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) extends roads in the area as per DAP. Witnesses said local people led by Tajul Islam, convenor of a committee formed to protest the road construction project, blocked the highway. The protesters withdrew their barricade programme after the police assured them of holding a meeting between local people and the Rajuk authorities to settle the issue. Tapan Kumar Nath, project director of Rajuk, said local people gave him an application containing signatures of 1087 people who oppose the road extension project. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/-/1070/503602/-/705d0b/-/index.html Hawkers protest over eviction A security guard beats a man suspected of trying to loot from an electronics shop on Moi Avenue while, right, a police officer chases protesting hawkers in Mombasa on Wednesday. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU By ANTHONY KITIMO Posted Wednesday, December 17 2008 at 19:43 Hawkers paralysed Mombasa Town?s central business district on Wednesday, for more than three hours as they protested against their eviction from the streets. At least three people were seriously injured and goods worth millions of shillings stolen or destroyed by looters during the riots that started around 11am. One of protesters said the riots started after the Mombasa municipal council officers arrested a hawker in the town centre. A municipal vehicle was damaged after it was pelted with stones by the hawkers who also tried to burn it before police intervened. The vehicle?s driver was seriously injured after the hawkers smashed the windscreen with stones. Police, who were on normal patrol in the town, fired live bullets in the air, and lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse rowdy hawkers at Msanifu Kombo Street, where the protests started before spreading to other parts of the town. Last week, Mombasa Town Clerk Tubman Otieno ordered the relocation of all hawkers in the town to the new bus stage at Buxton in the outskirts of town, but the hawkers refused to obey the order. A hawker Salim Bakari told the Nation that the place designated for them was unfit for small-scale businesses. ?It?s unrealistic to move small-scale business people outside to a place where there are few customers,? he said, adding, they should allocate a street in town to carry out their businesses. Another hawker on Kenyatta Avenue John Munga, claimed that the council officers extorted money from them. ?The majority of hawkers who are allowed to operate in town centre either have godfathers at the council or they pay Sh500 per week to operate,? he said. Mombasa businesspeople lost millions of shillings during the protests after looters took advantage of the situation and broke into shops. They blamed the police for failing to contain the situation. ?Very few policemen were on the ground to contain the situation when the riot started,? said one of the businessmen who lost electronic goods to looters. Police called in from Makupa station to help to contain the situation appeared overwhelmed after the hawkers took their protests to different streets in town. Beaten up A group of businesspeople used their security guards and hired youths to search for looted property within the town, and two people caught with electronic goods were beaten up. At the same time, tension was high yesterday at the new Malindi-Kilifi bus stage at Buxton where the hawkers were supposed to be relocated after a battle for the control of the terminus emerged between two groups of touts. http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/12/02/mizzima-junta-begins-dam-construction-amid-protests-in-kachin-state-solomon/ Mizzima: Junta begins dam construction amid protests in Kachin state - Solomon Tue 2 Dec 2008 Filed under: News, Inside Burma Despite protests by local residents and environmental groups regarding the negative side effects that would befall the local community, Burma?s military authorities and a Chinese corporation have begun constructing dams on rivers in Burma?s northern Kachin state, sources said. Led by the China Power Investment Cooperation (CPI), work has begun on the construction of a small hydroelectric project on the Chiphwi River, about 70 miles northeast of Kachin state?s capital of Myitkyina. The dam, which is expected to produce approximately 980 kilowatts of energy, will be used to supply electricity for the construction of other hydroelectric projects including one at the confluence of the Nmai Hka (May Kha) and Mali Hka Rivers, about 28 kilometers north of Myitkyina. An official with Asia World Company Ltd. (AWC) who is working at the construction site said, ?This dam is a small one and is purposely being built to produce electricity to be used in major dam construction along the Nmai Hka and Mali Hka Rivers, including the Myintsone dam [at the confluence of the two rivers].? Burma?s military government, in collaboration with CPI and AWC, plan to construct at least seven dams on the Mali Hka and Nmai Hka Rivers, in addition to the one at the confluence of the two rivers, and will sell the electricity generated from the dams to China. Local Kachin in Myitkyina, as well as environmental groups including the Kachin Development Network Group (KDNG), have strongly protested against construction of the dams, saying there will be little benefit for the local community while the devastation caused by the construction will take a heavy toll on their livelihood. According to the Thailand-based KDNG, the planned hydroelectric projects would destroy at least 47 villages and threaten over 10,000 lives by inundating about 766 square kilometers of farmland with water. A local resident from Myitkyina told Mizzima that there is a lot of concern among the people over dam construction, as they fear the dams will threaten their homes and destroy their livelihood. ?People do not like the project. They have voiced their objection since the beginning, but their voices fall on deaf ears,? he added. According to the KDNG, the Burmese government?s Ministry of Electric Power No.1 and CPI have agreed to generate at least 3,600 megawatts of electricity from the hydroelectric projects in Kachin state. http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/12/3/30285/Dominican-national-park-militarization-fuels-farmers-protest Dominican national park militarization fuels farmers? protest A meeting where farmers were paid to leave the park. Zoom Picture MONTE PLATA.- 1,200 soldiers including six women cadets and Environment Ministry (SEMARENA) rangers yesterday began the cleanup of illegal crops in the heart of the Los Haitises National Park?s, fueling protest by farmers who affirm the Government has stripped them of the only form of subsistence. The protected area?s different zones are militarized as part of ?Operation Hut?a 2008,? aimed at bolstering the vigilance to reclaim the park, considered a strategic reserve for water, flora and fauna. Army Brigadier general Felipe Henr?quez Molina said the command post for two battalions will established at the town Pilanc?n. The battalion?s women soldiers ?from San Isidro?s military academy Batalla de las Carreras- do the same activities as the men; carry their own gear and sleep in pup tents, but don?t command platoons. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/-/1070/505266/-/706nn9/-/index.html Protests as cash for displaced people delayed By NATION CorrespondentPosted Sunday, December 21 2008 at 19:25 Soldiers at the weekend shot in the air to disperse internal refugees who had blocked a highway to protest at delayed payment of money for their resettlement. The protesters from Rironi farm barricaded the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, causing a two-kilometre traffic jam. Kenya Army officers deployed in the area learnt of the illegal assembly and tried to disperse the crowd. However, the protest turned rowdy, prompting the officers to shoot several times in the air to clear the road. The soldiers removed roadblocks erected by the protesters and put out a bonfire. The chairman of the camp for the refugees, Mr David Ndichu, said the people decided to go to the streets after a dispute arose between them and personnel from the district office over a list of people to be paid. Mr Ndichu said the officers sent to disburse Sh10,000 in the Rironi camp paid the money to imposters. The group said the list of those to benefit from the funds was doctored by the provincial administration and want the Government to write another list. But Molo district Commissioner Joseph Kavita said the protesters were incited by politicians. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/17/worldupdates/2008-12-17T111442Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-370684-1&sec=Worldupdates Wednesday December 17, 2008 Philippine farmers vacate House but protest continues MANILA (Reuters) - Dozens of Philippine farmers vacated the session hall of the lower house of Congress a few hours after taking it over, but vowed on Wednesday to continue protests until lawmakers passed a new land reform law. They spent the night outside the legislature building as another group of farmers continued a relay hunger strike for the 17th day. The 238-member House of Representatives resumed its session on Wednesday, promising to approve a measure extending by six months the 20-year-old law distributing 10.3 million hectares of public and private lands to poor farmers. "We don't want an extension, we demand a new and geniune land reform law," Albert Corpus, leader of a left-wing farmers' group, told Reuters as his group prepared to march to Congress. "That old law was like a toothless tiger. It was created by landowners to protect them from land reform." Roman Catholic bishops have joined the protests, calling on lawmakers to pass new land reform legislation. They said they were unhappy over the proposal for a six-month extension of an existing law set to expire at the end of the year. Broderick Pabillo, Manila's auxiliary bishop, criticised the House of Representatives for what appeared to be a lack of interest in pushing a bill on land reform, skipping a session on Tuesday evening to attend a party hosted by the president's husband. "The law only has one more day," Pabillo told a television interview. "If they say they're really serious about this, they should have worked on it. But the session didn't push through. They're partying at the first gentleman's house." The session adjourned because of a lack of quorum and dozens of farmers stormed into the building and staged a sit-in late on Tuesday night. They left after they were persuaded the legislature would take up the issue on Wednesday. Lawmakers promised to extend the land reform law by six months before they go on a holiday break this Friday, allowing them more time to legislate a new law. The Philippines enacted a land reform law in 1988 to help end a communist insurgency in the countryside, distributing 10.3 million hectares of public and private lands to poor farmers. Two decades later, the government claims to have distributed 6.8 million hectares, but farmers' groups say many wealthy landowners and corporations have blocked the move by claiming exemptions. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/139731/Protesters-pushing-for-CARP-reform-extension-get-visitors Protesters pushing for CARP reform, extension get visitors 12/16/2008 | 10:13 PM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis MANILA, Philippines - The head of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo visited 60 farmers participating in a vigil Tuesday night at the House of Representatives. An Akbayan press statement said that the visitors talked to farmers from the Reform CARP Movement, UNORKA, TFM, Pakisama, Calatagan and PKSK. CEAP chief, Msgr. Genaro Santos and Romulo, the statement said, talked to the protesters who had decided to hold a sit-down protest inside the session hall after the House adjourned without passing the CARP extension with reforms bill. The sit-down protest began shortly after the session was adjourned after 7 p.m. Three of the protesters are on hunger strike. The protest was also sparked by their frustration over the decision of the House majority to push instead for a resolution extending Land Acquisition Distribution (LAD) until June 2009. The press statement also said that the group was also angered by an amendment to the resolution that another congressman has put forward, a proposal which lifts compulsory (land) acquisition while the resolution is in place. In short, landlords in Congress have watered down an already poor substitute to a full and reformed agrarian reform program, Akbayan said. Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros is still with the farmers inside the session hall. PR/GMANews.TV http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/2/nation/2690386&sec=nation Tuesday December 2, 2008 Eight to stalk Selangor MB in show of protest By EDWARD RAJENDRA SHAH ALAM: Eight members of Gerakan Reformasi Rakyat Malaysia (Reformis) will stalk Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and strip naked when they come face to face with him. The men, aged 33 to 50, are from the movement?s Dare to be Nude Squad. They have decided to go ahead to bare all in protest against the state government?s decision to raise the rental of low-cost houses. ?Our struggle is to keep the rental rate for government low-cost houses under the People?s Housing Scheme from going up. ?We wanted a police permit to strip in front of the State Secretariat as a sign of protest but we were denied it, so, now we will stalk the Mentri Besar and go butt naked when we get the chance,? said movement president Ramlan Abu Bakar. He said the movement could not accept the state executive council?s decision in July to raise the rental from RM124 to RM250 a month for about 6,200 homes. ?We will go naked to get the message across. Our act is to humiliate or embarrass the Mentri Besar for not keeping to his general election promises to help the low-income earners,? he said. On Nov 29, Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had said that the police would reject applications for permits of such nature. Ramlan said the act of going naked was similar to pie throwing, where pies are thrown at politicians or others as a means of protesting against political beliefs or against a perceived arrogance in the person. Yesterday, Ramlan, together with nine other members, lodged a police report and also filed a report at the state Anti-Corruption Agency here against Khalid for alleged misuse of funds in organising a Rakyat?s dinner at the PKR national congress last week. ?We want Khalid to vacate his post while the investigations are going on,? he said. http://english.sina.com/world/2008/1222/206511.html Malaysian NGO leader stripped of post for planning nude protest 2008-12-22 15:03:33 GMT2008-12-22 23:03:33 (Beijing Time) xinhuanet KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Malaysian non-government organization (NGO) has sacked its leader and scrapped a plan to strip naked to protest housing rental hike, local media reported on Monday. Gerakan Reformasi Rakyat Malaysia (Reformis) has sacked its president Ramlan Abu Bakar and scrapped his proposed plan to strip naked before Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, the elected head of Malaysia's Selangor State Government. Reformis' acting president Badrul Hisham Mohd Hanafiah said that the organization's executive council decided to sack Ramlan last Wednesday for various wrongful acts he allegedly committed. The issue of a nude squad stalking the Mentri Besar no longer arose and the organization would at more civilized ways to achieve its objectives, he told reporters on Monday at Shah Alam, capital of Malaysia's Selangor State. Ramlan had announced last month that the organization's members planned to strip in protest against a state government decision in July to raise rental for public housing projects. Badrul Hisham said the decision to strip naked was never a unanimous one by Reformis and was announced by Ramlan after manipulating the signatures of the council members. Yet, Ramlan reportedly denied the allegations against him and dismissed them as lies. http://www.andhranews.net/India/2008/September/24-Slum-dwellers-stage-65685.asp Slum dwellers stage protest for land in Mumbai Residents demanding 400-sq-ft tenements in Dharavi, often described as Asias biggest slum, took to the streets on Tuesday against a decision to restrict their dwellings to a space of 300-sq-ft. Mumbai, Sept 24 : Residents demanding 400-sq-ft tenements in Dharavi, often described as Asia's biggest slum, took to the streets on Tuesday against a decision to restrict their dwellings to a space of 300-sq-ft. The slum is the focus of a looming showdown as municipal authorities and developers seek to raze it to the ground and replace it with office towers, luxury apartments and shopping malls. Families that can prove they have lived in Dharavi since 1995 would be entitled to a free apartment in the same area, but the new dwellings would be tiny, just 300 square feet, about the size of a living room. The state's main opposition Shiv Sena party said they would continue their protest till their demand is met. "I read in newspaper that the officials, chief secretary, housing secretary and head of the development authority have decided that the land in access to 300 square feet cannot be allotted. So until our demand of 400 feet (per house) land is not met, we will continue our protests," said Manohar Joshi, a Shiv Sena leader. The project to re-develop the roughly two-square-km warren of brick and corrugated iron rooms into a high-rise housing and commercial complex is expected to take at least seven years to complete and could eventually be worth up to ten billion dollars in property sales. Dharavi has about 5,000 single-room factories and hundreds of cottage industries that together have a turnover of an estimated one billion dollars. ANI http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122159830300.htm Tamil Nadu - Chennai Ambattur residents protest eviction Staff Reporter CHENNAI: The Water Resources Department continued its drive to remove encroachments on the Ambattur lakebed and the surplus course on Saturday leading to protests by residents. Tension prevailed in Sathya Nagar, Ambattur, when the department officials bulldozed some structures with the help of the Revenue Department and the police. Sujata Mody, president, Women Workers? Union, who participated in the residents? demonstration, complained that the eviction drive was carried out without prior notice rendering hundreds of families homeless. ?Most of the evicted people were unorganised sector workers and living in the area for over two decades. The dislocation will take a heavy toll on their livelihood and children?s education,? she said. Ms. Mody alleged that the residents who attempted to represent their problem to the State government were told that if they stuck to their agitation they run the risk of losing the compensation and alternative land in Morai, Avadi. The union representatives, including Ms. Mody, were detained by the police for stopping the eviction and released later. Officials said that the residents were given prior notice about the demolition. Of 1,500 structures identified in Ambattur lake, nearly 300 had been removed till Saturday. About 280 of the 330 encroached structures in Ayanampakkam lake were also removed. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121058960300.htm Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram Protest against land acquisition plan Special Correspondent Kinfra plans industrial park at Koliyakode ________________________________________ Proposal to acquire 35o acres of land Residents form Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti ________________________________________ Thiruvananthapuram: Residents in the Koliyakode and Keezhthonnakkal villages, near here, are growing increasingly restive over the government move to acquire 350 acres of land for the proposed industrial park to be set up by the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra). As many as 1,000 families in the two villages have mobilised themselves under the banner of Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti to resist the acquisition. The samiti claims that 95 per cent of the families in the earmarked areas are long-time residents who make a living by farming. ?Apart from crops like rubber, banana, coconut, tapioca, arecanut and pepper, vegetables are also grown here. Almost 50 per cent of the people to be displaced are workers who tap rubber. They will lose their livelihood and their families will be left to starve if the rubber estates are acquired,? says D. Gopakumaran Nair, chairman of the samiti. A government order issued by the Industries Department sanctioning the acquisition of 350 acres states that the displaced persons would be resettled and rehabilitated in accordance with a policy to be finalised by the Revenue Department. According to samiti convenor K. Rajan, the land earmarked for acquisition was marked by slanting terrain and streams, making it unfit for setting up an industrial park. The project, he pointed out, would lead to the destruction of water bodies like streams, ponds and canals and make the whole area water-stressed. ?The very government that exhorts people to preserve water bodies is embarking on this venture,? he said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122451800300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati Novel protest by displaced residents of Tirumala Special Correspondent TIRUPATI: The agitation by the displaced residents of Tirumala has on Tuesday witnessed a novel protest as it entered the fourth day. The residents who gathered at Alipiri, the foot of the hill did ?anga pradakshinam??rolling on the road as if to seeking divine the intervention. . Amid chanting of ?Govinda, Govinda? the residents who lost their dwellings long ago in the wake of implementation of master plan at Tirumala prostrated before the massive Garuda statue and the mammoth ?Seven Hills? and prayed for ?wiser counsel? to prevail upon the powers that be in the TTD to expedite relief and rehabilitation measures for the ?left-over?, displaced families. The victims who convened at Alipiri after a trek through the town, bemoaned that living in ramshackled sheds for the last several years at Tirupati along with their families they were facing untold hardship. They called upon the TTD management to end their travails by implementing their relief and rehabilitation package without further any more delay. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122460800700.htm Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati Displaced residents of Tirumala continue protest Special Correspondent Photo: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar Seeking justice: Displaced residents of Tirumala doing ?anga pradakshinam? at Alipiri, Tirupati, on Tuesday. ? TIRUPATI: The agitation by the displaced residents of Tirumala on Tuesday witnessed a novel protest as it entered the fourth day. The residents who gathered at Alipiri, the foot of the hill did ?anga pradakshinam??rolling on the road.. Amid chanting of ?Govinda, Govinda? the residents who lost their dwellings long ago in the wake of implementation of master plan at Tirumala prostrated before the massive Garuda statue and the mammoth ?Seven Hills? and prayed for ?wiser counsel? to prevail upon the powers that be in the TTD to expedite relief and rehabilitation measures. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/28/stories/2008122851510300.htm Other States - Orissa Demonstration held BERHAMPUR: The vegetable vendors who were removed from the side of the NH 217 near Gate Bazar area of the city demonstrated in front of the office of the Berhampur Sub-Collector and demanded their rehabilitation. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/28/stories/2008122853260300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool Dalit women stage demonstration Special Correspondent KURNOOL: Landless women led by A.P. Dalita Samakhya staged a demonstration here on Saturday urging the authorities to allot cultivable land. Samakhya president Kommupalem Srinivas, founder of the Samakhya K. Swami Das, vice president Aswathamma and others met Collector Mukesh Kumar Meena and presented a list of over 3,000 families from 81 villages in Kurnool district who had no land. In the absence of cultivable land or other income generating assets, the families migrated to far off places in search work. At the new place, the women and children had no dignity, proper food and security. If the dalit families had to live with dignity, the only way was to give cultivable land, inputs like seed, fertilisers and milch cattle. Mr. Srinivas said only 711 acres was given to the poor, while 70 lakh acres was under the illegal occupation of the ineligible families. --------------------------------------------------- Navy, villagers dispute land again Jakarta Post - December 13, 2008 Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Malang -- The Navy's Eastern Fleet has locked horns with villagers once again, challenging them to either peacefully resolve a dispute over land in South Malang, or take the case to court. Eastern Fleet spokesman Lt. Col. Tony Syaiful said villagers occupying a section of the Marine Corps' training field in Purboyo, South Malang, should resolve the case legally or seek mediation through the local land office, as both sides seek a permanent solution to the dispute that first flared up in 1965. "If the villagers want, they can come here. I assure them the Naval Base of the Surabaya Marine Base is ready to welcome representatives from Pagak, Bantur and Donomulyo villages who want a peaceful solution to the dispute. We too want a win-win solution," he told The Jakarta Post here Thursday. Tony admitted the land dispute was similar to that in Alas Tlogo, in which four villagers were shot dead in June 2006 after the government gave their land to the Navy for use as a combat training area. Thirteen marines were later convicted by a military tribunal in Surabaya over the killings and given four-year jail terms and dismissed the armed forces. In this latest case, residents claim they inherited the 4,800 hectares of land from their ancestors, while the Navy claims it has official documents proving its ownership of the land, which was appropriated by the government to build a combat training center. Part of the land is already documented, but the rest still has no title deeds, Tony said, blaming the National Land Agency (BPN) for the difficulties in applying for the deeds. On Wednesday, hundreds of villagers from Pagak and Bantur districts protested at the Malang administration's compound, demanding a thorough investigation into the demolitions of their homes on the disputed land, allegedly committed by soldiers from the nearby Navy combat battalion. Mahmud, a resident of Pagak village, said the demolitions took place last month after villagers failed to pay the soldiers fees of between Rp 1 million and Rp 3 million. Rosidi, a resident of Karangsari village in Bantur district, added villagers had been barred from building new homes or communal facilities, or connecting their homes to the power grid. "Even collecting firewood for cooking is prohibited in the ex-plantation area," he said. Tony denied allegations the Navy ordered the demolitions or extorted the villagers, adding the construction of new homes had been banned pending the resolution of the dispute. "If the construction of new buildings continues, the dispute will get more complicated, and neither side wants that," he said. Villagers still grow plants on the land. The regency legislative council has on several occasions attempted to mediate a solution to the dispute, but to no avail. --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Buaran residents call for eviction to be postponed Jakarta -- On December 4 residents living in the Buaran river flood plane demonstrated at the Jakarta city hall against a planned eviction. ??We are demanding a six-month postponement of the eviction so that school children can move up a grade and finish school??, said a representative of the residents, Dede Iskandar. The government is planning to carry out the eviction on Saturday November 6. Several weeks ago, Buaran residents also held a protest action at the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in which they were received by legislative members who promised to postpone the eviction until there was a follow up decision in writing. It turned out, said Iskandar, that the contents of the letter said that Buaran residents had to address their complaints to the Jakarta provincial government. ??We feel like we are being ping-ponged around??, said Iskandar. (Detik.com, 4/12/2008) http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Villagers-protest-at--tiger.4833444.jp Villagers protest at tiger reserve plan Published Date: 31 December 2008 By Ethan McNern MORE than 15,000 people in southern India protested against the extension of a tiger reserve yesterday, despite official assurances that they will not lose their homes to the sanctuary. Representatives from all parties in Tamil Nadu state took part in the third protest since November against the extension of the Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary, police said. The state government declared Mudumalai a tiger reserve earlier this year as part of a federal government initiative, "Project Tiger", to boost the country's dwindling numbers of big cats. There were about 40,000 tigers in India a century ago. A government census puts the present number at 1,411, largely due to dwindling habitat and poaching. A panel set up by the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, said in 2006 that thousands of poor villagers in India's tiger reserves would have to be relocated to protect the endangered animals. Poachers and smugglers exploit the grinding poverty of forest villagers to keep them on their side. Authorities have tried educating the villagers and handing out cash incentivess. Yesterday's demonstrators were not against the declaration of a 125 square mile core area but against the creation of a buffer zone, Rajeev Srivastava, a field director for Project Tiger said. Around 350 families in the core area have been given a million rupees (?14,500), but those in the buffer areas fear they will be evicted. Mr Srivastava said: "We have no intention to dislodge anyone from the buffer zone. In fact, people in this zone will be involved in the project as trackers and guides". http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/09/stories/2008120951680300.htm Karnataka - Shimoga Shopkeepers protest delay in payment of compensation Special Correspondent Their units were demolished for road-widening works Seeking relief: Shop owners and shopkeepers staging a dharna in Shimoga on Monday. SHIMOGA: Shop owners and shopkeepers staged a dharna at the Ameer Ahmed Circle here on Monday criticising the delay by the government in payment of compensation for the loss they suffered following demolition of their shops and other business establishments on B.H. Road for road-widening. They alleged that the State Government and the district administration had not cared to pay the compensation even after 60 days of the demolition of their commercial buildings, which had ruined them financially. They warned of intensifying the protest if the payment of the compensation was not made immediately. They said that the district administration should have paid suitable compensation immediately. The demonstration was organised with the cooperation of the Shimoga District Chamber of Commerce and Industry in which representatives of various organisations participated. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120758680300.htm Kerala - Kochi Evictees protest delay in rehabilitation Staff Reporter KOCHI: The Coordination Committee for those evicted for development has come out strongly against the delay in the rehabilitation of evictees for the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal. A press release issued by Francis Kalathunkal, general convenor, said political intervention is delaying the rehabilitation and scuttling the package announced by the State government, even after forcing the evictees to stay on the street. A protest meeting was convened to mark the Moolampilly Day. The protest rally began from the High Court junction and ended at Menaka Junction. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122658710300.htm Kerala - Kochi Protests, prayers mark Christmas in city Staff Reporter Vallarpadom evictees take out ?hunger march? ________________________________________ March taken out in protest against the delay in rehabilitation process District administration making all efforts to speed up rehabilitation: Collector ________________________________________ KOCHI: The ringing of the bells was not musical for all ears in the city on Christmas day. While the rest of the city celebrated Christmas with all traditional fervour, some were on a protest march. Nearly 70 persons, representing families displaced from Moolamppilly, Mulavukadu, Cheranalloor and Eloor for the proposed Vallarpadom International Container Transhipment Terminal, took out a ?hunger march? to the residence of District Collector M. Beena. The march was taken out in protest against the delay in the rehabilitation process. Even though it was decided at a meeting chaired by Minister for Fisheries and Registration S. Sarma that land would be given to all those evicted for the terminal, the rehabilitation process is getting delayed indefinitely. Communist Party of India district council member P.J. Sebastian inaugurated the march. The police stopped the march that began from Menaka Junction near the Collector?s residence. Francis Kalathungal, general convenor of the coordination committee for those displaced by development projects, presided over the meeting, which was addressed by Thomas Kandathil Cor Episcopa and representatives of political parties and rights activists. Representing the protestors, Rosily Antony and Agnes Antony presented a cake to Dr. Beena. The Collector told them that the district administration was making all efforts to speed up the rehabilitation process. Dr. Beena also returned the gesture by presenting them cakes. Celebrations The rest of the city celebrated the festival in the traditional manner, with devotees attending midnight masses in churches. Mar Thomas Chakiath, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamali, led the Holy Mass at St. Mary?s Basilica. Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil delivered the Christmas message to the faithful. Daniel Acharuparambil, Archbishop of Varappuzha, led the mass at St. Francis Assisi Cathedral, Varappuzha. Bishop Joseph Karikkassery led the mass at the historic Santa Cruz Basilica at Fort Kochi. Cultural programmes Shopping and cultural programmes marked the celebrations, as traffic along the city picked up during the afternoon. Even during the forenoon, the shopping malls had a sizeable crowd who were out to feel the Christmas mood. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122055590600.htm Tamil Nadu Residents protest against construction of Collectorate Staff Reporter Tirupur: Residents of Poompuhar Nagar lay siege to the office of the special officer appointed for the formation of Tirupur district, C. Samayamoorthy, here on Friday, to protest against the move to construction of the Tirupur Collectorate in their locality. In a memorandum submitted to Mr. Samayamoorthy, they urged him to drop the construction of Collectorate at the proposed site since it would result in the displacement of about 5,000 people belonging to 750 families lodged in the colony. They pointed out to him that the Corporation had been levying property tax from them and the houses were provided with electricity as well as drinking water. ?Dislocating those who have the legal right to the property will cause enormous social and economical hardship to the affected persons,? the residents pointed out. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/18/stories/2008121857150300.htm Karnataka Protest CHAMARAJANAGAR: A large number of activists of the district unit of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene laid siege to MDCC Bank here on Wednesday to protest against move to auction farmers? land to recover their loan amount. They also staged a demonstration in front of the bank. The bank has served notices to farmers who have failed to pay their loan instalment. The protesters urged the bank authorities to waive off loans taken by those who were into jaggery production. ? Correspondent http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/dec/dec12/news11.php Maoists clash with locals in Bara Following a clash between Maoist cadres and the local residents, Simara area in Bara district has turned tense Friday afternoon. According to reports, over a dozen people have been injured during the clash. The problem arose after Maoist cadres, who had captured land allegedly owned by Ranga Shumsher Rana, tried distributing it to the 'landless' people. However, local resident Pankaj Gupta said he has already bought the land from Rana. The Maoist cadres, then, attacked Gupta and his supporters. In the clash that followed, three Maoist cadres were severely injured and rushed to Narayani Regional Hospital for treatment while others injured are receiving treatment in local hospitals. The Maoist cadres, after the clash, closed down transportation along the Birgunj-Pathlaiya highway and continue demonstrations. nepalnews.com ia Dec 12 08 http://www.projo.com/news/content/FORECLOSURE_PROTEST_12-11-08_16CJK94_v10.3b9a1c7.html Tenants protest eviction practices 01:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 11, 2008 By Felice J. Freyer Journal Staff Writer PROVIDENCE ?? A new coalition of advocacy groups concerned with housing foreclosures rallied noisily outside a bank-owned triple-decker on Potters Avenue late yesterday, promising to ?blockade? any efforts to evict renters because the tenement is in foreclosure. To bilingual chants of ?Bail us out? and ?We shall not move,? the Rhode Island Bank Tenants and Homeowners Association, along with several other community groups, decried the federal government?s decision to bail out the banking industry ?? but not the people who are losing their homes through banks? actions. ?We call for a people?s economic bailout!? Rosalina Collazo, of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, shouted into a microphone. The group also called for state legislation that would bar evictions except for ?just cause,? which would not include property sales. When a rental property is foreclosed because the owner did not make mortgage payments, banks routinely evict the tenants even if they are paying their rent. Yesterday?s rally, held under a driving rain in the late-afternoon darkness, attracted about 50 activists to the sidewalk in front of 804 Potters Ave., a three-family house that was foreclosed on Oct. 27. Tenants received letters early last month from a law firm representing the unidentified bank that owns the house, offering them money to leave. But at least two of the three families do not want to leave. None has yet received an eviction order, according to Sara Mersha, of DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), one of the events? sponsors. Speakers promised that the group would return and physically block any efforts to force families out of this or any other foreclosed home. Pedro Rodriguez, one of the tenants at 804 Potters Ave., said he lived with his mother and four children. His wife is still in the Dominican Republic, which he left years ago. Speaking in Spanish with Mersha translating, he told a Journal reporter that he has lived in the apartment for 11 months and doesn?t want to leave because it would be hard on his family. Steve Fischbach, of Rhode Island Legal Services, said tenant evictions because of foreclosures are happening regularly; one bank, he said, issued 20 eviction notices in one day. ?They think it?s good business practice to clean out the house,? he said. But vacant houses are subject to vandalism which lowers their value, he said. The group called for a ?Bill of Rights? for tenants and homeowners giving tenants the right to know what is going on with their homes and to stay there ?? with utilities and maintenance continuing ?? if they pay rent. According to the foreclosure notice published in The Journal and city tax records, 804 Potters Ave. was purchased in 2006 by Miguel A. Campos for $251,500. According to the coalition, when the house was sold in 2001, it went for only $85,500. The group said that the entire purchase price in 2006 was financed with an adjustable-rate loan. http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsnaumhojgb/rss2/ Dublin protest over social housing policies Print Email+ Share+ 13/12/2008 - 08:42:14 A rally is being held in Dublin today to protest against the Government's policies on social housing. The demonstration is being organised by People Before Profit and starts at 2pm this afternoon. The group wants the Government to start a new round of building for affordable housing, which would also create jobs for the building sector. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/21/protesters_call_on_bank_of_america_to_curb_post_foreclosure_evictions/ Protesters call on Bank of America to curb post-foreclosure evictions By John M. Guilfoil Globe Correspondent / December 21, 2008 Some two dozen protesters braved subzero windchills yesterday in Dorchester to send a message to Bank of America. In front of the bank's Fields Corner branch, activists carried signs and chanted "Housing is a human right" while calling on Bank of America and its subsidiary Countrywide Financial to stop post-foreclosure evictions. The protesters, led by Jamaica Plain-based advocacy group City Life/Vida Urbana, are calling on banks to renegotiate bad mortgages or allow foreclosed homeowners to pay rent to the bank to stay in their homes. "It is time to mobilize the country behind programs that save the livelihood and promotes the welfare of all of us, not just Wall Street bankers," said Grace Ross of the Massachusetts Alliance Against Predatory Lending, who supported the protest, in a statement. "A genuine rescue plan does not allow massive layoffs. It does not allow evictions of people who are doing their best to pay their mortgages or make their rental payments. Rather, it invests in the lives of people as the strategy to pull our country out of the hard times that are upon us." The group has been advocating for Paula Taylor, who made news in September when City Life protesters were arrested as she was being evicted from her Roxbury home after a yearlong struggle with Bank of America. Steve Meacham, a City Life community organizer, said yesterday that more protests at Bank of America branches are planned. Bank of America spokeswoman Jumana Bauwens said that foreclosures are costly for everyone involved, and that Bank of America takes them "very seriously." "Once Fannie Mae [releases its full list of changes], we will review our policies and procedures," Bauwens said about the bank's policy on post-foreclosure evictions. City Life is lobbying Beacon Hill for a moratorium on so-called "underwater foreclosures," in which the value of a home has sunk below the amount owed on it. At the end of the demonstration, protesters delivered a letter to the bank branch manager detailing their demands. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7800137.stm Friday, 26 December 2008 E-mail this to a friend Printable version Caravan dumped in housing protest The caravan was tipped over on Christmas night A caravan dumped on the steps of Derby's Council House has been revealed to be a protest over homelessness. The derelict trailer - bearing the words "Seasons Greetings" and "Give to homeless people. From Gordon Brown. Unhappy" - was left on Christmas Eve. It was turned over on Christmas night but cleared away early the next day. The organiser, who asked not to be named, said he left the caravan to highlight the plight of those who have no home during Christmas. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1222/1229728440912.html Monday, December 22, 2008 Protests over Cork coastal designation OLIVIA KELLEHER PROTESTS ARE to be held in Cork this week amid claims that the proposed designation of coastal areas around Castletownbere, Bantry and Schull as scenic landscape areas could lead to the depopulation of the west of the county. Beara Chamber of Commerce chairman Michael O'Sullivan said the designation would force young homeowners in Beara, Mizen Head and Sheep's Head out of their rural communities and into towns and villages. "They are trying to turn the Beara Peninsula, Sheep's Head and the Mizen into Jurassic Park . . . It is absolutely disgraceful. They should be encouraging people into the peninsula, not frightening them off. It is for the up-and-coming generation that we are protesting. The proposals would have serious and devastating consequences and would lead to depopulation." Mr O'Sullivan said the special designation could see children of families in the area unable to get planning permission for houses later on. The proposed designation of coastal areas around Castletownbere, Bantry and Schull as scenic landscape areas is to be voted on in the next few weeks by members of Cork Country Council. The proposals were first put forward in August and are among a number of amendments to the Cork County Development Plan. Some 200 people from west Cork are due to protest outside Cork County Hall today. However, supporters of the proposed measures claim scenic coastal areas have to be protected. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 17:12:31 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:12:31 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Indigenous protests, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE397EF.8030106@tesco.net> * WEST PAPUA: Human rights activists storm police HQ over political detention * WEST PAPUA: Human rights day demo makes unexpected demands for arrest of politicians * INDIA: West Bengal - Adivasis clash with police over harassment * TAIWAN: Filmmaker shaves head in solidarity with Aboriginal anti-eviction protesters * INDIA: Gorkhas revive homeland protest * US: Arizona - Indigenous people protest coal mine on ancestral land * PHILIPPINES: Protest against mining in indigenous area * NEPAL: Adivasi group calls for constitution http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/12/04/papuan-activists-storm-police-headquarters.html Papuan activists storm police headquarters Thu, 12/04/2008 10:40 AM | The Archipelago JAYAPURA, Papua: Some 50 Papuan human rights activists staged a rally outside Papua Provincial Police headquarters on Wednesday, demanding the release of pro-independence leader Buchtar Tabuni. Police arrested Buchtar for organizing an Oct. 16 rally demanding Papua's independence. "Buchtar violates Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code as well as Articles 160, 212 and 216 for sedition, agitating the crowd and resisting officers," said Papua Police Chief of Detectives Sr. Comr. Paulus Waterpauw. However, rally organizer Victor Yeimo said the protesters also demanded independence, challenging the police to arrest them as well. "Buchtar is not the only separatist demanding independence. We all demand independence, so arrest us," he said. The protesters maintained their presence in front of the police headquarters as late as 7 p.m. local time causing no disturbances to residents' activities. -- JP --------------------------------------------------- Human Rights Day demo in Jayapura makes unexpected demands Tapol Cenderawasih Pos - December 10, 2008 A demonstration in Jayapura which was organised by the Students Anti-Violence Alliance (AMAK) under its leader Zacharias Horoto, included among its demands the call for three of Papua's leading personalities to be arrested: Tom Beanal, chairman of the Papuan Presidium Caouncil (PDP), Forkorus Yaboisembut, chairman of the Papuan Traditional Council (DAP) and Thaha al Hamid, secretary-general of the Papuan Presidium Council (PDP). The demonstration which, according to Cepos, was attended by around thirty people, said that these three people were responsible for all the actions undertaken by the youth of Papuan and they are the ones who should face charges. Commenting on these demands, Forkorus said that while people were entitled to raise their voices and make demands, students should be able to act rationally and not make all manner of demands. Everything he himself had done can be fully justified as conforming with basic traditions, democracy and human rights. Everything had been done in accordance with the human rights of the Papuan people and it was not a question of acting on the basis of a sense of authority. The students, he said, need to explain scientifically why they are demanding the arrests of these leading figures. He explained that he himself and other leaders had been democratically elected by their organisations and had never incited anyone to do anything but have always explained the initiatives which they have taken. The students leaders involved in the demonstration had only recently visited him at his home to share their thoughts with him about the situation in West Papua, but what they were now doing was in contrast to these discussions. He wondered whether they had been put up to it by certain elements in society. During the demonstration, the demonstators carried two coffins representing the two assassinated Papuan leaders, Theys Eluay and Arnold Ap, which were draped in black cloth which they had intended to burn, as a mark of the destruction of human rights in Papua, but were prevented from doing so by the police. A declaraion read out on behalf of the demonstrators drew attention to the fraudulent Act of Free Choice in 1969, and called for a referendum and for the release of Buchtar Tabuni and said that Papua was not yet a zone of peace partly because the influx of migrants from Indonesia and the increasing number of military. [Abridged translation by TAPOL.] --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Papuan activists storm police headquarters Jakarta Post - December 4, 2008 Jayapura, Papua -- Some 50 Papuan human rights activists staged a rally outside Papua Provincial Police headquarters on Wednesday, demanding the release of pro-independence leader Buchtar Tabuni. Police arrested Buchtar for organizing an Oct. 16 rally demanding Papua's independence. "Buchtar violates Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code as well as Articles 160, 212 and 216 for sedition, agitating the crowd and resisting officers," said Papua Police Chief of Detectives Sr. Comr. Paulus Waterpauw. However, rally organizer Victor Yeimo said the protesters also demanded independence, challenging the police to arrest them as well. "Buchtar is not the only separatist demanding independence. We all demand independence, so arrest us," he said. The protesters maintained their presence in front of the police headquarters as late as 7 p.m. local time causing no disturbances to residents' activities. --------------------------------------------------- http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/tribals-clash-with-police-in-west-bengal_100126838.html Tribals clash with police in West Bengal December 3rd, 2008 - 11:41 pm ICT by IANS - Kolkata, Dec 3 (IANS) A group of tribals clashed with policemen in West Bengal?s West Midnapore district, protesting alleged police excesses after the Nov 2 landmine blast in Salboni targetted at Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee?s convoy.The clash took place when hundreds of tribal villagers, led by Police Santras Birodhhi Committee (anti-police atrocity committee) members, came to Kalaboni in West Midnapore to dig up roads. The police force that had arrived there tried to prevent them from cutting off road connectivity. ?It?s true that a section of tribals demonstrated at Kalaboni and surrounded some of our policemen there. A police team led by district sub-divisional police officer is there to tackle the situation,? state Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told IANS. ?Our officers are now trying to resolve the protest and are dealing with the issue,? he said. Four protesters were reportedly arrested following the clash. Soon after, thousands of tribals who came from adjoining villages also staged a demonstration, protesting the arrest of four of their representatives. They laid siege to the area, demanding the immediate release of the four. Trouble began in the tribal-dominated areas of West Midnapore district last month after the police arrested some school students and allegedly heckled tribal women following the landmine blast Nov 2 targeted at the chief minister?s convoy. Tribals dug up roads and placed large tree trunks across, virtually cutting off the trouble-prone zone from the rest of the district. They also demanded a public apology from the district police for the alleged excesses committed against them during the course of investigations into the landmine blast. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/04/stories/2008120455201000.htm New Delhi Tribal protest, a people?s struggle: Medha Special Correspndent KOLKATA:Social activist, Medha Patkar on Wednesday described the agitation against alleged police excesses by a section of the tribal population of West Bengal?s Paschim Medinipur district as ?a people?s struggle? even as protestors later clashed with the police when prevented from digging up roads in new areas in the Jhargram sub-division . Some policemen were surrounded by the protestors demanding the release of four persons arrested in connection with the incident. Parts of the district remained cut off as a result of the agitation that is continuing for more than three weeks. Dialogue Speaking to The Hindu over telephone during her visit to Lalgarh ? one of the areas worst affected by the agitation ? Ms. Patkar said that she did not ?think that the Maoists are in the lead in this situation though there may be some in the agitation.? Extending her support to those involved in the ?struggle,? she called for immediate dialogue by the State authorities with the protestors to resolve the impasse. ?Dialogue should be held immediately and the same mistake in Nandigram should not be repeated?, Ms. Patkar said. The State Government has been insisting on talks with the protestors though the local administration is averse to accepting the demand of those behind the agitation that discussions should be held at Dalilpur where the first protests against police activity had been made. Proper investigations Referring to the alleged police excesses against local villagers during raids to track down those responsible for the IED blast that narrowly missed Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee?s convoy on November 2 Ms. Patkar wondered why ?the police had to enter homes of the villagers in unearthly hours of the morning.? ?Proper investigation should be conducted,? she added. http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/12/09/0812092114_tribals_protest_maoist_activities_west_bengal.html Tribals protest against Maoist activities in WB Tuesday, December 09, 2008 21:12 [IST] Kolkata: Thousands of people Tuesday gathered at tribal-dominated Belpahari area of West Bengal to protest against the activities of Maoist rebels in the region. The disgruntled villagers also decided to put up a united front against the Maoist guerrillas and vowed not to cooperate with the separatist forces, which were active in the violence-hit West Midnapore district. "Nearly 10,000 people, mostly tribals, gathered at Bhulabheda area of Belpahari to protest against the growing Maoist terror in the district. They held a public meeting where many tribal representatives said they would not give any food and shelter to the Maoist rebels," West Midnapore police superintendent R. K. Singh said. "The villagers openly made it clear that they will chase the Maoists and also help the police arrest them. They said they would not hesitate to kill these extremist elements, if needed," he said. The public meeting at Belpahari was jointly called by tribal organisations Bharat-Jakat-Majhi-Marwa organisation and Jowan-Gaonwa organisation. Villagers from various parts of the district participated in the rally with improvised weapons and drums and demonstrated in front of the makeshift podium as part of their token protest against the Maoist atrocities. "The tribals have admitted that theyre misled by the Maoist leaders into standing up against the district administration and the police," said Singh. Belpahari, a forest area under the Dama Hills, is about 45 km from Jhargram town. Trouble erupted in West Midnapore district after the district police allegedly arrested some school students and heckled tribal women after an attempted landmine ambush of the convoy of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Bhadutala near Salboni last month. Union ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Jitin Prasada were also in the convoy. Four policemen were injured in the blast. Participating in a violent protest, the tribals dug up metalled roads and placed large tree trunks across them, virtually cutting off the region from the rest of the district. The region witnessed a series of protests, as the villagers had demanded a public apology from the district police for the alleged excesses committed against them during the course of investigation into the landmine blast. Source : DNA http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/20/2003431577 Hou Hsiao-hsien shaves head in Sanying protest GET OUT: The Taipei County Government posted an eviction notice on Monday, giving Sanying Aboriginal Community residents seven days to vacate their homes By Loa Iok-sin STAFF REPORTER Saturday, Dec 20, 2008, Page 2 Film director Hou Hsiao-hsien, center, has his head shaved on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office yesterday as a show of support for the residents of the Sanying Aboriginal Community in Taipei County. PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES Film director Hou Hsiao-hsien (???) shaved his head to show support for residents of the Sanying Aboriginal Community (????) who staged a demonstration yesterday to protest a Taipei County Government plan to demolish the community. ?Aborigines have been living on this island long before the migrants from China moved here,? Hou said after shaving his head on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office as Sanying residents and supporters protested. ?The Aboriginal way of life should be respected.? Besides Hou, Aboriginal actors Ma Chih-hsiang (???) and Suming, as well as writer Chu Tien-hsin (???) attended the protest. ?It took Sanying inhabitants a lot of effort to rebuild their homes after they were destroyed, but as soon as next Monday, the community might be destroyed again,? Sanying Self-Help Group spokesman Chiang Yi-hao (???) told reporters and demonstrators. Sanying is located on a bank of the Dahan River (???) in Taipei County near the Sanying Bridge (????), which connects Sansia (??) and Yingge (??) townships. ?Aborigines have been living on this island long before the migrants from China moved here ... The Aboriginal way of life should be respected.? ? Hou Hsiao-hsien, film director Inhabitants in the community are mostly Amis Aborigines from Hualien and Taitung counties, working in Taipei as construction workers. They could not afford housing in the city, so they built their homes on a piece of abandoned land along the river around 20 years ago. Saying that the area was classified as a ?flood zone? that could not be inhabited, the county government has torn down the community several times ? most recently in February ? but residents rebuild their homes each time. Although the county government has built an apartment complex to house Sanying residents, problems remain ? some of the residents refuse to move, some cannot afford the rent, while others are nots qualified to move into the apartment complex since they did not live in Sanying when the government took a census in 1994. As successive rounds of talks between residents and the government failed to generate a consensus, the county government posted a notice on Monday warning it would evict them within seven days, adding that they would be removed with force. Lee Tsung-kwei (???), county Information Office director-general, appeared at the demonstration, explaining to reporters that the county government was acting according to law, and was trying hard to accommodate Sanying residents. ?This area has been classified as a flood zone and no one has been allowed to live in flood zones since the Water Conservation Law [???] came into effect in 1994,? Lee said. ?We understand that many people have lived there since long ago, so we?ve built an apartment complex to accommodate them.? When asked how the county government would help those who could not afford the rent, Lee said he would have to find out, adding ?perhaps they can get help from the Social Welfare Bureau.? Following a meeting held later yesterday, Lee said the county government has decided to postpon the decision on whether or to enforce the eviction till after the Lunar New Year holidays. This year?s Lunar New Year falls on Jan. 26. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2008/12/20/188556/Renowned-filmmaker.htm Updated Saturday, December 20, 2008 7:46 am TWN, By Dimitri Bruyas, The China Post Renowned filmmaker endorses aboriginals? protest Taipei, Taiwan -- Renowned Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien shaved his head yesterday to protest against the government?s dismantling of Sanying Aboriginal Community, Taipei County. He further vowed to do a film about the plight of the aboriginal people. ?It?s regretful that these people ? whose ancestors had lived on the Taipei Basin at times earlier than the Chinese Han people and any of the first Western immigrants in Taiwan had arrived ? have now been deprived of their basic rights to residence,? he said, while attending a sit-in demonstration staged in front of the Taipei Guest House. Hou contended that the homes in the Sanying Community are located in what was legally defined a ?flood area? last February, in line with the government?s announcement of new legislation on flood prevention. The Taipei County Government then decided to relocate the community by the end of the year so that it could open a riverside park across Xindian City, he pointed out. However, most residents cannot afford the price tag of the newly built apartments. Hou argued that the real estate market in Taiwan is already overdeveloped and expressed his support to ?the way of life of aboriginal people.? The community of Amis aborigines is scattered on the river banks on both sides of Sanying Bridge, which connects the townships of Sansia and Yingge. Its residents moved to Taipei to work over the last 30 years. But because they couldn?t afford housing in the city, they built their homes with whatever materials they could find on the banks of the river. Hou?s films have been awarded prizes from prestigious international festivals such as the Berlin Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, the Nantes Three Continents Festival and the Hawaii International Film Festival. Six of his films to date have been nominated for the Palme d?Or (best film award) at the Cannes Film Festival, though the prize has so far eluded him. The protesters reminded President Ma Ying-jeou of his controversial statements during the run-up to the presidential election while campaigning on the bank of the Xindian River in December 2007. When an aboriginal woman came to him and asked his support to prevent the community from being relocated to a new complex built by city authorities, Ma then lectured the elderly person and said, ?I will treat you like a person ... and I will educate you well and provide you with opportunities.? He further added that ?aborigines should adjust their mentality.? In response to the protesters, Lee Tsung-kwei, director general of the Information Office of Taipei City Government, said the houses in the community were built against the law on the flood plain of the river. Every time a typhoon approaches, the county government must evacuate the residents for the sake of their safety, he added. He stressed that many of the current residents in the Sanying community have moved there over the past year, rather than being the originally documented dwellers. The demolition of the illegal structures was originally scheduled for next Tuesday, but has been postponed to after the Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 26. http://www.newslocale.org/world/wnews/ethnic_gorkhas_revive_protests_on_their_demand_of_separate_homeland_2008120910731.html Ethnic Gorkhas revive protests on their demand of separate homeland Written by ANI Tuesday, 09 December 2008 Darjeeling, Dec 9 (ANI): Members of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) have revived their demand by calling indefinite strike of all State Government's offices in Darjeeling Hills. GJM claimed that their call for shutdown got an overwhelming response and all the State Government offices such as forest offices, banks, local council offices and others remained closed on the first day of the indefinite strike. The protest comes in the wake of tripartite talks that were supposed to be held in November did not convene. "The date for the tripartite talks was supposed to be out by last week of November, but it is still not fixed. Now, tripartite talks will not be held. We just demand separate 'Gorkhaland'. To support the 'Gorkhaland' issue, all the offices of the State Government like forest offices, banks, Panchayat offices, in entire Gorkhaland area will remain cl osed," said Raj Singh Diali, Secretary of Youth Wing of GJM. The GJM, comprising about half a dozen parties, has been organizing protests over the past few months in the Darjeeling Hills over the statehood demand. GJM is demanding that a separate state of "Gorkhaland" be carved out of West Bengal to protect their culture and heritage. Gorkhas constitute one million of West Bengal's 80 million people, most of them concentrated in Darjeeling. (ANI) http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11172123 Tribes protest proposed Ariz. coal mine on ancestral lands The Denver Post Posted: 12/09/2008 12:30:00 AM MST Arvin Bedonie of Big Mountain, Ariz., marches with Navajo and Hopi members and supporters Monday to a downtown Denver rally. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post ) Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe representatives on Monday pressed the federal Office of Surface Mining not to grant a permit to Peabody Energy for its proposed Black Mesa coal mine in Arizona. The group, which included picketers, met with officials at OSM's Denver office. Al Klein, regional mining director, said the Black Mesa proposal, although not the preferred alternative, was part of the environmental-impact statement issued in 2006. He also said Peabody's permit application is in order. Black Mesa is the ancestral homeland to thousands of Navajo and Hopi families and is regarded by the Navajo as a sacred mountain. "This is a sad day for the Hopi and Navajo," said Hopi Tribal Chairman Ben Nuvamsa. Mark Jaffe, The Denver Post http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2008/11/06/news/international.group.protests.mining.in.macambol.html Thursday, November 06, 2008 International group protests mining in Macambol By Ben O. Tesiorna INTERNATIONAL group Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (Cafod) protested the alleged irregularities committed by the two mining companies in their mining operation in the City of Mati. The protest action was conducted in United Kingdom last week and a launching of its report is set in Davao City on Thursday. In its report entitled "Kept in the Dark", Cafod accused BHP-Billiton and its estranged local partner, Asiaticus Management Corporation (Amcor), of committing errors in getting their Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) from the indigenous community in Barangay Macambol, where the mining area is located. "The process between 2001/08 to secure approval for the project from Macambol's indigenous peoples, as required under Philippine law, was so seriously flawed that it cannot be considered valid. The authority of the indigenous leader who gave consent for mining is in question. This indigenous leader was allegedly on the payroll of Amcor, BHP-Billiton's joint venture partner. Individuals were prevented from speaking out and some indigenous groups known to oppose mining were deliberately excluded from the process," the report stated. The report also accused Amcor of bribing local community leaders and government officials to get support for the mining project and silence opposition to mining. "Amcor and Philippine government officials allegedly offered bribes to community leaders to buy support for the project and to silence opposition to mining. BHP-Billiton's code of business conduct, which applies to all of its joint venture partners, strictly prohibits bribery. Cafod has no evidence to suggest the BHP-Billiton staff were involved, but believes that the company has a responsibility to ensure partners and contractors it has chosen to work with do not partake in bribery or corruption. On the basis of this research, Cafod believes that BHP-Billiton has applied insufficient due diligence over its joint venture partner Amcor," it said. Macambol Mandaya leader Rufino Mapinogos, meanwhile, denied any bribery made by Amcor to his community. He said what the Filipino-owned corporation gave the lumads in Macambol were programs and projects that are part of the company?s social responsibility. "Para kanamo, dili bribery ang pagtabang kanamo aron makasustiner, ma-organisar ang katawhan. Dawat namo ang responsableng pagmina. Gitudlo na kanamo sa among partner nga local mining company ang mamahimong ilang buhaton kun ugaling makasugod na ang operation (Helping us sustain the livelihood and organize our people is not bribery. We support responsible mining. The local mining company has briefed us on what it intends to do once operation starts)," Mapinogos said. Cafod said that BHP-Billiton has also failed to give people sufficient information about the project and all of its potential impacts. "BHP-Billiton has failed to give people sufficient information about the project and all of its potential impacts. The community is not well informed and has not had access to independent analysis of the social and environmental impacts of mining. This has limited people's ability to make an informed decision. The reality of life below the poverty line has left people easily swayed by hope of work and promises of community development assistance from BHP Billiton, without evaluating the longer-term impacts of mining on their future livelihoods and the environment that supports them," the report said. Lastly, Cafod said the project's potential dangers to the environment and to local livelihoods are undeniable. "The Hallmark project falls between two nationally designated protected areas: Pujada Bay and the Mount Hamiguitan wildlife sanctuary. Mining development in this area of rare and endangered species, including the Philippine Eagle, could lead to irreversible loss of biodiversity," it said. "Mining could lead to increased soil erosion, landslides and flashfloods. Pollution from mine waste or chemicals could endanger the livelihoods of the 65,000 people from communities that border Pujada Bay," the report added. The group said that making things worse is the fact that the Philippine government agencies responsible for monitoring the environmental impacts of mining are "under-resourced and lack independence." Mines and Geosciences Bureau chief for Southern Mindanao Edilberto Arreza meantime described as premature the demand for the mining companies doing exploration in Mati City to make public their environmental protection program. Arreza said that since the mining companies are still in exploration stage, they have not yet submitted any environment protection plan before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). He said the environment protection plan will only be submitted after the exploration stage and once the company fully decides to mine the area. "Still premature pa for them to judge or comment that the environment will be destroyed," Arreza said. http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/videos/2008/dec/dec27/video03.php Janajati group warns of nationwide protest Speaking at an interaction programme organized in the capital on Saturday, coordinator of Rastriya Adibasi Janajati Ganatantric Morcha Kishor Bishwas has warned of fresh protests if the government fails to start the constitution drafting process immediately. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 17:28:12 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:28:12 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Ecological protests, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE39B9C.7000400@tesco.net> * AUSTRIA/TURKEY: Activists occupy bank in Ilisu Dam protest * PHILIPPINES: Vigil at court over aerial spraying * VIRGIN ISLANDS: Protest over building protest at beach * BERMUDA: Beachside development faces protests * CHINA: Protest erupts over sewage plant * TAIWAN: Protesters demand action after gas leak * TAIWAN: Police attack protests in defence of historic building * INDIA: Hyderabad - Protest against water pollution * INDONESIA: Environmentalists protest in Jakarta, paint globe * BULGARIA: Ecologists protest forest law reform * INDIA: Karnataka - Greens protest tree felling in Bangalore * US: Seattle - Dozens protest Murray Island pier * US: Utah - Protests "cause chaos" at auction as activist "buys" land * UK: Thousands march against climate change * POLAND: Greenpeace occupy power station * POLAND: Thousands urge action on climate change at UN talks * NEW ZEALAND: Toilets for parliament in climate change protest * UK: Residents protest Tesco "megashed" * UK: Santa protester targets EON * FRANCE: Penguin protesters march in Paris * US: California - Tree-sit protest continues * IRELAND/UK: Protest over Belfast airport expansion * UK: 'Plane Stupid' target Stansted, force 56 cancellations * US: Florida - Rail expansion protested * UK: Weymouth - Protesters in tree-sit, protest camp on planned road route * US: Georgia - Political dismissal of conservation chief protested * KOREA/CANADA: Politician sends protest letter over rebuilding * AUSTRALIA: Tasmania - East Coast timber mill occupied * UK: Manchester - Residents protest greenbelt erosion, racecourse * AUSTRALIA: Protesters denounce low emissions targets; PM's office occupied, others sandbagged * GERMANY: Protest against airport expansion http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245523,activists-seize-austrian-bank-to-protest-turkish-dam-project.html Activists seize Austrian bank to protest Turkish dam project Posted : Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:21:44 GMT Author : DPA Category : Australasia (World) Australasia World News | Home Vienna - Opponents of the Turkish Ilisu dam seized rooms in the Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG (OeKB) in Vienna on Wednesday, calling on the bank to pull out of the project on ecological and cultural grounds. Austrian, German and Swiss export guarantees worth an estimated 450 million euros (577 million dollars) underpin the financing of the project to dam the Tigris river in south-eastern Turkey and build a power plant. Some 10 protesters from the organization ECA Watch had peacefully entered the bank's premises and called for talks with the management, Kontrollbank spokesman Peter Gumpinger said. "They will get them," he said. "If it stayed involved, OeKB would share responsibility for 65,000 people losing their homes, animal species becoming extinct and the most valuable cultural assets being destroyed, including Hasankeyf, one of the world's oldest cities," ECA Watch said in a statement. In early October, Austria, Germany and Switzerland sent a warning letter to Turkey, calling on the country to fulfil ecological requirements and come up with a relocation plan for the affected population. ECA Watch, which monitors export credit agencies like Kontrollbank, suspects that the bank has already decided to stay involved in the project, even before the letter's December 12 deadline for implementing the remedies. Kontrollbank had not finished its evaluation yet, Gumpinger said. "Our reports will be critical and identify shortcomings," he said. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20081209-177068/Anti-aerial-spraying-protesters-arrested Anti-aerial spraying protesters arrested By Jeffrey M. Tupas Mindanao Bureau First Posted 23:05:00 12/09/2008 Filed Under: Protest, Health, Environmental Issues CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines -- Some 15 members of a nongovernment group called "Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying" (Citizens Against Aerial Spraying in banana plantations) were arrested Tuesday afternoon while they were singing Christmas carols during a protest action in front of the Court of Appeals building here. The arrest happened on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Senior Inspector Nerio Geroy, chief of Police Precinct 5, said the protesters were not arrested but merely invited for questioning. But lawyer Jan Perry Eugenio, an official of the group Balaod Mindanao, said the anti-aerial spraying activists were peacefully holding their protest and were just exercising their right to free speech. He said they were studying the possibility of filing charges against those who arrested the farmer-members of the anti-aerial spraying group. "The arrest was illegal and the people were harassed. Right now, we are deliberating on filing charges against the arresting officers. Non-government organizations have been campaigning for a ban on aerial spraying in banana plantations in Mindanao, saying the chemicals used are highly toxic and have long-term negative effects on the health of communities surrounding the plantations. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=17630992 Residents protest Mandahl project Development will destroy Mandahl area, residents claim By TIM FIELDS Monday, December 1st 2008 St. THOMAS - A large crowd gathered at Mandahl Bay beach on Sunday afternoon to voice their opposition to a development proposing to build homes, timeshares, commercial shops and a marina on more than 70 acres on the northeastern side of St. Thomas. "This project is huge. It is gigantic," Jose Belcher, a St. Thomas resident said to the group of more than 80 residents who attended the meeting. "It's going to change the face of the North Side forever." The project's developer - Mandahl Bay Holdings Inc. - will present its plans for the development at a public hearing before the St. Thomas Coastal Zone Management Committee in January. A specific date has not yet been scheduled. Belcher said that the public must be cognizant of what is being proposed, what environmental damage the project could cause, and how it will affect the quality of life of hundreds of people who frequent Mandahl Bay with their families. "No one person needs to represent what we're doing here. It will take the entire community," he said as many members of the crowd nodded in agreement. While current development plans for the site have not been approved by CZM, plans to develop the area go back more than 40 years. In 1964, former Gov. Ralph Paiewonsky signed a 99-year lease with a developer to build a hotel on the nearby island of Hans Lollick, and 150 homes and marina at Mandahl Salt Pond. That project never got off the ground and the lease traded hands to others. In the 1970s, a new developer built a jetty that turned the sandy beach into a pile of rocks. Movement to build once again stalled, and the lease traded hands several times again. Currently, Mandahl Bay Holdings Inc. seeks to build an 87-slip marina at Mandahl Salt Pond. The project will include some retail shops and will serve as a town center for the surrounding construction of a number of homes and timeshares. On Sunday, residents took turns voicing their fears that the project could destroy the habitat by eliminating mangroves, eradicating endangered species that live in the area, and contaminate the hatchery where local fishermen find bait in order to make their living. Some residents also expressed their deep-seated distrust of the V.I. government, saying that it has had a long history of turning a blind eye to developers. "We are trying to preserve what we have here. We have to get up and start pushing back," resident Jack Diehl said. The crowd showed its support and one man yelled out: "We will be left with a skeleton." Anna Francis, who has lived in Mandahl since she was a child, said that residents must believe that they have a voice and to never doubt how much a small, but committed group, can change the world. "Each of us has a responsibility to the environment," she said. "This is government land. The government has made a lot of mistakes, such as when they leased this land. The people were never consulted." She urged the crowd to write to their senators and to Gov. John deJongh Jr. St. Thomas resident Sean LaPlace spoke about his petition - currently circulating - to get the rock jetty removed. "We demand our beach back. We have already lost many of our beaches," he said. "We may be in an economic crisis, but we are also in an environmental crisis." The crowd gave LaPlace a round of applause. From Coki Point to Fortuna, St. Thomas is under siege by developers, Clarence Payne said. He suggested that residents demand that Government House rescind the lease at once. St. Thomas resident Cleone Beverhoudt, 75, spoke about saving the salt pond and how the marina would destroy the color and beauty of an area cherished by many families who have lived on St. Thomas for many generations. She suggested the government buy the beach. In November 2006, the government bought Lindqvist Beach for $8.9 million and transferred the 21.5-acre beachfront property to the Magens Bay Authority. "As they saved Lindqvist Beach, let them save this one," Beverhoudt said. - Contact Reporter Tim Fields at 774-8772 ext. 364 or e-mail tfields at dailynews.vi. http://www.theroyalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d8c6333003000b§ionId=60 (Bermuda) Published: December 12. 2008 08:31AM Objectors mull protests against Warwick Long Bay beach bar ________________________________________ By Amanda Dale ________________________________________ Warwick Long Bay Parking Lot where a proposed beach bar will be built. Photo: Akil Simmons: Residents and environmental campaigners are ready to stage "on-site protests" against plans for a beach bar on the South Shore. They say they will also mobilise public opinion against the 'Sandbar' through petitions and Town Hall meetings, as well as fighting any application for a liquor licence. Opposition to the bar and restaurant, earmarked for Warwick Long Bay, escalated into direct action at a public meeting on Wednesday. One resident said: "We are going to form an action group to galvanise public opinion against the development, with the help of BEST (Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce). "The group is going to organise a series of petitions, Town Hall meetings and on-site protests, and will object to any application for a liquor licence." She said: "I don't know if you can describe the mood as militant, but people are very frustrated that the normal and due process was followed, the process of writing objections and then having the appeal rejected. "In spite of the DAB (Development Applications Board) and an independent inspector opposing the bar, the Minister of the Environment has allowed it to proceed. People are angry that there is a Planning process in place which has rejected the bar, but it has then been approved." Last night former UBP MP Quinton Edness said in order for the bar to go ahead, the law would have to be changed. Mr. Edness, a former Minister of Works, Agriculture and Housing, said the land at Warwick Long Bay would have to be delisted from the Bermuda National Parks Act 1986. "The Long Bay development cannot take place just from the (Environment) Minister giving his approval," said Mr. Edness. "Long Bay is a protected park listed in the schedule of the Parks Act, which means in order for development to take place on any portion of the Park an affirmative resolution has to be taken to the House of Parliament and debated to delist it from the schedule. "Should the Government proceed with a development or sanction a development on a listed property, it will be violating its own law and so could be subject to a legal challenge." Independent Senator Walwyn Hughes this week said the granting of a liquor licence would also break the law. Sen. Hughes spoke out against the development at this week's Senate, saying he was "disappointed" with new Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney's upholding of the appeal. "I would like to express my disappointment," he said. "This is something which disturbs a lot of people with environmental concerns. I think everybody knows that stretch of beach is a magnificent pristine area which falls in the National Parks scheme. "I think a lot of people are concerned and disappointed that a decision was taken which overruled the decision of Planners, the DAB and an inspector as well. "It is sad when you see these pristine areas developed," he said. "These areas are supposed to be kept as far as possible in their pristine state. It is hard to see how a bar and restaurant would fit into that." Sen. Hughes said: "In the Liquor Licence Act there is a clause which precludes issuing a liquor licence other than a temporary licence, such as for a day. Section 22 (3a) of the Liquor Licence Act (1974) says a licence other than an occasional licence shall not be granted where the premises form part of a Park. And of course this area is in a Park area. "It's difficult to see how that particular property can be used in this way unless the law is changed. This raises another issue which should have been taken into account when the application was considered." Opposition Senator Michael Fahy added: "I support entrepreneurship, however this calls into question the Planning process. How is it we can have Planning officers recommend this should not be done and then we have a new Minister of the Environment override all those recommendations? "I think we need to look at the Planning Act, at how a Minister can override decisions of those in the know." Mr. Blakeney has upheld an appeal by developer Belcario Thomas following a DAB rejection of the 60-seat restaurant and cocktail bar. The 'Sandbar' will be situated to the west of the Warwick Long Bay car park and will consist of a split-level wooden decking, with panels anchored into the sand to enable their removal in the event of a hurricane and the end of the summer season. Mr. Thomas ? the events' organiser behind Unite, says he aims to create an "ambient, Ibiza-type bar" and will follow Government conservation and environmental advice to make it "as environmentally-friendly as possible". He says the 2, 500 sq ft development will be operational between May and November, with a mobile kitchen and 'Port-a-loo' toilets. Planning officers refused permission for the 'Sandbar' as Warwick Long Bay is zoned as Open Space and a National Park Conservation Area. The DAB report said: "Warwick Long Bay is the last of Bermuda's pristine beaches. The proposal will have a dominating and detrimental impact on the natural aesthetic of the beach." It said the development was contrary to the Bermuda National Parks Act 1986 and the Bermuda Plan 1992 Planning Statement. There were 107 letters of objection to the 'Sandbar', and more than 80 residents went on to protest Mr. Thomas' Planning appeal. Among the residents' concerns are noise, litter and potential parking overflow, while others have called the project an environmental "travesty". Commenting on Mr. Blakeney's upholding of the appeal, BEST chairman Stuart Hayward said: "What is the point of laws and regulations and the expert counsel of Planners, conservation specialists, custodians of parklands and even an independent inspector, if a Minister can ignore it all, and in the process endorse the trashing of the very environment he is pledged to protect?" Mr. Blakeney was last night off-Island but said: "I will be making a statement with regard to the Warwick Long Bay beach bar in due course." http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/kaohsiung/2008/12/27/189444/Protests-erupt.htm December 27, 2008 9:40 am TWN, The China Post newssd staff Protests erupt over toxic Kaohsiung sewage plant KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- About 100 people clashed with police during a protest yesterday in Taliao Township, Kaohsiung Country as they tried to storm a sewage processing plant they say emits toxic gases, a local newspaper reported. Some protesters climbed over a gate barring them from entering the facility, while some others broke the lock on a side door and opened it to allow the elderly and child protesters into the plant, the United Evening News said. When police guarding the gate started to make arrests, a clash between the two sides erupted. No immediate injuries were reported. They claimed the plant has emitted toxic gases three times this month, leaving almost 100 people hospitalized. They also demanded that the plant cease operating immediately. ?Are they waiting for someone to die before stopping work,? some protesters were cited by the paper as saying. They later took their protest to the office of the Tafa Industrial Zone, where the sewage processing plant is located. They staged a sit-down protest on the road in front of the office, blocking all traffic. The county's magistrate, Yang Chiu-hsing, later arrived to try to placate the protesters, promising the government will track down the source of the pollution. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/27/2003432200 Protesters demand action after third Taliao gas leak SCHOOL SICKNESS: The violent protest broke out after dozens of students and teachers in Kaohsiung County were hospitalized after suffering nausea and dizziness By Meggie Lu STAFF REPORTER Saturday, Dec 27, 2008, Page 2 Taliao Township residents clash with police while protesting outside Ta-fa Industrial Park yesterday. They were demanding that authorities investigate three gas leaks that caused dozens of schoolchildren and teachers to be hospitalized on Dec. 1, Dec. 12 and most recently on Thursday. PHOTO: HUNG CHEN-HUNG, TAIPEI TIMES Approximately 500 people protested outside Ta-fa Industrial Park in Kaohsiung County?s Taliao Township (??) yesterday, demanding the government find the source of noxious gas that has leaked into nearby elementary and middle schools three times in the past month. Among the protesters were the parents of pupils attending Chao-liao elementary and middle schools, local residents and students from the schools. ?If an answer [for dealing with the gas] is found we will go back to school, if not we will continue to stay away in case we get poisoned again,? one student said. School officials said that attendance rates have dropped below 50 percent. Three gas leaks caused dozens of school children and teachers to be hospitalized on Dec. 1, Dec. 12 and most recently on Thursday. The affected individuals reported nausea, dizziness and tension in the chest. Yesterday morning protesters demanded that a waste water treatment plant in the park be shut down, saying that the plant was the source of the gas. The demonstration in the morning was tense. Because the protesters had gathered without applying for permission, the police demanded they disperse in accordance with the Assembly and Parade Act (?????). This drew a heated response from the protesters, who then clashed with police. Some protesters threw rocks at both the plant and the police. One protestor was detained. ?Must someone die before the factories cease operation?? said Taliao Township chief Huang Tian-huang (???). The situation calmed when Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (???) arrived at the site at around 11am. ?The gas came from a factory,? Yang said, adding that the waste water treatment plant was merely a downstream destination of the foul gas. In the past, the county would ask factory owners to turn themselves in, Yang said. He said that in this case, however, as no factory had admitted fault, the culprit would have to be found by Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) investigaters. The situation turned tense again in the afternoon when EPA Minister Steven Shen (???) arrived at the site. Shen and Yang at one point argued when Shen said that the industrial park should be shut down for investigation. ?How can you say this kind of thing?? Yang asked, saying that Shen should apologize. The two sat down to discuss the situation later after Shen retracted his statement. Yang said that three chemical factories were suspected sources of the noxious gas, including one owned by the Chang-chun Group and Polyplastics? Ta-fa Plant. The results of the investigation would be released soon, EPA Deputy Minister Chang Tzi-chin (???) said. http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=142733&CtNode=39 Taiwan police disperses student protesters for Lo-Sheng Sanatorium relocation 12/03/2008 (Taiwan News) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) ? The controversial Lo-Sheng Sanatorium relocation has begun Wednesday. The police started to disperse hundreds of students on-site staging a protest. Students had staged a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Health on Monday, asking Minister Yeh Chin-chuan (???) to protect the cultural heritage of Lo-Sheng by reporting to related organizations to list the Sanatorium as historic monument. The students brought forth four demands, asking that no construction be launched before Lo-Sheng designated as historic monument, residents stay in the old building, no fences be set up in the preserved area, and that an outreaching bridge be built before construction. The land of Lo-Sheng Sanatorium is chosen to set up the Mass Rapid Transit Hsinchuan factory, and thus, its relocation has stirred controversies for years. Taipei County government recently asked the Sanatorium to dislodge on its own prior to December 1 and the land will be handed over to Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. Since 2004, social, student, human rights groups have demanded to preserve the Sanatorium. The residents and support groups have staged protests, proposed a co-existence plan with the MRT, and organized musical or cultural activities to raise awareness for the past five years. According to its official website under the Ministry of Health, Lo-Sheng sanatorium, built in 1930, is the only government-run leprosy institution providing acute and long-term care exclusively for the patients with leprosy. Lo-Sheng?s new building, Hueilong Branch in Gueishan Township, Taoyuan County, consists of two nine-story buildings, one designated for residents relocated from the old building. However, some residents are reluctant to move in because the new building design is inconvenient for electric wheelchairs. by Taiwan News, Website Editorial Staff http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/12/11/2003430813 Ma heckled by protesters during award ceremony SURPRISE: After two members of a pro-Tibet group unfurled symbols of the region, a man interrupted Ma with accusations over the Lo Sheng Sanatorium By Loa Iok-sin, Ko Shu-ling and Mo Yan-chih STAFF REPORTERS Thursday, Dec 11, 2008, Page 1 Pro-Tibet activists stage a protest during President Ma Ying-jeou?s speech at the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award ceremony in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: CNA President Ma Ying-jeou (???) was heckled at the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award ceremony in Taipei yesterday as pro-Tibetan and Lo Sheng preservation activists staged a surprise protest. As Ma was being introduced to the audience, Taiwan Friends of Tibet (TFOT) members Tsai Chi-hsun (???) and Yang Tsung-li (???) took off their shirts and jackets to display T-shirts of the organization. A Tibetan flag and the slogan ?free Tibet? in English and ?independence for Tibet? in Chinese were printed on the front of the shirts. Not long after Ma began his speech, Yang held up a Tibetan flag, while Tsai displayed a photo of the Dalai Lama. Bodyguards immediately rushed toward the two, asking them to put away the flag and the photo, but Yang and Tsai refused. Security agents left them alone as they sat down and protested silently. Ma ignored the protest and delivered a speech about Taiwan?s human rights achievements. However, in the middle of Ma?s speech, a man from the audience suddenly pulled out a banner and shouted ?the government intrudes upon the human rights of patients at the Lo Sheng Sanatorium.? He was immediately escorted away by security personnel. The Lo Sheng Sanatorium was built in 1930 by the Japanese colonial authority to house lepers. Part of the compound was demolished last week to make way for the construction of a Mass Rapid Transport maintenance deport. Ma regained his composure and said the unexpected episode only proved that Taiwan was a true democracy. He said, however, that all parades or assemblies must be conducted in a legal manner with respect for other people?s freedoms. ?We support legal activities, but we crack down on illegal ones,? he said. ?Taiwan must enter a new stage. Elections are only a form of democracy. A true democracy is one that protects the people?s freedom, rights and the rule of law,? Ma said. During his speech, Ma said that he would sign two UN human rights declarations and send them to the legislature for approval. Ma said the UN General Assembly adopted the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1966, which were both signed by the Republic of China, but were never approved by the legislature. They have been sent to the legislature for approval four times since 2001, Ma said, but the attempts were never successful. He said he discussed the matter with Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (???) yesterday morning and told him he would like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit the two conventions to the Executive Yuan for approval and then to the legislature. ?Once the legislature gives its endorsement, I will proclaim the two conventions and send them to the UN in accordance with international practice,? he said. ?We hope to apply international standards of human rights in the country,? he said. The Ma administration has been harshly criticized over alleged human rights violations since Ma took office in May. Many domestic and foreign human rights and media watch groups have expressed concern over alleged rights violations and restrictions on civil liberties since the visit of Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin (???) early last month. Ma said yesterday that during the 38-year Martial Law era, civil liberties were restricted and political persecution was rife. The situation improved when he was minister of justice in 1993, he said, whereupon Taiwan was upgraded to a free country by international human rights organizations. Since he took office in May, Ma said his efforts to protect human rights had never flagged. Following the ceremony, Yang and Tsai told reporters they were curious to know when an ?appropriate time? for the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan would be. ?Ma said earlier [last week] that the timing is not appropriate for the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan. I?d like to ask him: ?When would be an appropriate time??? Yang told reporters after leaving the ceremony. ?Anyone who supports the idea of peace and freedom should be able to visit the free country of Taiwan,? Tsai said. The Tibetan religious leader should be allowed a visit at any time as long as he has a legal status, they said. Ma?s rejection of the Dalai Lama?s proposed visit has received much criticism. Ma said during an interview with FTV on Tuesday that his decision had nothing to do Beijing and that the ?appropriate time? would be a time ?that is convenient for both of them.? At a separate event later yesterday, Ma offered an apology to the victims and family members of the 228 Incident, promising to bring ethnic harmony in Taiwan. ?Mistakes can be forgiven, but history cannot be forgotten. We should learn the lessons from history and prevent any violations of human rights in future,? Ma said while addressing the opening ceremony of an exhibition at the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum. The 228 Incident refers to the KMT government?s bloody crackdown on demonstrators and the local elite under the administration of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (???). The exhibition featured a video series created by 29-year-old Ho Hsin-yi (???), 228 victim Wang Tien-teng?s (???) great-granddaughter. Her works portray the life of her grandmother and other family members and told the history of the 228 Incident through the eyes of the family members of a 228 victim. Ma, who offered an apology to the victims and their family members when he was Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman, promised to institutionalize the protection of human rights in Taiwan. The Cabinet is expected to approve the two treaties today and send them to the legislature for final approval, the president said. A middle-aged man shouted at police outside the venue after being prevented from approaching while Ma was addressing the ceremony. The man condemned the government for ignoring his rights. Ma did not respond to the protest. The exhibition at the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum ends on Jan. 31. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=153919 Protest against water discharge from Manchar into Indus Friday, December 26, 2008 By our correspondent HYDERABAD: A protest was staged here on Thursday against the discharge of toxic water of Manchar Lake into the River Indus. The protesters urged the government to take measures to stop the discharge to avoid spread of diseases among citizens. The Association for Research and Development of Rural Areas organised the demonstration outside the Hyderabad Press Club. Speaking on the occasion, activists said the toxic water release of Manchar Lake was affecting the lives of millions of citizens of Hyderabad, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan and other areas but the provincial government was not taking measures to solve the problem on a permanent basis. They said the problem of Manchar Lake had not been solved because of the inefficiency of bureaucracy. They said those who could afford were purchasing mineral water. They demanded of the provincial government to resolve the issue as early as possible to save the lives of citizens. Seven protests to enliven the capital today, beware of traffic jams Detik.com - December 16, 2008 Aprizal Rahmatullah, Jakarta -- It is as if Jakarta is never free from the bustle of protest actions. Today, seven groups of demonstrators are ready to enliven the capital with the potential to create traffic congestion. Based on data compiled by the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre (TMC) website, for Tuesday December 16, at 8.30am the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FPMI) will be holding a demonstration at the Central Jakarta Court of Commerce. Following on from this, for those of you who often pass through the National Monument area in Central Jakarta, it would be better to find and alternative route, because between 9am and 12noon, four protest actions will be held in the vicinity of the State Palace. The first group of protesters from the Block M Melawai Market Traders Association, accompanied by the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), will be demonstrating at the city hall and the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Jl. Merdeka Selatan at 9am. At 11am demonstrators from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) will also hold a protest action at the Jakarta city hall. Protesters from the Indonesian Poor People??s Union (SRMI) National Leadership Board meanwhile plan to visit the Department of Home Affairs on Jl. Merdeka Utara at 9am. Later in the afternoon, demonstrators from the Student Alliance of Legal Concern (AMPH) will hold an action at the Vice Presidential Palace, also on Jl. Merdeka Utara. Then at 10am, the offices of the Finance Ministry's Capital Markets Supervisory Agency (Bapepam-LK) on Jl. Wahidin Raya will be visited by the Indonesian General Insurance Association (AAUI) while the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building will be visited by a group calling themselves the Corruptor Eradication People??s Front (BRSK). (ape/mad) [Translated by James Balowski.] **************************************************** =================^================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^================================== Activists call for environmental justice, reject REED Detik.com - December 1-6, 2008 Andi Saputra, Jakarta -- Hundreds of environmental activists from several different non-government organisations held an action at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta on December 6 in which they painted a miniature globe on a 20 metre length of white cloth symbolising a bomb that is about to explode. In addition to the globe, they also drew a fire dragon symbolising the desire to burn down Indonesia??s forests under which was written ??No REDD (reduction emissions from deforestation and degradation)?? and ??Climate Justice 4 Indonesia??. ??We want world leaders to take immediate concrete action in relation to climate change??, said Ade Fadli, an activist from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi). ??We want self-sufficiency in energy, food an water??, said another activist Andreas Iswinarto A similar action was also held by around 300 Greenpeace activists who brought a banner with the message ??Action for Climate?? and balloons with the names of hazardous chemicals such as CO2 written on them. They also handed out leaflets with warnings about the dangers of climate change. (Detik.com, 6/12/2008) http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99955 Eco-activists Hit Sofia Streets to Protest against Forest Law Amendments Society | December 19, 2008, Friday Eco-activists gathered Friday in the center of Sofia to protest against the amendments in the forest law in Bulgaria. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency) Bulgarian eco-activists joined the protests of the farmers and the students staged Friday in downtown Sofia to officially oppose to the amendments in the forest law. The law, which has been adopted on Wednesday by the Agriculture Commission, legalize all current illegal deals with forests, later turned into resorts and allow the chair of the State Forest Agency to sell state forests without control, the environmentalists claim. "After taking possession of the lands, the investors just clear the forests to build them up," the rally organizers explained. They assume the MPs are to adopt yet another draft, which provides for tax concessions to save more than BGN 200 M to the investors. "This money will help them construct ski tracks and facilities," the ecologists said. Firday's protest actions are continuation of those staged Thursday evening in downtown Sofia. Then the activists brought drums and brooms to sweep "the garbage in the state institutions." http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121751800800.htm Karnataka - Bangalore Greens protest tree felling on Seshadri Road Staff Reporter BANGALORE: Members of Hasiru Usiru, an umbrella organisation of several non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations, gathered in front of Freedom Park to protest the felling of trees on Seshadri Road. Six mature trees lining the road faced the axe on Monday even as environmentalists claimed that proper permission had not been sought for the felling. However, M.R. Suresh, BBMP Tree Officer, told The Hindu that he had granted permission following the committee?s approval. Petitioners, who had filed the PIL leading to the constitution of the Empowered Committee on Road Widening, have written to the BBMP Commissioner and Deputy Conservator of Forests (BBMP) alleging ?no consensus was arrived at?. ?The minutes of this meeting have still not been prepared for endorsement by the Empowered Committee, thereby there could not have been any decision to proceed with the tree felling,? the letter stated. ?This is part of the corridor which has to be widened and need to ease the congestion at the Maharani Circle. It was clearly deliberated at the meeting held on December 10. It was opposed only by two members out of seven committee members present. If this majority vote is not a decision then what is?? Mr. Suresh asked. The petitioners have asked for an immediate stop to tree felling and any other work related to it. http://www.kirotv.com/news/18229595/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news Dozens Gather To Protest Controversial Pier On Maury Island Posted: 12:26 pm PST December 8, 2008 SEATTLE -- A pier protest brought dozens of people to Maury Island Monday morning. They gathered on land and at sea near Sandy Shores Beach. Chopper 7 over the protest showed the words ?island for sale? with ?sold out? displayed in the sand. People were protesting the building of a dock for an expanded gravel mine on the eastern rim of the island. Glacier Northwest crews began laying booms in the water last Friday, following one of the longest environmental battles in the island's history. When it?s done, the steel dock will be 305 feet long and will go right over a state-owned aquatic reserve. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/21/tim-dechristopher-throws-_n_152661.html Tim DeChristopher Throws Utah Oil And Gas Drilling Leases Auction Into Chaos digg stumble reddit del.ico.us ShareThis PAUL FOY | December 19, 2008 08:53 PM EST | SALT LAKE CITY ? An environmental activist tainted an auction of oil and gas drilling leases Friday by bidding up parcels of land by hundreds of thousands of dollars without any intention of paying for them, a federal official said. The process was thrown into chaos and the bidding halted for a time before the auction was closed, with 116 parcels totaling 148,598 acres having sold for $7.2 million plus fees. "He's tainted the entire auction," said Kent Hoffman, deputy state director for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Utah. Hoffman said buyers will have 10 days to reconsider and withdraw their bids if they think they paid too much. Tim DeChristopher, a 27-year-old University of Utah economics student, said his plan was to disrupt the auction and he feels he accomplished his goal. DeChristopher won the bidding on 13 parcels, auction records show, and drove up the price of several other pieces of land. "I thought I could be effective by making bids, driving up prices for others and winning some bids myself," the Salt Lake City man said. Some bidders said they were forced to bid thousands of dollars more for their parcels, while others fumed that they lost their bids. Story continues below "We were hosed," said Jason Blake of Park City, a consulting geologist who was outbid on a 320-acre parcel. "It's very frustrating. I hope the guy is prosecuted." Several bidders said they hadn't decided whether they would withdraw their bids. Some said they may reluctantly hold on to their leases _ despite the higher cost _ out of concern that the parcels might not go up for auction again under President-elect Barack Obama's administration. BLM criminal investigators questioned DeChristopher, who says he expects to be charged. He was released and the case was referred to federal prosecutors for possible fraud charges, said Melodie Rydalch, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office. "I'm willing to deal with that," DeChristopher said. Other bidders at the auction had complained about DeChristopher as unfamiliar and bidding in an unconventional fashion, which raised suspicions, said Terry Catlin, leader of the BLM's Utah Energy Team. DeChristopher snapped up 22,500 acres of land around Arches and Canyonlands parks but said he could afford to pay for only a few of those acres. He owes $1.7 million on all of his leases. The sale of the leases has drawn complaints from environmental groups and scathing criticism from actor Robert Redford. Activists said the sale would threaten Utah's wild lands and spoil the view from some of the state's spectacular national parks with drilling rigs. "If we're going to sacrifice public lands, let's do it with some deliberation, not in a hasty way," said Joseph Flower, a University of Utah biology student who was among about 100 protesters outside the auction. The bureau already had pulled some parcels from the sale in response to complaints from the National Park Service and others. Ultimately, the agency dropped more than half the 359,000 acres first proposed for auction. Selma Sierra, who heads the BLM in Utah, said only 6 percent of lease parcels would ever see drilling because of the "costly and speculative" nature of the business. The federal government also typically imposes environmental safeguards on drilling parcels, Sierra said. "Facts of the lease sale have been mischaracterized in the public forum, sowing confusion and misunderstanding," Sierra said. Conservation groups sued Wednesday challenging 80 of the 132 lease parcels set to go up for bid, but the groups reached an agreement with the BLM one day later allowing the auction to go forward, according to the National Resources Defense Council. The agreement filed with the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., stipulated that the government wouldn't issue leases on the 80 parcels for 30 days, giving a federal judge time to consider whether to block the leases. http://www.blnz.com/news/2008/12/03/Government_backs_plan_drill_Utah_8435.html Groups protest drilling-lease auction in Utah PAUL FOY AP News Dec 04, 2008 22:25 EST Conservation groups filed formal protests Thursday against what they call a "fire sale" of oil-and-gas drilling leases in Utah being conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance filed their objections to drilling in 100,000 acres of wild land in eastern Utah. The BLM has already pulled nearly 100,000 acres from the Dec. 19 auction, leaving more than 276,000 acres up for bid. The BLM has been under intense pressure ? first from the National Park Service and now from conservation groups ? to cull a list of auction parcels in Utah's final oil-and-gas lease sale of President George W. Bush's administration. Last week, the BLM pulled drilling leases that were located on and around the borders of Arches National Park, Dinosaur National Monument and Canyonlands National Park, all in Utah. Then, on Tuesday, the BLM removed some auction parcels from Nine Mile Canyon, home to thousands of ancient rock art panels, and nearby Desolation Canyon on the Green River, while continuing plans to lease other parcels near both canyons and in other wild areas of Utah. "This is the Christmas sale, the Bush administration's last great gift to the oil and gas industry," said Stephen Bloch, an attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. The conservation groups object to leasing around Desolation and Labyrinth canyons, a favorite of Green River rafters, and other parcels near Canyonlands National Park. They were joined by the Colorado-based Outdoor Industry Association, which filed its own objections. "Our businesses and livelihoods rely on the remote nature of these stretches of river and their abundance of wildlife, natural quiet, clean air, dark skies and wild qualities," said Amy Roberts, vice president of government affairs for the organization, which represents 4,000 manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Separately, the fishermen's group Trout Unlimited said it was objecting to lease sales near the remote Deep Creek Mountains in Utah's western desert. Trout Unlimited says drilling threatens recovery programs for native Bonneville cutthroat trout. Terry Catlin, energy team leader for the Utah office of the BLM, acknowledged that pressure placed on the agency after it announced its original leasing plans influenced the bureau's two reversals over the past 10 days. "I think clearly it's a factor, especially in terms of another Interior agency raising concerns. We took the Park Service concerns quite seriously, and you see the result on the parcels that were dropped," she said. The BLM has set Dec. 12 for announcing what additional parcels, if any, it plans to drop from the auction. http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/national-news/2008/12/06/protest-wants-climate-change-action-73871-22420409/ Protest wants climate change action Dec 6 2008 Thousands of environmental campaigners marched to Westminster to demand the Government take more action against climate change. The colourful procession was part of a global day of action which saw protests in many other countries across the world. Protesters gathered in Grosvenor Square and marched to Parliament Square where they were addressed by speakers including Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Green MEP Caroline Lucas. Kate Tansley, spokeswoman for Campaign for Climate Change, which organised the march, said the protest was to highlight four main issues. "There are four 'no' issues and one 'yes' one," she said. "These are no to a third runway at Heathrow and the general expansion of aviation, no to coal, and no to agro-fuels. "It's good to have a more positive message though, and that is yes to investment in renewable energy and all the green jobs that it would bring." Protesters both on foot and on bicycles carried banners and placards, with many dressed up in colourful and elaborate costumes. Many turned out to represent different environmental organisations and charities from around the country. Organisers said 10,000 people took part in the event. Police said there were 5,000 people involved. Phil Thornhill of Campaign against Climate Change said: "Changes need to be made urgently before a lot of people suffer, especially the most poor and vulnerable countries. They are already suffering because of the lifestyles of people in the richer countries, but we will all end up suffering eventually. "This is a global disaster waiting to happen. The scale of what will happen unless something is done is unimaginable. The Government needs to listen up." http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/europe/environmental-campaigners-protest-in-the-uk-14097063.html?r=RSS Environmental campaigners protest in the UK. Saturday, 6 December 2008 Environmental campaigners in the UK have been protesting against global warming at Westminster. They are demanding policies to match what they call the British Government's rhetoric on climate change. It's all part of a worldwide day of action, across more than ninety countries. Spokesperson Phil Thornhill has said "there has to be more than just words" http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-12/2008-12-03-voa2.cfm?CFID=156577373&CFTOKEN=27144851&jsessionid=0030b053b5eb1ab4ace7685d1c695654483f Greenpeace Protesters Perch on Polish Coal Plant Smokestack By VOA News 03 December 2008 Greenpeace activists display a small banner "Quit Coal" as they occupy one of the chimneys of the Patnow power plant near Konin, Poland, 02 Dec 2008 Protesters from the environmental group Greenpeace claimed a 150-meter-tall smokestack at a Polish power plant Tuesday, vowing to perch there until the government cuts back on coal usage. The activists hung a banner reading "quit coal, save the climate" on the chimney at the Patnow power plant, near the town of Konin. Greenpeace is demanding the Polish government agree to European Union efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which many scientists say is a major cause of global warming. Poland depends on coal for about 95 percent of its electricity. While the government agrees more is needed to fight pollution, it is reluctant to phase out coal, fearing it would cripple the economy. http://www.roguegovernment.com/news.php?id=13148 Climate Protesters Demand Swift UN Action Published on 12-06-2008 Email To Friend Print Version Source: Reuters POZNAN, Poland (Reuters) - Thousands of climate protesters, some dressed as polar bears, devils or penguins, demanded on Saturday swifter action from the United Nations to combat global warming. Outside U.N.-led talks in Poland aimed at pushing 187 countries toward stiffer targets to fight global warming, some 1,000 demonstrators said governments were risking the planet's future by delaying action to squabble over who was to blame. Several thousand more protesters took part in a march through London to demand "urgent and radical action" from the British government on climate change. "So far I think it's going really slowly," Susann Scherbarth from Friends of the Earth in Germany said of the talks in the western city of Poznan. She and other protesters in Poznan waved a banner reading: "Stop clowning around, get serious about climate action." Others carried pictures of seas inundating cities and villages, and the suited hand of a businessman squeezing the planet. The march fell short of organizers' predictions of a turnout of several thousand and many inside the talks did not see it. "It's not a matter for negotiators, it's a matter for politicians. They are the ones who have been blocking the whole process," said Rae-Kwon Chung, South Korea's climate change ambassador, adding that he was unaware of the event outside. Marches, bicycle rides and other events were scheduled around the world on Saturday to mark a "Global Day of Action on Climate," said the Global Climate Campaign, an umbrella group for participants. London police said between 4,000 and 5,000 people took part in a rally which organizers said was aimed at reminding governments not to let the issue of climate change slip down a global agenda dominated by the financial crisis. "The current economic downturn does not make the catastrophic consequences of failing to deal with the climate crisis any less catastrophic," said Phil Thornhill, Britain's national coordinator of the Campaign Against Climate Change. (Reporting Gerard Wynn and Megan Rowling, additional reporting by Kate Kelland in London, editing by Michael Roddy) http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=108327 Activists join world protest Monday, December 08, 2008 Activists from Fiji with their placards join protesters in Poland FIJI activists joined their colleagues to protest against lack of action on climate change. They joined the Greenpeace youth group ,Solar Generation, in Poznan, Polland, where the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was taking place. Paul Yaqona was with the group carrying placards reading "Keitou vakabibi taka na veisau veilecayaki ni draki", asking world leaders to get serious about climate change. Solar Generation was joined with Friends of the Earth, Project Hot Seat, Zieloni 2004 (the Polish Green Party), World Wide Fund for Nature, Oxfam and a number of non-government groups in Poznan's Plac Wolnosci commonly known as freedom square. The march in Poznan coincided with similar activities around the world, aimed at convincing governments that strong, decisive action must be taken to address the threat posed by climate change. Another Pacific islander, Leah Wickham, said she wanted to remind global governments their responsibility, especially to the young generation and the Pacific. "We will be the ones left to clean up the mess if they do not get serious and take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse emissions," she said. "The people of the Pacific are innocent victims of climate change brought about by massive emissions from developed countries. We are at risk of losing the islands we call home, our culture and our identity if this meeting does not deliver real greenhouse emission reductions." http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081212111700.clyogoyhp1&show_article=1 A protester demands concrete action against climate change A protestor demanding action on climate change in Poznan during UN talks on December 6, 2008. Ministers from around the world on Friday were due to wrap up 12 days of talks by endorsing a work programme leading to a new pact on climate change by December 2009. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10547266&ref=rss Toilet protest flushed out of Parliament 4:25PM Tuesday Dec 09, 2008 Security today pulled the chain on a protest timed to coincide with the opening ceremony of Parliament. Greenpeace had placed 36 toilets on the lawn in front of Parliament. In each was a globe representing the earth and placards urged: "don't flush our climate down the John". Greenpeace campaigner Simon Boxer said the protest was happy to move once asked and the protest resumed on an adjacent street. The goal was to highlight the issue before the Governor-General Anand Satyanand's speech from the throne outlining the government's agenda for the next three years but also to draw attention to United Nations climate talks in Poland. "We want John Key to start taking climate change seriously, we want him also to instruct the New Zealand delegation in Poland to take it seriously and commit to reductions in emissions immediately," Mr Boxer said. Greenpeace also ran ads in newspapers - a yellow sticker reminder note said United States president-elect Barack Obama had called looking for climate change allies. However he realised he had rung the wrong number. Labour leader Phil Goff took delight in reading the note during a motion in Parliament congratulating Mr Obama on his win. National is holding a parliamentary committee inquiry into climate change policy but will not re-litigate the science that blames humans for global warming. The National government has put the emissions trading scheme (ETS) on hold while it conducts a complete review. - NZPA http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/03/tesco-andover-megashed Protests over supermarket 'megashed' rejected ? Rob Evans ? The Guardian, Wednesday 3 December 2008 Local councillors have paved the way for a controversial Tesco goods depot despite opposition from residents who have dubbed it a "megashed". The supermarket chain's lorries are forecast to drive in and out of the planned depot at a rate of one a minute of every hour, day and night, 365 days a year. A campaign against the depot by residents in Andover, Hampshire, has been supported by the AA and two former transport secretaries. Some residents, however, back the depot, which Tesco says will bring up to 1,200 jobs to the area. On Monday evening, Andover councillors approved developers' plans for the site, next to the busy A303. Tesco wants a warehouse there to enable it to transport goods to its supermarkets. Edmund King of the AA had warned that there were already big problems on the A303, particularly in summer when there is chronic congestion with tailbacks of 10 to 15 miles. Tesco described the centre as being of "key importance on our distribution infrastructure plans", according to Department for Transport documents. The documents, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that Tesco lobbied the transport minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, as it was "keen to progress" the centre. Residents who oppose the plans say juggernauts coming in and out of the depot would cause an unacceptable amount of congestion and noise. Andover councillors gave permission after local officials judged the A303 would be able to absorb the lorries from the site safely and easily. The developers, Goodmans, have made a number of concessions, including agreeing to pay ?4.9m to improve the roundabout by which lorries will drive on to the A303 from the site. Yesterday, Tesco said it wanted to open the warehouse at Andover, provided that some obstacles could be overcome. The supermarket chain has had some contractual difficulties with the developers. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7758267.stm Monday, 1 December 2008 E-mail this to a friend Printable version Coal plant protesters target E.ON Protesters dressed as Father Christmas were made to leave Environmental protesters have been arrested after demonstrating at an energy company's headquarters. Eight protesters dressed as Father Christmas protested in the reception area of the E.ON offices at Westwood Business Park, near Coventry. They were demonstrating against the firm's plans to build the UK's first new coal-fired power station for 24 years in Kingsnorth, Kent. West Midlands Police said four protesters had been arrested. E.ON is currently awaiting permission from the government to build the station in Kent, where environmental campaigners staged a protest in August. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081201062757.1e1ncrzhp0&show_article=1 Demonstrators dressed up as penguins attend a protest around climate change in Paris Demonstrators dressed up as penguins attend a protest around climate change on November 29 in Paris. Representatives from almost every country on the planet are set to start 12 days of tough talks in Poland aimed at getting the ball rolling for a new global climate change pact. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,465888,00.html Talks Fail to End Tree-Sitting Protest at University of California Santa Cruz Friday, December 12, 2008 | FoxNews.com SANTA CRUZ, Calif. ? Mediation talks have failed to end the nearly 14-month anti-development protest in redwood trees at University of California, Santa Cruz. Representatives of the Science Hill tree-sitters and the university chancellor's office ended Wednesday night without resolution. Protest spokeswoman Jennifer Charles says the university refused to back off north campus development. The redwoods must be cut down so construction can begin this spring on the new university biomedical facility. University spokesman Jim Burns says it's hoped tree-sitters will leave voluntarily. A judge ordered them out of the trees in March and the mediation sessions were designed to end the protest peacefully. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7793432.stm Saturday, 20 December 2008 Protest at runway extension plan Campaigners stage a protest at Belfast City Airport over fears a runway extension would mean an increase in plane noise. Campaigners opposed to a runway extension at George Best Belfast City Airport have held a protest at the airport. The airport has applied to extend the runway, but residents' groups fear this would lead to larger planes and an increase in noise. If planning permission is granted, the runway would be extended by 590 metres in the direction of Belfast Lough. The protest did not cause any disruption to passengers. George Best Belfast City Airport's chief executive Brian Ambrose said: "Once again, I would reiterate that the extension will enable the same aircraft to fly further and offer greater efficiencies for inbound aircraft." The extension is being sought to allow planes to take off with greater amounts of fuel onboard, he said. "The growth of aviation and continued development at the airport under our new owners will continue to be transparent and handled in a manner sensitive to our location and environment," added Mr Ambrose. Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW) has described the proposed extension as an "irreversible nightmare" for east and south Belfast. http://news.softpedia.com/news/039-Plane-Stupid-039-Protests-at-Stansted-Airport-in-the-UK-99660.shtml 'Plane Stupid' Protests at Stansted Airport in the UK The organization warns about dangerous climate change By Tudor Vieru, Science Editor 10th of December 2008, 07:15 GMT Members of the environmental organization ?Plane Stupid,? which focuses its efforts primarily on reducing the amounts of pollution that commercial flights emit in the atmosphere, invaded one of the runways of England's Stansted airport in Essex on Monday morning and chained themselves to the tarmac. They argued that each passenger flight was responsible for approximately 41.58 tons of carbon dioxide being released in the air, and that the recently government-approved expansion plan for the airport totally disregarded the environment. ?We are genuinely grateful for the level of support from people who have agreed with us that desperate times call for desperate measures. We have used this action to ask for everyone to 'please, do something'. We hope that all those that have expressed support for today's action will now think about what they are going to do to ensure the survival of our planet and people on it,? says an entry on the organization's blog. Plane Stupid representatives say that they chose this particular airport because the UK government recently approved an expansion plan for it, which would increase the number of people its terminals could handle yearly from 25 million to 35 million, meaning that an extra 23,000 commercial flights would have to be added to cope with the new numbers. ?We?re here because our parents? generation has failed us and it?s now down to young people to stop climate change by whatever peaceful means we have left. We?re afraid of what the police might do to us, we?re afraid of going to jail but nothing scares us as much as the threat of runaway climate change,? one of the protesters told BBC. Passengers who were due to embark on their flights early Monday morning formed long queues, and many of them were angry that the airport officials hadn't notified them about the protest and the delay it caused. In the end, 57 people were arrested and later released, most of them charged with ?aggravated trespassing.? http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081209/NEWS04/812090306/-1/NEWS09 December 9, 2008 3:00 a.m. U.K. tarmac protest forces 56 cancellations RAPHAEL G. SATTER Associated Press LONDON ?Environmental protesters cut through the perimeter fence at Britain?s third-largest airport Monday and occupied the tarmac, forcing the cancellation of more than 50 flights and raising questions over the vulnerability of airports. Two waves of protesters arrived at Stansted Airport before dawn. The first group used an old fire truck to provide cover as they sliced through the perimeter fence. A second group ran through the gap. The protesters then chained themselves together and erected a barrier around themselves. It took nearly five hours to clear the tarmac. Police arrested 57 people. ?If they can do it, I?m sure there would be nothing to stop terrorists,? said Terry Purton, 61, a passenger whose flight to Bratislava, Slovakia, was delayed. The action ? meant to protest a possible second runway at Stansted and escalating carbon emissions ? caused 56 cancellations and extensive delays. The British government is also considering adding another runway to Heathrow Airport, already Europe?s busiest. http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2008/12/29/daily12.html?ana=from_rss Tuesday, December 30, 2008 Protest slated on commuter rail component Orlando Business Journa Jacksonville Business Journal A proposed 318-acre Winter Haven terminal will replace CSX's existing Orlando terminal, enabling the company to shift freight traffic to another line to make way for the commuter trains that eventually will run from DeLand to Poinciana. Winter Haven homeowners concerned about an intermodal facility being built near their neighborhood are expected to conduct a protest outside CSX Corp. headquarters Dec. 30. The proposed 318-acre Winter Haven terminal will replace CSX's existing Orlando terminal, enabling the company to shift freight traffic to another line to make way for the commuter trains that eventually will run from DeLand to Poinciana. The proposed $650 million commuter rail project was stopped dead in its tracks in May when the state Legislature failed to approve CSX?s deal to sell the 61 miles of track for the project. The deal faced opposition on two fronts ? Polk County officials were concerned over what they said would be an increase in freight train traffic to the proposed intermodal rail yard in Winter Haven and trial lawyers were wary of the legislation's provisions to shield CSX from liability in accidents involving passengers. The protestors, who live in Sundance Ranch Estates, said they?ve asked to sit down with executives with the Jacksonville-based rail company but have not gotten a response. The group plans to demonstrate what an intermodal facility would sound like and show how it would affect their neighborhood. CSX Spokesman Gary Sease said the railroad did communicate with the homeowners until the homeowners filed a lawsuit and communication had to cease. Further, he said the project has already been through all the public hearings and has received all the appropriate approvals for the project scheduled to start construction in 2009 and be complete in 2010. The terminal is expected to employ between 900 and 1,100 during construction and 110 when it opens. ?We think we?ll be a good neighbor,? Sease said. CSX (NYSE: CSX) acquired the 318-acre property that was formerly a waste water treatment plan in September 2007. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415195.html Weymouth tree protesters still in trees tree pixie | 12.12.2008 17:05 Weymouth tree protest activists still in trees Activists still in the trees,supplies running low.See article on indymedia about 20 entries below this for more info.The last communication said they hoping to make it through to weekend and others will come as reinforcements and resupply.Support these hardcore frontline winter pixies. On site mobiles ( batteries getting low) 07792717821 / 07807952822 Just get in da van and get there now tree pixie https://www1.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/westcountry/2004/08/296017.html B | 09.08.2004 15:21 | Ecology | London | West Country Protesters have set up a new camp on proposed route of Weymouth relief road. They urgently need tools and support! Activists have been in occupation of an area of woodland on the route of the Weymouth Relief Road since the beginning of July. Now they have withdrawn from the woods and set up a site in a prominent place at the beginning of the proposed road route. The road, which would cut through areas of outstanding natural beauty and ancient woodland in its proposed length of 6 km, was due to be built a decade ago but was shelved due to fierce opposition from activists and locals. Now they are trying to push it through again and activists hope to raise awareness of the damage it will cause by building defences at the beginning of the route. They have erected a tower which is highly visible from the surrounding area. They could do with a visit. The site is really close to the beach! http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415041.html URGENT Tree Protest Weymouth -Aroooga URGENT Tree Pixie | 11.12.2008 14:27 Action in the trees now get there. Urgent many trees being cut down some over 400 years old. For another un needed road.There was a camp at the site 12 years ago with some of the fairmile posse there.Which won and camp dismantled ..now roadbuilders , the council and homegrown Timber company are at it again. The site is ...two mile copice next to the railway line weymouth.. 3 activists currently in trees with security around.... any old tree protesters dust off your harnesses and get there. Or any new recruits next generation welcome. On site mobiles ( batteries getting low) 07792717821 / 07807952822 Just get in da van and get there now. Tree Pixie http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/12/11/atlanta_preservation_chief.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13 Preservation chief?s layoff protested By CATHERINE FOX The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday, December 11, 2008 Preservation advocates and several Atlanta City Council members are up in arms over the dismissal of the city?s top preservation official, concerned that future stewardship of historic buildings and neighborhoods is being jeopardized. A dozen people, among them preservation leaders and residents of historic districts, appealed to the City Council?s Community Development/Human Resources committee Tuesday to rehire Karen Huebner, executive director of the city?s Urban Design Commission. Huebner was one of the 222 city employees laid off recently as the city sought to offset a $50 million budget shortfall. Those protesting Huebner?s dismissal found a sympathetic ear in council member Ivory Lee Young. ?Karen has served neighborhoods in every quadrant of the city,? Young said. ?Her institutional knowledge can?t be replaced. ?I understand economics, but it?s a matter of priorities. In this case, they?ve made a mistake. I?m going to exhaust every means personal, professional and political to reverse that decision.? The commission is comprised of an 11-member, mayor-appointed citizen board, supported by the department Huebner has run for 20 years. Among its duties is the regulation of 54 officially landmarked buildings and 15 districts; it reviews and oversees all potential changes with an eye on preserving their character, and, often, their existence. Its mission to preserve and protect the city?s architectural heritage often pits the UDC against developers and sometimes even city government. The most recent brouhaha concerns the Georgia Tech Foundation?s desire to raze the 1927 Renaissance-style Crum & Forster Building in Midtown. ?Even those who didn?t like the decisions, they had great respect for the way she does business,? said John Threadgill, an urban planner with EDAW, a landscape architecture and urban design firm, and a former UDC chairman. ?I know Karen both as an applicant for approvals and as a commission member. She has all the characteristics you want from a person in public service.? Threadgill, senior urban designer in EDAW?s San Francisco office, also noted the elimination of another UDC position, that of inspector Sandra Griffin. ?That position is critical,? said Threadgill. ?Without enforcement, the UDC?s actions aren?t worth a whole lot.? A statement issued by the department of planning and community development asserted its commitment to the UDC?s mission, with assurances that the remaining staff had the expertise to carry it out. It also noted: ?The position of executive director was not eliminated. It is our hope and intent to fill the position once the economy recovers and city revenues improve.? In appearing before the committee, preservation leaders argued that disabling the commission ? now down to three staff members ? would have larger ramifications because of its supporting role in tourism and real estate development. ?High and stable property values ? and higher property taxes ? in a lot of historic neighborhoods is due to the design standards set and enforced by the UDC,? said Mark C. McDonald, president and chief executive of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. ?A weakened UDC bodes badly for historic preservation in the city,? said Kevin Kuharic, historic Oakland Cemetery?s director of restoration and landscapes. ?In other cities like Savannah where preservation is a way of life, it wouldn?t matter as much,? he says. ?Atlanta needs that layer of protection and guidance. We can look to the past and see what happened without it.? ? Staff writer Eric Stirgus contributed to this article. http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200812/200812090007.html Canadian Envoy in Protest at Village Development Plan In an unprecedented move, Canadian Ambassador Ted Lipman has written to the office of Seongbuk District in Seoul to protest against a local redevelopment plan. The Seoul metropolitan government on Monday said Lipman wrote to Seongbuk District office chief Seo Chan-gyo on Nov. 19 saying the plan to demolish single-story houses in Seongbuk 2 zone to build apartments near the Seoul castle walls will "damage the beauty of the castle walls that represent 600 years of history and have boundless potential as a tourist attraction." Lipman said it was surprising that the local government has not sought views from diplomats living close to the area and added the quality of life and characteristics of Seongbuk-dong should be taken into consideration if redevelopment is inevitable. The Seongbuk District office said it cannot halt the plan since it has been legally approved but promised to reflect the diplomats' views in the redevelopment process. The Seoul metropolitan government's housing bureau chief Kim Hyo-soo replied on Dec. 5, saying Seongbuk-dong "has tradition and natural beauty but is at the same time crowded with dilapidated houses and narrow roads, which are inaccessible to fire engines in case of fire." He promised to "discuss ways to maintain its local identity seriously." The ambassadors from 30 countries including Venezuela and Australia are nearby, and many besides Lipman have reportedly protested against the plans to the central and Seoul metropolitan governments. http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/environmental-issues/protestors-occupy-east-coast-timber-mill/1387620.aspx Protestors occupy East Coast timber mill 16/12/2008 12:02:00 PM A group of 15 activists has occupied a Gunns Ltd woodchip mill on the State's East Coast, in a move that Premier David Bartlett described as "bizarre". A Tasmania Police spokesman said the protestors had entered the Triabunna woodchip mill early this morning and had chained themeselves to equipment and machinery. The protestors also hung a banner above a woodchip pile reading "Gunns Ltd = Climate Criminals". Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesman Warrick Jordan said the protest had been launched to decry the Federal Government's carbon pollution reduction scheme white paper. "The CPRS white paper makes it plain that the Federal Government is not committed to 'serious and credible' emissions reductions,'' Mr Jordan said. "There is a failure by policy makers to grasp that we are facing a climate emergency. "The policies proposed by the white paper will result in the disappearance of Tasmania's unique alpine ecosystems, the collapse of the Barrier Reef, and the salination of Kakadu.'' Still Wild Still Threatened spokeswoman Ula Majewski said the logging, burning and woodchipping of old growth forests in Tasmania released massive quantities of carbon. "The Tasmanian Government has publicly expressed a will to address climate change,'' Ms Majewski said. "If the Bartlett Government is serious about addressing climate change then it will legislate an end to old growth logging.'' However, Premier David Bartlett said the protest was bizarre. "Protestors in Tasmania who are targetting the forestry industry clearly have absolutely no understanding of climate change science or climate change accounting,'' Mr Bartlett said. "The forestry industry in Tasmania is a carbon emission positive for Tasmania. The forestry industry sequesters far more carbon than it emits, by far. So this is one of the most bizarre protests that I have seen.'' http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24810151-29277,00.html?from=public_rss Seven face charges over mill protest AAP December 16, 2008 06:54pm SEVEN anti-logging activists have been charged with trespass over a dawn raid on a Tasmanian pulp mill. Fifteen activists from the Still Wild, Still Threatened action group launched the protest to express their anger over the Federal Government's "pitiful'' targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The group stormed the Gunns woodchip mill at Triabunna, on Tasmania's east coast, about 4.45am (AEDT) today, their spokeswoman Ula Majewski said. Ms Majewski said seven of the activists chained themselves to equipment at the mill, halting production and backing up scores of laden log trucks. Police Inspector Andrew Fogarty said four protesters secured themselves to logging vehicles. Three others climbed operational equipment used to distribute wood chips into stock piles where they secured themselves to the railing, he said. "The seven protesters were removed from their positions by specially trained Search and Rescue personnel using cutting equipment,'' Insp Fogarty said. "The seven protesters were arrested by police and taken to Bellerive Police Station where they were charged with trespassing. "All were bailed to appear at Hobart Court of Perry Sessions on February 10.'' Insp Fogarty said the protesters present at the mill were "extremely well behaved and polite''. "There was no conflict between any of the parties today and this was because the protesters, logging contractors, police and Gunns staff behaved very well and avoided potential problems''. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday said his government would seek to reduce the nation's carbon emissions by five per cent of 2000 levels by 2020. The target would rise to 15 per cent if a global pact on climate change, including major emitters, is signed. The targets are well below what scientists say nations must achieve to avert catastrophic climate change. A Gunns Ltd spokesman said the company planted about 15 million tree seedlings a year, more than any other company in Australia. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/16/2447195.htm Protesters shut down woodchip mill Posted Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:00am AEDT Updated Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:41am AEDT Protesters have chained themselves to the woodchip mill's conveyor belt. (ABC News: David Hudspeth) ? Map: Triabunna 7190 Forest activists in Tasmania have shut down operations at Gunns' woodchip mill at Triabunna on the state's east coast in response to the Federal Government's white paper on climate change. A group of 15 activists entered the mill this morning and seven chained themselves to conveyor belts. Warwick Jordan from the group, Still Wild Still Threatened, says they are protesting at Gunns' leading role in producing carbon emissions from logging, burning and woodchipping old growth forests. "Gunns Limited are driving the logging of old growth forests in Tasmania and it appears that logging of old growth forests is the elephant in the room in terms of carbon emissions," he said. "The emissions from old growth logging aren't accounted for by current figures and this allows the woodchipping industry to pretend that they're carbon neutral when they aren't," he said. A spokesman for Gunns says the company plants about 15 million seedlings a year, more than any other company in Australia. Local police are at the scene and a search and rescue team is being sent from Hobart. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24818627-29277,00.html?from=public_rss Seven arrested at anti-logging protest in Tasmania By Paul Carter AAP December 18, 2008 02:05pm SEVEN protesters have been arrested after blocking access to a forest harvesting area in Tasmania's southwest. The anti-logging activists, arrested during a protest near Maydena 100km west of Hobart, have been taken to Bridgewater police station, police said. Officers are still working to remove one person who is staging a tree-sitting protest at the site. The activists are members of the Still Wild, Still Threatened group that raided a Gunns Ltd pulp mill at Triabunna, on the state's east coast, on Tuesday. Tuesday's protest was over the Federal Government's white paper on climate change and Gunns' forestry practices, and also resulted in seven arrests following a six-hour halt to production. Early this morning, Still Wild, Still Threatened activists said the Maydena protest had halted logging of carbon-dense, old-growth forests in an area called the Wedge. "The Tasmanian and Australian governments continue to condone the industrial scale logging of our precious old-growth and high-conservation value forests," activist spokesman Christo Mills said. "An Australian National University study released in August has shown that some of these forests store up to 10 times more carbon than previously thought." Mr Mills said his band of "forest defenders" would continue to take peaceful action against the ongoing destruction of Tasmania's precious forests. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1086060_silent_protest_over_racecourse?rss=yes Silent protest over racecourse Alice Hutton December 18, 2008 THE campaign against plans to build a ?100m racecourse on greenbelt land will heat up when activists stage a silent protest. Campaigners from RAGE, Residents Against Greenbelt Erosion, will gather with their placards outside Salford Civic Centre on Chorley Road, Swinton, prior to the meeting of Salford planning committee. The committee will be considering the proposal by Peel Holdings, which includes the ?100m racecourse, six storey 6,000 seat stadium, 18 hole golf course, hotel and traffic access for an estimated 10,000 cars at Salford Forest Park. Protestors argue the scheme will cause traffic chaos, increasing air pollution and destroying the last remaining greenbelt in the Salford area. Councillor Robin Garrido, Chairman of RAGE, hopes the protest will be a demonstration of the strength of feeling among Salford residents. He said: "The protest is to show Salford council the high level of support against the application. The building of this complex will massively decrease people's quality of life. "If built, the only thing on the horizon between Manchester and Wigan will be concrete. We're talking traffic pollution and life pollution." At the meeting Cllr Garrido will ask Salford council members to refuse the application, which will then be considered at a Public Inquiry. The meeting will be held at 9.30am. http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/777/40121 Protesters condemn 5% carbon emission targets Rachel Evans, Sydney 17 December 2008 On 15th December Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a criminally paltry 5% carbon emission target to the National Press Club. Three female protestors in the audience yelled ?shame? and were wrestled away by security. Further protests took place that day, with a ?step-in? protest inside Rudd?s Queensland electoral office and 50 people protesting outside Penny Wong?s office in Adelaide. On December 16, more than 150 people protested in three separate actions in Sydney. The actions took place outside the offices of Environment Minister Peter Garrett, Federal MP for Sydney Tanya Plibersek and the Commonwealth Government building in the Sydney CBD. Garrett?s office was targeted by a ?Last Dance of the Barrier Reef? where protesters, dressed to symbolise the Great Barrier Reef, withered and died as a paper-maiche ?Peter Garrett? fed the hunger of the mining industry. A letter was read out to ?Peter? that announced that ?5% targets are 100% pathetic?. The letter also stated: ?Last year, you and the Rudd Government were elected in the world?s first climate election on a platform of a 20% by 2020 emissions reduction target. This is a broken promise, and we will not forget.? The statement pointed out that prominent Australian scientist Tim Flannery had labelled UN climate negotiations ?our last chance as a species? and called stalling negotiations a ?suicidal tactic?. Two representatives handed over the letter to Garrett?s staff members, who were non-committal on where the real Garrett was hiding. Tanya Plibersek?s offices were targeted by the Balmain-Rozelle Climate Action Group with 30 people appearing dressed in flippers and snorkels. The NSW Greens organized an action outside Commonwealth Government Office with 80 people. The action was part of a ?Step it up? campaign against the Rudd government?s inadequate targets. A statement on the NSW Greens website argued: ?The targets means the Australian Government is willing to sacrifice the Great Barrier Reef to appease the big polluting companies that are fuelling global climate change.? An organiser of the protest outside Peter Garrett?s office, Maria White, told the crowd: ?Mr Garrett, Mr Rudd and all those in the Australian government you are on notice; half measures on climate change are not good enough. We will continue to visit Garrett and others over the next 12 months in the lead up to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen next December. Emissions must start to rapidly decline from 2010 ? before the next Federal election." [Climate action groups from across Australia will plan for further action at Australia?s Climate Action Summit in Canberra in February 2009. For more information visit www.climatesummit.org.au]. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/1217/1229035812721.html Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Australians protest at PM's climate plan CANBERRA ? Environmentalists staged protests in Australia?s major cities yesterday to demand tougher greenhouse emissions targets after prime minister Kevin Rudd promised to curb emissions by 5-15 per cent by 2020. Mr Rudd announced the new targets on Monday, angering green groups but winning support from business, as he unveiled details of a carbon trading scheme set to start in July 2010, just months before he is due to call national elections. Analysts said the cautious carbon targets were designed to appease business and protect jobs in the face of the global economic slowdown, and could help Rudd?s re-election hopes. ?He?s made a decision based on winning votes, rather than winning plaudits from the green movement,? Monash University political analyst Nick Economou said. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper said Mr Rudd had failed to show leadership on climate change, while the Age newspaper?s political editor Michelle Grattan said Mr Rudd?s plans were aimed at securing conservative political support in parliament. ?Kevin Rudd?s emissions trading blueprint is laden with caution rather than vaulting ambition, as the government tries to navigate through a dreadful economic outlook and a hostile senate,? Grattan wrote. Mr Rudd won power in November 2007, in part on the back of his promise to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which commits developed nations to curb greenhouse emissions blamed for global warming, and his promise to introduce carbon trading in 2010. But green groups wanted Australia, the world?s biggest coal exporter, and which also relies on coal for its own electricity generation, to set an example for developing countries by promising to curb emissions by at least 25 per cent by 2020. Protesters placed sandbags around ministers? offices in Sydney to highlight the risk of rising sea levels, while in the southern city of Melbourne protesters carried a white flag and said the government had surrendered on climate change. ?I think it is an appalling and disgusting failure by the Rudd government in their duty to this nation?s future,? Australian Greens leader Bob Brown told reporters. The government defended the targets, saying Australia would cut emissions by up to 15 per cent if UN climate talks in Copenhagen in late 2009 agree on tough global targets for beyond 2012, when the Kyoto climate agreement expires. ?What we?ve been determined to do is to strike the right balance, to find the right policy that will drive the change that is required in the Australian economy over time,? climate change minister Penny Wong said. Mr Economou said protests from environment groups would not seriously damage Mr Rudd?s electoral standing, with economic management and the global slowdown now taking precedence as an issue over the environment. ?The onset of the global financial crisis has re-cast the political debate,? he said. ? (Reuters) http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=28&ContentID=113287 Protesters occupy PM Rudd's office 15th December 2008, 11:45 WST A group of protesters is occupying the Brisbane electorate office of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The protesters, from the Brisbane Southside Climate Action Group, described the government's emissions targets announced on Monday as weak. ?These are not good enough,? spokeswoman Kristy Walters said. ?We're asking for a 50 per cent target by 2020 and peak carbon emissions by 2010. ?It will only lead to climate chaos and the loss of national icons such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Kakadu wetlands.? The group arrived at 11.45am (AEST) (9.45 Perth time) shortly after Mr Rudd's announcement, made at the National Press Club in Canberra. Five members of the group are staging a sit-in in the foyer of Mr Rudd's office. They were met by a staff member who invited them to put their questions in writing to the prime minister. About 10 other group members are outside the office holding banners and giving out leaflets. Acting Senior Sergeant Trevor Mergard told the protesters they were welcome to stay so long as they did not obstruct public access. AAP http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=697384&rss=yes MPs' offices to be sandbagged in protest 06:05 AEST Tue Dec 16 2008 The offices of MPs around Australia will be sandbagged in a graphic protest by environmental group Friends of the Earth (FOE). FOE members are angered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's announcement on Monday that federal government will seek to cut Australia's carbon emissions by five per cent by 2020, spokesman Damien Lawson says. From 10am (AEDT) on Tuesday, mock climate emergency services workers will begin sandbagging MPs' electoral offices to protect them from rising sea levels FOE says will result from climate change. "A five per cent target locks Australia into runaway climate change. This target will not stop drought, it will not save the Great Barrier Reef, and it will not prevent ice melting and the sea rising," Mr Lawson said. "This is an emergency and the government must act within this term. Our carbon emissions must peak in the next year and then continuously decrease if we are to have any hope of avoiding catastrophic climate change." Mr Lawson said emissions cuts of 40 to 50 per cent by 2020 were needed, and the government should also consider former US vice-president Al Gore's call for a 100 per cent switch to renewable energy by the same year. In Melbourne, the protests will target the electoral offices of Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner, Wills MP Kelvin Thomson, Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson and Health Minister Nicola Roxon. The Melbourne action will be part of protests around Australia over the next two days, with sit-ins and protests planned at the electoral offices of MPs including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong and Environment Minister Peter Garrett, Mr Lawson said. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415428.html frankfurt / germany: protest against airport extension no airport extensions! | 15.12.2008 11:16 | Climate Chaos | Ecology | World On Sunday, 14.12. about 150 people demonstrated in the forest of Kelsterbach (near Frankfurt / Main) against the construction of the new runway north of the current airport site. To familiarize with the surrounding of the forest, which fraport (the company which runs the airport) wants to destroy and in view of the area which probably will be cleared first, the demonstration moved trough the forest towards the airport grounds, along the current path to where the road Okrifteler crossed the motorway 3 and the fast-train tracks. Throughout the Kelsterbacher forest are the preparatory measures (removal of munitions, sub-wood and animals) largely completed. Among the preparatory measures include marking work on the trees. These were from the demonstrators numerous and varied with paint and spray cans supplemented, so that the orientation for forestry workers in the forest in the future will be more difficult. At the bridge on the ICE route had already posted the cops and blocked the transition towards soundproofing wall of the airport. Under the observation of a police helicopter there was a short rally, while on the road Okrifteler many new slogans against the expansion were painted. The forest walk was a good step from the activist lethargy of the past few months! Upcoming events: 4th January 2009: The first colourful walk in the forests in the new year will again explore the area and make the extent of forest destruction clear. Meeting: 14 clock Forest Camp From the 12th January 2009: possible grubbing beginning, Day X Day X is the day on which the site is fenced and / or with the clearing work is begun. Get on the alarm lists (soon under www.waldbesetzung.blogsport.de or in the forest camp)! 14th January 2009: demonstration together with pupils, students and others against the Hessian conditions in Frankfurt. Check: www.14januar.de Even between the years, there will be activities around the camp and against the expansion type. Keep you updated on www.waldbesetzung.blogsport.de or www.flughafen-bi.de Smash Fraport! no airport extensions! e-mail: - Homepage: http://www.waldbesetzung.blogsport.de From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 17:40:36 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:40:36 +0100 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Protests - health, welfare, benefits - December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE39E84.5050407@tesco.net> * INDIA - Haryana - Villagers blockade road and fight back against police after canal death * ZIMBABWE/IRELAND: Dublin protest highlights cholera crisis * SERBIA: Army veterans clash with police over pensions * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Police injured in clashes over doctor * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Sit-in over unpaid benefits * INDIA: Andhra Pradesh - Protest at hospital over building worker's death * TRINIDAD: Protest over refusal to recognise dengue outbreak * UK: Health workers hold national day of action * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Salem doctors stage demonstration * INDIA: Puducherry - Rain-affected benefits protest * INDONESIA: Protest commemorates AIDS day * US: Massachusetts - Boston residents protest against toll hikes * AUSTRALIA: Single mothers hold bikini protest * UK: Protest at fire station closure * CANADA: Hundreds protest against Ottawa arts cuts * AUSTRALIA: Local health cuts protest * UK: Protesters deliver petition over baby abuse case * UK: War veteran takes protest to parliament * CHINA: Mule protest over fuel prices * INDIA: Kerala - Airport users protest neglect, delays * INDIA: Karnataka - Protest over link road delays * US: Milwaukee - Foster care death sparks protest * INDIA: Karnataka - Protest against toll road * INDONESIA - ACEH: Tsunami victims protest neglect * RUSSIA: Pensioners protest for bus passes * US: Yonkers - Locals protest fire service cuts * SCOTLAND: Protest at council meeting over cuts * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Flash protests over road closure cause shutdown * INDIA: New Delhi - Missing children, police inaction protested http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/35-injured-in-haryana-as-villagers-clash-with-police_100132642.html 35 injured in Haryana as villagers clash with police December 18th, 2008 - 11:35 pm ICT by IANS - Bhiwani (Haryana), Dec 18 (IANS) At least 35 people, including 15 policemen, were injured Thursday after villagers in this south-west Haryana district clashed with the police.Violence erupted at Khadak village in Bhiwani district, 300 km from Chandigarh, when the bodies of two youth from the village were recovered from an irrigation canal. Angry villagers blocked the Bhiwani-Delhi highway and resorted to stone-pelting and violence against the police. They also damaged a State Roadways bus and set two police vehicles on fire. Police officials said they had to resort to cane charge to control the mob. Earlier, the police recovered the bodies of two youth, Shiv Kumar and Chhotu Ram, from the canal. Both were missing since Dec 14 when they went to attend a marriage function. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/protests-in-dublin-to-highlight-zimbabwes-cholera-crisis-14107075.html Protests in Dublin to highlight Zimbabwe's cholera crisis Saturday, 13 December 2008 Protestors have gathered in Dublin to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. "Friends of Zimbabwe in Ireland" were walking through the city centre to Government buildings to voice their concerns over the cholera epidemic in the country, which has killed almost 800 people so far. The World Health Organisation estimates that up to 60,000 people could be hit by the disease unless immediate action is taken. There are also concerns over the disappearance of a humanitarian worker in the country ten days ago. Jestina Mukoko was abducted outside her home in Harare on 3rd December. http://www.b92.net//eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=12&dd=21&nav_id=55884 Several hurt as Gendarmes, army vets clash 21 December 2008 | 11:53 -> 19:39 | Source: B92, FoNet, Beta Prokuplje -- Protesting army veterans clashed with MUP ?andarmerija (Gendarmerie) on the Ni?-Pri?tina road near Kur?umlija on Sunday, reports say. Police and protesters clash on Sunday (Beta) Initial reports said that three former soldiers and six policemen, two of them Gendarmes, were lightly injured, while four protesters were arrested. Later in the day, FoNet news agency said that 15 policemen and ten demonstrators were hurt in the violence. MUP confirmed that "several of its members and several demonstrators" were injured. More than a thousand protesters from 20 towns, on their way to the administrative line with Kosovo, were stopped on the bridge over the Toplica River by a quadruple cordon of some 300 Gendarmes and riot police in full riot gear. As the veterans tried to break through the cordon, several people were injured. The worst clashes occurred when the protesters managed to break through the cordon with a car. Gendarmes proceeded to beat them, arresting several people, while two vehicles sustained heavy damage. Veterans say that the police attacked them unprovoked, and accuse the officers of brutality, calling on Interior Minister Ivica Da?i? to resign. They say they planned to go to Merdare to demand the war wages owed them by the state, but also to raise their voices against the forming of the Kosovo security forces, and to offer their support to the Serbs in Kosovo. The tension on the bridge diffused after two hours, when police and the veterans agreed that if four of their members arrested earlier were released, they would unblock the road. Photos from today's unrest in our Gallery Earlier today, it was announced that the military veterans from southern Serbia were headed in 40 cars and several buses to the Merdare administrative line with Kosovo. They planned to continue months of protests over unpaid war wages by blocking the traffic at that checkpoint. The former Yugoslav Army (VJ) reserve soldiers, called up during the war in Kosovo in 1999, come from some 20 towns in southern Serbia, and wish to draw the government's attention to their demands. Dejan Milo?evi?, who heads one of their associations, said that they expect the government to adopt an urgent decree that will allow all veterans to receive the same amount of money. "Everyone should get what some individuals have gotten through courts, and that is from RSD 500,000 to one million," he said. Earlier, Milo?evi? told B92 that the Iron Regiment association will demand the same sum for each of their members. He also said that several thousand protesters were expected today. "Unless our state takes this problem seriously we will be forced to go to the government and seek justice in the street," Milo?evi? announced. He reminded that all the previous protests went without incidents, and that their desire is to "solve the problems in a dignified manner". http://www.b92.net//eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=12&dd=24&nav_id=55952 Veterans to protest outside govt. HQ 24 December 2008 | 09:41 | Source: B92 BELGRADE -- Kosovo war veterans from the former Third Army District will protest in front of government HQ today, demanding reimbursement of their wages. Strike leader Velimir Milo?evi? said that veterans from 22 municipalities would be heading for Belgrade. ?I hope that the government will understand that it?s time for the talking to stop because the soldiers are genuinely unhappy. The Toplica soldiers got their money, but no-one else from the Third Army has,? he said. The veterans expect to meet with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovi?, Interior Minister Ivica Da?i? and Labor and Social Policy Minister Rasim Ljaji?. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122253230300.htm Tamil Nadu SI and policemen injured in group clash Staff Reporter Pollachi: A sub-inspector of police, two constables and two home guards sustained injuries in a clash that took place between two groups at Vettaikaranpudur near Animalai in Pollachi area on Sunday evening. It is learnt that members of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi placed stones on the main road and staged a road blockade to protest against the absence of doctor at the Primary Health Centre at Vettaikaranpudur. They said it caused a lot of hardship to the residents of Vettaikaranpudur as they couldn?t get the pulse polio immunisation vaccine for their children. While the protest was going on, Ganesh (48), owing affiliation to Kongu Velala Gounder association asked the protestors to clear the way for taking his child to Pollachi for administering vaccine. The protestors objected and a wordy duel followed which ended in exchange of blows and showering of abuses at each other. Hearing this, the supporters of Ganesh also came in large numbers and the clash worsened with pelting of stones. In the clash, Sub-Inspector Saravanan, two constables and two home guards sustained injuries. Reinforcements and officials from the revenue and police department rushed to Vettaikaranpudur and brought the situation under control. Superintendent of Police and District Revenue Officer rushed to Vettaikaranpudur and police reinforcements have been deployed. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120359040300.htm Tamil Nadu Sit-in protest staged Staff Reporter Tirupur: Ministerial and subordinate staff of Tamilnadu Khadi and Village Industries Board staged a ?sit-in? protest at their office here on Tuesday. They urged the State Government to clear the entire dearness allowance arrears pending from July 1, 2007, without any delay. The workforce criticized the government for non-disbursal of festival bonus to them, despite making repeated representations to the authorities concerned. The staff should be given a proportional salary increase in order to commensurate with the increase that had been awarded to the wages of Central Government employees following recommendations of the pay commission. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120555770800.htm Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada Building worker?s death triggers protest Staff Reporter Victim?s kin attack hospital seeking ex gratia ELURU: The death of a building worker, M. Balaji (18) while undergoing treatment, triggered protest on Thursday. It led to an attack on a teaching hospital by the friends and relatives of the victim. A large gathering of protesters turned furious and threw stones at the hospital and damaged wind panes and flower vases. The police swung into action and restored order. According to information, Balaji, who sustained critical injuries when he fell off a multi-storied structure while working, was shifted to the hospital for treatment last night. He succumbed to injuries on Thursday morning. B. Satyanarayana, victim?s father, alleged that his son died due to alleged negligence by the doctors attended on him. He said his son was completely left to the mercy of house surgeons in spite of his critical condition even as the specialists concerned allegedly turned a deaf year to their pleas for timely treatment. On hearing news of Balaji?s death, a huge gathering of his friends and relatives from his native Madepalli village in Eluru rural mandal assembled at the hospital and resorted to protest, demanding ex gratia to his bereaved family members. Charge denied The hospital management, however, denied the charge and expressed serious regrets over the attack by the mob on the hospital. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161416718 Two UNC MPs join protests Dengue in Caroni... Aabida Allaham Wednesday, December 24th 2008 FED UP: Residents of Frederick Settlement, Caroni, display placards for passing motorists during their protest yesterday at Southern Main Road, Caroni. - Photo: Roberto Codallo UNTIL Government and seniors members of the Insect Vector Control Division (IVCD) spend actual time in Frederick Settlement, Caroni, they cannot say there is no dengue outbreak in the area, residents say. "The drains are still dirty and the stench is unbearable and if we get 30 minutes of rainfall then the whole place will be flooded and we have more mosquitoes breeding," resident and activist, Mohammed Sulaiman, said yesterday. Sulaiman, along with Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West, Jack Warner, and Opposition Chief Whip, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, led the residents in an early morning protest yesterday, to highlight Government's lack of concern regarding the eradication of the deadly aedes aegypti and their claim that the area was safe. "The Insect Vector Control and Dr Rohit Doon had no right to say that we are creating this problem because we have always cleaned our surroundings; they on the other hand have not been cleaning the drains or cutting the grass," Sulaiman said as residents created a human barrier on the Southern Main Road, Caroni. On Monday, Dr Doon, adviser to the Ministry of Health, and Dr Clive Tilluckdharry, specialist medical officer at the IVCD, told members of the media all the elements that constituted good vector control management were carried out in Frederick Settlement. Warner, who personally funded the printing and distribution of 6000 leaflets advising residents of proper household hygiene, agreed with the enraged residents, who called on Health Minister Jerry Narace to resign because he did not know how to deal with the dengue situation in this country. Warner said until the Government admitted there was an outbreak and dealt with it accordingly, the problem would not go away. "There is a dengue outbreak in this area, the only person who does not admit that is the Government...Dr Tilluckdharry said there were 23 homes in this settlement where they found the dengue virus was prevalent and therefore if you have 23 homes, that is an outbreak," Warner said. However, as the Insect Vector sprayed the area yesterday, Maharaj said there was no doubt that the Government was taking action, but he doubted it was sufficient. Maharaj added that at the end of the day, Narace had to look beyond the legal definition of what constitutes an outbreak because people were dying. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161414658 'Admit dengue outbreak' ...Caroni residents protest latest death Rohandra John rohjohn at trinidadexpress.com Thursday, December 18th 2008 in mourning: Freddy Ramcharan displays his daughter's death certificate yesterday at Frederick Settlement in Caroni. -Photo: DEXTER PHILIP RESIDENTS of Frederick Settlement in Caroni want the Health Ministry to admit that there is a dengue outbreak in the country, and vow that they are willing to do whatever it takes to make their case. They erected several banners at the entrance to their community, off the Southern Main Road, to highlight the latest dengue fatality, Camille Ramcharan, a promising 22-year-old engineering student who died last week. Her father, Freddy Ramcharan, says his family would spend the Christmas holidays mourning the death of his daughter, who died after losing the battle with dengue haemorrhagic fever. But that loss is not all he has to bear, as his wife, Shakera Mohammed, is now in hospital also stricken with the illness. Now, Ramcharan and other residents say they are prepared to go to whatever lengths in order to get the authorities to tackle what they describe as a "deadly dengue outbreak" in their community. The residents also charged that Health Minister Jerry Narace should not keep denying that there was a dengue outbreak in the country when, in reality, scores of persons in the community and neighbouring areas, and others around the country, were being admitted to hospitals for treatment of the disease almost on a daily basis. The residents also cast blame on the authorities for the situation, saying that they have failed to clean the drains in and around their communities for several years now and, as a result, they have now become the breeding ground for mosquitoes. Residents said most of the drains in the area were filled with silt and stagnant water due to years of neglect, and claimed the Insect Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health has not responded to their requests to spray the area. Following the death of the UWI student, the residents say they have decided that "enough is enough", and were now determined to get the authorities to do something about the situation. One banner at the entrance leading into Frederick Settlement stated: "Help, dengue killing meh family". Another read: "Who's next in line for dengue?". Ramcharan said his wife had also tested positive for dengue and is now warded at the Mt Hope Hospital where she is being treated. "I am hoping she pulls through. She was in hospital when my daughter took in, so I had both of them in the hospital at one time." He also said that there were more that 50 persons in the village who have tested positive for dengue for the year. Ramcharan said his daughter, who up to the time of death was a student at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine campus, had initially been misdiagnosed by doctors at a private health institution. He described his daughter as a vibrant, promising, young woman who had a bright future ahead of her. "Right now, our hearts mash up like cabbage because of what happened with her. We want the authorities to deal with this situation," he said. Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences at UWI St Augustine, John Agard, said recently there was an increase in dengue fever throughout the region because of climate change. http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Health-workers-in-pay-protest.4755259.jp Health workers in pay protest Published Date: 03 December 2008 HEALTH workers were holding a day of action across the UK today in protest at a "derisory" three year pay deal. Union Unite said the work to rule included a ban on non-essential emails, paperwork, meetings and phone calls. The full article contains 45 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper. ? Last Updated: 03 December 2008 9:52 AM ? Source: Edinburgh Evening News ? Location: Edinburgh http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1203/northhealth.html NI health workers stage protest Wednesday, 3 December 2008 16:17 Members of the Unite union who work in the health service in Northern Ireland and Britain are staging a day of industrial action over pay. The work-to-rule protest will include a ban on non-essential paperwork, email exchanges, attendance and meetings and telephone calls. Health service staff are protesting over what they say is a derisory three-year pay deal imposed by the British government. Advertisement The union said the deal would work out at a 2.5% increase per year. Demonstrations will be held outside hospitals where staff will hold a work-to-rule protest. However, emergency cover will be maintained. Unite's Senior Regional Industrial Organiser Albert Mills said their members were 'furious' at the deal. 'Unite members in Northern Ireland have voted for strike action. But they feel they need to put a warning shot across the bows of Health Minister's Michael McGimpsey department. We are willing to talk, but he seems unable or unwilling to do so,' he said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/28/stories/2008122855050600.htm Tamil Nadu - Salem Doctors stage demonstration in Salem Special Correspondent They were seeking arrest of those responsible for the attack on December 21 Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan Raising voice: Members of Tamil Nadu Government Doctors? Association staging a demonstration in Salem on Saturday in support of their demands. ? SALEM: Doctors and paramedical staff, working in Government Medical College Hospital here and primary health centres (PHC) in Salem district, boycotted out-patient treatment for two hours in the morning on Saturday demanding the arrest of those who attacked doctors and paramedical staff following the rumour-triggered violence during the first phase of pulse polio campaign on December 21. They also staged a demonstration. The doctors demanded the arrest of those who were responsible for spreading rumours about pulse polio drops and those who manhandled the doctors on duty. They also insisted on the arrest of anti-socials who assaulted the pharmacist in the Kannankurichi PHC and a doctor at K.R. Thoppur PHC on the same day. Complaint They wanted the police to act on the complaint filed by the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital against those who caused damage in the hospital and manhandled the doctors on duty then. These anti-socials, they pointed out, should be booked under the Hospital Protection Act immediately. Members of the Salem branch of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association, who organised the stir, demanded police protection to the doctors and other paramedical staff on duty in such extraordinary circumstances. They claimed that a few persons owing allegiance to a particular political party had threatened the medical staff on duty on December 21 when anxious parents carrying their children, who were administered polio drops, thronged the hospitals in the district following rumours that a child died in the neighbouring Erode district. The doctors also threatened to boycott the second phase of the pulse polio campaign in the district if they were not given proper protection. The members of the Salem unit of the Tamil Nadu Village Health Nurses Association also staged a demonstration in the city demanding the arrest of those who spread rumours about pulse polio drops and also indulged in violence on December 21. Meanwhile, Salem city police arrested one person for manhandling a pharmacist at the Kannankurichi PHC. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120753290300.htm Other States - Puducherry PMC plans demonstration Staff Reporter PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry Munnetra Congress will hold demonstrations at several places in Puducherry and Karaikal to protest the delay in providing assistance to rain-affected families. Senior leader of the PMC K. Lakshminarayan said that compensation given to persons affected was inadequate. The government should provide a compensation of Rs. 3000 and 30 kg of rice to all card holders, he said. The party would stage demonstration at Puducherry, Oulgaret, Ariankupam, Villianur, Bahour, Mannadipet and Karaikal. Activists commemorate World AIDS day in Solo Solo -- Around 150 activists in the Central Java city of Solo held an action to commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1 in which they called for and end to the negative stigma attached to AIDS sufferers. The protesters, who came from a number of different elements including the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), transsexuals, students and non-government organisations concerned with issues related to women and children, started the action at the Gladag roundabout then moved of to the Surakarta city hall some 200 metres away. During the protest, they called for additional funding to combat HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, for the government and society as a whole to change its views about HIV/AIDS sufferers and for people to give serious attention to the disease but without stigmatising sufferers. In addition to giving speeches, the protesters also handed leaflets out to pedestrians and demanded that the government provide more intensive information about the spread of HIV/AIDS. (Detik.com, 1/12/2008) http://media.www.jsons.org/media/storage/paper139/news/2009/01/31/Neighborhoods/East-Bostonians.Brace.For.Fight.Against.Toll.Hike-3663827.shtml East Bostonians brace for, fight against toll hike Marilia Gordinho 03/15/09 With just 10 days remaining for a legislative escue, East Boston residents are furious. Outraged. Last month the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority voted to pass a two-stage hike in the Boston area tolls. By March 29, tunnel tolls to Boston could jump from $2 to $5.50. And by July 1, they would go up again to $7. The plan would also eliminate a discount currently given to the neighborhood's residents. For someone who today pays $0.40 to take the tunnel, it could mean a spike in costs of $1,500 for the year. "I'll just make a point not to come in to Boston to do things," said East Boston resident Justina White. I'll probably go to Revere or something like that instead." James Bowen, an attorney in East Boston and leader of the Eagle Hills Civic Association, said the toll hike would also affect people's social life. "It would limit any of my friends or family to come and visit me," he said. "I would feel guilty of having them to pay $7 every time they want to visit me." Professionals who drive to work in the area and don't have a residents' discount could also be affected. "We could have problems getting doctors, nurses and social workers over here," Bowen said. "We could have a problem getting good teachers. It could be a major issue." But the impact could be even stronger on the many businesses and restaurants in the area. Vehicles with a commercial plate would have to pay $9 in tolls each time they need to drive downtown. "And they go back and forth, back and forth. They would be lucky if they make a profit," Clark Moulaison, director of East Boston Main Streets, said. "A toll hike takes money out of the local economy." Since the proposal was first announced, three months ago, the neighborhood has been making as much noise as possible to protest. "This is an issue that has brought together the Latinos, newer residents and older Italian families in the neighborhood," Bowen said. "We are just trying to do everything that we can to stop that as neighbors." Two months ago more than 200 people attended a protest rally. Community leaders have also been sending e-mails through social networks to promote awareness of the problem. The neighbors have even created a Web site, stopthehikepike.org, to centralize their efforts. City Councilor Sal LaMattina has rented a bus to take all the residents to the turnpike meetings downtown. "One of my main concerns is that people will have to pay a fare to travel through their community. That's not fair," Lamattina said. Moulaison, who attended some of the hearings, said the efforts have been in vain so far. "They just ignored us," he said. "They were just not getting it. They are just looking into getting revenue, that's it." Lamattina said he has been working closely to state Reps. Anthony Petruccelli and Carlo Basile to oppose the proposal. "Let's just not forget that there are 160 representatives that couldn't care less about an East Boston discount," Lamattina said. "But they need to understand that we serve as a central hub for the transportation infrastructure in the city with the tunnels and the airport." But the neighborhood is not ready to settle down. "I can see some serious civil disobedience over here if it goes through totally," Moulaison said. "If it is necessary we will work with the police and we are going to block the tunnel. This isn't going to go away." The proposed increases would be canceled if the legislature approves Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to increase the state's gasoline tax, which could go up by 19 cents per gallon. But time is running out. State Rep. Anthony Petruccelli said he believes a toll hike would be "an assault on the economic opportunity of people and the quality of life of the neighborhood." He supports a gas tax increase instead. "A gas tax for an average person driving would represent less than $200 a year," he said. "The toll increase as proposed would represent 1,500 a year. It is not right and it should not happen." He also said that as powerful as the toll issue is for toll-paying legislators, the gas tax issue is equally powerful legislators in other parts of the Commonwealth. "It has been very frustrating and a lot of us has been battling with some of our colleagues every day," he said. "But I feel pretty confident that we will have an end result that will be good for the people all over East Boston." But the anger will remain until another solution is found. "Forget about toll or gas increase, we are getting them all," Moulaison said. "It is like free smorgasbord. Let's tax as much as possible. It is crazy." Ten days and counting. http://www.dailynewstribune.com/news/x1720690638/Anti-toll-activists-to-take-to-backstreets Toll protesters hope to clog Newton roads Tuesday ________________________________________ ? Photos ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Staff Photo by Jim Walker Traffic moves along the Massachusetts Turnpike in Newton during the summer 2008. By Jim O?Sullivan/State House News Service GateHouse News Service Posted Dec 11, 2008 @ 01:40 PM Last update Dec 11, 2008 @ 04:05 PM ________________________________________ Newton ? Traffic might be worse through Newton on Tuesday, as protesters of the planned Mass Turnpike toll hike skirt the tolls by traveling along city streets. Anti-toll activists, upset with planned toll increases on the Mass Pike, are asking drivers to avoid the state highway, as part of the ?Boston Toll Party,? intended to show policymakers the types of problems that would ensue if drivers use alternative routes. The East Boston-based organization, StopThePikeHike.Org, wants drivers statewide to avoid Interstate 90, and posted directions for alternate routes across the Commonwealth on its Web site, including roads to get through Newton and Brighton. Organizers said they are unsure how many drivers would participate. "I wish I could give you an estimate of how many people will be out there," said Spencer Kimball, director of StopThePikeHike.org. "Over 6,000 people have registered on our site so far, but not all of them will be participating." Here is the route advertised through Newton. Planning on participating? Let us know. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who prefers a higher gas tax to elevated tolls, disapproved of the protest. ?I think what they?re doing is creating a public safety issue,? Menino said in a telephone interview. ?There?s ways of making yourself known on this issue, but to have city blocks impassable to do things that border on unrest, that?s not the way you do it.? The spokesman for the Newton mayor called the plan innovative. ?People have a right to voice their concerns,? said Jeremy Solomon. ?I would suspect that many, many of our Newton residents are concerned about toll hikes.? Under toll increases given preliminary approval by the turnpike board and marked to take effect early next year, Allston-Brighton and Weston tolls would climb from $1.25 to $2 for drivers paying in cash. Sumner and Ted Williams tunnel tolls would double, to $7, for cash customers. Michael Kelleher, founder of the StopThePikeHike.Org, said the purpose of the demonstration is to illustrate what could happen if 15 percent of Pike drivers defect, as some estimates predict. During November, the Pike logged 15.1 million toll transactions, according to agency records. ?We?re just trying to show the cause and effect of what?s going to happen here,? Kelleher said. ?I mean, this is a community that?s being railroaded.? Gov. Deval Patrick has pushed toll hikes, estimated to generate $100 million, as a necessary step to close some of the transportation financing gap facing the state, estimated at up to $20 billion over 20 years. ?We sympathize with state leaders who are grappling with shortfall,? said Solomon. ?But there?s an inherent inequity in funding the Big Dig, which benefits a North-South thoroughfare, from tolls on an East-West road.? Lawmakers have proposed a handful of alternatives to the steep toll hikes, including a higher gas tax and privatization of Pike property. They have also clamored for Patrick to deliver a long-promised package restructuring the transportation system, which Patrick says he will file early next year. Many legislators insist that the tolls should not increase without an accompanying reform. Next Tuesday is the 235th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, when colonists protested British taxes levied while the colonies were not receiving satisfactory representation in Parliament, by dumping crates of tea into Boston Harbor. The group?s website claims that ?little has changed in 235 years when a group of unelected people have the ability to raise taxes on the working people of Massachusetts.? Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), who spoke at a StopThePikeHike.Org rally last week, said the ?Toll Party,? despite the inconveniences it would cause, would be a worthwhile protest. ?I don?t think it hurts for them to demonstrate that that?s one aspect of this debate, that it may be a byproduct of the toll hike,? said Hedlund. ?And, certainly, anything to help their cause is not a bad thing.? ?One day of pain to prove a point to try to prevent that permanent pain from happening is a good thing, I would think,? Hedlund said. The Newton Police Department was not aware of the planned protest when the Newton TAB called on Thursday. Chrissie Long contributed to this report. http://www.wbz.com/pages/3478004.php?contentType=4&contentId=3197466 Posted: Thursday, 11 December 2008 12:59PM Pike protest planned for Tuesday canceled M.L. Boston (WBZ Newsroom) -- After listening to the safety concerns from various communities related to drivers taking alternate routes in protest of proposed toll hikes, StopThePikeHike.org has canceled the protest, which was scheduled for Tuesday. Boston city officials said the potentially dangerous impact the protest would have on traffic and city streets should all commuters avoid the highway. Under toll increases given preliminary approval by the turnpike board and marked to take effect early next year, Allston-Brighton and Weston tolls would climb from $1.25 to $2 for drivers paying in cash. Sumner and Ted Williams tunnel tolls would double, to $7, for cash customers. Angry tollpayers met with members of the turnpike authority Wednesday night to voice their oppinions about the toll hike. It was the first in a series of public meetings to let people vent which is what they did. Representatvie Carlo Basile called on the board members to re-think the plan. The governor has said there is no other way to raise money quickly. http://news.www23.ninemsn.com.au/national/702739/mums-protest-against-welfare-to-work/?rss=yes Bikini mums stage welfare rules protest 14:19 AEST Mon Dec 22 2008 108 days 3 hours 7 minutes ago Single mums, protesting in bikinis, claim Welfare to Work conditions introduced in 2006 are onerous. Single mothers in bikinis, wetsuits and snorkels have spread their beach towels outside a Melbourne Centrelink office to protest against welfare conditions forcing them to spend school holidays looking for work. The women claim Welfare to Work conditions introduced by the Howard government in 2006 are onerous because they require single mothers to fulfil participation requirements 52 weeks of the year until their child is 16. Single mother Lillian Hope said the requirements meant children can't spend holidays with their mum. "Most Australians at this time of the year would be expecting to have a nice summer holiday with their families. But single families are not allowed summer holidays so we're here having our party at Centrelink," she said outside the South Melbourne Centrelink branch. Ms Hope said she worked part-time as a court interpreter and was studying a PhD in international relations but neither of these were recognised as participation under Welfare to Work. "I work in a highly skilled profession but under Welfare to Work I'm not allowed to keep that job. "I have to leave that job and do a Work for the Dole program to satisfy participation requirements," she said. "Welfare to Work is not benefiting the Australian economy, it is not benefiting single mothers and it is not benefiting our children," she said. Under the Welfare to Work reforms introduced two years ago, single mothers are required to complete participation requirements once their youngest child turns seven and until the age of 16 to receive their benefits. The requirements include looking or undertaking work for at least 15 hours a week. The federal government is currently considering a report recommending changes to the Welfare to Work scheme, prepared by the Participation Taskforce. Comment was being sought from Employment Participation Minister Brendan O'Connor. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7762263.stm Wednesday, 3 December 2008 Protest at fire station axe plan Lives will be put at risk if plans went ahead to close a Leicestershire town's fire station, some residents say. The proposals would see all retained firefighters at Shepshed laid off in plans to cut the county's fire budget. Campaigners, who were due to protest at County Hall, claimed that losing the station would mean longer response times to the town and also on the M1. The fire service said it was carrying out a review to improve efficiency but no decisions had been made yet. Potential disaster Kevin Parker, county councillor for Shepshed, said any cuts in the town would be a dangerous gamble. He said: "This is not just about Shepshed, it is much wider than that. Our fire staff are first-line response to any accident on the M1. "But also if anything happens at East Midlands Airport these firefighters are the ones that get out there. "So it is the thousands of people using the M1 and the many thousands of passengers at the airport." The fire service said the government wanted the fire service to provide value for money as the funding will be reducing in real terms over the next two years, so, the service needs to utilise its resources in the most effective manner possible. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2008/12/01/ot-081201-081201.html?ref=rss Councillor to move against Ottawa arts cuts after hundreds protest Last Updated: Monday, December 1, 2008 | 5:06 PM ET Comments22Recommend27 CBC News Arts supporters held a rally outside Ottawa City Hall on Monday afternoon shortly after hearing from speakers such as Francis Beaulieu, foreground, head of Mus?oparc Vanier and spokesman for a coalition of francophone cultural groups. (Kate Porter/CBC) An Ottawa councillor says he will move to take $4.1 million in arts and culture cuts off the table for the 2009 city budget after hundreds of arts supporters turned out to protest the proposed cuts. Clive Doucet, councillor for capital ward, was unable to move the proposal Monday during the first day of budget hearings for public delegations, but is expected to do so on Thursday once council begins formally debating the budget. In addition to the $4.1 million in cuts, staff have recommended hundreds of thousands more in deferrals to new arts programs. About 300 people of all ages packed the council chambers at Ottawa City Hall on Monday, carrying signs that read "Stop the cuts: My city still includes culture" and "My Ottawa includes festivals." Those who got up to speak said it was irresponsible for the city to put arts and culture groups in the position of having to beg for funding year after year. About 300 arts supporters packed into the council chambers for the first day of budget hearings for public delegations. (Kate Porter/CBC) "Others understand the economic value of culture but in Ottawa, there's a perception problem evident in the draft budget," said John Reid, chair for the city's arts, culture and heritage advisory committee. "We need to break out of this annual cycle of destructive debate and threats to long-term plan commitments which are a matter of trust." The cultural community is ready for constructive dialogue, but "never again do they want to feel so victimized," he added, bringing all 300 arts supporters to their feet in applause. Doucet's announcement, which followed, drew even louder applause. Shortly after noon, the arts supporters exited the council chambers for a rally outside City Hall. Richard Lebel, general manager of La Nouvelle Sc?ne, a francophone theatre centre on King Edward Avenue, said it's good that many groups, francophone and anglophone alike, have united to fight the cuts as they did successfully in 2004 and 2007. But he added that they would prefer to work together on concrete projects rather than protests. Linda Balduzzi, head of the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation, said Ottawa won't be able to hang on to its artists if the cycle of cuts continues. "When you keep this kind of threat up over years and decades, people start to lose faith that they can actually make a living in Ottawa," she said. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/01/2434052.htm Protests staged over planned health job cuts Posted Mon Dec 1, 2008 11:25am AEDT ? Map: Coffs Harbour 2450 Community anger over plans for massive jobs cuts within the North Coast Area Health Service is reaching 'boiling point'. Across the region, hundreds of people turned out for protest rallies on Saturday at Coffs Harbour, Maclean, Casino, Lismore and Tweed Heads. They are furious about a proposal to shed 400 jobs so the area health service can save $200 million over the next four years. Dr Jay Ruthnam from the Coffs Base hospital medical staff council says the proposed job cuts are senseless. "Because of the downturn in economy a lot of people are going to find it's hard times," Dr Ruthnam said. "They can't go to private practices, they're going to go then to the public hospital and if the public hospital then turns their back to them, we are going to have a Third World health service." Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser says he is taking the concerns of local people to State Parliament tomorrow. Mr Fraser says people have had enough of cuts, enough of underfunding and they want a health service they can rely on. "I think the turnout of the people here sends a very clear message to Mr Rees, Mr Roozendaal and Mr Della Bosca that their intended health cuts are not welcome, will not be accepted and they want equity in service to what the seats in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong get, and equity in funding," he said. http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/mhsnaueyauey/rss2/ Baby P protesters deliver petition to Downing Street Print Email+ Share+ 13/12/2008 - 14:53:02 The Justice March For Baby P delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street in London today calling for ?urgent far reaching changes to the child protection system?. The campaigners ? estimated by police at around 300 ? marched through the capital to demand that no other children should suffer the same fate as Baby P. Organisers said the petition contained 20,000 signatures. Baby P, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died in a blood-splattered cot in August last year. Stacey Crisp, 21, from Harlow, Essex, England said: ?We are handing in a petition calling for a public inquiry into the system and for tougher sentences for child abusers. ?We have asked for all professionals involved to be sacked without pay and urgent far reaching changes to the child protection system. ?We want justice for this baby and for all the children out there that are being let down by these professionals. ?It?s also about remembering this poor child who suffered so horrifically. He is truly loved now. He?s the nation?s baby.? Another organiser, Antonia Price, 34, from Basildon, Essex, added: ?I think Ed Balls has started the process but there are still lots of unanswered questions. ?I think there is a lot more to this case than we have been allowed to know and there are still a lot more people that need to answer for what happened to Baby P.? Crowds gathered at Millbank in central London wearing Baby P T-shirts and carrying banners which said: ?The Nation?s Angel? and ?March For Baby P. Don?t forget Babies A-Z?. Baby P suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his abusive mother, 27, her 32-year-old boyfriend, and their lodger, Jason Owen, 36, despite 60 contacts with the authorities in Haringey, north London, over eight months. Inspectors were sent into Haringey by the British government after the trial of those responsible for Baby P?s brutal death. A seven-strong team ? from Ofsted, the Health Care Commission and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary ? identified a number of ?serious concerns? about the safe guarding of children in the north London borough. In a 16-page report, they condemned everything from poor record-keeping to a failure to identify children at an immediate risk of harm. Britiain's children?s secretary Ed Balls removed the council?s head of children?s services from her post earlier this month after the report was published. Sharon Shoesmith, 55, remained on full pay while the council considered her case until she was sacked on Monday. Mr Balls announced yesterday that her replacement will be Peter Lewis, a senior council manager currently at Enfield. The three people convicted over Baby P?s death will be sentenced at the Old Bailey next month for causing or allowing the death of a child. The Justice March For Baby P gathered pace after 11 mothers and other women from all over the UK teamed up to set up a group on social networking site Facebook. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/veteran-to-take-mod-protest-to-parliament-1066419.html Veteran to take MoD protest to Parliament By Dave Higgens, PA Sunday, 14 December 2008 A 91-year-old war veteran was today preparing to take his long-running pension battle against the Ministry of Defence to Westminster. Major Richard Perkins said he has been given permission for a protest outside Parliament on Wednesday. The decorated former soldier believes he is due tens of thousands of pounds from the ministry as compensation following a long-running dispute about the taxing of the military pension he had been drawing since the 1950s. Maj Perkins saw service behind Japanese lines in Burma in 1944 as part of the special unit known as the Chindits and was mentioned in dispatches. He later served during the Malayan emergency in the late 1950s, where his problems began. In the mid 1990s the Government discovered of hundreds of veterans who had been medically discharged from the Army had been wrongly taxed on their pensions and eventually paid out millions of pounds in rebates and compensation. Maj Perkins appeared to be one of those due to benefit but problems arose when the ministry claimed he had not been discharged on medical grounds when he left The Royal Leicestershire Regiment in 1959 and was, therefore, not eligible. The father-of-four argued for five years that his mental breakdown in Malaya did constitute a medical discharge and was eventually given a ?20,000 rebate payment following an appeal tribunal hearing. But Maj Perkins, who lives in Lastingham, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, believes he is also entitled to compensation which could total more than ?70,000 for the loss of use of this money over the past half-decade. Now the former soldier is hoping other veterans will join him in Old Palace Yard, outside the Houses of Parliament. He said: "I'm going to stand up there and wave my placard," he said. "Hopefully there will be a few of us there to let them know what we really think." http://english.eviewweek.com/Mule-riding-fuel-price-protester-wins-support.shtml Mule-riding fuel price protester wins support Submitted by admin on Thu, 12/11/2008 - 01:47 ? Culture Source: China Daily The video "Going to work on a mule" has attracted many viewers and supporters after recently surfacing on the Internet. The video shows a man riding a mule on the fifth ring road of Beijing with a banner emblazoned "To protest high oil price" last month. The man in a neat black business suit was riding a mule that had a "BMW" logo on its forehead and an A8888 lucky number license plate hanging on its neck. Behind him were slow-moving cars driven by infuriated drivers. "Cars bring too much pollution," the man smirked. "Riding a mule is environmentally friendly." Many netizens gave his protest two thumbs up. (Information Times) http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120754480500.htm Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram Protest at airport against neglect of State, says MP Thiruvananthapuram: Defending the protest staged at Delhi airport against the ?inordinate delay? in departure of a Kerala-bound Air India flight, K.S. Manoj, MP, on Saturday said it was a reaction against the ?callous? attitude of the airline and civil aviation authorities against Kerala. ?This is not the first time the New Delhi-Kochi-Thiruvananthapuram bound flight was getting delayed. Despite it being the longest domestic flight and booking always full, the officials never bothered to stick to schedule or put good aircraft for the service,? said the CPI(M) MP from Alappuzha, who joined the protest with his senior party colleague Varkala Radhakrishnan, MP, last night. Focus the hardship ?Our intention was not to cause inconvenience to passengers. Actually, we wanted to bring to focus the hardship being silently suffered for long by Keralites,? Mr. Manoj said. Total neglect ?The flight was scheduled to take off at 5.30 p.m. and the passengers had boarded it in time. But it was delayed without any clear explanation coming from the airline officials. It was nearly after two hours that the airline staff informed the passengers that the aircraft had some technical snag, and later a new aircraft was arranged for the journey. They did not even bother to provide tea or snacks to the passengers during this time,? he said. Mr. Manoj said it was after the MPs insisted on calling Civil Aviation Secretary and Air India Chairman that the airline officials bothered to take some steps. Perhaps, the Meghalaya Governor being a passenger would have prompted the authorities to hurriedly arrange a new plane, he said. ? PTI http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/MPs-delay-flight-say-they-protested-AI-apathy/395066/ MPs delay flight, say they protested AI apathy Agencies Posted: Dec 06, 2008 at 1453 hrs IST Print Email To Editor Post Comments Most Read Articles Related Articles Journalist hurls shoe at P ChidambaramNitish rules out sharing stage with Modi'Pak not willing to work with US to manage t...India developing technology to read terroris...HSMP case: Indian migrants to get compensati...'Jai Ho' did not deserve an Oscar: Jagjit Si... Thiruvananthapuram Defending the protest staged at Delhi airport against the "inordinate delay" in departure of a Kerala-bound Air India flight, Lok Sabha member K S Manoj said on Saturday that it was a reaction against the "callous" attitude of the airline and civil aviation authorities against Kerala. "This is not the first time the New Delhi-Kochi-Thiruvananthapuram-bound flight was getting delayed. Despite it being the longest domestic flight and booking always full, the officials have never bothered to stick to schedule or put good aircraft for the service," said the CPI(M) MP from Alappuzha, who joined the protest with his senior party and parliament colleague Varkala Radhakrishnan on Friday night. "Our intention was not to cause inconvenience to passengers. Actually, we wanted to bring to focus the hardship being silently suffered for long by Keralites," said Manoj. "The flight was scheduled to take off at 5:30 pm and the passengers had boarded it in time. But it was delayed without any clear explanation coming from the airline officials. It was nearly after two hours that the airline staff informed the passengers that the aircraft had some technical snag, and later a new aircraft was arranged for the journey. They did not even bother to provide tea or snacks to the passengers during this time," he said. Manoj said it was after the MPs insisted on calling Civil Aviation Secretary and Air India Chairman that the airline officials bothered to take some steps. Perhaps, the Meghalaya Governor being a passenger would have prompted the authorities to hurriedly arrange a new plane, he added. "It was around 2200 hrs that the flight finally took off from the airport...You can imagine the anxiety of the passengers and the difficulties most of them would face by landing in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram quite late in the night," the MP said. The flight also had several businessmen and executives who would never be able to make up the precious time they lost in waiting, he said. Manoj alleged that Kerala-bound flights quite often failed to stick to schedule and the issue had repeatedly been brought to the notice of the authorities but there were no corrective steps from their side. It was unfortunate that a section of the media had sought to project as if the protest by MPs was the cause for the delay and the hardships suffered by the passengers, he said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120653490300.htm Karnataka - Mysore Protest against delay in link road project Staff Correspondent . ? PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM Commuters troubled: Members of various organisations staging a dharna demanding immediate completion of the Kuvempunagar-Ashokapuram-Vidyaranyapuram link road, in Mysore on Friday MYSORE: Members of various organisations on Friday staged a demonstration here protesting against the delay in the completion of the Kuvempunagar-Ashokapuram-Vidyaranyapuram link road, which is causing much inconvenience to commuters. The activists of Krishnadevaraya Kannada Sangha, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Dalit Sangha, Pourakarmikas Sangha, Nagarika Hitarakshana Horata Samiti and various progressive organisations, led by former MLA M.K. Somashekar, said the works had been ?deliberately delayed? due to ?political reasons?, and urged the Deputy Commissioner to issue directions to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) which is carrying out the work, to complete the project immediately. Though the MUDA had announced that it would complete the work by December 2007, the works are still under way and is causing inconvenience to the public, they said. The members warned of holding an agitation in front of the MUDA office if the work was not completed in the next 15 days. They also demanded immediate completion of Manadawadi-Nanjangud Link Road, work on which was also taken up long ago by the MUDA. ?If this road was completed, the traffic congestion on Nanjangud Road up to Gun House would reduce,? they stated in a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. They also demanded that the Kuvempunagar-Ashokapuram-Vidyaranyapuram Link Road should be named after NSG commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who died during the recent Mumbai attacks. http://www.wisn.com/news/18196384/detail.html People Protest Over Death Of 1-Year-Old In Foster Care Christopher Thomas' POSTED: 1:14 pm CST December 3, 2008 MILWAUKEE -- The beating death of a 1-year-old Milwaukee boy while he was in foster care has outraged many. One group is demanding changes in the foster system, and it hit the streets Wednesday morning to get the message out. "I am emotional about it. I saw that picture of that child. It could have been my granddaughter, you know," protester Hank Fanning said. Protestors rallied outside the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare. They feel the system is broken. "Children are being harmed and being put back into homes where they don't belong. It's not safe," protester Kathleen said. "Being a child shouldn't have to hurt," said Becky Welk, who organized the protest. Welk's adopted daughter was abused by her biological parents, and like many others, Welk was deeply touched by the beating death of Christopher Thomas and the abuse of his 2-year-old sister while they were in foster care. "The saddest thing I've ever seen in my life," Welk said. Welk and the others are questioning why a social worker didn't remove them from the home. "There's some who work around the clock 24/7. Then you get some who come in, and they're not doing their job," Welk said. The protestors want more funding, more accountability and more training for social workers. Several people are taking petitions around and collecting signatures, saying they want change in the system. Then they plan on taking the petition to Madison. "I think any message is a good message at this point," Kathleen said. The Department of Children and Families issued this statement on Wednesday: "The public has a right to make their opinions known. We will listen to those opinions. There's no higher priority than making sure our children are safe and protected in loving homes." The Thomas case is still under investigation. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122159770300.htm Karnataka - Bangalore Protests against toll collection continue Staff Reporter Government urged to direct NICE to withdraw decision ________________________________________ ?Toll collection before project completion unfair? NICE accused of taking land-losers for a ride ________________________________________ BANGALORE: Protests against toll collection for use of Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) roads continued on Saturday. Meanwhile, there has been a demand from several quarters, including parties, for withdrawal of the toll. Members of CPI (M) staged a demonstration on the peripheral road of the BMIC near Mysore Road toll-gate and sought the State Government?s intervention. NICE has been cheating the land-losers from the beginning. Earlier, it promised sites and employment to the land-losers, but the promised was not kept, the protesters alleged. ?It is unfair to collect toll on BMIC before the completion of the project. Instead of collecting toll, the company should construct service roads to all villages,? they said. The protesters blocked the road for a while and demanded that NICE stop collecting toll till the completion of the project. They also demanded that the highway be made toll-free for local people across peripheral roads and across the project. CPI (M) secretary N. Venkatachala led the protest. Activists of the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha took out a two-wheeler protest rally from Vidhana Soudha against the toll collection. Led by party president Vatal Nagaraj, activists on around 100 motorcycles reached the peripheral ring road near Kanakapura Road as a part of the rally. The CPI has also expressed unhappiness over the toll collection. Party secretary M.D. Harigovinda, in a release, said that the company had started collecting toll without completing the project. The State Government should direct the company withdraw its decision, the release said. No arrests Meanwhile, the police have not made any arrests in connection with the attack on the toll collection booths of NICE on Friday. Around 150 men had attacked the booths near Chikkammanahalli and Electronic City. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122760560600.htm Karnataka Vedike activists protest against NICE Staff Reporter ________________________________________ ?Company should stop collecting toll till the completion of the project? ________________________________________ BANGALORE: Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists staged a demonstration on the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) near Madavara toll-gate and urged the State Government to take action against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE). The protesters blocked the road for some time saying local people should not be charged any toll to use the road and that NICE should stop collecting toll from others till the completion of the project. They accused the company of cheating those who lost their land for the project by not fulfilling its commitment to provide alternative sites and employment to them. V.S. Shridhar, a vedike leader, demanded that NICE construct service roads to all adjacent villages. Several protests have been held against NICE since the company started collecting toll from road users. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5400737.ece December 27, 2008 Tsunami victims are remembered with art, prayers and protests Chennai Indian art students pay homage to victims of the tsunami that killed around 220,000 people on December 26, 2004, by creating sand art at Marina Beach in Tamil Nadu, southern India. Prayers and memorial services were held in the state, where an estimated 6,500 people died. In the Indonesian province of Aceh, the heaviest-hit region where at least 168,000 people were killed, crowds massed in the remains of a military base in the coastal town of Meulaboh for a sombre Islamic prayer ceremony. Around 50 homeless tsunami survivors protested after the ceremony, demanding housing and accusing authorities of failing to look after victims. Indonesia also held tsunami drills at the northern end of the island of Sulawesi and on Java. (AFP) http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20081222_Protest_over_Russia_s_car_tariffs_intensifies.html The Kremlin has sidelined political opponents and put tight controls on civil society and the media, rolling back many post-Soviet freedoms. But in recent weeks, migrant workers in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg protested wage arrears and pensioners in the Siberian town of Barnaul took to the streets to protest the withdrawal of discounted fares on public transport. http://m.lohud.com/news.jsp?key=185058 Firefighters, residents protest cuts to Yonkers Fire Department Hannan Adely The Journal News December 22, 2008 12:39 PM YONKERS - Marge Del Bene's gratitude to Fire Station 12 runs deep. She and her family were rescued by station firefighters during a 1969 fire and were helped several more times in later years during medical emergencies. "We're only one family and one house in the area, for what this firehouse has done for us," she said. Del Bene and other residents fear that help won't arrive soon enough if proposed cuts to the firehouse are enacted. City officials decided to remove a ladder truck and its crew of 17 firefighters and five officers from the station as part of a plan to close a $16 million budget gap. Residents and firefighters rallied in front of the the Fortfield Avenue station yesterday to protest the measure and the cuts to the Yonkers Fire Department at large. The city's budget plan includes a total of seven layoffs from the fire department and the elimination of 22 vacant positions. Hugh Fox, president of Yonkers Firefighters Local 628, said the cuts would also lead to the demotion of 19 fire lieutenants to the rank of firefighter. The ladder company is one of six throughout the city. Without it, Fire Station 12 would be left with just an engine company and its crew. Fox said the removal of the ladder company would delay response time in emergencies throughout the city, leaving citizens more at risk of losing their lives and their property. The nearest fire station, he said, was Fire Station 14, about four miles away. Fire Capt. Ray Dezendorf, house commander of Fire Station 12 and captain of the ladder crew that would be cut, said his station was the busiest in the city in the past three years and Yonkers residents depended on the service of the company. "The next company is going to be many more minutes out and minutes is what counts in this industry," he said. "The key to rescue is getting there quickly and getting people out." http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415835.html Protest against Edinburgh City Council's funding cuts ab | 20.12.2008 08:54 | Repression | Social Struggles About seventy people attended the Edinburgh City Council meeting on Thursday 18th Dec 2008 in protest of the unfair distribution of the ?Fairer Scotland Fund", which would hit Edinburgh's most deprived area hardest, relative to previous regeneration funding. A banner was dropped and calls were made for Elaine Morris, the incompetent representative for the Forth area and chair of the finance meeting, to resign. Amongst the groups and initiatives threatened with closure are new buildings costing millions - which are now left with no funding to staff and open the resources to the public. However, 1.8m of the money allocated to Edinburgh under the grant scheme is still unaccounted for. Yet seventeen projects in the North Edinburgh area from Youth Groups to Elderly Project to Anti-racist initiatives and support networks for abused women are now threatened with closure. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122159700300.htm Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore Flash protests in city disrupt traffic Staff Reporter Residents oppose closure of road; students complain of poor maintenance and low quality food Photos: M. Periasamy and K. Ananthan Airing their grievances: Residents of Lakshmipuram at Ganapathy in the city staging a road blockade on Saturday urging the highway authorities to stop closing the bylanes under the upcoming rail overbridge on Sathyamangalam Road, near Textool. (Right) Students of Dr. Ambedkar Government College Boys Hostel staging a demonstration on Dr. Balasundaram Road in protest against the poor quality of food in the hostel. ? Coimbatore: Flash protests by residents and students in various parts of the city disrupted traffic on Saturday. Irate residents of Lakshmipuram in Ganapathy area off Sathyamangalam Road on Saturday blocked the road protesting over the closure of approach ways to residential areas on either side of Sathyamangalam Road below the upcoming railway over bridge. ? The residents said that the flyover plan should include way to the residential areas on the left of the upcoming flyover. Even during the construction of the flyover residents alleged that they had been put to untold hardship. Revenue, police, highways and corporation officials held talks with the agitators and following assurances to hammer out a solution, the road blockade was lifted. This led to disruption of traffic on the busy National Highway for a few hours. Student inmates of the Government Hostel on Dr. Balasundaram Road in the City also resorted to a flash protest by blocking the road condemning the poor quality and unhygienic condition of the food served to them as well as the maintenance of the hostel. Withdrawn The Collectorate officials, police and revenue authorities held talks with the students and promised to sort out the problem, following which the road blockade was withdrawn. The Joint Action Committee of Public Sector General Insurance Employees staged a demonstration in front of the United India Insurance Company Limited office on Dr. Nanjappa Road in protest against the decision of the Centre to hike the foreign direct investment in the Insurance Sector. The demonstrators condemned the decision to hike the FDI in insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent and also opposed the plans to amend the Insurance Act of 1938. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/19/stories/2008121961120300.htm New Delhi Protest against missing children NEW DELHI: A large number of people staged a dharna outside the Welcome police station here on Thursday protesting against growing number of complaints of missing children in the area and alleged inaction of the police. ?Several children have gone missing from the area in the past few months, but the police do not seem to be interested in looking for them. Most of these children are suspected to have been kidnapped and sold off to eunuchs. Even the police know this, but they are reluctant to take any action,? said Deepchand, whose teenaged son went missing on his way to school on December 8. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 21:52:47 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:52:47 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Thailand protests, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE3D99F.8050506@tesco.net> * Protesters learn to express differences according to study * PAD not as bad as alleged - blogger * Eight dead, 737 injured * Body found at Bangkok airport * Students, Thaksin supporters clash * How did Thai protesters manage it? (BBC) * End of protests "time for accountability" - Amnesty * Dec 31 - Redshirt protests force change of venue * Dec 31 - Redshirt protests suspended * Dec 30 - Redshirts besiege Parliament * Dec 29 - Redshirt protest at Parliament begins * Dec 19 - Minister flees protesters as protests spread * Dec 16 - Taxi drivers protest new government * Dec 15 - Redshirts decry Vejjava, damage cars * Vejjava vows to prosecute own supporters * New foreign minister linked to airport protesters, calls protests "fun" * PAD vows new protests if PPP returns to power * Opponents can protest says Vejjava http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/11/national/national_30090668.php Protestors learn to express differences, have better grasp of democracy : study By By Pongphon Sarnsamak DAILY XPRESS Published on December 11, 2008 The Public Health Ministry will study the impact of the recent political demonstrations on the mental health of the participants -- both the anti-government People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters and pro-government supporters, said a senior health official. The move comes after the PAD announced the end of its siege of Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport on December 2. First bloody clash Department of Mental Health Spokesman Dr Taveesilp Wisanuyothin said plans for the long-term project were put in place soon after October 7, the day of the first bloody clash between PAD protesters and police. The project aims to study 600 people who joined the demonstrations. Preparing for tension Taveesilp believes the results will be a key to preparing individuals for times of political tension in the future. He said that people who had joined the demonstrations were optimistic about the political situation because the protests had taught them how to control their emotions, and express their feelings to those on the other side. Moreover, people on the same side had made strong relationships. " Protesters have created close friendships with each other during the protests," commented a mental-health expert. "That should have a positive rather than a negative effect on their mental health. It means they will communicate and understand each other better if they gather together in the future." http://www.nowpublic.com/world/acivities-pad-protest Acivities in PAD protest uploaded by BeeBee December 7, 2008 at 01:16 am There's been a lot of negative news coming out of Thailand lately and obviously with good reason. The PAD took over Suvarnabhumi Airport, the tourism and export industries took a major hit and the political situation has still not been completely resolved. However, there is some GOOD news to report on. First, there was almost no violence in the mass demonstrations that took place at both of Thailand's airports. The occupiers left peacefully when the demonstrations were over and there was no vandalism or any destruction reported at either airport. In fact, Suvarnabhumi was in such good condition that flights were landing right away and some carriers started up their regular flight schedules again only two days after the airport was vacated by the demonstrators. Things are not completely back to normal yet but they are definitely on the way. Second, even though there has been a great deal of political unrest here in the last several months there is never much violence here in Thailand. It just isn't in the Thai psyche. Yes, there were some confrontations with the police that left some people injured, some badly. There is no disputing that. But considering the numbers of people involved and the heated emotions that were stoked up, it's amazing that there was as little violence as there was. What most people outside of Thailand don't realize is that there was no security breakdown at the airports that allowed the demonstrators to take over. The army and police here knew full well what was going to happen and they sat back and let it. They are in favor of the PAD and want the last remnants of Thaksin Shinawatra's elements out of power. There is an enormous chess game being played behind the scenes here that is very difficult to figure out as you have many different factions jockeying for position. I'll try to keep up on things as they develop. And another important point is that there was no violence directed towards any foreigners nor were any foreigners ever at risk during the entire time. The demonstrations and confrontations were confined to a very small part of Bangkok at all times and if you didn't read the news reports on what was happening here you wouldn't even have been aware of any problems. Even when the demonstrators occupied the airports they were respectful of the tourists that were there and provided them with food and water. Many people who were stranded in their hotels were given free rooms and every effort was made to make their ordeal as bearable as possible. Thai people are naturally friendly and generous (which is why many people come here in the first place) and there have been news reports of foreign tourists praising some of the help that they received from the Thai people. No, all is not 100% rosy here but it's getting better fast and it's still a great (and inexpensive) place to have your holiday. If you come here you definitely will not regret it. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30090192 Protest casualties tallied at eigth deaths and 737 injured From May 25 to December 2, eight people were killed and 737 injured in violent incidents relating to anti-government protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy and counter rallies by the pro-government crowds. The casualties happened in Bangkok and surrounding areas as compiled by the Erawan emergency medical service. The upcountry clashes between yellow shirt protesters and red shirt crowds have yet to be tallied. In one incident, PAD supporter Settha Jiamkitwattana, 60, was shot dead in Chiang Mai. The eight victims killed include seven killed in Bangkok and Settha in Chiang Mai. The Nation http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/395337/1/.html Suspected protester's body found at Bangkok airport Posted: 10 December 2008 1509 hrs BANGKOK: Thai police said Wednesday they had found a man's body wrapped in plastic at Bangkok's domestic airport, a week after anti-government demonstrators lifted a blockade of the facility. The man, aged about 30, was dressed in the uniform worn by volunteer guards of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which occupied Don Mueang airport between November 26 and December 3, they said. The corpse was wrapped in plastic bags and dumped on the second floor of an abandoned cargo building on Tuesday evening, police Lieutenant Colonel Boonchot Lengbamrung said. "The body is decayed, but from a primary investigation he was attacked and died around five or six days ago," he told AFP, without elaborating on the nature of the attack. Police were working to identify the body, he said. The man carried a piece of cloth that the guards - known as the "Srivijaya Warriors" - often used as a good luck charm to ward off danger, Boonchot said. The area where he was found was occupied by PAD guards during the seizure of the airport, he added. At least one PAD supporter was previously reported killed and 22 wounded in a grenade attack at Don Mueang on Tuesday last week, hours before a court ruling ousted the prime minister and led to the movement lifting the siege. Thousands of protesters took control of Don Mueang and the newer Suvarnabhumi international airport, leaving thousands of tourists stranded and causing Thailand to lose nearly four billion dollars in revenue. Guards from the royalist PAD have been accused of threatening behaviour during the PAD's occupation of the prime minister's offices in Bangkok from late August until last week and during the siege of the two airports. A court disbanded Thailand's ruling People Power Party (PPP) and barred prime minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics for five years on December 2 following months of PAD protests. The main opposition Democrat Party is now seeking to form a government with the PPP's former coalition partners. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/14/politics/politics_30090912.php Students, Thaksin supporters clash By THE NATION ON SUNDAY Published on December 14, 2008 A group of Pathumwan Institute of Technology students fought with a group of pro-Thaksin red-shirts in front of the National Stadium yesterday morning ahead of the mobile "Truth Today" programme in which former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was to address his supporters by telephone link. The fight, which broke out around 8am, reportedly came after some students and graduates, who had been at a reunion party since Friday night and were possibly drunk, crossed the street to the stadium and got into a fistfight with a group of red-shirts outside the stadium, said Pathumwan police station chief Colonel Paisarn Luasomboon. The fight, followed by the sounds of gunfire and explosions from the school, prompted many red-shirts to run for cover, while the students shouted abuse at them from inside the college. Paisarn said the explosions from the college had been firecrackers lit by the students. The fight, which caused traffic on Rama I Road to be heavily congested, prompted Paisarn to deploy 200 officers in front of the college to prevent students from clashing with the red-shirts again. |With security in place, the Thaksin supporters occupied most of the roofed seats inside the National Stadium by noon. They were spooked, however, when an explosion was heard in front of the stadium at 3pm, but nobody was injured. Paisarn later commented that someone might have thrown a giant cracker inside a plastic bottle from a passing car and police would process the scene in detail later. With many people attending the event, which was scheduled to last until late last night, city motorists were advised to avoid the area around the stadium on Rama 1 Road, Phayathai Road, Rama 4 Road, Sam Yan Road and Sathorn Road. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7762806.stm Wednesday, 3 December 2008 How did Thai protesters manage it? By Jonathan Head BBC News, Bangkok Some say the PAD should be viewed as a military organisation Claiming victory, the yellow-clad hordes from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rolled up their mats and sleeping bags. They queued for souvenir autographed scarves - yellow of course - from the leaders who had taken them into this astonishing act of insurrection, and boarded buses and pick-up trucks for the ride home. An army of cleaners, technicians and security personnel moved in behind them to get Bangkok's $4bn (?2.7bn) state-of-the-art airport back into operation. Within a few days the mass sit-in will just be a surreal memory. But the questions their actions have raised about the state of Thailand will continue long after the last plastic hand-clapper is picked up and disposed of. How could a country as advanced and as dependent on exports and tourism as Thailand allow such a vital transport hub to be stormed by a mob that never numbered more than a few thousand? What is the PAD, and what gives the movement the confidence to commit its dramatic acts of economic sabotage without fearing any legal sanction? Weak police The airport sit-in shows the PAD's skill at pulling off bold and unexpected stunts. When the first PAD convoys approached the airport last Tuesday, they said they were only going to protest against then-Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who was due to arrive back from the Apec summit in Peru. The government had a strategy of avoiding confrontation - it did not want a repeat of the disastrous events in October, when several PAD supporters were seriously injured in clashes with the police. The police were under orders not to use force and retreated. No-one thought the PAD would try to take over one of the world's biggest and busiest airport terminals. Thai police were reluctant to confront protesters In fact, PAD organisers told the BBC they had carefully planned the seizure of the airport weeks before. The weakness of Thailand's police is also important. They have proved no match for this determined and organised movement. They are poorly trained in riot control, and lack the status of the army. When it became clear that the PAD was set on taking over the airport, the local governor asked the army for assistance. None came. As throughout this year, the army's refusal to help contain the PAD has left the government with no means of resisting this insurgency. The police are up against an organisation of considerable logistical strength. It is a remarkably well-trained and well-funded movement. Logistical efficiency One of the many retired generals supporting its occupation at the airport observed that it should be seen as a military, not a civilian organisation. Behind the "aunties with clappers" and well-groomed young women clutching lap-dogs that are the public face of the movement are squads of hoodlums, armed with batons, metal spikes and hand-guns who man the barricades and hunt down intruders. One morning I followed them as they dragged an alleged government spy off to an undisclosed location, kicking and punching him. I was unable to find out his fate. Some of these thugs are members of private armies run by retired generals. The PAD's logistical efficiency is impressive. Within hours of occupying the airport it had ample supplies of food, water, blankets and medicines for the thousands of supporters who joined the sit-in. ESCALATING CONFLICT September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ousted in military coup February 2008: Samak Sundaravej sworn in as prime minister August 2008: PAD protesters occupy government buildings, demanding the government step down September 2008: Mr Samak dismissed for violating conflict of interest law. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, becomes prime minister October 2008: Thaksin given a two-year jail sentence for corruption in his absence 26 November 2008: Anti-government protesters take control of Bangkok's main airport 2 December 2008: Thai court rules that PM Somchai should be banned from politics, and his party should be dissolved 3 December 2008: Protesters vacate Bangkok airports Thai crisis exposes class struggle Q&A: Bangkok protests The food never ran out. You could get your mobile phone charged, or have a massage. PAD cleaners were brought in to keep the floors and toilets in order. The duty-free and check-in areas were sealed off and vigilantly protected by PAD guards. The PAD's propaganda arm is equally impressive. It runs its own television station, ASTV, which is widely broadcast and pours vitriol on the government. Everywhere the movement goes it takes mobile stages, on the back of trucks, which blare out speeches and music from dawn until the small hours of the following morning. The message is simple: Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is evil, stole the people's money and will destroy the country. The poor rural people who voted for his party were all bribed, and unable to think for themselves. Some of those taking part in the airport occupation had been listening to these firebrand speeches for months, without a break. They all passionately believed their actions were worth the cost to the country, to see Thailand's politics cleaned up. The question of who is behind the PAD is a subject of intense speculation in Thailand. I met a lot of ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs at the airport who were helping keep the PAD supplied. But much bigger Thai businesses are widely believed to be financing the movement, including at least two national banks. Royal support? Thaksin Shinawatra made a lot of powerful enemies while he was in office with his aggressive efforts to re-shape the country. These are now using the PAD militants to get back at his party. There are also plenty of former military commanders offering their help to the PAD - people like General Pathompong Kesornsuk, who has openly urged the army to launch a coup against the government. PAD says it is acting in defence of the monarchy One of the top PAD leaders is Chamlong Srimuang, a former general with close ties to Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, the king's most senior advisor. Then there is the most sensitive question of all - the royal connection. The PAD has justified its actions as being in defence of the monarchy, and the king's portrait has been displayed prominently during all its protests. Senior figures close to the palace have openly supported the movement. When the queen offered to preside over the funeral last month of a PAD protestor killed during clashes with the police, it appeared to be a tacit blessing for the movement. Some in the government even believe the revered king may be backing the movement, although at the age of almost 81 this seems unlikely. Hard evidence is difficult to come by. But people's actions in Thailand are now being driven as much by what they believe as what they know to be true. The government and its rural followers believe there is a palace-army-elite conspiracy to rob them of their electoral mandate. The PAD and its middle-class followers believe the pro-Thaksin camp intends to turn Thailand into a republic, and overthrow the existing social order. With so much believed to be at stake, compromise between the two sides is almost impossible. http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGNAU200812058518&lang=e End of protests in Thailand is time for accountability 5 December 2008 The anti-government group the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) called a halt to the occupation of two international airports and government buildings in Bangkok on Wednesday 3 December. The protests ended with PAD leaders claiming victory, after the Constitutional Court dissolved Thailand's governing People's Power Party (PPP) and banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics for five years. The Thai government, its proxies and anti-government groups should now make commitments to ending human rights abuses, according to a joint statement by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) The organizations also called on the Thai government to create an independent commission to carry out a prompt, effective and impartial investigation into the politically motivated violence by all sides in recent months and to hold those responsible to account. Several people have been killed and dozens injured since the PAD protests escalated in August. The potential for violence remains. PAD have said that protests could be renewed if another person seen as a proxy for the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as Somchai was, forms a new party and government and becomes prime minister. "Members of the PAD, pro-government groups, and government officials responsible for violence and other human rights abuses should be held legally accountable," said Sam Zarifi, Asia-Pacific director at Amnesty International. "The legacy of the Thaksin era and then military rule has seen severe weakening of the rule of law and accountability. The present volatile situation demands commitment from all sides to strengthen respect for human rights and end impunity." During the recent months of political turbulence, the police have at times used excessive force to disperse PAD protesters. The most violent incident took place on 7 October, when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse about 2,000 protesters in front of Parliament. News footage and accounts by witnesses show that police fired tear gas in a straight line and at close range directly at the protesters. Two PAD supporters died and 443 were injured, including four cases requiring amputation. About 20 police officers were wounded by PAD protesters who fired guns, shot slingshots, and threw bricks and metal pipes. Some police officers were run over by pickup trucks or stabbed with flagpoles. "While police have the right to use force to defend themselves and others from attack, the extensive casualties demand an investigation into whether the police used excessive force," said Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. "Whenever serious injuries occur during protests, such an investigation should be mandatory." Contrary to its claims that PAD is a non-violent, unarmed group, its leaders have armed many of their supporters and have made no visible efforts to disarm its followers. Many PAD security guards and protesters have been arrested at police checkpoints across Bangkok with guns, explosives, knives, and machetes. Thai police reported that they arrested an armed PAD guard with a sub-machine gun, a pistol, a knife, homemade grenades, and a large quantity of ammunition, on 25 November. Three days later, 17 PAD protesters were arrested at a police checkpoint while trying to use a pickup truck marked with Red Cross symbols, to smuggle weapons to the protest site at Suvarnabumi international airport. News footage and accounts by witnesses show PAD armed guards assaulting and detaining many people in their protest sites, accusing them of being government supporters. PAD has carried out what it called "the final war" to overthrow the elected government of Prime Minister Somchai because of its close ties to Thaksin, since 23 November. With strong financial, political and logistical support from anti-government political parties, business people, and elements of the military and police, PAD proposes greater powers under a new constitution for the military and non-elected officials. Thousands of PAD protesters surrounded the Thai Parliament on 24 November. They cut electricity supplies, forcing the joint session between the House of Representatives and the Senate to be cancelled. Another group of protesters then surrounded the nearby headquarters of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police. Police decided not to use force to disperse protesters, concerned that if they used force against PAD supporters the army would use it as a pretext for a military coup. After declaring victory by forcing the parliamentary session to be cancelled, PAD leaders directed protesters to besiege the temporary government office established at Don Muang international airport on 24 November. They disrupted the government's attempt to hold a cabinet meeting at the headquarters of the Thai armed forces on 25 November. PAD supporters then occupied Bangkok's Suvarnabumi and Don Muang international airports, on November 25 and 27 respectively. PAD leader Sonthi, who did not sleep at the protest sites, broadcast a message on television and the internet on 28 November. He told PAD's armed guards and protesters that they should be willing to sacrifice their lives to defend their protest sites. "We will protect our strongholds," he said. "If we have to die, then so be it?Do not worry brothers and sisters?Shed your blood if that it is necessary...Our protest is righteous and constitutional...We will not open the gate to police. If they charge it and shoot at us, we will fire back." "The PAD has been trying for months to provoke a violent police response to its protests in the express hope of triggering a military coup d'etat and bringing down this government," said Zarifi. "The PAD should understand that when it uses force, including firearms, to endanger lives not only of law enforcement officers but also of ordinary citizens, it cannot claim to be a peaceful movement." Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are demanding that The Thai government ensure that security forces adhere to international principles on crowd dispersal and the use of force, including using force only as a last resort and to the minimum extent necessary. The organizations are also calling on PAD to refrain from abusing human rights, including the right to life and freedom of movement, and to refrain from obstructing government actions aimed at protecting human rights. http://www.bt.com.bn/en/asia_news/2008/12/31/protests_force_new_thai_pm_to_change_venue_of_maiden_speech Protests force new Thai PM to change venue of maiden speech Tough task: Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva smiles before a news conference at the Democrat Party headquarter in Bangkok yesterday. Picture: Reuters BANGKOK Wednesday, December 31, 2008 THAILAND'S new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave his inaugural policy speech yesterday, but only after protesters blockaded parliament for a second day and forced him to switch the venue. The British-born leader, who was elected in a parliamentary vote about two weeks ago, instead addressed lawmakers at the foreign ministry as supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra showed no sign of budging. Hundreds of riot police armed with shields made repeated efforts to create a path for MPs to enter parliament but more than 2,000 red-shirted demonstrators calling for new elections refused to back down. "My government will restore normalcy to the country and make Thailand victorious," the 44-year-old Abhisit said in his speech. Abhisit said he wanted to heal Thailand's economic, social and political wounds after months of protests against the previous pro-Thaksin government, including the crippling occupation of Bangkok's airports earlier this month. "The urgent measures in the first year are restoring confidence and stimulating the economy," he added. The opposition boycotted the speech, while about 1,000 flag-waving demonstrators moved from parliament to block the gates of the foreign ministry to stop lawmakers from leaving, before organisers called them off. "We are going back to parliament to plot out decisive action. This government lacks legitimacy and is unconstitutional," core organiser Suporn Atthawong told the crowd at the ministry. Loyalists of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, say Abhisit's government is not legitimate as he came to power after the Thaksin-linked former ruling party was dissolved by a court this month in a vote fraud case. The election of the Oxford-educated Abhisit ended six months of increasingly disruptive protests by anti-Thaksin group the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which peaked with the airport blockade. The week-long closure of the airports in November and early December caused massive economic damage and hurt the country's vital tourism industry. Under the constitution, a new prime minister must give a speech outlining policy before his government can start work, and Abhisit said he would try to win back tourists put off by the airport chaos, which drew worldwide attention. "The government will restore the confidence of foreign tourists and speed measures to stimulate tourism and investment," he said, as well as promising stimulus measures for exports, agriculture and industry. Abhisit's own foreign minister played a leading role in the airport blockade, further angering Thaksin supporters and causing concern in diplomatic circles. Supporters of Thaksin said the dissolution of the PPP on December 2 was a "disguised coup" and want parliament dissolved. Elections are not due until 2011.AFP http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28443520/ Thailand anti-government protests suspended New administration succeeds in delivering vital policy speech AP Protests turn violent in Thailand April 13: Dozens of people are injured as anti-government protesters clash with police in Thailand. MSNBC's Monica Novotny reports. updated 1:12 a.m. ET Dec. 31, 2008 BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's year of almost relentless protests ended on New Year's Eve, bringing hopes of calmer political waters in 2009 as seemingly weakened demonstrators suspended their siege of Parliament. Thousands of loyalists of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked away from protest sites late Tuesday after the new government outwitted them and succeeded in delivering a vital policy speech which the demonstrators had tried to prevent by surrounding the Parliament building. Instead, the lawmakers gathered quickly at the Foreign Ministry for the policy declaration before the protesters had a chance to react effectively. Story continues below ? ________________________________________ advertisement | your ad here ________________________________________ "We'll have a small party tonight and disperse after midnight so that we can take time to celebrate the New Year festival," a protest leader, Veera Musigapong, said Tuesday night. Fed up with both sides Thailand has been rocked by protests by rival groups of demonstrators who either support or oppose Thaksin, once one of the country's richest men, who now lives in self-imposed exile after being forced from office in a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption. Many Thais appear fed up with both camps after seeing their pocketbooks badly hurt by the upheaval, which wrecked the country's vital tourism industry after anti-Thaksin protesters seized Bangkok's two airports for a week. In a New Year's message, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called on all people to settle their differences in the coming year. "Today is the last day of a year which brought great concern to everyone. I'd like all those worries to pass with the year and let us start a new one with hope. Let's make our wish come true," he said. Although pro-Thaksin protest leaders indicated they would renew their pressure on the government sometime after the five-day national New Year's holiday, some wind appears to have been taken out of the movement's sails. Its numbers have decreased in recent days and some participants grumbled that organizers were not paying them enough or providing free food and entertainment during rallies. It is common practice in Thailand by all sides to beef up their demonstrations by paying anyone willing to join in. Free food and live music are also often offered. Delayed speech Abhisit, Thailand's third prime minister in four months, promised in his policy speech Tuesday to heal the country's deep rifts and restore its international image. He was forced to delay his speech by a day because of the anti-government protesters outside Parliament ? the same street-swamping tactics that anti-Thaksin protesters had used before he came to power two weeks ago. Abhisit was formally named prime minister Dec. 17 in a step that many hoped would bring peace. But on Monday, thousands of Thaksin loyalists, who call themselves the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, vowed to surround Parliament until new general elections are called. The alliance ? also known as the "red shirts" because of their clothes ? is an eclectic mix of Thaksin loyalists, farmers and urban laborers. They have demanded the new government dissolve the legislature and call general elections, which they believe the pro-Thaksin camp would win easily because of its strong rural base. Abhisit's Democrat Party, which had been in opposition since 2001, heads a coalition that some analysts doubt is strong enough to last until the next scheduled general elections in 2011. But there is some optimism that it may remain in power long enough to restore some stability to the country. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2009/01/01/2003432560 Break in Thai protests brings hope of calm LOSING STEAM?: After being outwitted by the government, the activists said they would renew their protests, probably during the ASEAN summit AP , BANGKOK Thursday, Jan 01, 2009, Page 5 Anti-government protesters yesterday vowed to renew demonstrations that have plagued Thailand over the past year after taking a break for the New Year holidays. But after a year of almost relentless protests, some hope emerged for calmer political waters this year as seemingly weakened demonstrators suspended their siege of parliament. Thousands of loyalists of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked away from protest sites in Bangkok late on Tuesday after the new government outwitted them and succeeded in delivering a vital policy speech that the demonstrators had tried to prevent by surrounding the parliament building. Instead, the lawmakers gathered quickly at the foreign ministry for the policy declaration before the protesters had a chance to react effectively. ?We?ll have a small party tonight and disperse after midnight so that we can take time to celebrate the New Year festival,? a protest leader, Veera Musigapong, said on Tuesday night. Yesterday, another leader, Nuttawut Saikua, said demonstrators would probably target the ASEAN summit, which Thailand is hosting, probably late next month. Thailand has been rocked by protests by rival groups of demonstrators who either support or oppose Thaksin, once one of the country?s richest men, who now lives in self-imposed exile after being forced from office in a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption. Many Thais appear fed up with both camps after seeing their pocketbooks badly hurt by the upheaval, which wrecked the country?s vital tourism industry after anti-Thaksin protesters seized Bangkok?s two airports for a week. In a New Year?s message, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called on all people to settle their differences in the coming year. ?Today is the last day of a year which brought great concern to everyone. I?d like all those worries to pass with the year and let us start a new one with hope. Let?s make our wish come true,? he said. Abhisit said he was not surprised that Thaksin wanted to return to Thailand to lead the country, but he would first have to face the courts, which have convicted him on corruption charges. He is also banned from holding political office for five years. Although pro-Thaksin protest leaders said they would renew their pressure on the government sometime after the five-day national New Year?s holiday, some wind appears to have been taken out of the movement?s sails. Its numbers have decreased in recent days and some participants grumbled that organizers were not paying them enough or providing free food and entertainment during rallies. It is common practice in Thailand by all sides to beef up their demonstrations by paying anyone willing to join in. Free food and live music are also often offered. The prime minister was reacting to Thaksin?s recent statement that he wanted to return to Thailand to bring back confidence to the country and help its poor. But he told the CEO Middle East magazine that he would first need to receive a pardon from King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Although pro-Thaksin protest leaders said they would renew their pressure on the government sometime after the five-day national New Year?s holiday, some wind appears to have been taken out of the movement?s sails. Its numbers have decreased in recent days and some participants grumbled that organizers were not paying them enough or providing free food and entertainment during rallies. It is common practice in Thailand by all sides to beef up their demonstrations by paying anyone willing to join in. Free food and live music are also often offered. <>>>>NOS UB Abhisit, Thailand?s third prime minister in four months, promised in his policy speech on Tuesday to heal the country?s deep rifts and restore its international image. He was forced to delay his speech by a day because of the anti-government protesters outside Parliament _ the same street-swamping tactics that anti-Thaksin protesters had used before he came to power two weeks ago. Abhisit was formally named prime minister Dec. 17 in a step that many hoped would bring peace. But on Monday, thousands of Thaksin loyalists, who call themselves the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, vowed to surround Parliament until new general elections are called. The alliance _ also known as the ?red shirts? because of their clothes _ is an eclectic mix of Thaksin loyalists, farmers and urban laborers. They have demanded the new government dissolve the legislature and call general elections, which they believe the pro-Thaksin camp would win easily because of its strong rural base. Abhisit?s Democrat Party, which had been in opposition since 2001, heads a coalition that some analysts doubt is strong enough to last until the next scheduled general elections in 2011. But there is some optimism that it may remain in power long enough to restore some stability to the country. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/asia/thaksin-supporters-continue-bangkok-protest-14123308.html?r=RSS Thaksin supporters continue Bangkok protest Tuesday, 30 December 2008 Supporter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra are continuing to surround the country's parliament today as part of a campaign calling for new elections. The Bangkok demonstration, which began yesterday, has already forced the new government to change the venue of a key policy speech. The government was only sworn in after massive protests that succeeded in removing Thaksin's allies from power earlier this month. The former Prime Minister was ousted from power in a military coup two years ago and fled Thailand earlier this year just before being convicted of corruption. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30092204/Red-shirted-protesters-to-disperse-Tuesday-night Red-shirted protesters to disperse Tuesday night Veera Musigapong, a leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, announced Tuesday that the red-shirted protesters would disperse from in front of Parliament Tuesday night. He said the DAAD would hold more rallies against the government after New Year holidays. The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/30/national/national_30092198.php Vajira hospital denies claim it refused to treat red shirt protesters By The Nation Vachira Hospital on Tuesday dismissed as misunderstanding a report that its doctors refused to treat sick red shirt protesters. Hospital director Dr Chaiwan Charoenchoktawee said the report was untrue. Red shirt protesters who are loyal to fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra have blocked all access to parliament on Monday to prevent government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva from delivering policy statements. The government has to shift meeting venue from parliament to Foreign Ministry because of the protest. Upon learning the change of venue, protesters moved to surround the ministry. Some protesters were injured during the push with police. The director was speaking after a speaker of the protest spoke on stage that doctors at Vachira Hospital refused to treat the protesters. Hosts of community radio stations which allied with the protesters repeated the claims during their programmes. Chaiwan said nine red shirt protesters, mostly women, came to the hospital, asking treatment for having fatigue. Doctors then checked their heartbeats and x-rayed for some. Doctors said their fatigues were caused by lacking of sleeps for long time. They were given medication and one of them had to stay at the hospital. "Our information showed our doctors treated them. Their claims that they were refused was groundless," he said. "During the treatment, a sick female protester said that she has gold health care card which allowed her to receive free service from the hospital. She failed to show required documents to claim the free service. But our doctors compromised by not asking for the documents," he said. The director doubted that the claim that his doctors refused to treat the protesters may stem from the incident.# http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/thailand/2008/12/30/189782/Protesters-ring.htm December 30, 2008 5:12 pm TWN, By DENIS D. GRAY, AP Thai PM says his goal is to heal political divide BANGKOK, Thailand -- Anti-government protesters abandoned their siege of Thailand's Foreign Ministry building on Tuesday, easing a standoff that threatened to reignite a long-running political crisis. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cabinet then left the building, where he had earlier given a key policy address in which he vowed to jump-start Thailand's economy, heal its political divisions and repair its tattered image. "The government has come into office at a time of conflict. This conflict has become the weakness of the country," he told lawmakers that included only his coalition members. Opposition members boycotted the session. "Meanwhile, the global economic crisis has turned the situation from bad to worse," he continued. "Our government's priorities are reviving the ailing economy and solving the conflicts between groups in Thai society." The protesters calling themselves the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship have vowed to ring the Parliament building until their demands for new general elections are met, forced the government to abandon plans Monday to deliver its policy speech. The government said it would try to peacefully end the blockade. The standoff comes less than a month after the last government was forced from office following six months of demonstrations that culminated in the eight-day seizure of Bangkok's two main airports. The earlier protesters had been part of an alliance opposed to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The latest demonstration was peaceful except for some brief scuffles between protesters and police Tuesday. But analysts say the continuing upheavals will further batter Thailand's virtually moribund tourist industry and other economic sectors. "We will keep negotiating and mediating," Abhisit said of efforts to end the latest political crisis. The third prime minister in four months, Abhisit was formally named prime minister Dec. 17 in what many hoped would be the end of months of turbulent, sometimes violent, protests. However, his party - which had been in opposition since 2001 - heads a coalition that some analysts doubt is strong enough to last until the next general election in 2011. "There's no confidence among tourists who want to visit Thailand," said Prakit Chinamourphong, president of the Thai Hotel Association. "I just want to see a peaceful country without demonstrations so that the tourists will come back to Thailand again." The Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship - also known as the "red shirts" because of their attire - is an eclectic mix of Thaksin loyalists, farmers from the countryside as well as laborers from the cities including the capital Bangkok. Thaksin, once one of the country's richest men, was ousted in a 2006 coup and remains in self-imposed exile. Several thousand of his supporters converged Monday on the street leading to Parliament, clapping and cheering as singers and protest leaders chastised the incoming government. "We are here for democracy," said Narumol Thanakarnpanich, a 53-year-old university professor from Bangkok. "We want a new government." They have demanded the new government dissolve the legislature and call general elections, which they believe would be won easily by the pro-Thaksin camp because of its strong rural support base. The scene was reminiscent of the last round of protests, when yellow-shirted protesters opposed to Thaksin first took over the prime minister's residence and the airports. That group is aligned with Thailand's educated elite who viewed Thaksin's six years in power as deeply corrupt and a threat to their interests. The sit-ins staged by both sides have shared the same relaxed festival feel, with security forces largely leaving the protesters alone. Thailand's government was forced to change the venue of its key policy speech Tuesday as thousands of demonstrators loyal to Thaksin surrounded Parliament, extending months of political turmoil. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/29/thailand.pm/index.html?eref=rss_world December 30, 2008 -- Updated 0652 GMT (1452 HKT) BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva delivered the first policy speech of his term Tuesday despite the blockade of Parliament by thousands of supporters of Thailand's former premier. Backers of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra protest at Parliament in Bangkok on Monday. The protesters had kept Abhisit and his ministers out of the Parliament building and forced the delay of his speech since Monday. Abhisit delivered the constitutionally-required speech from the foreign ministry. He focused on improving the nation's economy, promoting tourism and dealing with Thailand's troubled southern provinces. The Thai constitution requires an incoming prime minister to address parliament with a formal policy speech within 15 days of taking office. Abhisit has until January 7 to fulfill the obligation, although the government can request an extension. The constitution does not specify where the prime minister must deliver the speech. Abhisit said negotiations with the protesters were ongoing and that he would not authorize violence or a special law to deal with the demonstrations. "The government will not use force to disperse the demonstrators. We will continue to negotiate. What has happened today will not affect the government's plans," he said, according to the Thai News Agency. Abhisit's supporters, also numbering in the thousands, gathered outside his Democrat Party headquarters in Bangkok in a show of solidarity. The Parliament named the 44-year-old, Oxford-educated Abhisit as prime minister on December 17 after some members of the former ruling coalition broke ranks to support him. But his accession was met with angry protests by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who threw rocks and chunks of pavement at lawmakers leaving the session. Thailand's recent woes date back to a 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin. They culminated with a December 2 court ruling that found the ruling party -- former Thaksin backers -- guilty of electoral fraud and threw his brother-in-law out of the prime minister's office. That ruling came after more than two months of sit-ins by opponents of the ruling People Power Party, which regained office in 2007 elections. Demonstrators occupied the headquarters of the government and blockaded Bangkok's major international airport, stranding hundreds of thousands of tourists who provide much of the country's revenue. Abhisit has pledged to work toward an economic rescue for Thailand, which teeters on the edge of recession. Since the 2007 elections ended 16 months of military rule, the country has had three prime ministers. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30092169/Tussle-occurs-between-protesters,-police Tussle occurs between protesters, police A tussle occurred at the Thewarit Gate of Parliament at 7:45 am when red-shirted protesters prevented police from pushing open the gate from the inside of Parliament A few women fainted during the tussle. The protesters managed to keep the gate closed. The Nation http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=162650 Pro-Thaksin protesters ring Thai Parliament Supporters of former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra hold a banner during a protest against the government outside Parliament in Bangkok on Monday. Thousands of supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ringed Thailand?s Parliament on Monday, vowing to remain until the new government dissolves the legislature and calls general elections. The demonstrators dared lawmakers to pass through their ranks to deliver a mandated speech outlining the government?s key policies. ?If they (lawmakers) want to go in, they have to walk through us, including the prime minister,? one of the protest leaders, Chatuporn Prompan, told reporters outside the Parliament compound where demonstrators spent the night. The demonstration sparked fears of renewed political turbulence, which paralyzed the previous government for months and climaxed with an eight-day seizure of Bangkok?s airports. But the earlier protesters had been part of an anti-Thaksin alliance. The latest round of protests could further batter the nearly moribund tourism industry, the country?s no. 1 foreign currency earner, along with other economic sectors. The current protest group -- which calls itself the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship -- said it would stay at Parliament until the government calls a snap election. The group had previously planned to stay for three days. ?We will celebrate New Year at Parliament,? Chatuporn said. The alliance has at least temporarily disrupted the government?s plan to announce its policies, which by law it must do by Jan. 7. But legal experts say the government could argue for an extension because of the political turbulence. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said if the announcement could not be delivered Monday, attempts would be made to enter Parliament in the coming days -- but through negotiations and not the use of force. ?We wish to deliver the policy statements before the end of the year,? he said. The protesters -- dubbed the ?red shirts? for their protest attire -- say new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Democrat Party came to power this month through a virtual coup d?etat. The court ruling that dissolved the previous government -- which was packed with Thaksin allies -- and led to Abhisit?s selection as prime minister came under pressure from the military and other powerful forces, the group says. Several thousand protesters Monday camped out on the street leading to Parliament, clapping and cheering as singers and protest leaders chastised the incoming government. Many wore red T-shirts with the slogan ?Truth Today? and carried signs that described Abhisit as a dictator. ?We are here for democracy,? said Narumol Thanakarn-panich, a 53-year-old university professor from Bangkok. ?We want a new government.? 30 December 2008, Tuesday AP BANGKOK http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/29/headlines/headlines_30092088.php No use of force on red shirt protesters : Suthep By Piyanart Srivalo The Nation Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reiterated Monday that he is ready to talk to core leaders of the red shirt protesters who blocked access to the Parliament. His government has policy to use forces against red shirt protesters who blocked access to the Parliament. "I am ready to talk to the protesters' core leaders if they want to. We will use negotiation to end the chaos, not the use of forces," Suthep said. Suthep was speaking after chairing an urgent meeting with Police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan and City police chief Pol Lt Gen Suchart Muenkaew. House speaker Chai Chidchob announed to delay the government policy debate from 9.30am to 2pm after the red shirt protesters besieged the Parliament to put pressure on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the Parliament or call for general election. Suthep quoted Patcharawat as saying that the number of the protesters in front of the Parliament has reduced to about 3,000 to 4,000, compared to this morning. Suthep said the policy debate will be delayed further if it could not be held this afternoon at 2pm, to 7pm or 8pm tonight and to tomorrow morning and to December 31 and January 1, if the government cannot acquire passage to the Parliament. "We wish to deliver the policy statements before the end of this year," Suthep said. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2008/12/30/124386959abc New PM's speech deferred after protests Updated at 6:03am on 30 December 2008 Protestors in Thailand have surrounded parliament, forcing the new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, to postpone his maiden speech. The demonstrators, loyal to the ousted former prime minister, say they will continue their blockade until Mr Abhisit resigns. Talks on Monday failed to end the latest events in Thailand's long-running political crisis. The speech to outline the government's plans has now been deferred to Tuesday. Thailand has seen four prime ministers this year and months of street protests, including a week-long blockade of Bangkok's main airports. The political impasse began in 2006 when former leader Thaksin Shinawatra was removed in a coup. Supporters of the exiled billionaire accuse Mr Abhisit of "stealing" power. The previous government, led by Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law, was forced out after a court disbanded three parties for fraud in a December 2007 poll. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/30/politics/politics_30092150.php Politicians who support red shirt protesters warned By The Nation Published on December 30, 2008 Democrat Party adviser Banyat Bantadtan yesterday urged politicians who back the anti-government protesters to think of the country's interest first. Supporting the anti-government rally, he said, would create negative consequences for them in the long term. Banyat said Thai people regarded the red-shirts' blocking of the government from delivering its policy statement with uneasiness. They wanted political problems to go away so the government could salvage the country from economic crisis. "The business sector has called for us to switch political camps because they do not want the country to sink deeper in economic meltdown,'' he said. He was optimistic the anti-government rally would die down because society had learned the lesson over the past two years that social and political divisions only hurt the country. "Politicians who want to continue working in the political arena in the long term should realise that repeating the same political tactic would only bring negative results to them,'' he said. Banyat expected the government would be able to deliver a policy statement by January 7. Meanwhile Pheu Thai Party party-list MP Chalerm Yoobamrung said the red-shirts besieged Parliament because they were resentful that the Democrat-led government was formed without legitimacy. He proposed the government dissolve the House and both sides, the red-shirts and the yellow-shirts (the People's Alliance for Democracy), sign a pact that after the general election, whoever wins the majority votes should form a government. "Both must not stage any more rallies so the country can move forward,'' he said. He said he was not behind the demonstration of the red-shirts so he could not stop them from rallying. Chalerm said if the Pheu Thai Party issued a resolution for the MPs to not attend the delivery of the policy statement by the government, he would abide by the resolution, though he would like to take the House floor to grill the government over its policies. http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/12/29/thai-demonstration.html Thai protesters dare lawmakers to enter surrounded parliament Last Updated: Monday, December 29, 2008 | 11:45 AM ET Comments3Recommend11 CBC News Thai protesters chant slogans during a protest outside parliament Monday in Bangkok. (Sakchai Lalit/Associated Press) Thousands of demonstrators surrounded Thailand's parliament Monday, demanding the new government dissolve the legislature and call general elections on the same day it was scheduled to deliver its first policy speech. Calling themselves the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, the protesters have threatened to occupy the grounds of parliament until an election is called. "If they [lawmakers] want to go in, they have to walk through us, including the prime minister," one of the protest leaders, Chatuporn Prompan, told reporters outside the parliament compound where demonstrators spent the night. The government has agreed to postpone its policy address until Tuesday or Wednesday, newly appointed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday, in an attempt to avoid the kinds of demonstrations that crippled parts of the country last month. "We will keep negotiating and mediating," Abhisit said. "I beg everyone, including all the lawmakers and officials, to dedicate our holiday for the country in order to move our country forward." Abhisit, 44, was voted to power by the country's parliament earlier this month after the People's Power Party was ousted by a court ruling that found it guilty of electoral fraud in last year's elections. Abhisit is the first opponent of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to take power since 2006. Thai protesters, supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, demonstrate against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva outside parliament on Monday. (Sakchai Lalit/Associated Press) Largely Thaksin supporters, demonstrators on Monday accused Abhisit and his Democrat Party of seizing power through a kind of coup d'etat, saying the court ruling was delivered under pressure from the military and other powerful forces. "We are here for democracy," said Narumol Thanakarnpanich, 53, a university professor from Bangkok. "We want a new government." Turmoil feared The demonstration has raised fears Thailand could once again descend into the kind of turmoil that gripped the country at the end of November, when anti-Thaskin protesters, angry at the exiled former leader's perceived influence in the PPP, stormed the country's largest airport in an eight-day siege. Thaksin was overthrown by a coup in 2006, and has since lived in self-imposed exile, appearing most recently in Bali. A Thai court in October convicted the former prime minister in absentia of violating a conflict-of-interest law while in office and sentenced him to two years in prison. Abhisit's new government is required by law to announce its policies by Jan. 7, although some legal experts suggested the government could lobby for an extension because of the protests. Lawmakers will attempt to enter the parliament in the days to come by negotiating with demonstrators and not through the use of force, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said. "We wish to deliver the policy statements before the end of the year," he said. Two people died and hundreds were injured during street clashes between police and protesters ?many of whom had taken over the prime minister's residence ? outside parliament in October. http://news.scotsman.com/world/Parliament-delayed-by-protest.4826949.jp Parliament delayed by protest Published Date: 29 December 2008 THOUSANDS of supporters of exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded Thailand's parliament today, daring MPs to pass through for a speech outlining the new government's key policies. Only a handful of opposition MPs entered the building in Bangkok, so the morning opening of the legislature was postponed. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/29/thailand-protests-parliament Thai parliament under new blockade Thaksin supporters dismiss legitimacy of new PM appointed after airport protests and call for snap election ? David Batty and agencies ? guardian.co.uk, Monday 29 December 2008 10.09 GMT A Thaksin supporter outside the Thai parliament. Photograph: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Thousands of supporters of the exiled former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded the country's parliament today, vowing to remain until the government calls a general election. The demonstrators forced the new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, to delay a speech outlining the new administration's key policies. "If they want to go in they have to walk through us, including the prime minister," said one of the protest leaders, Chatuporn Prompan. The protest threatens to renew political turbulence that paralysed the previous government for months and climaxed in an eight-day occupation of Bangkok's airports. The protest group, which calls itself the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, said it would stay at the parliament until the government called a snap election. The group had previously planned to stay for three days. "We will celebrate New Year at parliament," Chatuporn said. The alliance has at least temporarily disrupted the government's plan to announce its policies, which by law it must do by 7 January. The deputy prime minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, said if the announcement could not be delivered today attempts would be made to enter parliament in the next few days, but through negotiation rather than force. "We wish to deliver the policy statements before the end of the year," he said. The protesters, dubbed the "red shirts" for their protest attire, say Abhisit and his Democrat party came to power this month through a virtual coup d'etat. The court ruling that dissolved the previous government, packed with Thaksin allies, was made under pressure from the military and monarchist forces, the group says. Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in September 2006 after being accused of corruption and abuse of power. "We are here for democracy," said Narumol Thanakarnpanich, a 53-year-old university professor from Bangkok. "We want a new government." Abhisit, the nation's third prime minister in four months, vowed in his inaugural address to reunite the deeply divided nation and restore Thailand's tourist-friendly image. The eight-day airport shutdown battered the country's essential tourism industry and stranded more than 300,000 travellers. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90783/91321/6564026.html December 29, 2008 Thaksin's supporters wave flag to protest Page 1 of 4 A supporter holds a portrait of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a protest against the government outside Parliament in Bangkok December 29, 2008. Hundreds of protesters rallied against Thailand's new government in central Bangkok on Monday, hours before Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was due to make his maiden policy speech to parliament.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081229-180447/Thai-protesters-block-parliament AHEAD OF PM SPEECH Thai protesters block parliament By Thanaporn Promyamyai Agence France-Presse First Posted 10:21:00 12/29/2008 Filed Under: Bangkok Crisis BANGKOK--Thousands of Thai anti-government protesters Monday closed off roads in front of parliament in Bangkok, where new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was expected to deliver his maiden policy speech. Police said 9,000 red-shirted demonstrators loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in a 2006 coup, moved to parliament overnight after gathering on Sunday night at a city center parade ground. Protesters surrounded the entrances to parliament early Monday and vowed to stay there until the resignation of Abhisit, who won a parliamentary vote two weeks ago after a court dissolved the previous, pro-Thaksin government. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government had no immediate plans to change the venue of the speech but would make a final decision on the situation soon. "If the meeting cannot start in the morning, we'll move to this evening or tomorrow," he told Thai television, adding that it was possible but unlikely it could be postponed into the new year. Nattawut Saikuar, a core organizer of the pro-Thaksin protests, said the demonstrators would not stop the prime minister or his cabinet from walking to parliament for the speech. "We want to make it clear that we reject the prime minister's route to power," he said. "We will open one lane for the prime minister and cabinet members to walk into parliament. We will do nothing when they walk, apart from asking them to return our sovereign power," Nattawut added. The protests have brought Thai politics full circle after a year of upheaval, with Thaksin loyalists using the same tactics that helped rival demonstrators to bring down a government led by the tycoon's allies. Oxford-educated Abhisit, the head of the Democrat Party, won the parliamentary vote to become prime minister less than two weeks after a court dissolved the former ruling People Power Party that was loyal to Thaksin. That verdict followed months of protests by the royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a yellow-clad anti-Thaksin group that blockaded Bangkok's airports earlier this month, causing huge damage to the economy. The PAD accused the previous government of being a corrupt proxy for Thaksin. Thaksin is living in self-imposed exile to avoid a jail sentence for corruption in Thailand but has made a series of telephone speeches to protests in recent weeks. Abhisit told AFP last week he had ordered police to avoid a repeat of clashes at parliament on October 7, when the PAD tried to stop then-premier Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, delivering his policy speech. The violence left two people dead and 500 wounded. The protests come as Abhisit -- Thailand's third premier in four months -- faces a raft of problems, ranging from Thailand's stuttering economy to the enormous divide between pro- and anti-Thaksin forces. He has vowed a "grand plan of reconciliation" and a 300 billion baht ($8.6 billion) economic stimulus package , but caused controversy by appointing a vocal supporter of the PAD's airport blockade as his foreign minister. Twice-elected Thaksin is still loathed by the Bangkok-based elite in the military, palace and bureaucracy, who backed the PAD and see Thaksin as corrupt, authoritarian and a threat to their traditional power base. But his populist policies won him huge support among the urban and rural poor, especially in his native north and northeast, from where many of Sunday's protesters hailed. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081229020420.svdlen06p1&show_article=1 Supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra protest at Sanam Luang in Bangkok Supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra protest at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Thousands of Thai anti-government protesters Monday closed off roads in front of parliament in Bangkok, where new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was expected to deliver his maiden policy speech. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30092082/Jakrapob-says-protest-to-continue-for-at-least-3-days Jakrapob says protest to continue for at least 3 days Jakrapob Penkair, a leader of the red-shirted protesters, said Monday morning that the besieging of the Parliament would continue for at least three days. Giving an interview to NBT live, Jakrapob said the protesters would not allow Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to deliver the policy statement until he first meets the protesters who questioned his legitimacy. Jakrapob said if the government delays the debate, the protesters would continue to rally outside the Parliament for three days to wait for the government. If the debate is postponed beyond the three-day period, the protest leaders would evaluate the situation and plan the next move, he said. The Nation http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6563122.html Thailand's anti-government DAAD threatens to hold protests nationwide 14:30, December 28, 2008 Thailand's anti-government Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) Saturday threatened to hold protests against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva nationwide, to pressure him to dissolve the House. The threat was made at a press conference held by DAAD leaders, including Natthawut Saikua and Veera Musigapong. They said Abhisit would face protests from red-shirted people everywhere he visits. The protests were aimed to pressure the prime minister to dissolve the House to return the mandate to the people because the current government was established with a coup in disguise, they said. Meanwhile, Parliament President Chai Chidchob Saturday expressed concern over a planned protest by DAAD protesters on Monday, saying the policy debate may be delayed if the situation spirals out of control. The government will present its policy to Parliament on Monday and Tuesday (December 29-30). Chai said he will monitor the situation minute by minute to consider whether the policy debate should be postponed or not. He said he has not yet considered an alternative meeting venue. Chai said he believes police will be able to control the situation. Source: Xinhua http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081228/FOREIGN/775015123/1002/rss Thai police brace for new protests ? Last Updated: December 28. 2008 10:18AM UAE / December 28. 2008 6:18AM GMT BANGKOK, THAILAND // More than 3,000 Thai police moved into position today to prevent a replay of mass demonstrations that virtually paralysed the government for months and climaxed with the eight-day seizure of the capital?s airports, local media said. This time, it was supporters of the exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra ? instead of his opponents ? who planned to take to the streets. Mr Thaksin?s followers were planning to marshal enough demonstrators to block the new government from delivering its policy statement at parliament early next week. The protest was scheduled to begin today. Police units were being dispatched to cordon off the parliament building and a nearby field where the pro-Thaksin Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship was to gather, according to The Nation newspaper. Yesterday, the alliance vowed to stage demonstrations nationwide unless the new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, dissolves parliament and holds new elections. The group ? dubbed the ?red shirts? for their favoured protest attire ? claim Mr Abhisit?s Democrat Party came to power this month through a virtual coup d?etat. An Oxford-educated politician, Mr Abhisit, 44, was formally named prime minister on Dec 17 in what many hoped would be the end of months of turbulent, sometimes violent, protests that had their roots in a 2006 military coup that toppled Mr Thaksin. Mr Abhisit, the nation?s third prime minister in four months, vowed in his inaugural address to reunite the deeply divided nation and to restore Thailand?s tourist-friendly image. The eight-day airport shutdown battered the country?s essential tourism industry and stranded more than 300,000 travellers. Parliament voted to name Mr Abhisit prime minister after a court dissolved the party leading the previous government, which was packed with Mr Thaksin?s allies who now say the court move and subsequent government formation came under pressure from the military and other powerful forces. Mr Abhisit?s Democrat Party had been in opposition since 2001, when Mr Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, first came to power in a landslide election. Military leaders ousted Thaksin in September 2006, accusing him of corruption, keeping him in exile and controlling the country for an interim period until new elections in December 2007 brought Thaksin?s allies back into power. He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges but later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia. Thailand?s recent political convulsions began in August when anti-Thaksin protesters took over the seat of government to demand that his allies resign. Since then, a series of court rulings resulted in the ouster of two Thaksin-allied prime ministers. In October, street clashes with police outside Parliament left two people dead and hundreds injured. Mr Thaksin and his supporters retain strong support in rural areas where they built up a political base, but are disliked by many of the educated elite who viewed his six years in power as deeply corrupt and a threat to their interests. *AP http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/28/politics/politics_30092033.php No use of force against red shirt protesters : PM Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that police would not use force against protesters who have closed a road at Parliament to block his government from delivering policy statements. Abhisit said demonstrators loyal to the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have full rights under the charter to rally to put pressure on his government to dissolve the House of Representatives and call for a general election. UDD have vowed to hold the three-day rally, starting Sunday, to pressure the coalition government under the ruling Democrat Party to quit. Abhisit said he is determined to move forward to solve the country's economic problems and create harmony among the people. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/world/-/1068/507688/-/se0j1i/-/index.html Thai protesters rally ahead of PM?s maiden speech Supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra hold a banner during a protest against the government in Bangkok December 28, 2008. Photo/REUTERS Posted Sunday, December 28 2008 at 16:38 BANGKOK, Sunday Opponents of Thailand?s new government rallied in central Bangkok today and called for fresh elections, a day before Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is due to make his maiden policy speech to parliament. Thousands of red-shirted supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in a 2006, massed near the Grand Palace, but their sights were set on parliament, which elected Abhisit prime minister two weeks ago. ?On Monday, we will definitely move to Parliament House,? Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (Daad), told Reuters. ?Our position is to put pressure on Abhisit to dissolve the lower house.? But Jatuporn said the Daad had no plans to stop Abhisit from delivering his speech. ?We will not block government MPs from entering parliament,? Mr Jatuporn said. ?We will not cut off the electricity or water, either,? he added, referring to tactics used by a rival group whose street protests during Thailand?s three-year political crisis undermined Thaksin and his allies. The previous government, led by Thaksin?s brother-in-law, had to step down after three parties in the ruling coalition were disbanded by the courts, which said they had committed vote fraud in a general election a year ago. (Reuters) http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/29/politics/politics_30092057.php Red shirts get police nod for protests By The Nation Published on December 29, 2008 Police have emergency plan to take MPs into Parliament Police yesterday gave the green light for antigovernment protesters to march to Parliament House where the Abhisit administration is due to deliver its first policy statement today. "Police won't put up any barriers if they want to move to Parliament. But we want to ensure that there are no untoward incidents like what happened on October 7. We also hope protesters won't resort to violent means," deputy Metropolitan Police chief Maj Gen Pongsan Jiemon said. About 20,000 redshirt protesters rallied at Bangkok's Sanam Laung. Later some of them headed to Parliament House. Police have set up six checkpoints to keep tabs on the protesters' movements. "We also have an emergency plan to get MPs into the Parliament building if the main and side entrances are sealed off by protesters," he said. Jatuporn Promphun, a rally organiser, said their objective is to pressure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva into dissolving Parliament for a snap general election. The Army will rely on its stand-by-in-barracks plan to cope with the rallies by redshirt demonstrators and will assist police in keeping the peace if asked, Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said. "Army chief General Anupong Paochinda is concerned about the situation which may have repercussions on the long holidays to welcome the New Year," he said. Rally organisers have threatened to prevent ingress to Parliament House during the policy debate set for today and tomorrow. By the military's assessment, police should be able to keep the situation under control and Parliament access would not be completely blocked, he said. Rally organisers have already pledged to allow lawmakers to enter Parliament House, he said. In case the protests turned rowdy, the military is ready to deploy soldiers from 17 companies to assist police with nonviolent crowd control measures. First Army Region chief Lt General Kanit Sapitak said he anticipates no trouble from the protesters. The staging of a political rally is normal and should not be a concern unless violence erupts, he said, adding he expects the red shirt crowds to remain peaceful. Navy chief Admiral Kamthorn Phumhiran said naval, military and police forces have been kept on alert to assist police if requested although he did not anticipate any chaos. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said authorities would maintain law and order so the people could celebrate New Year's without undue concern. Abhisit said his deputy Suthep Thuagsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, has been closely monitoring the situation. He also vowed not to resort to a violent crackdown on the red shirts. Charter writer Prasong Soonsiri told a rally on Saturday night that there was no reason to oppose the Abhisit government as it had assumed office under rules sanctioned by the Constitution. Redshirt crowds started their rally at Sanam Luang in the morning and vowed to march to Parliament House by the evening. Leaders urged the crowds to sign up for text messages to be updated on antigovernment activities. They also dispatched a fleet of pickup trucks to air taped messages and invite supporters from around the capital to join the rally. Jatuporn began making speeches to rouse the crowds at the main rally site at 4.30pm. He vowed to keep up the protest for three days until tomorrow to oppose the Abhisit government, which he said had manipulated the political system to grab power. The protests will be peaceful and not resort to underhanded tactics as adopted by the People's Alliance for Democracy, he said, referring to the PADled parliamentary blockade on October 7. He said the crowds would disperse after tomorrow in order to welcome in the New Year. About 200 red shirts began congregating at Uthong Nai Road, the main approach to Parliament House, in the evening. They set up a stage to designate a satellite protest site after Sanam Luang. About 3,400 police have been mobilised. Deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner Maj General Amnuay Nimmano said police have distributed about 40,000 flyers warning against trespassing on parliamentary grounds. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081228-180387/Thaksin-followers-begin-3-day-protest Thaksin followers begin 3-day protest By Denis Gray Associated Press First Posted 21:42:00 12/28/2008 Filed Under: Bangkok Crisis BANGKOK--Thousands of supporters of Thailand's exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra prepared Sunday to converge on Parliament, sparking fears of a replay of the mass demonstrations that paralyzed the government for months and culminated in an eight-day seizure of the capital's airports. This time, it was Thaksin loyalists instead of his opponents who took to the streets. But the group--which calls itself the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship--said it would not blockade Parliament on Monday as had earlier been feared. "Yes, we will move to Parliament. But we will allow MPs to go in and out tomorrow," a protest leader, Korkaew Pikunthong, told The Associated Press. The group has vowed to stage demonstrations nationwide unless Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves Parliament and holds new elections. The alliance--dubbed the "red shirts" for their favored protest attire--says Abhisit's Democrat Party came to power this month through a virtual coup d'etat. The group says the court ruling that dissolved the previous government, which was packed with Thaksin allies, and led to Abhisit's selection as prime minister came under pressure from the military and other powerful forces. Police closed the gates of the Parliament building Sunday in anticipation of the demonstrations. The new government plans to deliver its policy statement to the legislature Monday and Tuesday. Police lines were reinforced in an effort to cordon off the Parliament building and Sanam Luang, a field in the historic heart of the capital where the pro-Thaksin group gathered Sunday to hear speeches denouncing the government. Abhisit told reporters that force would not be used against the demonstrators. Earlier, police Maj. Gen. Amnuay Nimmano said police would avoid any clash with the protesters but that if the rally veered toward violence, its organizers should disperse the crowds. Warong Dechgitvigrom, a spokesman for the ruling Democrat Party, said party representatives would go together to Parliament on Monday morning and if it was blocked they would return to party headquarters. He said the government did not plan to force its way into the building. An Oxford-educated, 44-year-old politician, Abhisit was formally named prime minister Dec. 17 in what many hoped would be the end of months of turbulent, sometimes violent, protests that had their roots in a 2006 military coup that toppled Thaksin. Abhisit, the nation's third prime minister in four months, vowed in his inaugural address to reunite the deeply divided nation and to restore Thailand's tourist-friendly image. The eight-day airport shutdown battered the country's essential tourism industry and stranded more than 300,000 travelers. Abhisit's Democrat Party had been in opposition since 2001, when Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon, first came to power in a landslide election. Military leaders ousted Thaksin in September 2006, accusing him of corruption, keeping him in exile and controlling the country for an interim period until new elections in December 2007 brought Thaksin's allies back into power. He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges but later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia. Thailand's recent political convulsions began in August when anti-Thaksin protesters took over the seat of government to demand that Thaksin's allies resign. Since then, a series of court rulings resulted in the ouster of two Thaksin-allied prime ministers. In October, street clashes with police outside Parliament left two people dead and hundreds injured. Thaksin and his supporters retain strong support in rural areas where they built up a political base, but are disliked by many of the educated elite who viewed his six years in power as deeply corrupt and a threat to their interests. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30091874/Govt-closely-monitor-groups-of-protesters:-Abhisit Govt closely monitor groups of protesters: Abhisit Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Thursday expressed confidence that his government would be able to deliver its policy statement to Parliament on Monday. He said the government is closely monitoring the situation after Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt Gen Suchart Muenkaew said an untoward incident could happen during the policy debate on Monday and Tuesday. He said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, is closely monitoring all action groups. He said the government would monitor and evaluate the situation until Sunday when pro-Thaskin red-shirted people plan a mass rally at Sanam Luang. The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30091865.html Police make preparations to cope with red-shirted protesters at Parliament Some 30 policemen representing several agencies went to Parliament Thursday morning to study how to cope with possible besieging of the compound by protesters on Monday. The officers from the 191 Task Force, border patrol and provincial police bureaus made an inspection inside and outside Parliament and made details maps of all gates. The Parliament is scheduled to hold a debate on the government's policies on Monday and Tuesday. The pro-Thaksin Democratic Alliance Against Dicatorship plans a rally at Sanm Luang on Sunday and it is feared that the group would move its demonstrators to besiege Parliament on the following day. The Nation http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081217062453.ckcy6h0lp1&show_article=1 Thai protestors wave flags during a rally outside the Democrat Party headquarters in Bangkok Thai protestors wave flags during a rally against Thailand's new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Democrat Party headquarters in Bangkok. Thailand's new premier Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday promised to appoint a competent cabinet to lead the country out of crisis following months of protests. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30091948/Suthep-flees-from-red-shirted-protesters-in-Ubon-Ratchathani Suthep flees from red-shirted protesters in Ubon Ratchathani Ubon Ratchathani - Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban Friday had to flee from a hotel here after a group of red-shirted people demonstrated against him. Suthep fled in a vehicle from the Lai Thong Hotel in Muang district at 2:15 pm after some 50 protesters demonstrated in front of it. The protesters were led by Thiraphat Watcharapol. Suthep called at the hotel for lunch after he visited Pibul Mangsahan district. When the protesters arrived, his security officers escorted Suthep to escape through the back door of the hotel. Some protesters ran after his vehicle but failed to catch up. The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30091990/DAAD-threatens-to-hold-protests-nationwide-against-Govt DAAD threatens to hold protests nationwide against Govt The pro-Thaksin Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship Saturday threatened to hold protests against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva nationwide, to pressure him to dissolve the House. The threat was made at a press conference held by DAAD leaders, including Natthawut Saikua and Veera Musigapong. They said Abhisit would face protests from red-shirted people everywhere he visits. The protests were aimed to pressure the prime minister to dissolve the House to return the mandate to the people because the current government was established with a coup in disguise, they said. The Nation http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30091989/Chai-concerned-over-protest-by-red-shirted-people Chai concerned over protest by red-shirted people Parliament President Chai Chidchob Saturday expressed concern over a planned protest by pro-Thaksin red-shirted protesters on Monday, saying the policy debate may be delayed if the situation spirals out of control. He said he will monitor the situation minute by minute to consider whether weather the policy debate should be postponed or not. He said he has not yet considered an alternative meeting venue. Chai said he believes police will be able to control the situation. The Nation http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081217062453.ckcy6h0lp3&show_article=1 Thai policemen stand guard as taxi drivers protest against Thailand's new prime minister Abhisit Thai policemen stand guard as taxi drivers protest against Thailand's new prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Democrat party in Bangkok on December 16. New Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva pledged Wednesday that his cabinet would tackle the kingdom's political and economic woes, as he awaited a royal order officially appointing him to the post. http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1079383 Protesters decry Thailand?s new PM as ?army nominee? Chalathip Thirasoonthrakul, Reuters Published: Monday, December 15, 2008 BANGKOK -- Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva became Thailand's third prime minister in as many months Monday, taking control with a slender majority in parliament and an economy teetering on the brink of recession. In a sign of the trouble in store for the British-born, Oxford-educated economist, 200 supporters of the government sacked by the courts two weeks ago blocked access to parliament after the vote and smashed windows of cars carrying MPs from his Democrat party. Chanting "Abhisit, army nominee," the red-shirted demonstrators denounced the 44-year-old as a front man for the military, which ousted elected leader Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 and which has been accused of political meddling ever since. Mr. Abhisit was backed by 235 MPs against 198 for the former government's candidate, but his thin majority is likely to take a hit on Jan. 11 when byelections are held to replace 29 MPs fired in this month's court ruling. Relying on small parties and a breakaway faction of the pro-Thaksin Puea Thai party, he will have little room for manoeuvre as the global slowdown and the recent blockade of Bangkok's airports by anti-Thaksin protesters hit the tourism- and export-driven economy. "Very soon, the impact of the global economic crisis will be felt more seriously in Thailand. The new Prime Minister needs to prepare immediately for that," said Sompop Manarungsan of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University said. "There are no new bookings. You go to the hotels and they are empty," Luzi Matzig, managing director of travel agency Asian Trails, said of the double blow from the airport shutdowns and economic downturn. He said his December business in Thailand was down 50% from a year ago. Mr. Abhisit declined to talk about policies after the vote, but said last week that reviving growth through increased government spending would be his top priority, although it remains to be seen where he will get the money from. He has suggested there could be some reallocation of regional spending, but that would be sure to outrage voters in the populous north and northeast, where love of Mr. Thaksin and loathing of Mr. Abhisit run deep. Nor is Mr. Thaksin completely out of the picture. On Saturday, the telecom billionaire made a recorded video address to 40,000 supporters at a Bangkok sports stadium, calling for national reconciliation after three years of turmoil and urging the military not to meddle in yesterday's parliamentary vote. "May all sides take one step back and respect the results," he said. "Please don't use any institution to intervene. Just let the country move forward. Don't make people suffer more." His supporters have accused the military of launching a "silent coup" by claiming to have royal backing and pushing small parties in the previous government to form a Democrat-led government, a charge the army has denied. Reuters http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=613614 Protesters injure 4, damage scores of cars in reaction to PM vote Posted: 2008/12/15 From: MNN Disgruntled supporters of ousted, self-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra threw plastic bottles into the Parliament grounds and dragged police barricades to block the intended departure of the lawmakers after the vote finished around 11 am. BANGKOK, Dec 15 (TNA) ? About a hundred red-shirted demonstrators blocked access to Parliament and threw bricks at vehicles belonging to departing members of parliament, following Monday morning's critical vote, injuring one journalist and three MPs in their cars and damaging 30 vehicles after Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva won the vote as Thailand's new prime minister. Disgruntled supporters of ousted, self-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra threw plastic bottles into the Parliament grounds and dragged police barricades to block the intended departure of the lawmakers after the vote finished around 11 am. Riot police negotiated with the protesters and were able to open exits for MPs to leave Parliament after a ten-minute altercation between the angry demonstrators and the authorities. However, some protesters threw bricks pulled up from the footpaths at MPs vehicles, particularly from the Democrat Party. Democrat MPs Peeraphan Saleeratwipak and Thana Cheerawinit as well as Puea Pandin MP Chaiyod Chiramethakorn were injured in the incident when their cars were attacked. Meanwhile, some protesters kicked at vehicles of the MPs, and a bottle of liquid believed to be acid was thrown toward a group of red-shirted protesters, but no one was injured. Protest leaders later told red-shirted group to disperse at Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan's request for fear of any violence caused by a possible third party, so police could open traffic on Sukhothai Road. Some protesters announced that they would gather at a community radio station in Soi Vibhavadi 3 and at Sanam Luang. # http://www.bangkokpost.com/191208_News/19Dec2008_news06.php Man arrested for car protest A member of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) was arrested yesterday for throwing rocks at a limousine driven by a Democrat MP outside parliament on Monday. Metal worker Chokchai Khamlue, 25, who was arrested and charged with throwing rocks at a vehicle driven by a Democrat MP outside parliament on Monday. Arrest warrants have also been issued for five other members of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship. Chokchai Khamlue, 25, of Nakhon Phanom province, was caught by police near the UDD rally stage at Sanam Luang. The suspect, a metal worker at a factory in Samut Prakan, is one of six red-clad protesters wanted on a court warrant for their involvement in the protest outside parliament. Moments earlier, Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected prime minister. The six suspects were captured on video footage throwing rocks at a Mercedes Benz driven by a Democrat MP. Mr Chokchai confessed to throwing the rock in a fit of rage because he felt the previous coalition government led by the People Power party (PPP) was unfairly treated. He found the new coalition government led by the Democrat party unacceptable and he disliked the Democrats. He insisted no one had paid him to join the protest. He often took part in UDD rallies as he liked the PPP, which has been dissolved for electoral offences. After Monday's protest, he attended the UDD rally at Sanam Luang without any knowledge that he was wanted by police, the suspect said. Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt-Gen Suchart Muenkaew insisted police use the same standard to handle protests and their aftermath, whatever group organises them. http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=95485&feedType=VideoRSS&feedName=TopNews&rpc=23&videoChannel=1&sp=true Protests greet new Thai PM (01:27) Report Dec 15 - Thailand's opposition leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has been confirmed as the country's third Prime Minister in as many months. The British-born Democratic Party leader narrowly defeated his rival, former police chief Pracha Promnok after winning a special vote in parliament. But in a sign of the political turmoil gripping Thailand, angry supporters of the government sacked by the courts two weeks ago blocked access to parliament after the vote, attacking cars carrying MPs from his Democrat Party. Helen Long reports. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/15/headlines/headlines_30091020.php Red shirt protesters block access to Parliament Red shirt protesters blocked access to the Parliament and threw stones at vehicles leaving the venue after Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva won parliamentary votes to be new prime minister. They also threw stones and objects into the Parliament compound, forcing officials and reporters to cover themselves. A reporter was injured after a stone hit stone hit his nose. The stones and objects hit many vehicles, breaking their glasses and damaged them. An anti-riot police suffered head wound after an object hit his head. More police were deployed to the area. Police failed to calm them down. They had to use police with shields to push them back from the entrance of the Parliament. Then vehicles were allowed to leave the compound. The red shirt protesters were known for their supports of fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, now-defunct People Power Party and Pheu Thai party. Latest reports said that many red shirt protesters organised protests in many provinces of Thailand, mostly in the northeastern region, to protest the victory of Abhisit. http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2008/12/26/prosecution_vowed_in_thai_protest/ Prosecution vowed in Thai protest December 26, 2008 BANGKOK - New Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed yesterday to take legal action against leaders of protesters whose weeklong occupation of two Bangkok airports has brought billions of dollars of losses to the economy. Abhisit, an Oxford-educated economist whose critics say his ruling Democrat Party has assumed power with help from the army and street protesters, said he had ordered police to arrest those lawbreaking protesters, though they were Democrat members. "They have to proceed according to the law, and there will be no interference," British-born Abhisit, 44, said in an interview. "I made it very clear even before that any [party members] who joined the protest would do so in their own capacity. They would not be allowed to use their . . . immunity privileges," he told Reuters. Several Democrats were involved in the six-month-long street protest against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and two previous governments they called Thaksin's proxies, and one of them was a top campaign leader. Abhisit said the Thai people regretted the recent blockade of Bangkok's main airports, which left 300,000 travelers stranded and badly damaged a key sector of an economy already reeling from slowing exports as a result of the global downturn. Some officials and analysts have said the travel chaos put a million jobs at risk, when the impact of the global slowdown is forcing layoffs in export industries. Abhisit said the strict law enforcement regardless of political affiliation was part of his "grand plan of reconciliation" to heal the deep political rifts between supporters of Thaksin and his opponents. Admitting he will face opposition from voters in the countryside where Thaksin's populist policies of cheap healthcare and loans remain visible, he said he would try to prove he is everybody's prime minister. REUTERS http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/International/20-Dec-2008/New-Thai-foreign-minister-linked-to-airport-protesters New Thai foreign minister linked to airport protesters December 20, 2008 Thailand's new foreign minister was immediately under pressure on assuming the role Saturday, after lawmakers criticised his ties with protesters who hijacked the capital's airports. Kasit Piromya, a 64-year-old graduate of Georgetown University, appeared at rallies organised by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which began an eight-day blockade of Suvarnabhumi airport last month. The airport closure left an estimated 350,000 people stranded, and new premier Abhisit Vejjajiva has since said protesters must be held legally accountable for their actions. The PAD, whose earlier demonstrations against Thaksin Shinawatra preceded his ouster in a coup in 2006, took to the streets in May, accusing the government of acting as a corrupt proxy for Thaksin. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/3885612/Bangkok-airport-protests-were-fun-says-Thailands-new-foreign-minister.html Bangkok airport protests were fun, says Thailand's new foreign minister Thailand's new foreign minister has described last month's hijacking of Bangkok's main international airport as "a lot of fun". By Thomas Bell in Bangkok Last Updated: 8:09PM GMT 21 Dec 2008 Kasit Piromya, 64, will be sworn in on Monday as Thailand's new foreign minister. His job of rebuilding Thailand's battered international image will not be helped by the fact that he was a prominent supporter of the protests, and still is. More than 350, 000 travellers were stranded three weeks ago when a few thousand demonstrators from the ultraroyalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stormed the airport. Investor confidence has been badly shaken and analysts say that lost tourism business could cost 1 million jobs. But Mr Kasit told an audience of astonished diplomats and foreign journalists on Friday that the protests were "a lot of fun". "The food was excellent, the music was excellent," he explained. The PAD accused the then government of corruption over its links with the exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Although the government was elected only a year earlier, many people in Bangkok's middle class and the old elite find Mr Thaksin's influence in politics completely unacceptable. Mr Kasit was a regular speaker at the protests, which helped bring the pro-Thaksin government down. His Democrat Party has now formed a new coalition, although they were defeated in each of three general elections held so far this decade. "Look at it [the PAD protests] as pushing the process of democratisation forward," suggested Mr Kasit. Many observers believe that the PAD was able to conduct its protest with impunity, and help topple an electorally popular administration, because it enjoys backing from powerful anti-Thaksin elements in the army and the royal palace. The army is responsible for airport security but did nothing to prevent demonstrators from hijacking one of Asia's most important aviation hubs. It is widely reported that senior army figures were instrumental in persuading MPs to switch sides to the new coalition. Asked what role the army played in bringing his party to power Mr Kasit said, "I don't know". The new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has promised to bring the PAD to justice. Yet, besides his pick for foreign minister being a prominent supporter of the group, one of PAD's top leaders is a prominent MP in Abhisit's Democrat party. Dr Pasuk Phongpaicit of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn university said, "It can't be denied that the PAD was instrumental in bringing the Democrats to government. So I think we are going to be disappointed with what this government will do about enforcing the rule of law with respect to the PAD and its activities." Foreign Minister Kasit berated Western diplomats and the foreign media for not being more sympathetic to the PAD's cause. "You should be happy that for the first time ordinary people came out in full force to oppose corruption," he said. "If society has to be changed it has a price." The PAD employed "security guards" armed with clubs, guns and explosives but Mr Kasit criticised foreigners for dwelling on the movement's violent tendencies. "People said we were armed," he complained. "My wife used to go every evening. What was she armed with? Only food and medicine!" http://www.bangkokpost.com/131208_News/13Dec2008_news02.php PAD warns of more protests SURASAK GLAHAN The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) announced yesterday it will renew its protests if Puea Thai, formed to accommodate MPs of the disbanded People Power party (PPP), returns to lead the next coalition. The Puea Thai party, struggling to take the lead in forming a new government against the Democrat party, hopes tonight's phone-in speech by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will reverse the political tide. Parliament will convene on Monday to vote on a new prime minister. The PAD, which staged a six-month protest against the PPP-led coalition, called off its demonstration after the Constitutional Court dissolved the PPP and its coalition partners - the Chart Thai and Matchima Prachathipataya parties - for electoral fraud on Dec 2. A group of former PPP MPs under the Newin Chidchob faction and most former PPP coalition partners have pledged to back the Democrat party in forming a new government. Having campaigned against Thaksin and the PPP, the PAD leaders said they would not accept a government with the Puea Thai party in it, no matter who was prime minister. "If our call is rejected or ignored, we will carry out moves appropriate to the situation," the PAD said. Although the PAD did not back the Democrat-led alliance, the group did not oppose the idea. It said it would monitor the switch of administrative power to see "whether there will be actions taken against the Thaksin regime". Core PAD leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang declined to say if the group would again close airports if the Puea Thai party is in the next government. The PAD said it should be given the credit for bringing political change. Maj-Gen Chamlong denied, however, that his group always intended to help the Democrats come to power. The PAD does not support any particular party but what happened recently could be considered a result of its campaign, he said. If the Democrats succeed in forming the government, the PAD would not seek any favours from it. The group's demands include scrapping huge investment projects initiated by the Samak Sundaravej government. http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2444354,00.html PM: Thai opponents can protest 20/12/2008 12:11 - (SA) Bangkok - Thailand's new premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Saturday his opponents would be allowed to rally when he delivers his policy address, as a protest group vowed to gather thousands of supporters. Backers of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra - who are known as "Red Shirts" because of the scarlet clothes they wear - have said they will start gathering in Bangkok on December 28 to demand the dissolution of parliament. Abhisit, voted in by lawmakers on December 15 after a court dissolved the Thaksin-linked ruling party, said police would be able to handle the protest. "The Red Shirts have a right to rally under the constitution. We must respect their rights, but I have instructed officials to better handle them and not allow them to violate the law," Abhisit told reporters. Authorities will be keen to prevent a repeat of the events surrounding a rally outside parliament by anti-Thaksin group the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on October 7, when police and protesters clashed, leaving two people dead and nearly 500 hurt. Power vacuum The PAD began rallying in May, accusing the People Power Party (PPP) government of running the country on behalf of Thaksin, who was removed in a 2006 coup and lives in exile overseas to avoid corruption charges. Their campaign culminated with the occupation of Bangkok's two airports late last month, which they ended on December 3 after a court disbanded the PPP and forced then-premier Somchai Wongsawat from office. The move opened up a power vacuum swiftly filled when Abhisit's Democrat Party won over defecting MPs, but supporters of the last government feel the court decision robbed them of their democratic rights. Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the Red Shirt group, said they would mobilise thousands of supporters to protest the legitimacy of the Democrat-led coalition. "This government has no right to rule - you can see minister positions have been awarded to capitalists, the PAD and the military, who helped the Democrats into power," he told AFP. "We will move to parliament to demonstrate there, but we will not seal off and block lawmakers from entering," he added. The Democrats are currently awaiting royal approval for their cabinet line-up, and Abhisit is due to deliver his policy address to parliament in the week beginning on December 29. - SAPA From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 22:08:01 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:08:01 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Pro-democracy, human/civil rights and anti-government protests, Southeast Asia, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE3DD31.8000200@tesco.net> TAIWAN * Student protesters prove critics wrong * Huge sit-in against anti-protest law * March against anti-protest law * Students protest abuse during China demos * Chinese spouses protest lack of rights * Self-immolator dies, a month after protest * Politician visits student freedom protest MALAYSIA * Indian activists in protest fast for Hindraf leaders * NGO postcard campaign over book ban PHILIPPINES * Thousands protest against change in Constitution * Balas crisis continues; protesters issue fresh warning INDONESIA * Activists demand human rights review * Prime Minister loses temper with protesters * Activists mark human rights day * Buskers protest against social cleansing operation * Bali "porn bill" protests continue * Protests as Munir murder accused acquitted SOUTH KOREA * Opposition politicians stage parliament sit-in over repressive laws * TV workers strike against media bill * Protests continue over repressive laws, beef * INDIA/KOREA: Protests over jailed Indian seamen NEPAL * Passenger dies in bus burning during protest against police violence * Journalists call strike, protest over killing; injuries as police attack CHINA/TIBET/HONG KONG/MACAO * Protesters arrested for marking human rights day * Tibet protesters target London embassy * Macao protest against repressive law VIETNAM * Catholics protest political trials BURMA * Nine arrested in rare protest in Rangoon NORTH KOREA * Activists airlift leaflets into police state http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/09/2003430669 REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Wild Strawberries protest proves the skeptics wrong By Flora Wang STAFF REPORTER Tuesday, Dec 09, 2008, Page 3 Many people may have had reservations about whether the loosely-knit Wild Strawberry Student Movement would be capable of staging a successful and peaceful rally as planned when they heard that the students had decided not to report their planned protest to the police in defiance of the Assembly and Parade Law (?????). Even Ho Tung-hung (???), an associate professor of psychology at Fu Jen Catholic University and a participant in the Wild Lily Student Movement (?????) of the 1990s, expressed reservations when talking to the Taipei Times several days prior to Sunday?s demonstration. Ho, who had been offering advice to the Wild Strawberries as a student movement veteran, had expressed doubts about whether the students would be able to handle such a large-scale rally. Some people opposing the Wild Strawberries also left messages on the students? official Web blog (tion1106.blogspot.com), alleging that violence and chaos could break out during the rally. But the students? peaceful 2.7km march to the nation?s major government branches on Sunday and the large number of participants the parade attracted proved the skeptics wrong. The Wild Strawberries were able to maintain order with a team of students tasked with keeping the peace. They had been trained by several non-governmental organizations experienced in staging rallies. Although they seemed inexperienced, the team helped control traffic and the pace of the parade as the protesters marched down Zhongshan S Road, Zhongxiao E Road and Ketagalan Boulevard, which are among the busiest sections of downtown Taipei. The civil disobedience training the students had received prior to the rally, given by Chien Hsi-chieh, director of the Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan, also proved successful, as the students resorted to applause and cheers instead of violence when stopped by police officers on several occasions. The enthusiasm of the students appeared to have also ?infected ?hundreds of supporters of the movement who marched with them, even though some of the supporters were overheard saying that ?the students? action would not be as effective as throwing gasoline bombs, like we did in the old days.? The police?s tacit agreement to allow the students to finish the rally also helped keep the demonstration nonviolent. An officer from the nearby Zhongzheng First Precinct was overheard saying that the police had decided not to block the students? demonstration. But the students still struggled to prevent other civic groups from stealing their thunder. As the students were discouraging a group of elderly people from holding banners advocating de jure Taiwanese independence, one of the elderly protesters complained about the students? interference. ?They are fighting for our freedom [of speech]. How can they limit our freedom?? the man said. The students also spent quite some time persuading two participating vehicles to remove their political flags. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2008/12/08/186599/Students-end.htm December 8, 2008 9:26 am TWN, The China Post news staff Students end sit-in with demonstration TAIPEI, Taiwan -- College students demanding the right to hold public demonstrations without restrictions decided to end their month-long sit-in after staging a march in Taipei yesterday. With supporters and sympathizers joining their ranks, the students marched on the boulevard that link the Anti-Corruption Plaza, the Legislative Yuan, and the Executive Yuan (Cabinet) in the capital to protest the regulations that they say limit people's constitutional right to demonstrate freely. The students, many in black shirts symbolizing impaired human rights, shouted slogans as they paraded past police and government buildings. The existing regulations made it mandatory for people to get "permits" in advance when they want to hold large-scale public demonstrations. The new rules proposed by the new government, which are still under consideration by the lawmakers, will require "no permits" from the authorities for such gatherings. But the new rules require that organizers of protests "report" their plans to police so that preparations can be made to avoid traffic disruptions. The students demanded that demonstrators be allowed to stage protests as they wish. They said the current law and the proposed new rules give police too much power to bar protests. During yesterday's march, the group ignored police officers who held up signs ordering them to disperse for failing to obtain approval in accordance with the exiting rules. Despite their issuing warnings, police made no attempt to block the students' march. The students have been staging sit-ins for weeks to protest what they saw as heavy-handed police measures to limit protests during a Nov. 3-7 visit by mainland Chinese envoy, Chen Yunlin, to hold talks on cross-strait issues. But the protests against Chen's visit ended in violent clashes between police and protesters, leaving more than 110 people injured after demonstrators started hurling stones and attempted to run down barricades. The students have been demanding that Premier Liu Chao-shiuan make an apology and resign over the violence. They agreed yesterday to halt the sit-in protests at the Liberty Square in the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park. Student leaders said they will pull out from the square and concentrate on working out new tactics to continue pushing their cause. Other measures to be taken will include closer monitoring of debate on these issues by lawmakers in the Legislative Yuan. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Asia&set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20081207132138460C217884 Students protest demonstration law December 07 2008 at 03:47PM Taipei, Taiwan - About 3 000 Taiwanese college students marched in the capital on Sunday to protest a law that they say limits people's constitutional right to demonstrate freely. The students, many in black shirts symbolising impaired human rights, shouted slogans as they paraded in a downtown district with police and government buildings. They protested a law that requires police approval of public gatherings and demanded that demonstrators be allowed to stage protests as they wish. They said the current law gives police too much power to bar protests. The group ignored police officers who held up signs ordering them to disperse for failing to obtain approval. The students have been staging sit-ins for weeks to protest what they saw as heavy-handed police measures to limit protests during a November 3-7 visit by a mainland Chinese envoy, Chen Yunlin. They have agreed to halt the protests after Sunday's demonstration because lawmakers said they would debate the issue in the Legislature. Chen, the highest Chinese official to visit Taiwan in nearly six decades, was dogged by protesters who viewed his trip as a Chinese attempt to put the self-governed island under its fold. At one point, hundreds of protesters confronted police outside a restaurant where Chen was having dinner. Thousands also demonstrated in downtown Taipei when President Ma Ying-jeou held a brief meeting with Chen. Many later tried to surround Chen at his hotel, an area off limits to protesters, prompting police to use water cannons and clubs to disperse the crowd. - Sapa-AP http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=142613&CtNode=39 Students plan new protest 12/02/2008 (Taiwan News) Taiwan students protesting against police brutality and in favor of changes to laws regulating demonstrations said on Monday that they were planning a march through downtown Taipei for December 7. Organizers said they hoped to mobilize at least 100 students from all over Taiwan to show up Sunday. Students from Kaohsiung said they would bring a puppet effigy of President Ma Ying-jeou dressed in a military uniform to symbolize their charge that the government was turning back to the days of martial law. The effigy was two meters high, and made of bamboo and cloth. It had long arms which could be used to beat up people from every social class, the students said. The protesters said they would not apply for permission to stage Sunday's march, which is scheduled to take them by the Executive Yuan, the Legislative Yuan, and Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office building. The students said they would appoint more than 30 supporters to police the march themselves. The protest was necessary because the government had shown no remorse and no sincerity over the past three weeks, protest leaders said. Former Academia Sinica president Lee Yuan-tseh said that when students express their opinions, it was only right that people should give their full attention to them. The student action began in the wake of clashes between police and protesters during the controversial November 3-7 visit to Taiwan by China's top cross-straits negotiator, Chen Yunlin. The students started their sit-in protest without a permit outside the Executive Yuan on November 6, while Chen was still in Taiwan. The next day, they were removed by police, but decided to continue the 24-hour-a-day protest under the gate to Liberty Square in downtown Taipei. Lawmakers have promised they will change the Parade and Assembly Law to abolish the rule that all protests need to obtain police approval before they go ahead. The students want registration to be sufficient. The protesters yesterday also reiterated their demands for apologies from President Ma and from Premier Liu Chao-shiuan, and the resignation of the national police and national intelligence chiefs. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Asia&set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20081207132138460C217884 Students protest demonstration law December 07 2008 at 03:47PM Taipei, Taiwan - About 3 000 Taiwanese college students marched in the capital on Sunday to protest a law that they say limits people's constitutional right to demonstrate freely. The students, many in black shirts symbolising impaired human rights, shouted slogans as they paraded in a downtown district with police and government buildings. They protested a law that requires police approval of public gatherings and demanded that demonstrators be allowed to stage protests as they wish. They said the current law gives police too much power to bar protests. The group ignored police officers who held up signs ordering them to disperse for failing to obtain approval. The students have been staging sit-ins for weeks to protest what they saw as heavy-handed police measures to limit protests during a November 3-7 visit by a mainland Chinese envoy, Chen Yunlin. They have agreed to halt the protests after Sunday's demonstration because lawmakers said they would debate the issue in the Legislature. Chen, the highest Chinese official to visit Taiwan in nearly six decades, was dogged by protesters who viewed his trip as a Chinese attempt to put the self-governed island under its fold. At one point, hundreds of protesters confronted police outside a restaurant where Chen was having dinner. Thousands also demonstrated in downtown Taipei when President Ma Ying-jeou held a brief meeting with Chen. Many later tried to surround Chen at his hotel, an area off limits to protesters, prompting police to use water cannons and clubs to disperse the crowd. - Sapa-AP http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/394747/1/.html Taiwanese students protest police 'abuse' during anti-China demos Posted: 07 December 2008 1840 hrs A Taiwanese student holds a placard reading, 'President Ma, Apologize for Police Violence'. TAIPEI: Hundreds of college students protested in Taipei on Sunday against what they called police abuse in handling anti-China demonstrations last month and demanded an apology from President Ma Ying-jeou. The students from across the island, joined by sympathisers, marched through Taipei chanting slogans, bringing to a close a month-long sit-in launched after the clashes and scuffles surrounding the visit of a top Chinese envoy. China's top Taiwan negotiator, Chen Yunlin, made history when he visited the island and met Ma last month, but protests against his visit ended in violent clashes between police and protesters that left more than 110 people injured. "President Ma Ying-jeou must apologise for the police abuse," said a spokesman for the students. Chen became the most senior Chinese official to visit the island since it split from China at the end of a civil war in 1949. In October, his deputy Zhang Mingqing ? in Taiwan to prepare for Chen's visit ? was jostled and pushed to the ground by pro-independence activists in the southern city of Tainan. Ties between Taipei and Beijing have eased since Ma of the China-friendly Kuomintang swept to power in March on a platform of reducing hostilities with Beijing and allowing in more Chinese tourists. - AFP/so http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/28/2003432281 Chinese spouses protest lack of human, civil rights STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA Sunday, Dec 28, 2008, Page 3 A Chinese spouse holds up cuffed hands while performing a skit outside Taipei Guest House yesterday. The skit was part of a demonstration demanding that Chinese spouses be given the same rights as other foreign spouses. PHOTO: CNA More than 40 Chinese spouses, the Alliance for Human Rights Legislation for Immigrants and Migrants (AHRLIM), the Awakening Foundation and other organizations demonstrated yesterday outside the Taipei Guest House, saying that a lack of human rights and domestic and marriage legislation were turning them into second-class citizens. They demanded that the Act Governing Relations between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (???????????????) be amended so they could enjoy the same human rights as other foreign spouses. Tseng Chao-yuan (???), Awakening Foundation secretary-general, said there were about 98,000 Chinese spouses residing in Taiwan, but that they have to wait for 10 years before they can obtain citizenship, unlike other foreign spouses who are eligible after four years. Hsia Hsiao-chuan (???), associate professor in Shih Hsin University?s Graduate Institute for Social Transformation Studies, said that although Taiwan was a country that respected human rights, Chinese spouses were discriminated against. adding that international conventions on women?s rights state that foreign spouses should enjoy basic human rights protection in their new country. Zheng Xiaowen (???), who has lived in Taiwan for five years, said that many Chinese spouses experienced economic problems, because they do not have the right to work, which means if their spouse dies and they have no children, or if they divorce because of domestic violence, the Chinese spouse has to return to China. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/15/2003431135 Self-immolator dies one month after envoy protest By Loa Iok-sin STAFF REPORTER Monday, Dec 15, 2008, Page 3 ?Unfortunately, the operations did not seem to be very effective because of Liu?s age. In addition, infection began to set in last week.? ? Tsai Chi-hsun, secretay-general of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) member Liu Po-yen (???), who set himself on fire to protest the government?s special treatment of Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin (???) last month, died in hospital yesterday. ?Liu had eight skin graft operations over the past month while at National Taiwan University Hospital,? Taiwan Association for Human Rights secretary-general Tsai Chi-hsun (???), who has been helping Liu?s family to cover his medical costs, told the Taipei Times in a telephone interview. ?Unfortunately, the operations did not seem to be very effective because of Liu?s age,? Tsai continued. ?In addition, infection began to set in last week.? Doctors announced Liu?s death a little after 4am yesterday morning. Liu, aged 80, set himself on fire on Nov. 11 in Liberty Square as members of the Wild Strawberry student movement staged a sit-in protest against alleged police brutality in cracking down on anti-China demonstrations during Chen?s visit from Nov. 3 to Nov. 7. In a flyer that Liu handed out to passers-by before setting himself on fire, Liu said that he joined the KMT in 1950. ?I don?t know what the president thinks about what happened lately ? I saw people getting arrested by the police for waving the national flag on the street, and I saw nothing happened to police officers who beat people,? he said in the statement. ?I heard that 16 civilians have been arrested and may be indicted, I wonder if the police officers who beat up civilians with batons will receive merits?? Liu also said that he was upset to see President Ma Ying-jeou (???) being happy to be addressed by Chen as simply ?you.? ?I wonder if the president will kneel down to welcome Chinese officials of higher ranks?? he wrote. KMT Legislator Lee Ching-hua (???) said Liu was not a KMT member, ?since he did not reinstate his membership in 2000.? http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2008/12/28/189606/Tsai-Ing-wen.htm Sunday, December 28, 2008 4:16 am TWN, The China Post news staff Tsai Ing-wen attends funeral of protester who set himself on fire Opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen yesterday attended the funeral of an old man who died about a month after setting himself in flames in support of students staging a pro-human rights protest in Taipei. The Democratic Progressive Party chief paid tribute to Liu Po-yen, 80, at a Tainan funeral house. Liu, a retired teacher, set fire on himself on Nov. 11 at Taipei's Liberty Square, where some students were staging a sit-in protest demanding changes to the assembly law. Liu died on Dec. 14 in a hospital after more than a month of treatment. His daughter declined suggestions that the family stage further protests, saying Liu was no politician. He was just a simple man who wanted to see harmony in Taiwan, the daughter said. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/12/07/2003430489 Lee Teng-hui visits sit-in protest to express support STAFF WRITER Sunday, Dec 07, 2008, Page 3 Former president Lee Teng-hui visits the Wild Strawberry Student Movement protest at Liberty Square in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES Former president Lee Teng-hui (???) yesterday visited members of the Wild Strawberry Student Movement staging a protest at Liberty Square and promised to help them in their campaign to have the Assembly and Parade Law (?????) amended. Lee urged Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Huang Kun-huei (???), who accompanied him, to back the students as well and offered words of encouragement ahead of a rally scheduled for this afternoon. Lee said he hoped the students would not get sick from sitting outside in the cold weather. The Wild Strawberries have run a weeks-long campaign calling for legislators to scrap regulations in the assembly law that require organizers of protests to seek a permit from police for any events. The protesters also demand that President Ma Ying-jeou (???) and Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (???) apologize and that National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Wang Cho-chiun (???) and National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Chao-ming (???) resign from their posts over what the students have called police brutality against protesters during a visit by a Chinese delegation last month. Lee yesterday said he understood the students? dissatisfaction with the law and agreed the regulations should be changed. He said democracy and freedom were the nation?s most prized possessions and that the true meaning of democracy was that sovereignty rests with the public. The government should not require police permits to demonstrate, Lee said, and police should only intervene if a demonstration turns violent. Asked about Ma?s comment earlier this week that a visit by the Dalai Lama would not be appropriate, Lee said there was no acceptable reason for the government?s opposition to a visit. The public is under economic stress, forcing it to focus on money matters, Lee said. ?What is needed in this situation is religious comfort and there should be no talk of this not being an appropriate time [for a visit by the Dalai Lama],? he said. In related news, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Kuo-liang (???) said yesterday he would leave for the US today on behalf of the National Security Council (NSC) to address Washington?s concerns about eroding judicial impartiality. Hsieh said the NSC felt it was necessary to explain the matter to friends in the US as they, including Ma?s mentor during his studies at Harvard University, professor Jerome Cohen, had gotten the wrong impression about the situation in Taiwan after a visit by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chai Trong-rong (???). Chai visited the US last month and expressed concern that the government was influencing prosecutors in cases against DPP figures. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHIH HSIU-CHUAN http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/malaysia/2008/12/15/187699/20-Indian.htm December 15, 2008 10:15 am TWN, AP 20 Indian activists in Malaysia launch protest fast for leaders KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- About 20 ethnic Indian Malaysian activists launched a protest fast Sunday to demand the release of their leaders who have been imprisoned without trial for allegedly threatening racial stability. The protesters began consuming only water outside a Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, but there was no consensus about how long they will continue the fast, said S. Jayathas, a member of the Hindu Rights Action Force. ?We want the government to listen to us and look into our legitimate rights,? Jayathas said. The group shot to prominence in Nov. 2007 when it led tens of thousands of Indians in a rare street protest seeking an end to policies benefiting the Malay Muslim majority and to gain better opportunities for Indians, who form the bottom rung of Malaysia?s social ladder. The protest marks the first anniversary of the jailing of five of the group?s leaders last December under a tough security law that allows indefinite detention without trial. The government has also since banned the group, accusing it of inciting racial hatred. Last year?s street rally was considered a watershed in the country?s politics, emboldening Malaysians unhappy with the government and boosting opposition parties to spectacular gains in general elections in March. Minority Indians and ethnic Chinese have recently become more vocal in speaking out against the government?s decades-old policy that provide privileges in education, jobs and business to Malays, who comprise nearly two-thirds of Malaysia?s 27 million people. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/10/nation/2761137&sec=nation Wednesday December 10, 2008 NGOs protest against book ban with 1,000 signed postcards PUTRAJAYA: A group of 10 non-governmental organisations including Sisters in Islam, Suaram and representatives from the Bar Council handed some 1,000 postcards protesting against the banning of books to the Home Ministry here. SIS senior programme manager Maria Chin Abdullah said the postcards were collected from September and bore the signatures of people voicing their protest over the ban. ?We are concerned because the guidelines leading to the ban of books are vague and the decision by the Government is often arbitrary. Some of the banned books have also been published and widely sold in stores for some time but then, the Government decides to confiscate them. ?Similarly, we didn?t even know the books were banned until we read about it in the newspapers,? she told reporters here yesterday, pointing to a book published by SIS ? Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism ? as an example. ?We want the ministry to call for a consultation with all the parties involved in the publication of books to resolve this matter. Banning books has a negative effect on information and intellectual development,? she pointed out. Maria said the non-governmental bodies also wanted to know if writers would be compensated for losses suffered when their books are damaged or destroyed in the confiscation process. The SIS book was edited by Prof Norani Othman from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, who was also present. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-12/2008-12-12-voa46.cfm?CFID=159018933&CFTOKEN=18118114&jsessionid=8830af0b357bdfab78b67a222264a77651e3 Thousands Protest Constitution Change in Philippines By VOA News 12 December 2008 Protesters display placards as they prepare to march towards Manila's financial district, 12 Dec 2008 Thousands of people in the Philippines have demonstrated against a move to revise the constitution, which they say could extend the presidential term in office. Left-wing lawmakers and religious groups joined opposition protesters in a march through central Manila Friday, with police on high alert. Supporters of President Gloria Arroyo have held public hearings in congress on amending the constitution. The president's opponents said the amendments would enable her to stay in office beyond 2010, when her six-year term expires. President Arroyo has survived several coup attempts and efforts to impeach her on charges of corruption. In recent decades, massive street protests in the Philippines have led to the ousters of former presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada. Mr. Estrada has warned President Arroyo to distance herself from moves to change the constitution to prevent street protests from turning violent. The Philippine constitution allows only one six-year presidential term. President Arroyo replaced Mr. Estrada after he was deposed in 2001. She was able to run in the 2004 presidential election because she had served no longer than four years as interim president. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/139038/Manila-mayor-leads-gathering-of-anti-Chacha-protesters Manila mayor leads gathering of anti-Chacha protesters 12/12/2008 | 11:05 AM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim on Friday led a group of anti-Charter change rallyists gather at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila a few hours before the massive interfaith rally in Makati City. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo said the rallyists, composed mostly of students and city hall officials and employees, bore streamers saying "No to Cha-cha! No to con-ass! No to term extensions! Yes na yes Concon 2010!" Around 8,000 people from various political, religious, and civil society groups are expected to show up at the rally in Makati City to protest current moves to amend the 1987 Constitution. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) had earlier said that police personnel to be deployed to secure the protest action had been increased to nearly 5,000. The NCRPO had said that 3,142 security personnel will be tapped to deal with any eventuality arising from the rally - including 600 from the military's NCR Command, 669 from the Manila Police District, and 573 from the Southern Police District. Additional police forces from Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central and Southern Luzon and Bicol were also tapped to secure the event. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV http://www.gmanews.tv/story/139120/Thousands-of-protesters-start-Makati-City-rally-vs-Cha-cha Thousands of protesters start Makati rally vs Cha-cha 12/12/2008 | 04:53 PM MANILA, Philippines - Thousands of anti-Charter change protesters started their march Friday afternoon in Makati City, showing off a multi-sectoral opposition against moves to amend the 1987 Constitution. GMA News' Jiggy Manicad said the rallyists, composed of civil society groups that included Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Partidong Manggagawa, Gabriela, and Courage, began marching along Paseo de Roxas at 3:30 p.m. The groups were led by progressive party-list Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casi?o of Bayan Muna, Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela, and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis. Also present was the Whistleblowers' Association of the Philippines led by jueteng witness Sandra Cam. Organizers are expecting 20,000 people to attend the interfaith rally, which could last until 9 p.m. Other political personalities, such as ZTE national broadband network mess star witness Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada Jr, and former government officials tagged as the Hyatt 10, were also at the rally. Former President Joseph Estrada briefly showed up but left after a while to attend to his mother's poor health condition, said the report. Separate reports aired over radio dzBB said Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, who led the filing of the recently dismissed impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was also at the rally. Also at the rally were senators Manuel Roxas II, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, and Francis Escudero. "Ang ating mga kababayan nagkakaisa isa tinig dito labanan, tutulan, ibasura, patayin itong Gloria forever Cha-cha na ito (Our countrymen are one in saying that we should fight, reject, junk, and kill this Gloria forever Cha-cha)," said Roxas in an interview over radio dzBB. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV http://www.gmanews.tv/story/138507/Militants-to-focus-on-Chacha-issue-on-HR-Day-protests Militants to focus on Chacha issue on HR Day protests 12/10/2008 | 05:24 AM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis MANILA, Philippines - Militant groups will make Charter-change (Chacha) issue the focus of their protest actions on International Human Rights Day Wednesday. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) sought to prevent the extension of President Arroyo's term, which it said may lead to more abuses. Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said the theme of Wednesday's nationwide protest actions will be "no to term extension, no more years of human rights abuses." He said protests will be held in Baguio, Bicol, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tacloban, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. All those protests will lead to the grand prayer rally against Charter change in Makati City this Friday, he said. - GMANews.TV http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081212-177627/Bayan-Protesters-nabbed-in-Cubao Bayan: Protesters nabbed in Cubao By Abigail Kwok INQUIRER.net First Posted 13:16:00 12/12/2008 Filed Under: Protest, Charter change, Police MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) An activist group accused police of arresting a group of protesters on their way to join the interfaith rally against Charter change in Makati City Friday afternoon. Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, New Patriotic Alliance) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said the activists from the Moro-Christian People's Alliance were reportedly stopped by members of the police Highway Patrol Group in Cubao, Quezon City, and hauled off to nearby Camp Crame because the jeepney they were riding was outside its approved route. Reyes identified the arresting officers as Sergeants Sesas, Rodrigo and Solomon. Meanwhile, activists who Bayan had earlier reported were blocked by police in Cavite province have decided to commute to Metro Manila to make it to the rally, Reyes said, as he accused the police of ?harassment? and trying to ?delay people from attending the protest.? Earlier Friday, Bayan said police had blocked the activists from Cavite, led by Fr. Joe Dizon, and a contingent from Bataan led by Bishop Socrates Villegas, which was stopped at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). But PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome denied this, saying there has been no directive from PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa to prevent protesters from attending the Makati rally. Bartolome said the checkpoints set up by police are part of ?Task Force Manila Shield,? which was reactivated effective 6 a.m. Thursday ahead of the Makati City rally, and not intended to prevent people from joining the protest. ?Checkpoints are part of the normal law enforcement function of the PNP,? he said. ?There is no directive from the PNP leadership against blocking off protesters,? Bartolome added. He also stressed that police are under instructions to assist, not block, protesters entering Metro Manila. Bartolome said any group blocked by police should not hesitate to report the incident to the city or provincial police chief. Government critics say the efforts at Charter change are intended to extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo beyond 2010. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20081212-177685/Protesters-nab-police-infiltrator Protesters nab police ?infiltrator? By Thea Alberto, Abigail Kwok INQUIRER.net First Posted 21:49:00 12/12/2008 Filed Under: Protest, Charter change, Espionage & Intelligence, Police MANILA, Philippines -- Activists attending the interfaith rally against Charter change apprehended a police intelligence officer they said was on a mission to ?infiltrate? their ranks. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan, New Patriotic Alliance) said Inspector Teddy Mina Erum of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group, was mingling with the crowd in civilian clothes and had a mission order. He was turned over by human rights workers to the Makati police. Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz confirmed the incident and said Mina was turned over immediately to National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil. Cruz said police were prohibited from mingling with protesters during the entire program, even with an existing mission order, but explained that no charges were filed against the intelligence officer because he was merely doing his job.. "We just checked kung totoong member ng IG ng PNP. Ang ginagawa niyang intel [We just checked if he was really a member of the IG of the PNP. The intelligence gathering he was doing] is also for the protection of rallyists and VIPs [very important persons] present," Cruz said. He added that aside from this, no other untoward incident was reported at the protest. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20081212-177652/Protesters-converge-on-Ayala Protesters reject Charter change Warnings of civil unrest aired By Katherine Evangelista, Thea Alberto, Abi Kwok INQUIRER.net First Posted 15:36:00 12/12/2008 Filed Under: Charter change MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 13) Thousands of protesters converged at the junction of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas in Makati City for a rally against moves by administration lawmakers to amend the Constitution. The protest turned into a huge Christmas party for several organizations, with song and dance numbers were staged on a colorfully lit street with holiday decorations all over the buildings in the city?s financial district. Apart from protest banners and placards scattered in the streets, there were also vendors selling dirty ice cream, native clothes, and other accessories. One vendor was selling souvenir buttons with the words ?Moderate your Greed? and ?Oust Gloria? printed on them. At the middle of Paseo de Roxas, a small eatery serving rice porridge and noodles had been set up. At the start of the protest, Makati mayor Jejomar Binay declared Makati City a Charter change-free city. ?Handa ho kaming makibaka, teka, seditious yata yan [We are prepared to fight, wait, that seems to be seditious],? Binay quipped. ?Dito sa Makati, maniwala kayo magkakasama tayong lalaban sa anumang pagbabago sa ating Saligang Batas [Here in Makati, believe me, we are together to fight any attempt to change the Constitution],? he said. Senator Jose ?Jinggoy? Estrada, who represented his father, former president Joseph Estrada, criticized the recent dismissal of an impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the House of Representatives. ?Kamakailan, pinatay ang impeachment complaint, hindi idininig ang ika-apat na impeachment complaint, kaya patuloy ang katiwalian sa ating bansa [Recently, they killed the impeachment complaint, they did not hear the fourth impeachment complaint, which is why corruption continues in our country]? he said. Senator Panfilo Lacson thanked religious groups for helping spearhead the protest and assured them that Filipinos would follow their lead. ?Pangunahan ninyo, susunod kami sa inyo [Lead and we will follow],? Lacson said at the rally. Senator Francis Escudero said that instead of pushing Charter change, the government should be discussing more important issues like improving health and education, generating employment within the country, and lowering the prices of goods. ?Huwag na tayong mag-aksaya ng panahon para pag-usapan pa ang Cha-cha [Let us not waste time discussing Charter change],? Escudero said. Early Friday evening, Renato Reyes, secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said they had achieved their goal of mobilizing 10,000 people from a "broad range of forces" including churches and various political parties and civil society groups, which he said showed how "widely rejected Cha-Cha [Charter change] has become." But National Capital Region police office (NCRPO) Director Leopoldo Bataoil refused to give a crowd estimate and ?argue [with protesters] on figures.? ?As to the crowd estimate, I will not give my own, I will leave that to the organizers, and I will respect their crowd estimate,? he added. Media outfits estimated the crowd peaking at 8,000. Bataoil also said the protest was ?generally peaceful with no untoward incidents.? The five-hour rally ended promptly at 9 p.m. with protesters ending the program with the nationalist song ?Bayan Ko? (My Country) while holding lit candles, and then quietly dispersing. Earlier, the Philippine National Police said 4,700 anti-riot police would be deployed to provide security during the rally. Protesters converged at the protest site at 4 p.m. Members of the contingent led by Bayan carried around huge Christmas lanterns with the words ?Junk Cha-Cha,? with drums and folk dancers marching along. A contingent from the Liberal Party, led by Senators Manuel Roxas II and Rodolfo Biazon, and Representative Ruffy Biazon, and former senator Franklin Drilon, among others, gathered in front of the Makati Post Office, to march to the rally site. At the start of the protest, rallyists let loose swarms of green balloons to protest any moves to amend the Constitution. "I hope we will be able to stop Cha-Cha [Charter change] after this. Charter change now is a manglement [sic], a rape of our constitution," said Roxas in an interview. Also at the protest were Senators Loren Legarda, Benigno Aquino III and Ma. Ana Consuelo Madrigal, Bayan Muna (People First) Representatives Teddy Casi?o and Satur Ocampo, Gabriela Representative Liza Maza, Representative Teofisto Guingona III, and lawyer Harry Roque, among others. Former president Corazon Aquino was not able to make it to the rally but issued a statement, read during the program, saying she supports calls to junk plans to amend the Charter. But former president Joseph Estrada, who promised to join the rally, did not show up as he rushed to be with his ailing 103-year-old mother. Margaux Salcedo, Estrada's spokesperson, said the former president rushed to the San Juan Medical Center where Do?a Mary Ejercito is in "extreme medical condition." A contingent led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan, New Patriotic Alliance), armed with colorful Christmas lanterns and dancing to native music, marched from Makati Avenue. Ocampo, Casi?o and Maza carried lanterns that read, "Junk Cha-Cha." Reyes accused police of ?harassment? and trying to ?delay people from attending the protest,? citing the alleged arrest in Cubao by Highway Patrol Group policemen of activists from the Muslim-Christian Alliance. Reyes said the activists were hauled off to Camp Crame. He also said a contingent from Cavite province, who police had reportedly prevented from going to Metro Manila, had decided to commute to the rally on public transport. Reyes had said a contingent from Bataan province, led by Bishop Socrates Villegas, was also blocked at the North Luzon Expressway by police. ?The Filipino people, even the entire Philippine Senate, are opposed to Charter change,? said Bayan chairperson Carol Araullo. ?It should send a clear message to Mrs. Arroyo and her allies that it is time to quit moves to revise the Charter and extend her term in office,? Araullo said. A leftist fisherfolk?s group on Friday called on mayors of Metro Manila cities to declare their respective bailiwicks ?Charter change free? to show ?strong opposition? against plans by administration allies to amend the Constitution. ?The people of the National Capital Region are extremely opposed to Cha-cha and to the alleged plot of Malaca?ang and the President?s allies to extend the term of the Chief Executive and all incumbent elected officials. It is the duty of all mayors in Metro Manila to carry this collective sentiment and political interest of their constituents,? Fernando Hicap, chairman of the fisher folk group Pamalakaya (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, National Strength of the Fishers? Movement in the Philippines), said in a statement. Meanwhile, thousands of youth brought a giant Christmas card to Friday?s protest in Makati City. The card read, ?Our wish this Christmas: No cha-cha [Charter change] and No [President] Gloria [Macapagal-Arroyo]!" and, ?The Filipino people's best gift to the nation is a Cha-Cha-free Christmas and a Gloria-free New Year!? Students from University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Miriam College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Sto. Tomas, University of the East, and other schools in Metro Manila joined the protest. ?We are gathered here today to exercise our freedom of speech and at the same time to deliver a message, a warning. Youth protests will continue for as long as cha-cha is being pushed for Arroyo's benefit. We vow to sustain our protests and guard against any attempts to amend the Constitution,? said Anakbayan chairman Ken Ramos. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/137769/Erap-urges-Pinoys-to-join-the-Dec-12-anti-Cha-cha-protest Erap calls for anti-Cha-cha protest; Reds issue warning 12/05/2008 | 08:55 PM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada on Friday called on all Filipinos to join the protest march against the bid to amend the Constitution on December 12 in Makati City. Estrada's call - the latest of several warnings against the administration plan to amend the Charter - was aired during a speech at the OFW Family Club Grand Family Day celebration at Star City in Roxas Boulevard. In that speech, he criticized administration congressmen for pushing for Charter change now instead of crafting bills to help Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) amid the world financial crisis. "Marami sa ating mga OFW ngayon ang nag-uwian na dahil nawalan sila ng trabaho at maaaring marami pa ang mawawalan ng hanapbuhay , pero ang ating mga kongresista ang ina-asikaso pa ay ang Cha-cha o Charter change ... Gusto ng mga bayarang kongresista na sila ang susulat ng bagong Saligang-Batas ...," he said in a press statement. He then appealed to the crowd to stand up against Charter change. "Papayagan ba natin na ang mga bayaran at corrupt na mga kongresistang ito ang magbago sa ating Saligang-Batas? Kaya ako ay nananawagan sa inyo na dumalo sa malawakang protesta laban sa Cha-cha sa Biyernes," he said. Cha-cha, Arroyo's last dance? For its part, the Communist Party of the Philippines ordered the New People's Army (NPA) to intensify tactical offensives to "punish" those pushing for Cha-cha and prevent the regime from perpetuating its hold on power. "Revolutionary forces led by the CPP fully support the Filipino people in their struggle to stop Cha-cha and the ruling clique's attempts to prolong Arroyo's rotten and oppressive rule. The CPP calls on the Filipino people to make Arroyo's latest Cha-cha gimmick her last dance," it said in a statement on its Web site. It added that as anti-Arroyo and anti-Cha-cha movements gain momentum, the NPA will intensify its offensives nationwide. "As mass demonstrations and other forms of protest intensify, the Red fighters of the NPA and other revolutionary forces will be intensifying their tactical offensives nationwide to punish the US-Arroyo regime and prevent it from perpetuating its hold on power," it said. The CPP said Mrs Arroyo is becoming more and more desperate to hold on to power beyond 2010, as she is aware she faces a string of charges once she steps down from power. Worse, it said the Arroyo family and its cohorts are now brazenly revving up their Cha-cha offensive in a last-ditch effort to prolong Arroyo's rule through the most convoluted "legal" means. "Right after getting rid of the fourth impeachment case against Arroyo, her own sons, in-laws and lackeys in Congress have choreographed one resolution after another to push their Cha-cha offensive," it said. The CPP said the Arroyo clique's latest resolution calls for convening Congress as a constituent assembly to force Cha-cha. Aside from this, it said Malaca?ang is further banking on the forthcoming recomposition of the Supreme Court to knock down any further legal resistance to Mrs Arroyo's "Con-ass" scheme. By the end of 2009, practically the entire Supreme Court will be composed of Arroyo appointees, it noted. With the Supreme Court in her pocket, the CPP said that Mrs Arroyo plans to employ the military and police to crush the mass demonstrations and other protests expected to erupt against 'Con-ass' in order to prevent them from snowballing into a mass uprising against her rule. Should this be not enough, the CPP said she still has the option of imposing "emergency rule" or outright martial law, with the "state of emergency" declaration in February 2006 serving as a dress rehearsal. "But Arroyo is making her biggest miscalculation. Cha-cha is turning out to be the climactic battleground between the US-Arroyo regime and Filipino people who see it as Arroyo's last straw in her desperation to prolong her rule. With patriotic and democratic forces at the core, the broadest national united front is now rapidly forming against Cha-cha,"it said. "Millions are expected to join mass demonstrations and other forms of protest versus Cha-cha and all efforts to prolong Arroyo's illegal rule. The more Arroyo and her ilk force through with Cha-cha, the more vigorous the people's resistance will be," it added. Bishop's warning Meanwhile, a senior Catholic bishop similarly warned the Arroyo administration against ignoring people's desperation, which he likened to a big and deadly time bomb. Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop Oscar Cruz said such desperation once it explodes "neither sees who are killed nor cares what it destroys." "So too when people are desperate, woe to all those whom they perceived as their oppressors, and to those especially whom they know as their exploiters. Now, it cannot be said that the 'Call'?pleading, alarm, warning?has not been made and sounded," Cruz said in his Web log. He said Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president Angel Lagdameo already led four other bishops, including Cruz, in calling for radical action against graft and corruption. Even business groups have called for such change and have voiced opposition to Charter change, especially at this time. "One, positive action is mandatory. Two, an upright government is essential. Three, there is a better future for the Filipinos," Cruz said.- PR/GMANews.TV http://www.gmanews.tv/story/137636/Militants-Palace-arrogance-to-fuel-protests-vs-Chacha Militants: Palace arrogance to fuel protests vs Chacha 12/05/2008 | 07:11 AM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis MANILA, Philippines - Militants "thanked" Malaca?ang for what they called its "sheer arrogance" in dismissing protests by various groups, including the influential El Shaddai, against Charter change. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said this arrogance will give opponents of Charter change more reason to go to the streets. "Malaca?ang has just given the people all the more reason to go to the streets. An arrogant government like this deserves the public's wrath," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr., in a press statement on the Bayan website. Reyes noted the Palace showed similar arrogance not once but twice, when it said it will not stop its allies in the House of Representatives from pursuing Cha-cha. He said more than 50 organizations and personalities have already signified their participation in the Dec. 12 inter-faith prayer and protest rally along Ayala Avenue in Makati City. The mass action will include Catholic, Protestant, evangelical and Muslim groups as well as business and civic groups, students and teachers, lawyers, trade unions, and government employees. "The administration's overweening pride will be its own undoing. The Charter change move is already extremely unpopular as only Malacanang and its House allies are supporting it, while a broad range of forces stands opposed to it," Reyes said. Also, Bayan contested Palace pronouncements that the executive branch cannot interfere with a co-equal branch of government in relation to the Charter change efforts. "Malaca?ang should not influence Congress? Who are they kidding? They've been doing that since Day 1. They did that to the impeachment complaint. Now they're telling us they can't intervene? That's just ridiculous," Reyes said. Despite Palace pronouncements that term extension is not on the agenda of Charter change, Bayan said the call to stop the measure is "non-negotiable." "Our demand is for an end to any and all efforts to change the Constitution under Gloria. This is a non-negotiable demand. Arroyo's allies must withdraw all pending resolutions advocating Cha-cha before the House of Representatives. This includes the Nograles resolution and the still-to-be-filed Villafuerte resolution," Reyes said. Bayan said that until all possible moves for Charter change are withdrawn, the public cannot afford to be complacent. The group said that Arroyo will do everything to stay in power. "The only acceptable outcome is for Arroyo to give it up completely. As of now, there are no indications that Malaca?ang is even reconsidering or backpedaling on Charter change. Protests must continue," Reyes said. - GMANews.TV http://www.gmanews.tv/story/139364/NDF-Palace-to-push-for-Cha-cha-despite-protests NDF: Palace to push for Cha-cha despite protests 12/14/2008 | 08:50 PM Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis MANILA, Philippines ? The threat of Malaca?ang forcing Charter change remains despite the massive rally staged against it last Friday, the National Democratic Front (NDF) warned Sunday evening. The regime will use the military and police to put down opposition or emergency rule or even martial law to contain protests, NDF Eastern Visayas spokesman Fr. Santiago Salas said. "The Arroyo regime has already tried declaring a 'state of emergency' such as what it did in February 2006," Salas said in a statement posted Sunday night on the Communist Party of the Philippines' Web site (www.philippinerevolution.net). "It will certainly use the armed strength of the state to quell the people's resistance to the Cha-cha if it is already in danger of ouster," Salas added. "Thus the people must express their opposition widely in various forms of protest and in mustering their biggest numbers to confront the regime." On the other hand, he said the New People's Army (NPA) in the countryside will support efforts to end the Arroyo Administration and bring it to account. He said the Arroyo regime is pushing for Charter change to prolong its hold on power and to avoid being brought to account for its numerous crimes. Administration officials have said Mrs Arroyo will step down when her term expires in 2010, but she has not made any categorical statement. Salas explained: "The New People's Army intensifies and widens the tactical offensives against Arroyo's forces, which are responsible for so many political killings, enforced disappearances, attacks on civilian communities, and other brutal violations of human rights and international humanitarian law just to keep the regime in power. "The guerrilla offensives deliver the message to the regime that it is also confronted by the rising armed revolution. Both the peaceful and armed struggles work together to surely end and punish the regime." Salas said the Arroyo regime knows that there is no other legitimate way to stay in Malaca?ang beyond 2010. He said the people will not allow being cheated twice via the 2010 elections. - GMANews.TV http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2008/11/07/news/protesters.to.dabu.release.our.back.wages.or.else.html Friday, November 07, 2008 Protesters to Dabu: Release our back wages or else By Jovi T. De Leon CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The protesting sacked quarrymen of the Biyaya A Luluguran At Sisikapan (Balas), through former leader Christopher Ocampo, gave Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu an ultimatum. They urged Dabu to release their back wages on or before Nov. 15 or they will go to court and charge her with oppression and grave misconduct. These back wages include night differentials, terminal leaves and cash gifts. What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers The letter, which Dabu described as "somewhat threatening," pointed out that the protesting Balas boys, whose back wages are being held pending cuts and deductions that would have to be made, stated that they are giving Dabu "one last opportunity" to release the protesters' salaries and wages dating back to 2007. "If we do not hear from you until such time," it said, "we will have no choice but to go to court and file the necessary charges against you." The letter also denied that there was an overpayment in the salaries of the protesters. It told Dabu: "You may have conveniently forgotten that your categorical position regarding the Balas Boys is that the Provincial Board is not correct in downgrading salary grades of casual employees." "Consistent with your stand," the letter went on, "you even signed a letter instructing Ms. Manalad and Mr. Benjamin Yuson to approve the salary grade (SG) of Filologo Rodriguez, Allan Cunanan, and myself from 1 to 22, and the Balas personnel from SG 1 to SG 5 and SG 7." Ocampo said in the letter it is for such reasons that Dabu "had no right to hold the release" of their back wages. He also denied Dabu's accusations of electricity theft, calling them "baseless allegations" since they have not illegally tapped on the power lines of the provincial Capitol, and as such, their pays on-hold could not be subjected to such cuts, "least of all the cost of electricity." On October 27, Dabu wrote the dismissed quarry checkers and monitoring team leaders informing them that their request for the release of their back wages has already been processed by the Capitol, but is being withheld pending the submission by the Commission on Audit (COA) of deductions and cuts that will to imposed on the pay of several protesters who are no longer connected with the flagship program. Dabu said in the letter that necessary cuts will have to be made on the payroll of those who received grade 7 and 8 salaries as all casual Balas personnel have been reverted to salary grade 1. The sacked quarrymen will be charged for the electricity they used in their now four-month picket at the park. The letter noted that their electric power lines have been tapped with the Capitol's lines so they will charged for the electric power they consumed during their stay at the capitol grounds starting August 11 when they (the protesters) moved to Arnedo Park's Capitol Boulevard side. There were also hints that charges of electricity theft will be filed against the protesters for illegally tapping on the capitol's power lines. Last Wednesday, the provincial administrator said there was indeed "overpayment" in the quarrymen's salaries as cited in Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) provisions, stipulating that pro-rated deductions would have to be made on the back wages of the protesters. She said she would immediately reply to the letter of Ocampo and the protesters to once and for all clarify matters regarding their requests. Additionally, Dabu said their overtime pays had already been released and it is only their night differentials of 2007 which are being held, but are currently being processed by the Capitol. "Some of the rallyists have yet to submit to us their necessary clearances, and we have to wait for these in order for them to get their cash gifts, night differentials and terminal leaves," Dabu said, adding that they are only complying to proper CSC and COA rules and regulations regarding their pays. But Dabu reiterated the Capitol's stand that the cost of electricity during their stay at Arnedo Park would really have to be borne by them, saying "Who will pay for their bill?" She said contrary to reports, she did not order the re-tapping of the lines the are using from the city's to the Capitol's, but it was upon the instance of the San Fernando Electric Company (SFELAPCO), whom she said reported to them the illegal connections. Capitol personnel have already obtained the protesters' load requirements, which they will use in computing the amount of power consumed by the Balas rallyists. "SFELAPCO," Dabu said, "has professed their willingness to assist us in fairly computing the consumption and charges." According to Dabu, this development has complicated the release of their back wages. "As long as they are connected with the Capitol's power lines, the longer the computation would take, the longer their salaries would be put on hold," she said. She asked, "What if they stay there for three years?" http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2008/12/20/news/protesters.backwages.remain.unreleased.html Saturday, December 20, 2008 Protesters' backwages remain unreleased By Jovi T. De Leon CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Despite getting off the Capitol's power lines for their electricity needs at their picket line at Arnedo Park here, the protesting sacked quarrymen of the Biyaya A Luluguran At Sisikapan (Balas) are yet to get their night differentials, terminal leaves, and cash gifts. Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu told Sun.Star Friday that she is still waiting for a "formal notice" from city power provider San Fernando Electric Company (Sfelapco) regarding the acquisition of a power meter by the protesters and the disconnection of their power lines from the Capitol main power source. Earlier, Dabu "promised" the protesters that their backpays of 2007 "shall be released only after we are assured that you are no longer and will no longer illegally tap on the power lines of the Provincial Government." Reacting to the demands of Dabu and "sensing" that this may finally lead to the release of their claims, the protesters immediately applied for a power meter and the necessary permits from the City Government and Sfelapco. Last week, Sfelapco installed the power meter, under the name of former Balas supervisor Agustin de Leon, and took their power lines off the Capitol. On Monday until Friday, the protesters sought to inform Dabu of the development but failed and were surprised to learn from sources at the Capitol that she wanted a "certification" from Sfelapco if she was to release their claims. The protesters were reportedly told by officials of the power firm that they "do not issue such certifications even for big commercial establishments or government institutions. Sfelapco officials, according to them, "found it unusual" to request for such a certification, much more for them to issue one since such transactions, like the installation of a power meter, are well documented. The power firm, meanwhile, provided the protesters with original copies of the agreement to purchase electricity, the connection order, receipts, the temporary permit granted by the City Government and other legal documents that would support and validate the acquisition of a power meter by the protesters. Protesters have reiterated their appeal to Capitol executives for the immediate release of their backwages. In separate letters sent to Governor Eddie Panlilio and Dabu, they said: "In the spirit of the Christmas season, we are appealing for the payment of our rightful claims not for our sake but more importantly for the sake of our respective families." The letter further stated, "we believe in your sense of justice and Godliness" and that "we have had some disagreements which could be answered in the proper forum." "To withhold our salaries, night differentials and cash gifts is tantamount to inflicting injustice to us and our families," the protesters said. http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5648&Itemid=88889051 IBP calls for nationwide protests against gov?t Written by Carmela Fonbuena Thursday, 04 December 2008 In a strongly worded statement published in the Philippine Star, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Wednesday called on the public to ?make the corrupt and uncaring government feel the chill of fear from our collective anger.? Asked in a phone interview what form of action the IBP wants the public to do, its president Feliciano Bautista told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, ?We want them to stage protests to show indignation against the government.? ?We are the solution to our problem. Let us not be passive. If a government has little or no respect for the rule of law, we in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines would unhesitatingly support our people?s efforts at making those who betray the people?s trust account and face the dire consequences of their transgressions,? the statement said. ?If there?s any interested person or group who will join our cause, we will join. We are coalescing with any group that will espouse the same causes,? Bautista said in the interview. Asked when is the best time to stage protests, ?anytime is a good time. As soon as the people are ready,? he said. The IBP is the latest among normally politically conservative groups to openly call on the public to fight corruption in government. ?We have made a stand to be an active stakeholder in the solution of national issues,? Bautista said. In October, five bishops of the Catholic Bishop?s Conference of the Philippines issued a statement saying that ?the time to prepare a new government is now.? A month later, the Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippines?in a joint statement?said, ?We should now prepare for a new kind of governance.? ?There?s commonality in action. It?s a continuous reaction to what is happening,? Bautista said. In December 2007, the IBP also issued a statement calling for the prosecution of corrupt officials. It was triggered by the bribery expose of Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio involving President Arroyo for allegedly giving away P500,000 each to governors and congressmen. String of government controversies The IBP statement condemned the string of controversies involving all three branches of government?the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. ? The killing of the impeachment complaint. ? The push for Charter change, which IBP believes is meant to remove politicians? term limits. ? The dismissal of the graft case against former DOJ Secretary Nani Perez. ? The P728-million fertilizer fund mess. ? The Russian caper of involving 8 police generals and 105,000 euros. ?This is not the government we deserve. We pine for government servants who work for lasting peace for the entire country, who toil for economic security in the face of a global financial crisis, who put national interest way above and before self-interest. Sadly, these are not the qualities people in government now have,? the statement said. ?As the saying goes, however, we merely get what we deserve. If we continue to remain silent and do not rise and shout our indignation, our sorry fate shall persist. If we continue voting for and supporting these people who in turn appoint and position people of the same corrupt and inept mold, then we should not hope for anything bright for us., our children, and our children?s children,? the statement added. The statement is co-signed by the eight IBP governors?Abelardo Estrada of northern Luzon, Ernesto Gonzales Jr. of central Luzon, Marcial Magsino of greater Manila, Bonifacio Barandon Jr. of Bicolandia, Evergisto Escalon of eastern Visayas, Raymund Jorge Mercado of western Visayas, Ramon Edison Batacan of eastern Mindanao, and Carlos Valdez Jr. of western Mindanao. Open to coalescing with militants Asked if they will welcome the leftist militant groups, Bautista said, ?Any group that is sympathetic to our cause will be appreciated. We are different shades of the equation. If we have a common denominator, we will join them.? Asked what the common denominator could be, Bautista said, ?that could be arrived at in a consensual meeting.? Bautista clarified that ?we are not militants. We are legal personalities. We have our own cause of action. We are not playing politics. We are reacting to a dirty brand of politics.? No call to rebellion When the bishops made the call for ?new government,? they were criticized by administration allies for being ?seditious.? Among them was Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who interpreted the bishops? statement as a call for the removal of President Arroyo. When asked about the possibility that their statement may be interpreted as seditious, Bautista said, ?Expression of one?s opinion is not rebellion. To express one?s belief is protected by the Constitution. What is forbidden is the taking of arms. When you use your freedom of expression, that is not forbidden. That is Constitutionally provided.? (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak) --------------------------------------------------- Activists demand human rights review Jakarta Post - December 11, 2008 Andi Hajramurni and Yuli Tri Suwarni, Makassar, Bandung -- Rights activists across the country celebrated International Human Rights Day on Wednesday by staging rallies and other events expressing their views and voicing their demands about the current state of human rights in Indonesia. In Bandung the head of the religious activities monitoring team, Ahmad Baso, said the number of incidents of violence against religious groups filed at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in 2008 had declined. It recorded 72 such cases, only around 2 percent, compared to 4,000 incidents of human-rights infractions due to other causes. The five dominant infractions the public reported include abuse of civil rights, political rights, land disputes, police brutality and government- sanctioned violence. Reports on religious violence, frequent from January to April this year, Baso said, were dominated by cases involving the Ahmadiyah faith, closure of unlicensed churches and the eviction of the Dayak Losarang community from Indramayu, West Java. Despite the overall decline in reported belief- related incidents, Baso pivoted the question, saying there was an urgent need to review police and public order officers' practices in cases of religious violence, since they still overlooked their role in protecting victims. Baso said Komnas HAM should work together with the Religious Affairs and Home ministries, the Attorney General's Office and the police to curb violence against religious groups. Meanwhile in Makassar, students and activists from groups affiliated with the Front for the People's Struggle for Human Rights commemorated the day by holding a rally at the Mandala Monument for the Liberation of West Irian. They said the state and the government had failed to protect people's rights. "The state has not protected the basic rights of citizens but instead has carried out various violent actions against its own citizens," protester Mukhtar said. They called for the government to immediately ratify the convention on international crimes, thoroughly investigate human- rights violators and stop criminalization of citizens, students and workers exercising sincere efforts to uphold democracy. They also demanded the government revise the laws on ways to voice opinions publicly, investment and management of water resources, coastal areas and small islands. They rejected any form of discrimination, exploitation and violence against women, children and minorities, and called for a ban on the use of firearms by police while handling demonstrations. They also firmly opposed the planned ordinance on the implantation of microchips in people living with HIV/AIDS in Papua, citing the plan as a clear violation of human rights, because the infected would be classified as second-class citizens. In Sentani city in Papua's Jayapura regency, International Human Rights Day was commemorated by the civic group International Parliament for West Papua (IPWP) which held a photography exhibition on human-rights abuses in Papua alongside the screening of a documentary at the Theys Hiyo Eluay memorial. "The photo exhibition presents repressive practices by security personnel in Papua in the past until now," IPWP home secretary-general Victor Yeimo said. The exhibit includes a photo taken during the arrest of IPWP head Buchtar Tabuni. "The current model of oppression is a bit different. In the past whenever there was trouble, Papuans would immediately be killed, but now the practice is legal repression. People have been arrested and brought up on charges just for holding differing opinions. Buchtar Tabuni, for example, was arrested for expressing his opinion in public," Yeimo said. In Jayapura, Papua, students from the Anti-Violence Student Alliance marked International Human Rights Day by addressing the crowd in front of the Abepura post office. They arrived carrying posters and two coffins and spoke to the implementation of protective legislation in Papua. "Although Indonesia has adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Law 12/2005, its implementation is still weak, especially in Papua, where the threat from militarism still directly impinges on human rights in this region," rally coordinator Zakarias Horota said. [Angela Flassy contributed to this story from Jayapura.] --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- President Yudhoyono throws a wobbly after protest headache Jakarta Post - December 13, 2008 Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta -- In a rare loss of self- control, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono vented his anger Friday at a group of protesters rallying outside of the State Palace, saying they were disturbing a Cabinet meeting he was chairing. "We are just about to start the meeting, but the rally is there now. We cannot work. Are they allowed to turn up that loudspeaker to such a volume? As if this is the only country in the world where everybody can do anything they like," Yudhoyono said in a high tone. Among those attending the meeting were National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Djoko Santoso and Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto. "Who should be responsible for handling this (the demonstration)?" the President asked his Cabinet to no reply. "If no one can cope with this, all of them (demonstrators) will enter the palace," he said. The President said a mechanism was necessary to prevent members of the public from rallying outside the palace to protest any government policy. Last week, the President appeased representatives of the Sidoarjo mud victims at the palace. It was unclear how the Cabinet members reacted to the President's ire, as the sole cameraman tasked with filming the meeting was quickly ushered out of the room following the outburst. When asked shortly after the meeting whether the police would adopt stricter measures against demonstrators, police chief Bambang said yes. "Yes, we will take tough measures against any protester who violates the regulations," Bambang said. To prevent rallies from becoming chaotic, Bambang said the National Police had enforced a regulation from a 1998 law on freedom of expression in public spaces. The law states that individuals or groups intending to hold a rally must notify the police in advance of the time, participants and aim of the demonstration. Under Soeharto's rule, a police permit was required to stage a demonstration. --------------------------------------------------- =================^================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^================================== Yogyakarta activists, women workers commemorate Human Rights Day Detik/Tempo Interactive - December 10, 2008 Yogyakarta -- Hundreds of students and non- government organisation activists in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta took to the streets on December 10 to commemorate Human Rights Day. They also demanded that the government revoke a joint ministerial decree (SKB-4) limiting wage rises to economic growth and end to the exploitation of women workers. Despite drizzling rain throughout most of the day, actions were held at a number of locations and shopping centres in different parts of the city. The first action was carried out by scores of women activists from the We Can Campaign Indonesia alliance at the Serangan Oemoem (SO) March 1 Plaza Monument. The second action was held by the United People???s Committee (KRB) at the Yogyakarta Monument. During the action at the Plaza Monument, which was joined by women workers, some of which brought children and infants, they unfurled banners with messages such as ???Stop violence against women???, ???Oppose the exploitation of workers???, ???Fight for women???s rights???, ???Oppose and revoke the SKB-4??? and ???Nationalise foreign assets???. The protesters also sung patriotic songs such as ???For You My Nation???, ???Mother Kartini??? and ???Struggle of Blood???. In a speech, KRB action coordinator Muhammad Iron warned the people not to be enticed by the sweet promises of the political elite in the lead up to the 2009 legislative and presidential elections, saying that they are competing with each other making promises about bringing prosperity to the people yet they have never done this in the past. ???Remember that there is no evidence to back these promises. All those participating in the 2009 elections are imperialist lackeys. The 2009 elections are an election of human rights violators such as [former Kopassus commander] Prabowo in the Gerindra Party and [former armed forces chief] Wiranto in the Hanura Party along with the other fake reformist parties???, said Iron. (Detik.com, 10/12/2008) Activists in Semarang say many human rights cases left unresolved Semarang -- Human Rights Day was also commemorated in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang, where scores of activists and victims of human rights violations protested at the East Java regional police headquarters and the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on December 10. The action stared at the Fountain Roundabout on Jl. Pahlawan then moved off to the regional police headquarters some 500 metres away. During the march, police could be seen directing traffic which had became congested with protesters taking up half of the road. At the police headquarters, demonstrators from non-government organisations and students took turns in giving speeches. Following this, scores of human rights victims joined the action, hitting and trampling on a straw figure as a symbol of their anger at the handing of human rights cases that are often left unresolved. ???Come on hit it! Trample on it! Can???t you do better than that???, shouted one of the protesters provocatively. Satisfied with destroying the straw figure, the protesters moved off to the Central Java DPRD some 500 metres away from the police headquarters. They plan to end the action by returning to the Fountain Roundabout at around 11.30am. (Detik.com, 10/12/2008) Protesters in Medan give government ???red report card??? on human rights Medan -- The upholding of human rights in Indonesia is still week. This has been proven by the widespread cases of violence by state institutions against civil society. This ???red report card??? on human rights was emphasised by around 1,000 demonstrators who commemorated World Human Rights Day at the North Sumatra DPRD in Medan on December 10. The majority of the protesters, who came from the North Sumatra Civil Society Alliance (AMSSU), said they were victims of human rights abuses, mostly involving land disputes. During a speech, action coordinator Minggu Saragih said that the government has failed to fully implement the Universal Human Rights Declaration which has also been signed by Indonesia. Farmers are seen as easy victims of human rights violations in North Sumatra by state institutions and the government therefore, must immediately implement the 1960 Agrarian Law on land reform. ???Land problems are mushrooming in North Sumatra. People are being evicted from their land everywhere. Not a few of these people have suffered violence, both physical as well as mental. In upholding human rights, the government???s report card is still red???, said Saragih. The AMSSU also urged the government to revoke the joint ministerial decree, implement the People???s Consultative Assembly Decree Number 11/1998 and to take responsibility for ensuring a reasonable standard of living for the poor. (Detik.com, 10/12/2008) Farmers in Malang demand resolution to land dispute with marines Malang -- Thousands of farmers from the sub- districts of Pagak, Bantur and Gedangan demonstrated at the regent???s office in the East Java city of Malang on December 10. According to action coordinator Hadili, the protest was held both to commemorate World Human Rights Day as well as to demand that the central government intervene to resolve a dispute over land in Purboyo that has been used as a Marine Combat Training Centre for the last 30 or so years. ???The Combat Training Centre can continue to exist, but we are asking for public and social facilities to be constructed. We [want] to be allowed to rebuild homes that have been partly destroyed by members of the marines. Please also provide electricity???, said Hadili, adding that they had been struggling over this issue for the last eight years. The protest action at the regent???s office only continued for around 15 minutes, after which the demonstrators moved off to the Gajayana train station to join up with protesting workers and students. (Tempo Interactive, 10/12/2008) [Abridged translation by James Balowski.] **************************************************** --------------------------------------------------- Buskers say police went too far in anti-thug operation Jakarta Post - December 1, 2008 Jakarta -- About one hundred street musicians rallied in front of East Java Police headquarters in Surabaya on Monday to protest the rounding up of their fellow street musicians in nationwide anti- thug sweeps. The buskers, who said they were members of the East Java branch of the Indonesian Buskers Union, demanded the police stop criminalizing them. "Buskers are not thugs. We're making an honest living on the street. The police should stop these arrests," said Slamet Kusairi, the rally coordinator, as quoted by Tempointeraktif.com. The National Police had vowed to get rid of petty criminals by conducting a national operation amid rising concern about the rise in street crime. (dre) --------------------------------------------------- =================^================================== I N D O L E F T - News service > > =================^================================== Students protesting anti-pornography law arrested in Bali Detik.com - December 9-10, 2008 Denpasar -- The signing of the Anti-Pornography Law by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has attracted protests in the Indonesian resort island of Bali, with two of the students planning to demonstrate against the law being arrested by police. The students were arrested when they were holding a protest action to greet Yudhoyono??s arrival to open the Institute for Peace and Democracy at the Udayana University in the provincial capital of Denpasar on December 10. ??The students were secured because they did not have a permit to demonstrate??, said Bali regional police spokesperson Assistant Superintendent Sri Harmini. The two students who were arrested are currently being questioned by the Bualu sectoral police while the other students were able to slip away. The 15 or so Udayana University students started the action by gathering at the faculty of technology. As they started to move off however, the police arrived unexpectedly and made the arrests. ??When we wanted to [start] the protest, we were suddenly arrested by police??, said one of the students. (Detik.com, 9/12/2008) Semarang artists and activists hold anti-corruption ritual Semarang -- Artists and non-government organisation activists in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang held an ??anti-corruption ritual?? in which they set fire to a billboard with a list of pending corruption cases in Semarang. During the action to commemorate Anti Corruption Day, which falls on December 9, the artists, bare- chested and wearing black trousers, used rice straws, flowers, incense, tree seedlings and oil lamps as mediums for the ritual. Sitting in front of the Youth Monument, they dipped the rice straws in a pool then circled the area waved them around. In the following ??scene??, the billboard was set alight and after it had died down, several of the artists sprayed kerosene over the fire. At the end of the ritual, the artists plunged into the pool surrounding the monument to symbolise cleansing themselves from the lust of corruption. (Detik.com, 9/12/2008) [Abridged translation by James Balowski from reports posted on the Detik.com news portal.] **************************************************** http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/11/16/2003428800 Hundreds protest in Bali against pornography law AFP, DENPASAR, INDONESIA Sunday, Nov 16, 2008, Page 4 Balinese dancers perform during a rally protesting against an anti-pornography law in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, yesterday. PHOTO: EPA Hundreds of people rallied yesterday in the Hindu-majority holiday island of Bali against a tough anti-pornography law branded by critics as a threat to religious freedom. About 400 people marched through the capital Denpasar against the law, passed by mainly Muslim lawmakers in Jakarta last month. Protesters denounced as too broad the law?s definition of pornography, saying it was a threat to Indonesia?s diverse non-Muslim minorities and could shatter national unity. High-spirited protesters in traditional sarongs and translucent temple blouses marched toward the provincial governor?s office, cheering wildly at traditional dances and performances by local pop singers in curve-hugging pants. The chair of the West Papua provincial parliament, Jimmy Demianus Ijie, said the law criminalizes Papuan culture, where many people are semi-naked. ?I?ve taken part in many Papuan performances in many places and I?ve only worn traditional clothes, but you could see my arse and I was swaying my hips, I was being sexy. Are they going to arrest me for that too?? he told reporters. A challenge to the law would be launched in Indonesia?s Constitutional Court next week, activist Ngurah Harta told the protest. ?We have to win this judicial review or we will hold a massive civil disobedience campaign,? he said. Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika pledged last month that his government would not enforce the pornography bill, but he did not turn up to yesterday?s protest. Muslims make up roughly 90 percent of Indonesia?s 234 million population, which also contains sizable Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Confucian minorities. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24859827-2703,00.html Ex-spy chief acquitted of murder of rights activist Munir Said Thalib ? Font Size: Decrease Increase ? Print Page: Print Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jakarta correspondent | December 31, 2008 Article from: The Australian INDONESIAN police have locked down a Jakarta court where angry supporters of a murdered human rights activists clashed with backers of a former military chief acquitted of the killing. FORMER spy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono is mobbed by supporters outside court in Jakarta. Reuters picture Muchdi Purwopranjono, ex-deputy head of the country's intelligence agency and a one-time commander of Indonesia's special forces, escaped a 15-year jail sentence requested by prosecutors for the 2004 murder of lawyer Munir Said Thalib. "The accused is found legally and convincingly not guilty of premeditated murder ... and is freed from all charges," chief judge Suharto said in the South Jakarta district court. The acquittal was unexpected and critics will say it casts a heavy pall on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's drive to weed out corruption. The prosecution had argued that Munir was targeted for his work exposing human rights abuses perpetrated by military units, including the feared Kopassus commando brigade, which Muchdi briefly led. Muchdi was said to have been enraged at losing his job when the abuses were exposed. Munir died in agony aboard a Garuda airlines flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam in September 2004, after being given arsenic in an orange juice drink by an off-duty pilot with the airline, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto. He was 38. Pollycarpus is serving 20 years for the murder, which prosecutors claimed was ordered by Muchdi even though Pollycarpus insisted during his own trial he had never met the senior military man. A mystery witness who has never appeared at any of the several trials in connection with the murder, Budi Santoso, gave written evidence that he was the go-between for Muchdi and Pollycarpus. Supporters of Muchdi shouted "Allahu akbar" as the decision was read out, while Munir's supporters repeatedly screamed "murderer" at him as he left the courtroom. Police rushed to separate the two groups of supporters and Muchdi refused to comment to reporters on the verdict. Former intelligence agency supreme chief Mohammad As'ad has also been linked to the murder, with the revelation he ordered Pollycarpus be assigned as "corporate security" on the death flight. He has never been charged. http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/12/17/five-protest-rallies-to-happen-in-jakarta-wednesday/ 12/17/08 10:45 Five protest rallies to happen in Jakarta wednesday Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - Five protest rallies are expected to take place at different locations on Wednesday with the potential of causing traffic jam on a number of main roads in the capital city. According to information from the Jakarta Police`s Traffic Management Center (TMC) on Wednesday morning, the five rallies would be staged in Central Jakarta and South Jakarta. In Central Jakarta, the protesters would stage three rallies respectively in front of Jakarta City Hall on Medan Merdeka Selatan street, Supreme Court office on Medan Merdeka Utara street, and legislative building on Gatot Subroto street. While in South Jakarta, two other groups of protesters would also stage similar rallies in front of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) office on HR Rasuna Said street, and in front of the Public Works Ministry office on Pattimura street, Kebayoran Baru. In addition to the five rallies in Central and South Jakarta on Wednesday, another protest rally would also be staged at Cikarang Selatan area in Bekasi, West Java. The rally in Cikarang Selatan would take place in front of PT Tewon Indonesia at Jababeka-II industrial area. TMC reported that the rallies would start at around 9 a.m. until 2 on Wednesday afternoon.(*) http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/korea/2008/12/31/189953/South-Korean.htm Wednesday, December 31, 2008 9:57 am TWN, AP South Korean lawmakers ordered to end protest SEOUL, South Korea -- The parliament speaker ordered opposition lawmakers camped out inside the National Assembly to end their five-day protest, warning Tuesday he would send in guards to force them out if they refused to leave. Dozens of lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party have been occupying the main hall of the National Assembly since Friday to prevent the ruling Grand National Party from forcing through dozens of bills before year's end, including a controversial free trade deal with the U.S. The pact would be the largest for the U.S. since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, and the biggest ever for South Korea. The ruling party, which has control of parliament with 172 seats in the 299-member National Assembly, has said it will unilaterally vote on some 80 bills Wednesday. After two days of negotiations to find a compromise ended without success late Tuesday, National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o invoked his right to order security guards to ?keep order,? Kim spokesman Bae June-young said. The opposition said it cannot accept Kim's decision, raising concerns about another violent scuffle at the National Assembly. Earlier in the month, in a bid to force the introduction of the U.S. free trade agreement and other bills, ruling party members set up barricades of furniture near the committee's doors to prevent Democrats from entering the room. Enraged opposition lawmakers used sledgehammers and construction tools to break down doors blocked by ruling party legislators. GNP lawmakers fought back with fire extinguishers. South Korea and the U.S. signed the accord calling for slashing tariffs and other barriers to trade in April last year, but the pact still must be ratified by both countries' legislatures. Opposition lawmakers say the US$29 billion trade agreement favors major corporations. The Democrats' floor leader, Won Hye-young, accused the legislature of degenerating into ?a place for a dirty war for President Lee Myung bak.? http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/12/113_36899.html 12-28-2008 20:56 Largest opposition Democratic Party (DP) leaders protest against governing Grand National Party leader?s plan to pass some 85 bills this year at the DP?s headquarters in Seoul, Sunday. DP leader Chung Sye-kyun, right, holds a placard reading ?No wiretapping of mobile phones.? Others read, ?No ownership of banks and TV networks by chaebol? and ?no criminalization of protestors for wearing masks?. / Yonhap http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2899112 TV workers join strike to protest a media bill December 27, 2008 A growing number of television producers, anchors, reporters, technicians and other employees are joining a strike to protest legislation that would allow cross-ownership of newspapers and broadcasters. The ruling Grand National Party yesterday tried to pass the contentious bill, which it says is aimed at strengthening the nation?s media businesses so they can compete against global giants. But the opposition Democratic Party and media labor unions contend the bill would offer control over TV news editorial content to local conglomerates. The National Union of Media Workers, an umbrella union of local media industry workers, announced the beginning of an industry-wide strike as of yesterday morning, calling for more companies and their employees to enter the fray. Some 2,000 unionized workers of MBC, one of three major Korean broadcasting stations, joined the strike, which is the first broadcasting industry strike in nine years. Familiar faces of well-known news anchors were conspicuously absent yesterday, while their seats were occupied by a few nonunionized workers. Production of popular entertainment shows could also soon grind to a halt. TV station SBS also joined the strike, but decided to leave some essential workers in place to maintain normal programming. But most of its news anchors dressed in black in a sign of protest. Korea?s Vice Culture Minister Shin Jae-min said the strike is ?illegal? and ?immoral? for disrupting broadcasting. He said the government would ?respond firmly based on law and order.? Proposed by the Korea Communications Commission, the legislation eases restrictions on ownership of broadcasting stations. The most disputed part of the bill allows big companies with assets of more than 10 trillion won ($7.7 billion), local newspaper companies and news wire agencies to purchase up to a 20 percent stake in broadcasters. Firms with assets of less than 10 trillion won could take a 49 percent stake. http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2008/200812/news01/20081129-01ee.html December 1. 2008 Juche 97 S. Korean Puppet Police Suppression of Protest Actions Slammed Pyongyang, November 29 (KCNA) -- The Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Joint Declaration in south Korea on November 22 denounced the puppet police for blocking a sit-in strike on the situation to shatter the suppression of candlelight actions and the case against the above-said solidarity and abolish the "National Security Law". The organization recalled that the group of sit-in strikers has staged a signature campaign demanding a stop to the suppression of candlelight actions and soapbox oratory laying bare the treacherous nature of the Lee Myung Bak regime after pitching tents in front of the Posin Pavilion in Seoul every day since October 6. It accused the police of preventing them from pitching tents on the charge that the sit-in strike is in violation of the "law on assembly and demonstration" and the "law on traffic" though it was the 48th day since their start of the strike. Branding the action taken by the police to check the tent pitching, terming it "an illegal act," as suppression of the sit-in strike, the organization declared that it would launch various activities to counter it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7797714.stm Tuesday, 23 December 2008 Protest for jailed Indian seamen The wife of Capt Chawla and parents of Syam Chetan at the rally Relatives and hundreds of supporters of two Indian seamen jailed in South Korea over an oil spill have protested in Mumbai (Bombay) against the conviction. This month Capt Jasprit Chawla was jailed for 18 months and chief officer Syam Chetan for eight months. Their Hebei Spirit was rammed by a barge a year ago, releasing 11,000 tonnes of crude oil on to beaches. Capt Chawla's wife said she was shocked when an appeal court overturned a ruling and imposed the sentences. 'No grounds' The accident occurred after a barge owned by Samsung Heavy Industries, that was carrying a construction crane, broke free in rough seas. Capt Chawla and Syam Chetan are appealing against the sentences The crowd in south Mumbai protested against Samsung and destroyed some of its products. Gurpreet Kaur Chawla, the captain's wife, said: "All along we were quiet because we were so sure that both of them are innocent and they would be freed. "When the court acquitted them in June their innocence was proven. We thought it was not possible to lose this appeal as there were no grounds." Commodore DR Syam, father of Syam Chetan, said the Indian authorities had conveyed their displeasure to the Korean authorities. "But then the two officers should have been released on bail after the Indian authorities took up the matter," he said. He pointed out that Capt Chawla had been praised by Lloyd's List, the maritime industry daily, for his exemplary efforts in trying to minimise the spill. Shipping operators and seafarer unions have insisted the tanker crew were blameless. The pair are appealing to the Supreme Court. The appeal court found they had failed to act promptly to reduce the spillage after the accident on 7 December last year. Capt Chawla was also fined 20m won ($14,000) and the chief officer 10m won. The Hebei Spirit's owner was fined 30m won. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122259190400.htm Tamil Nadu - Chennai Protest for release of two mariners from jail in South Korea Special Correspondent The two were held on charges of negligence and violation of anti-pollution laws ? Photo: R.RAGU Merchant Navy Officers Association members and their families protest in Chennai on Sunday, demanding the release of two mariners lodged in a South Korean jail. CHENNAI: Hundreds of mariners who protested near the Government Guest House and in front of Samsung Factory in Sholinganallur demanded the release of two of their colleagues who were jailed in South Korea on charges of negligence and violation of anti-pollution laws. The two arrested mariners, Jasprit Singh Chawla and Chetan Shyam, the captain and chief officer of the crude oil tanker ship M.V. Hebei Spirit, were held responsible for an oil spill of about 10,500 tonnes from the tanker on December 7 last year. Oil spill The spill occurred when a barge carrying a floating crane owned by Samsung Heavy Industries broke loose and one of the two tugs towing it drifted in the gale and resulted in the spilling of oil. A South Korean district court indicted five persons, including the skippers of the barge and the two tugs. In June, the local court in Daejeon acquitted the Indians of all charges but prevented them from leaving the country, pending appeal by prosecutors. On December 10, following the appeal, Captain Chawla was sentenced to 18 months? imprisonment and $ 14,000 fine. Officer Shyam was sentenced to eight month?s imprisonment and a fine of $ 7,000. ?We are asking that the mariners be released immediately on bail. They are not being allowed to meet their family. Hebei Spirit Shipping Company, based in Hong Kong, is taking care of the family. This decision [by the court] is incomprehensibly vindictive and will impact on all professional mariners,? said K. Vivekanand, president of Merchant Navy Officers Association, who led the protest. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Asia&set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20081202093320267C418883 Nepal protestors burn bus, kill passenger December 02 2008 at 10:05AM Kathmandu - At least one person was killed and several others injured on Tuesday after protestors in south-eastern Nepal set fire to a bus with passengers still inside, police said. The violence flared up in Saptari district, about 350 kilometres south-east of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, on Tuesday morning, when protestors enforcing a general strike in the area attacked the bus, police said. The strike was called by the ethnic Madesh Janatantrik Party to protest the death of its cadre who was killed in clashes with police earlier this week. "The strike supporters set fire to the bus with passengers still inside, accusing them of defying their strike," Saptari district police office said. Police said the Mashes Janatantrik Party cadres did not give the passengers time to get out of the bus before setting it on fire. "The person who died was at the back of the bus and was asleep when the incident happened," the police said. "He could not get out as the fire quickly engulfed the bus, trapping him inside." Police said they were unable to identify the passenger as his body was charred beyond recognition. Another five passengers were injured in the incident. No one had been arrested and investigations were underway, the police said. Madesh Janatantrik Party is one of several armed groups operating in Nepal's restive southern plains known as Terai. The group has been accused of murder, extortion and abduction of civil servants and its opponents. The attack came as the government prepared to hold talks with armed rebel groups in Terai. The Nepalese government has said more than a dozen groups were now in contact and that the formal negotiations would be held soon. However, there are widely differing views among the armed rebels on the peace talks, with some putting forward pre-conditions and others demanding changes to the government negotiation team. Hundreds of people have died in violence in southern Nepal in the past two years. Repeated government attempts to bring the rebels for talks to end the violence have so far failed. - Sapa-dpa http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/southasia/news/article_1446063.php/One_burnt_alive_as_Nepal_protestors_set_fire_to_passenger_bus_ One burnt alive as Nepal protestors set fire to passenger bus South Asia News Dec 2, 2008, 6:06 GMT Kathmandu - At least one person was killed and several others injured Tuesday after protestors in south-eastern Nepal set fire to a bus with passengers still inside, police said. The violence flared up in Saptari district, about 350 kilometres south-east of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, on Tuesday morning, when protestors enforcing a general strike in the area attacked the bus, police said. The strike was called by the ethnic Madesh Janatantrik Party to protest the death of its cadre who was killed in clashes with police earlier this week. 'The strike supporters set fire to the bus with passengers still inside, accusing them of defying their strike,' Saptari district police office said. Police said the Mashes Janatantrik Party cadres did not give the passengers time to get out of the bus before setting it on fire. 'The person who died was at the back of the bus and was asleep when the incident happened,' the police said. 'He could not get out as the fire quickly engulfed the bus, trapping him inside.' Police said they were unable to identify the passenger as his body was charred beyond recognition. Another five passengers were injured in the incident. No one had been arrested and investigations were underway, the police said. Madesh Janatantrik Party is one of several armed groups operating in Nepal's restive southern plains known as Terai. The group has been accused of murder, extortion and abduction of civil servants and its opponents. The attack came as the government prepared to hold talks with armed rebel groups in Terai. The Nepalese government has said more than a dozen groups were now in contact and that the formal negotiations would be held soon. However, there are widely differing views among the armed rebels on the peace talks, with some putting forward pre-conditions and others demanding changes to the government negotiation team. Hundreds of people have died in violence in southern Nepal in the past two years. Repeated government attempts to bring the rebels for talks to end the violence have so far failed. http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=101520 NEPAL: FNJ organises nationwide protest against scribe's killing Federation of Nepalese Journalists blames increase in journalist killings on government's failure to punish culprits Nepal News Sunday, Novemeber 30, 2008 Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) staged protest programmes in various parts of the country, including Kathmandu, on Sunday in protest of the killing of Kailali-based journalist Jagat Prasad Joshi under mysterious circumstances following his abduction. FNJ organised a protest rally from New Baneshwor in the capital at 2 pm, which later converged into a mass assembly after reaching Babarmahal. Human rights activist Krishna Pahadi, lawmaker Nilamber Acharya, journalists from various press associations and other people participated in the protest rally. Speaking at the rally, FNJ General Secretary Poshan K.C said that violence against journalists has increased in the country because of the government's failure to book the culprits involved in previous cases. K.C also demanded immediate action against the culprit, proper compensation to the victims' family and security for journalists. All district chapters of the umbrella organisation of Nepalese journalists, as per the previously announced schedule, organized protest programmes through the nation. On Saturday, FNJ expressed serious concern about the murder of journalist J.P Joshi whose skeletal remains were found in Pragati Mahila Community Forest in Malakheti VDC, Kailali. The FNJ also formed a team to carry out an independent probr of the incident. Joshi, who was the editor of Dhangadhi edition of Janadisha daily, had been missing since October 8. He was a member of the pro-Maoist Revolutionary Journalists Association. Joshi's family has already filed a case against Lokendra Rawat and his brother Karan Rawat at the Kailali District Administration Office, alleging them of killing Joshi Saturday. Police has already arrested Karan on the basis of the complaint but Lokendra has been absconding since. Date Posted: 11/30/2008 http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=102423 NEPAL: Police rough up journos protesting attack on Himalmedia Federation of Nepalese Journalists condemns attack on Himalmedia, calls it an attempt to muzzle the media Nepal News Monday, December 22, 2008 Police used force to break up a rally of journalists who were protesting yesterday's attack on Himalmedia by pro-Maoist workers, in the capital, on Monday. Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Ramji Dahal sustained injury in his head as police resorted to baton-charging at Maitighar. The police beat up several other journalists taking part in the peaceful demonstration. Human rights activists and civil society representatives also joined in the FNJ rally that started from Naya Baneshwor. Police intervened into the rally, without provocation, when it arrived near Maitighar Mandala. FNJ and several other media rights groups, human rights organisations and political parties have condemned the attack on Himalmedia describing the attack as a deliberate attempt to muzzle the independent media. Himalmedia CEO Ashutosh Tiwari, Nepali Times editor/publisher Kunda Dixit, executive editor of fortnightly news magazine Himal Khabarpatrika, Kiran Nepal, and its senior correspondent, Dambar Krishna Shrestha, were among a dozen staffers assaulted by a group of people affiliated with pro-Maoist workers' union over a news report published in the new issue of the magazine on the unruly activities of the union. Date Posted: 12/22/2008 http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/dec/dec27/news11.php Journos continue protest against attacks on media Journalists across the country carried out protest on Saturday against the recent attacks on media offices and journalists. Journalists stage protest against recent attacks on media offices and... In Kathmandu, hundreds of journalists staged dharna (sit-in) at Bhrikutimandap with their mouths tied with black bands. The scribes put aside their notepads and cameras as they staged the protest demanding guarantee of press freedom and security to media offices and journalists. Journalists outside the capital valley also staged similar protests. In many districts, local leaders of different political parties and representatives of the civil society also joined in the protest programmes called by the Federation of Nepal Journalists. The protests come in response to recent attacks on Himalmedia, Ankur daily in Birgunj and Ruru FM in Gulmi and the disruptions in Kantipur Publications' Biratnagar office. Journalists have been organising protest programmes against these attacks for the last few days. nepalnews.com mk Dec 27 08 http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/dec/dec26/news03.php FNJ announces fresh protests, Maoist union still obstructing works at Kantipur regional office The Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ) on Thursday announced more protest programmes to exert pressure on the government to fulfill its demands. The announcement came after the talks between the FNJ and government ended inconclusively the same day when the latter reportedly asked for more time to consider the five-point demand put forth by FNJ. FNJ?s demands include legal action against perpetrators of Himalmedia attack, steps to create a mechanism to ensure protection for media houses and apology for police intervention in a peaceful protest rally on Sunday. As part of the protests, the FNJ said all journalists will wear black arm bands across the country Friday and display pens, recorders and cameras out in the open as a symbolic protest for an hour at Bhrikuti Mandap on Saturday. FNJ said that it will announce further protests if the government does not address its demands soon. In another report, Chief of United Nations Mission in Nepal Ian Martin visited Kantipur Publications office in Kathmandu to inquire about the ongoing attacks on press freedom. Meanwhile, the regional office of Kantipur Publications in Biratnagar could not print the Friday edition of the Kantipur and its sister publication the Kathmandu Post due to the obstruction created by Maoist affiliated trade union. The regional office was not able to print Thursday edition of the newspapers also due to the obstructions. Meanwhile Himalmedia filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Lalitpur Metropolitan Police Range on Thursday against the attack on its office and staff members on Sunday. The complaint has been filed under the Public Crime and Punishment Act 2027. Editor of Nepali Times and director of Himalmedia Kunda Dixit moved the police office against Ramesh Pant, President of All Nepal Hotel and Workers' Association and Ramesh KC, Vice-President of All Nepal Communications and Press Workers' Association. nepalnews.com Dec 26 08 http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/dec/dec24/news12.php Alliance for press freedom to continue its protests The Alliance for press freedom, which was formed in the wake of assault against Himalmedia by pro-Maoist workers, has decided to continue its protest programmes. It has stated that all its member newspapers, TV stations, radio stations would relay similar messages to champion the cause of press freedom. For the time being, they have fixed 'Our struggle for press freedom continues' as the slogan, which will be highlighted consistently. The alliance has said that its protest campaign will continue until and unless the authorities detain two pro-Maoist trade union leaders Ramesh Babu Panta and Ramesh KC ? who were identified as being directly involved in attacking Himalmedia. Likewise, they have also demanded that the government tender apology and provide reliable commitment to protect press freedom. The alliance has added that it supports the trade union rights and the rights to collective bargaining of workers but would not stand violation of press freedom under any pretext. The Alliance was formed on Tuesday and includes Media Society, Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, Broadcasting Association of Nepal and Kathmandu Valley FM Broadcasters. nepalnews.com Dec 24 08 http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080077902 Nepal protest attack on press freedom Press Trust of India Saturday, December 27, 2008, (Kathmandu) Journalists in Nepal will put down their pens, cameras and recorders for an hour on Saturday as a symbolic protest against widespread attack on media houses. Despite the detention of two Maoist trade union leaders, who allegedly led an attack on the premises of Himal Media, the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) have continued their agitation saying there is widespread attack against the press and more culprits need to be brought to justice. "Our protests continue and the agitation will not end unless the government guarantees security to journalists and protect the press freedom by bringing all culprits to justice," General Secretary of FNJ Poshan K C said. "Journalists throughout the country will wear black bands around their wrist and will put down their pens, cameras and recorders for an hour as symbolic protest against attack on media," he said. In Kathmandu, hundreds of scribes would gather at Maitighar Mandala in the afternoon and stage a rally, a source at the FNJ said. With Nepal's ruling Maoists coming under growing pressure to act against cadres targeting journalists, Ramesh Babu Panta, president of Maoist affiliated All Nepal Hotel and Workers Association and Ramesh K C, Vice-president of All Nepal Communication and Press Workers' Association, the main culprits in the Himal Media incident, surrendered to the police yesterday. "Though the arrest of the two culprits is a positive development, the action is not enough as there are many more serious incidents and those responsible should be brought to book," K C said. http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/dec/dec23/news09.php Journalists take out rally protesting attack on free press Media persons took out a rally and staged sit-in demonstration at the prohibited area in the capital city Tuesday protesting the recent violent attacks against free press. They also condemned Monday?s police intervention on their peaceful rally which left about a dozen journalists injured. The rally taken out from Babarmahal gathered at the southern gate of Singh Durbar, a prohibited area, and assembly and demonstration were organized. Civil Society leaders, senior journalists, political party leaders and professionals from various field participated in the rally organized by Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ). Speaking at the gathering, senior journalists flayed growing intervention in free press and demanded independent probe into the attack on Himalmedia. They also demanded that the perpetrators of the assualt should be brought to book. Meanwhile, reports say that district branches of FNJ organized similar demonstration programmes in various districts across the country against the attack since early this morning. The journalists? umbrella organisation has called for a nation-wide protest starting Tuesday against the attack on the media houses and the journalists by Maoist affiliated trade unions. nepalnews.com Dec 23 08 http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=262509&version=1&template_id=44&parent_id=24 Nepal dailies run without editorials in protest KATHMANDU: Nepal?s leading newspapers appeared without editorials yesterday, a sign of protest over a weekend attack by Maoist activists on a local publishing house in which journalists were beaten and its office ransacked. On Sunday dozens of activists belonging to a labour union affiliated to the ruling Maoists attacked the office of Himalmedia, publishers of the weekly English-language Nepali Times and other magazines, injuring some staff including journalists. The attackers said they were unhappy with negative coverage. Major English and Nepali language newspapers yesterday left their editorial spaces blank, some with bold black borders. ?We feel the attack on Himalmedia and other media houses represents a serious threat to press freedom, democracy and pluralism in this country,? media groups Nepal Media Society and the Editors? Alliance said in a statement. ?It is ironical that it should be perpetrated by a group affiliated to a party that won the election and leads the government,? the statement said. ?We feel enough is enough.? About 300 journalists and human rights activists marched through Kathmandu on Monday in opposition to the attack and some people were injured as protesters clashed with police. The Maoists head a coalition government after emerging as the biggest political party in an April election. They signed a peace deal two years ago and ended their decade-long civil war against the former monarchy. But the ex-guerrillas have drawn criticism from political parties for continuing violence and intimidation. The Maoist party promises to protect press freedom and says the attack on the media house would be investigated. Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda has vowed to punish those who were guilty. Nepal?s other main political parties, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations have condemned the attack. ? Reuters http://www.startribune.com/world/35935454.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUdcOy_nc:DKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU China detains protesters on Human Rights Day Last update: December 10, 2008 - 7:45 PM BEIJING - China marked international Human Rights Day with newspaper editorials and television commentaries hailing the country's "unremitting efforts" and "nonstop progress" in promoting free speech and individual rights. It was also a busy day for public security officials, who were dispatched to quell a protest of about 40 people who rallied outside the gated headquarters of the Foreign Ministry. After about 30 minutes calling for free elections and demanding a crackdown on corruption, the demonstrators were herded onto buses and taken away. For Liu Xiaobo, one of China's most high-profile dissidents, Wednesday marked the third day of detention for what friends and relatives say was his role in drafting a bold public letter that demands political, legal and constitutional reform. The document was published on the Internet and signed by 303 Chinese academics, artists, farmers and lawyers. http://www.euronews.net/2008/12/10/china-protests-on-human-rights-anniversary/ China protests on human rights anniversary 10/12/08 19:21 CET Human Rights world news Protestors in China were determined to mark the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. ?We have no human rights,? complained dozens of women outside China?s Foreign Ministry. One said she had been repeatedly arrested and sent to a reeducation camp for asking to see the body of her dead son. As they were being taken away against their will, hundreds of Chinese lawyers, writers and academics issued an online appeal for greater freedom. Elsewhere the date was being marked with pomp and ceremony. Celebrations in Berlin in Germany were led by the Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, said the declaration is needed as much now as it was in 1948. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Asia&set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20081210091756579C233398 Protests in downtown Beijing December 10 2008 at 09:49AM Beijing - Two dozen people protested outside China's Foreign Ministry in downtown Beijing on Wednesday, using the 60th anniversary of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights to decry a myriad of alleged government abuses. Kneeling outside the front gate of the building, the group held up letters of complaints and called for redress for illegal detentions, government seizures of land, and abuses by local courts. One woman clasped a bright red copy of the constitution close to her chest, and another a white banner in English that read: "Safeguard human rights." Others held photos of relatives allegedly beaten in labour camps. Many were petitioners, people who come to the capital to ask the central government for help against abuses by local governments, a centuries-old practice dating from days when people could petition the emperor. Many cannot air their stories in local media or courts, which are both controlled by the Communist Party. "Today is human rights day, but there is no human rights in China. I want my land, I want to eat," said Yang Guiyin, a middle-aged woman from Shanxi in northern China. She said her land was taken away four years ago for development and her house knocked down, but the local government refused to give her compensation. Yang said she had been sent to a labour camp on three separate occasions, where she was badly beaten. Another protester, Zhang Zhenxin, has been petitioning for 10 years after his house in Beijing was destroyed to make way for a development project. "Today is...the day of the universal declaration of human rights. Today Beijing's petitioners are planning to submit to the Chinese government an agreement on protecting human rights," he said. Beijing police contained the protesters behind a police rope, but let them continue for nearly half an hour, before they were herded onto a public city bus and taken away, pressing their complaints to the windows and shouting at foreign journalists. "They are going to relevant departments," said one police officer, who refused to give his name. The United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a year before the communists came to power in China. While not binding it has inspired many later human rights treaties. It is unusual for petitioners to take their complaints to the Foreign Ministry, and they normally go to so-called "Letters and Visits" offices in the capital, which are supposed to receive grievances. Many are often followed by local police to the capital and taken back home. Their plight is often ignored by Chinese media. But on Monday, the Beijing News newspaper published an investigative report that said provincial officials in a city in eastern Shandong province committed petitioners complaining about local corruption or land seizures to mental hospitals. - Sapa-AP http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414985.html Tibetans and Supporters Mark Human Rights Day with Chinese Embassy Protest Kevin Otto | 11.12.2008 01:05 | Repression | Social Struggles LONDON - Upon the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the Chinese government's appalling human rights record was the focus of a joint protest between Tibet support groups and Falun Gong practitioners at the Chinese embassy in London. Banners reading 'End human rights abuses in Tibet' and 'Stop the genocide in China' were accompanied by a vocal call for the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima the XI Panchen Lama who has been detained since the age of six years old, and an end to the use of torture against Tibetans and Falun Gong practitioners detained by the Chinese authorities. Supporters and members of the public were urged by organisers to take action on behalf of political prisoners such as Dhondup Wangchen, director of the film 'Leaving Fear Behind' who was detained on 26 March this year and remains in detention. Rights groups have condemned the Chinese government's human rights record in Tibet and China. "Despite voting in favour of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sixty years ago the Chinese government are continuing to fail to adhere to that historic document at the cost of Tibetan lives," said Terry Bettger, Campaigns Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK, "The UN Committee Against Torture has stated that the use of torture by the Chinese authorities against Tibetan political prisoners is 'routine and widespread'. It is vital that world leaders and decision makers apply firm pressure upon the Chinese government to respect the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people and to cease the sickening use of torture." Kevin Otto http://www.bt.com.bn/en/asia_news/2008/12/21/hk_democrats_barred_from_macau_ahead_of_protest_march HK democrats barred from Macau ahead of protest march No age limit: Elderly women taking part in a march against a proposed national security law in Macau yesterday.Picture: AFP MACAU Sunday, December 21, 2008 MORE than 20 Hong Kong democracy campaigners, including nine legislators, were barred from entering Macau yesterday ahead of a march against a proposed national security law, one of the lawmakers said. The group was stopped by immigration officials and detained for half an hour, before being put on a ferry back to Hong Kong, Emily Lau, deputy chairwoman of the Democratic Party, told AFP. "They told us we have broken Macau security law, but they could not be more specific," Lau said. Among those prevented from entering was well-known activist and legislator "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, chairman of the Democratic Party Albert Ho and former chief executive candidate Alan Leong. Macau government spokeswoman Elena Au said she was not immediately able to comment. Many of the activists had been allowed entry to the territory in the past few weeks, Lau said. The pro-democrats were planning to take part in a march against a proposed national security law for the former Portuguese colony, which toughens the punishment for crimes such as treason and subversion. A similar law was proposed in Hong Kong in 2003, but it met with huge public dissatisfaction including a rally attended by 500,000 people on worries it would restrict freedom of speech. As a result, the Hong Kong government was forced to abandon its plans. Lau said pro-democrats were worried that the bill was being introduced in Macau as a precursor to reintroducing it in Hong Kong. "What sort of state is Macau in?" said Lau by telephone after she arrived back in Hong Kong. "(The decision to bar the protesters from entering) reflects very poorly on the chief executive Edmund Ho and shows that the administration is so lacking in confidence... It is very sad." Macau and Hong Kong were both handed back to China by their respective colonial powers in the 1990s. AFP http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/2366360 Vietnam Catholics in rare protest Published: 6:20PM Monday December 08, 2008 Source: Reuters Hundreds of Vietnamese police and riot police sealed off streets leading to a government building as eight Catholics went on trial over their attempt to claim a plot of disputed land in the capital. More than 1,000 Vietnamese Catholics turned up at the People's Committee offices in a Hanoi district to protest against the trial, a rare expression of dissent against the southeast Asian country's ruling Communist Party. In a peaceful demonstration, the Catholics sang hymns and held up banners demanding justice for the eight, whose court appearance is the latest twist in a dispute that has been rumbling on for months. The piece of land in question is owned by a garment company but the protesters argue it is church land. In August, state television showed pictures of people using hoes and hammers to break what it said was a section of the brick wall surrounding the plot, leading to police claims of causing public disorder and intentional destruction of property. "They're trying these eight people to send a message to the rest," one of the protesters said, asking not to be named for fear of recrimination. Religion remains under state supervision in the mostly Buddhist country, although Vietnam has the second largest Catholic community in Southeast Asia after the Philippines, with about six million among the 86.5 million population. The Hanoi government is working towards establishing formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican, and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the Pope there a year ago. http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/1493-nine-arrested-in-rare-protest-in-rangoon.html Nine arrested in rare protest in Rangoon by Mizzima News Tuesday, 30 December 2008 20:08 Chiang Mai (Mizzima) ? At least nine opposition party members demanding the release of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi were arrested by police in a rare protest on Tuesday in Rangoon, according to eyewitness and opposition sources. The protesters holding aloft pictures of the leader of the National League for Democracy party and banners reading ? "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" ? urging people to express their desire were arrested by the police in front of an unused Parliament building on Tuesday afternoon, the NLD spokesperson Nyan Win told Mizzima. "I know seven people were arrested but some said nine people were arrested," Nyan Win said. An eyewitness said, at least nine youth members of the NLD, who had finished attending a meeting, held at the party head office in West Shwegondine Street in Bahan Township, marched out on to the street shouting slogans. They were picked up by the police in a light TownAce truck near an unused Parliament building. Nyan Win said, the NLD regularly conducts meetings on Tuesday to discuss current and contemporary politics of Burma. Today's discussions were led by party executive member Khin Maung Swe, who was released recently after serving a long prison term. The eyewitness, who had also attended the meeting, said, security police, beat the peaceful protesters before taking them away to unknown location. According to the eyewitness, those arrested included Htet Htet Oo Way, Tun Tun Win, Ye Ni, Win Myint, Thet Maung Tun, Pyae Pyae, Min Thein, Aung Phyo Wai, Kaung Htet and Kaung Htet Hlaing. Additional reporting by Myint Maung http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-12/2008-12-02-voa17.cfm?CFID=257358025&CFTOKEN=36755689&jsessionid=de30118da62e1b65cb351a5a45666c5d327f N. Korea Critics Clash with Peace Groups in South Over Leaflets By Kurt Achin Seoul 02 December 2008 Private groups attempting to launch leaflets into North Korean territory got into physical scuffles near the inter-Korean border with groups supportive of North-South reconciliation, Tuesday. North Korea has cited the leaflets as a reason for worsening North-South relations. VOA's Kurt Achin has more from Seoul. North Korean defector who is leading recent propaganda leaflet effort, left, struggles with pro-North Korea protesters in Paju, 02 Dec 2008 It has become a familiar sight lately in South Korean media: members of a private South Korean coalition inflating giant balloons and using them to launch leaflets into the North. On several previous occasions, they have launched thousands of the leaflets, blaming North Korean leader Kim Jong Il for his country's impoverishment and suffering. However, Tuesday's attempted launch in the South Korean town, Imjingak - near the heavily armed North-South border - was not nearly as successful. This time, groups that support engagement with North Korea faced off with the North Korea critics. About 30 members of a pro-North Korea group interfered with the launch. Minor clashes erupted and about 35 police officers were mobilized to keep the two sides apart. Jeong Dae-yeon, a member of the pro-North group, calls the balloon launchers "reckless." He says North and South Korean relations have just stepped onto a path of reconciliation and cooperation, after so many years of antagonism. He says he and his group cannot let the balloon launchers reverse that trend. North and South Korea ties did warm, following a 2000 summit, ushering in an era of massive South Korean aid and investment with few, if any, strings attached. However, the so-called engagement policy did not prevent Pyongyang from testing a nuclear weapon, two years ago. It also produced no improvement in North Korean human rights policy or in addressing Seoul's concerns about South Korean abductees believed to remain in the North against their will. Choi Seong-yong leads a group representing abductees' families. He says the balloon launches will proceed. He says the balloon launchers will continue their daily work and will not make concessions. North Korea has expressed fury at the administration of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who took office early this year promising a firmer policy toward the North. Pyongyang cites South Korea's failure to stop the leaflet launches as one reason it has sharply downsized North-South cooperative projects and border access. Park Hee-tae, chairman of Mr. Lee's conservative Grand National Party, says he "fully understands" why the anti-Pyongyang groups are organizing the leaflet launches - which he views as legal. Although he cites the launches as a free-speech issue, he says his party will seek a solution through dialogue with the groups sending the leaflets. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 22:39:51 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:39:51 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Pro-democracy, human/civil rights and anti-government protests, India - Bangaldesh - Pakistan, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE3E4A7.9090700@tesco.net> PAKISTAN * Police injure 6 in clashes over police killings; protesters stone police * Supporters of charity protest ban * Children, minority Hindus rally against UN over charity ban * Civil society, traders protest death threat * Villagers protest police harassment * Sindh lawyers plan protest if powers not restored * Lawyers strike over murder BANGLADESH * Hundreds rally over polling location * Opposition could face protests over refusal to field candidates * Protests over selection of candidate * Poll boycott over moving of polling station INDIA * Kolkata - Uprising over police brutalisation of passenger * Uttar Pradesh - Thousands from Samajwadi Party in protests, blockades after killing of civil servant * Andhra Pradesh - rival factions clash over comments * Tamil Nadu - journalists protest assault * Puducherry - journalists demand action over police attacks * Karnataka - Church members protest pastor corruption * Orissa - arrest of journalist over pogrom article sparks protests * Karnataka - opposition parties protest exclusion * Karnataka - police attack on local politician sparks protest * Andhra Pradesh - protest over Congress violence * Andhra Pradesh - Journalists protest minister's remarks * Tamil Nadu - roads blocked in protest over political arrests * Kerala - water workers protest alleged assaults * Kerala - youth organisations protest interview process * Karnataka - JD(S) protest 'maladministration' * Andhra Pradesh - TDP blockade minister's convoy, attacked by police * New Delhi - left parties protest lack of discussion on bills * Kerala - lawyers protest own representatives * Karnataka - activist polishes shoes to atone for supporting politician MANIPUR * Killing of soldier triggers protest SRI LANKA/INDIA * Tamils demand apology from Sri Lanka http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=153664 Police firing leaves six protesters injured Thursday, December 25, 2008 By our correspondents TOBA TEK SINGH/GOJRA/MIANWALI: Six people, including a 12-year-old boy, were injured when the Nawan Lahore Police opened fire at a protest rally against a custodial killing on the second consecutive day here on Wednesday. A Gojra sub-divisional police officer was also injured when protesters pelted policemen with stones. Hundreds of villagers took out a rally and blocked traffic for more than five hours on the Jhang-Faisalabad Road in Nawan, Lahore. They were demanding immediate arrest of police officials who had allegedly tortured Akhtar Abbas of Chak 245/JB to death. In the meantime, the police reached there and baton-charged the protesters. The policemen also fired at them. As a result, six protesters were injured. The protesters also pelted policemen with stones, which left the SDPO injured. All the injured were shifted to a hospital in Gojra from where two of them were shifted to the Faisalabad Allied Hospital due to their critical condition. The police had arrested Akhtar Abbas, a driver along with a truck owner, on suspicion that he had taken away stolen cattle in his vehicle to Khushab and Mianwali. As many as 16 policemen of Nawan Lahore and Gojra police stations had taken Akhtar and the truck owner to Mianwali for recovering the cattle. According to the deceased?s relatives, the police had allegedly tortured Akhtar to death while DPO Ahmad Ishaq Jehangir claimed that he had died when he was hit by a truck while crossing a road along with policemen at Wan Buchran, Mianwali. Later, the Toba Tek Singh district police officer held talks with the deceased?s father in Nawan Lahore police station and assured him a case against the police officials involved in the incident would be registered. Meanwhile, Wan Buchran police received information that Nawan Lahore policemen, along with the body of Akhtar and truck owner Khalid Raza, were returning to Toba Tek Singh. Following the information, the police intercepted their vans and brought them to the police station. The police registered a case against truck owner Khalid Raza under Section 322 of the PPC on the complaint of a Nawan Lahore sub-inspector. In the meantime, Riaz Hussain, the brother of deceased Akhtar Abbas, also reached there and registered a case against 16 policemen. The case was registered against Sub-Inspectors Abdul Ghafoor, Anayat Ali and Assistant Sub-Inspectors Akhtar Abbas, Ashiq and 12 constables under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code and 156-D of the Police Order 2002. After registering the case, the police detained the accused cops along with the truck owner in the lock-up. Musakhel DSP Ghulam Shabbir Chaudhry and Wan Buchran SHO Inspector Iqbal Qureshi brought the body of deceased Akhtar to the Mianwali DHQ Hospital but the post-mortem could not be conducted due to load-shedding till the filing of this report. When contacted, the DSP said the Nawan Lahore police officials were at fault as they did not inform the local police. He said they committed a blunder and misused their powers. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/20/pakistan.protests/index.html?eref=rss_world December 20, 2008 -- Updated 0129 GMT (0929 HKT) ? Share this on: Mixx Digg Facebook delicious reddit StumbleUpon MySpace Backers of banned Pakistani group protest ? Story Highlights ? Protesters stage demonstrations in federal capital of Islamabad and other cities ? Protesters support a banned Pakistani charity being tied to Mumbai attacks ? Group is Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which provides social welfare programs to Pakistanis ? Pakistan banned it after the U.N. designated it a terror organization with links to LeT From Zein Basravi CNN ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Supporters of a banned Pakistani charity being tied to last month's Mumbai attacks staged demonstrations in the federal capital of Islamabad and other cities on Friday protesting the shutting of the group. Activists supporting Jamaat-ud-Dawa chant slogans during a protest in Lahore on Friday. The group is Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), a popular group that provides social welfare programs to impoverished Pakistanis. Pakistan banned it after the U.N. Security Council designated the charity a terror organization because of its links to Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, (LeT). That's the Pakistan-based Islamic militant group India says was behind the killings of 160 people in the Indian city of Mumbai last month. India has blamed LeT for training the attackers who carried out the Mumbai attacks, but LeT has denied responsibility for the attacks. Pakistan banned Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in 2002 after an attack on India's parliament that brought the two countries to the brink of war, and JuD was formed by the LeT founder after that banning. About 200 supporters marched in a central Islamabad market area, with protesters chanting that the charity's members are "saviors of the needy" and called the government "cruel" for instituting the prohibition. "The government has closed offices and schools and hospitals," said Ali Butt, a protester from Pakistan-administered Kashmir. "In so many houses the ovens were burning only because of (JuD). Now they are all deprived." Wheelchair-bound, Butt said he received aid from the group after the massive earthquake that rocked Pakistani-administered Kashmir in 2005. "If someone is putting food in our mouths, can they be terrorists?" Butt said, adding, "I can't understand this." Another protester said that the government should take responsibility for the country's poor if it chose to ban such groups providing help to the needy. "We wouldn't take help from anyone if we could stand on our own two feet," said Noor Afsar, adding, "Why would we?" The banning and the placing of JuD leader Hafiz Saeed under house arrest in Lahore sparked protests in that city and Peshawer too. Two hundred people took to the streets in Lahore. Marchers say there's no evidence linking JuD to terror and said international pressure prompted Pakistan to institute the ban, being seen by some as an affront to Islam. "Wherever there are Muslims, wherever there are people with beards, people who pray, they are labeled as terrorists," Afsar said. "Are there not terrorists in other countries? Didn't this happen in our country, at the Marriott Hotel? -- a reference to the September attack in Islamabad that killed more than 50 people and wounded more than 250 others. "Who did that?" http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/pakistan/2008/12/18/188190/Pakistan-children.htm December 18, 2008 10:11 am TWN, AP Pakistan children protest U.N. action on charity KARACHI, Pakistan -- More than 100 children have rallied against the United Nations for branding the Pakistani charity that runs their schools a terrorist front. The girls and boys protesting Wednesday in Karachi claim the U.N.?s move is hampering their studies. One young protester held a sign addressed to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that said, ?Uncle Ban Ki-moon, please don?t scare me.? India blames Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for November?s assault in Mumbai that killed more than 160 people. The U.N. soon afterward said the Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity was simply a front for Lashkar. Pakistan has since shut scores of the charity?s offices. That has upset many of its beneficiaries, leading to several protests. http://wire.antiwar.com/2008/12/17/pakistan-children-protest-un-action-on-charity/ Pakistan: Children protest UN action on charity Pakistan children condemn UN action against charity alleged linked to Mumbai suspects Staff AP News Dec 17, 2008 05:42 EST More than 100 children have rallied against the United Nations for branding the Pakistani charity that runs their schools a terrorist front. The girls and boys protesting Wednesday in Karachi claim the U.N.'s move is hampering their studies. One young protester held a sign addressed to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that said, "Uncle Ban Ki-moon, please don't scare me." India blames Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for November's assault in Mumbai that killed more than 160 people. The U.N. soon afterward said the Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity was simply a front for Lashkar. Pakistan has since shut scores of the charity's offices. That has upset many of its beneficiaries, leading to several protests. Source: AP News http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/13mumterror-protests-in-pakistan-against-ban-on-jamat-ud-dawaah.htm Pakistan: Protests against ban on Jamaat-ud-Dawah December 13, 2008 02:26 IST Hundreds of people today marched towards UN office in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to protest the world body's declaration of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah as a terror outfit while political and religious leaders criticised the government's decision to crackdown on the group. Pakistan yesterday banned the Jamaat and clamped down on its leaders and activists after a UN Security Council panel declared the group a front for the outlawed Lashker-e-Taiba and put four LeT leaders on a list of terrorists subject to sanctions like an asset freeze and a travel ban. Hundreds of protesters marched to an office of the UN in PoK capital Muzaffarabad to protest the decision. The protesters shouted slogans against the US, India and the UN. As part of the countrywide crackdown against the Jamaat, Pakistani authorities have detained its chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and other top leaders and sealed its offices, seminaries, educational institutions and hospitals. Saeed's son, Mohammad Talha Saeed, said the group will mount a legal challenge in Pakistan's courts and the International Court of Justice against the crackdown. "There is no moral or legal justification for this action," he said in a sermon to thousands of people who attended Friday prayers at a mosque run by the Jamaat in Lahore [Images]. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is also chairman of the parliament's Special Committee on Kashmir, demanded that Pakistan should approach the UN Security Council for reviewing its decision to declare the Jamaat a terrorist group. Talking to reporters in Karachi, Rehman said the Jamaat and Al Rashid Trust, an affiliated organisation, were welfare groups and not terrorist entities. He said that no such action had been taken against several terrorist groups in India though Muslim charities were being targeted because of a bias against Islam. Rehman claimed India should behave responsibly and not use any incident to "mar the progress towards normalizing relations" with Pakistan. Punjab Chief Minister and opposition PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif asked India to provide solid proof against any Pakistani individuals believed to be involved in the Mumbai terror attacks [Images]. He told reporters after a meeting of leaders of several political parties in Lahore that Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism and was not involved in the Mumbai attacks. He expressed dismay at what he termed India's "hasty move" to take the case of the Jamaat to the UN Security Council. Sharif said all the provincial governments, including the one in Punjab, will fully cooperate with the federal government's decision to crackdown on the Jamaat. However, he alleged that India and some other countries were involved in the insurgency in Balochistan. Sharif asked New Delhi [Images] to reduce tension and to stop pointing a finger of blame at Islamabad [Images]. Meanwhile, leaders of religious parties held meetings in all provincial capitals and Muzaffarabad to protest the banning of the Jamaat and the closure of its offices. The leaders demanded the immediate release of Jamaat leaders and the lifting of the ban on the group. In their sermons after the Friday prayers, some clerics in Lahore asked Pakistan's rulers not to accept the "dictation of India". They also condemned the government's action of sealing mosques run by the Jamaat and said the entire nation was with the group in "this critical hour". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaat-ud-Dawa After the ban imposed by UNSC, Hindu minority groups in Pakistan came out in support of JuD. At protest marches in Hyderabad, Hindu groups said that JuD does charity work such as setting up water wells in desert regions and providing food to the poor.[8] Its banning has been met with heavy criticism in many Pakistani circles including many Christians and Hindus as JuD was the first to react to the Kashmir earthquake and the Ziarat Earthquake and used to run over 160 schools with thousands of students and provided aid in hospitals as well. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154464 Death threats to Ansar Abbasi Civil society, traders protest Tuesday, December 30, 2008 By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of civil society activists and traders protested here on Monday evening against the death threats to Editor Investigation The News Ansar Abbasi. The participants of the rally marched from the Aabpara market to the Melody Press Club to get their protest registered against the vilification campaign against Ansar Abbasi. The protestors were holding placards and banners and were chanting slogans in favour of the media and the daring journalist of the Jang Group. Politicians and traders also participated in the rally, among whom ex-MNA Mian Muhammad Aslam, Naib Nazim UC Derya Gali Amjad Abbasi, President Shabab-e-Milli Murree Sajjad-ul-Hassan Abbasi, Athar Minallah, Sajid Satti, Ghazala Minallah, Jamil Abbasi and Muhammad Nisar were notable. Addressing the participants of the rally, Mian Aslam said that it was not a new thing in Pakistani politics that the media was being threatened and a journalist was facing death threats. ?The inhabitants of the capital would not tolerate any harassment against Ansar Abbasi and would tackle every attack directed against the upright journalist of The News,? said the ex-MNA. Jahangir Akhtar, a civil society activist, said the government should protect journalists. He said the trader community would never let any financial hurdle come in the way of the defiant Ansar Abbasi. He said that Ansar Abbasi was not representing any single community or caste but was a representative of one hundred and sixty million Pakistanis. Speakers were of the view that the media in Pakistan was the only tool which was exposing the wrongdoings of the politicians and top officials but it was not being allowed to work. They said the nation stood with the Jang Group and Ansar Abbasi. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=150606 Khairpur villagers protest against police operation Friday, December 05, 2008 By our correspondent KHAIRPUR: Hundreds of residents of Ali Khan Naraijo village on Thursday demonstrated against an anti-dacoit operation of the police, accusing the agency of setting on fire several of their houses and injuring children Farzana and Ali Dost. Village elders Arbab Naraijo, Mehtab Naraijo and others alleged that instead of arresting the dacoits and their patrons, the force was harassing the law-abiding citizens. Meanwhile, SP Investigation Khairpur Ghulam Akbar Wagan said that police received information about the presence of four kidnapped youths, including Tariq Kolachi, Abdul Qadir Sehto, Sikandar Sehto and Karim Dino Ghamro. He said the police failed to recover the youth but the operation against dacoits would continue till the recovery of the kidnapped citizens and arrest of dacoits. He said during the operation, the police were able to get released six kidnapped citizens. Senior and retired police officers of Khairpur have disagreed with the planning of the operation. They opined that instead of deploying hundreds of policemen at one place, it would have been better to follow a hit-and-run style operation and establishing ambush parties for getting results. They said the police had formidable power and no law-breaker could take the risk to face the force. They opined that before launching the operation against the dacoits, police had publicised it and dacoits took advantage of it by escaping from their hideouts. They said it was not a result-oriented operation and the villagers, under fear of dacoits and police, had started living in remote and Katcha areas. Police sources said the Khairpur police received additional force of 700 men from other districts of Sindh for launching the operation. They added that the Khairpur police got Rs 13 to 15 lakh as boarding charges. They said the police had demanded a huge grant of about Rs 70 lakh for ensuring peace and security during Muharram and for the operation. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=151496 ?Protest if SHCBA?s powers not restored? Friday, December 12, 2008 By our correspondent Karachi The Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) threatened to initiate a protest campaign if the authority of the Sindh High Court (SHC) was not restored regarding the appointment of judges in the subordinate courts. The reaction came over the issuance of a notification by the Sindh government on December 4 and consequential amendments made in the Sindh Judicial Service Rules 1974. The SHCBA managing committee, headed by association President Rasheed A. Razvi, said that by the amendments, the Sindh government had excluded the superior judiciary of the province from having an effective say in the appointment of judicial officers in the subordinate judiciary. ?The divestment of this power is ex-facie mala fide. The SHCBA is therefore of the view that to vest these powers in the Public Service Commission, whose members enjoy no constitutional tenure, is fraught with great danger to the independence of the judiciary,? the SHCBA committee stated in a resolution after an emergency meeting at the Justice Iftikhar Hall in the SHC. The association resolved that the SHCBA was duty bound to pinpoint threats to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, and that it could not remain indifferent to the affairs of the subordinate judiciary where the bulk of litigation affecting people takes place. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154113 Court proceedings boycotted to protest Bangash?s murder Saturday, December 27, 2008 By our correspondent Karachi Bar members boycotted proceedings at all five courts on Friday to protest what they said was the targeted killing of advocate (and former DSP) Rahim Khan Bangash. The city courts were also closed due to winter vacations, but judges were present in their chambers. They adjourned cases because lawyers did not appear in court owing to the killing of their colleague. Due to the unscheduled boycott call, family members of inmates came to the courts and under-trial prisoners (UTPs) were also brought in. they all left the court premises, however, without the hearing of any case. The bail application of money exchangers Khanani and Kalia, which was to be heard on Friday was also rescheduled. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=68439 Published On: 2008-12-24 National Election Election 2008 Demonstration to cancel polling centre A Correspondent, Kishoreganj Hundreds of people yesterday demonstrated for cancellation of the Kalatali government primary school polling centre in Karimganj upazila in Kishoreganj-3 (Karimganj-Tarail) constituency. They staged the demonstration in front of the Upazila Nirbahi Office (UNO). Atikur Rahman, UNO of Karimganj upazila said Ruhul Amin, a office clerk is responsible for the fault. He was missing while the demonstration was being staged, the UNO said. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=66588 Print Friendly Version Published On: 2008-12-08 National Election 2008 Khulna-3,6 Field Gaffar and Modhu or face protest, say JP leaders Staff Correspondent, Khulna Khulna district and city units of Jatiya Party have demanded nomination of its central organising secretary Abdul Gaffar Biswas from Khulna-3 (Khalishpur-Daulatpur) and district unit general secretary Shafiqul Islam Madhu from Khulna-6 (Koira-Paikgacha) constituencies as candidates of 14-party alliance in the upcoming parliamentary election. Otherwise, all leaders and workers of Khulna district and city units of Jatiya Party will resign on December 12, a day after expiry of the date for withdrawl of candidature. The demand was made in a press conference at Khulna Press Club yesterday. Jatiya Party leaders Gaffar Biswas and Shafiqul Islam Madhu were also present at the press conference. They filed nomination papers from Khulna-3 and Khulna-4 and are now demanding their nomination as 14-party alliance candidates. The 14-party alliance has fielded Hasina Banu Shirin as its candidate in Khulna-3 but local unit of Jatiya Party declared her 'unwanted' in Khulna-3. She has no moral right to contest from any Jatiya Sangsad seat in Khulna district as she was isolated from politics and people for long 17 years, said JP central organising secretary Gaffar Biswas. Gaffar Biswas said the JP chairman has taken a suicidal decision by fielding Hasina Banu Shirin in Khulna-3 with recommendation of AL-led 14-party alliance. ?We want to know why JP Chairman favoured a politically isolated woman who will suffer a crushing defeat in polls from Khulna-3?, Gaffar Biswas said. When asked, Gaffar Biswas said he would surely win if nominated from this seat. Hasina Banu Shirin, central JP vice-chairman, was elected lawmaker on JP ticket in 1986 national elections. She has been fielded in Khulna-3 by dropping prominent Awami League leader Begum Mannujan Sufian and JP leader Abdul Gaffar Biswas. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=66290 Published On: 2008-12-06 National Election 2008 Protests continue to throw Mojahid out of poll race Rezaul Karim, Faridpur Faridpur district Mahila Dal holds a daylong protest meeting at Faridpur Press Club yesterday demanding nomination of BNP leader Kamal Yusuf instead of Jamaat's Mojahid for Faridpur-3. (Inset) Mojahid, Kamal Yusuf Photo: STAR BNP and its front organisations continued protests yesterday against four-party alliance nomination to Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid in Faridpur-3 (Sadar) instead of BNP leader Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf. The protesters also bitterly criticised Mojahid's showdown on Wednesday. As part of protest against Mojahid, Faridpur district Mohila dal, woman's front of BNP, yesterday held day-long rallies in front of Faridpur Press Club. Speakers at the rally demanded cancellation of Mojahid's nomination and urged people not to vote for him in the upcoming national election. They also blamed district BNP president Zahurul Haque Sahzada Mia and secretary Modarres Ali Isa for the ticket to Mojahid. They claimed that a section of BNP leaders misled Khaleda Zia and convinced her to give alliance ticket to Mojahid instead of Kamal Ibne Yusuf. It is the result of a Jamaat's conspiracy with a section of party leaders in the district, which will be harmful for the party, they said. Jamaat is eating up BNP, they said. Mojahid also violated the polls code by staging a showdown in the name of visiting his mother's grave, the speakers said. Denied ticket this time, Kamal Ibne Yusuf submitted nomination paper as an independent candidate. The speakers included district BNP joint convener Bilkis Islam, Mohila Dal convener Nazrin Chowdhury, joint covener Nasrin Alam, Jubo Dal leader Golam Kibria Swapan and Tarun Biswas, district Krishak Dal secretary Afzal Hossain Khan Palash and Chhatra Dal leader Selim Mia Selim. District Mohila Dal president Shanaz Sultana presided. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=69266 Print Friendly Version Published On: 2008-12-30 National Election 2008 Poll boycott to protest shifting of polling centre Our Correspondent, Jhenidah Most of the voters at Fulbari village under Baluhar union in Kotchandpur upazila of Jhenidha-3 constituency have boycotted election protesting shifting of centre from their village to nearby village of Marutia. Fulbari centre was an old centre but the authorities concerned shifted the centre to Marutia without informing it to villagers, said elderly people. Out of total 1,773 voters in the centre, 1,273 are of Fulbari and 500 voters are of Marutia, they said. ?My ancestors traditionally used to cast vote in the polling centre but it was shifted from our village whimsically," said Mohsin Ali,52, at Fulbari village. http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/12/23/0812230209_policepassenger.html Police, passengers clash at Kolkata Tuesday, December 23, 2008 01:42 [IST] Kolkata: The Dum Dum Metro station in the northern suburb of Kolkata turned into a battleground Monday night after passengers and locals protested against the Railway Protection Force (RPF) beating up a commuter who had alighted at the station. Several people, including two camera personnel of new channels, were injured as the RPF allegedly baton charged the mob protesting against the cops 'inhuman treatment' of the man, said to be an epileptic patient. Metro railway authorities, however, alleged that the man Gobinda Dey did not have a proper ticket and when he was chased by the RPF and metro employees, he fell down and injured himself. The Metro Railway spokesman said that the man tried to escape the penalty by feigning senselessness and was handed over to the local police. But passengers who witnessed the incident said Dey was forced to come out of a side gate as the ticket punching machine did not work. "Immediately the police started beating him up mercilessly. He became unconscious and was frothing at the mouth.. But for half an hour he lay unattended at the station. Later, they admitted him to a government hospital," said an eye-witness. As angry people protested, police reinforcements were rushed in. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawans were also deployed. Locals alleged that the police indiscriminately baton charged the passengers and locals, and several people sustained injuries. Two camerapersons who were taking footage of the police action also sustained injuries. Hospital sources said Dey was in a serious condition. Meanwhile, the police denied that they had baton charged the people. "We only chased the people away," a police official said. http://www.bt.com.bn/en/asia_news/2008/12/26/hundreds_arrested_over_india_protests Hundreds arrested over India protests LUCKNOW, INDIA Friday, December 26, 2008 POLICE fired teargas and live rounds into the air to disperse hundreds of protesters who took to the streets in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state yesterday after the killing of a senior public servant. The protesters, from the opposition Samajwadi Party, stopped trains in several cities and and blocked traffic in the state capital Lucknow. Police said they detained nearly 1,000 protesters. The most violent protests took place in the city of Auraiya, where television footage showed stone-throwing protesters and several burning buses. "We were compelled to fire a few rounds in the air and also release some teargas shells on Samajwadi Party activists," a senior police official said by telephone from Auraiya. Police also used batons in several areas to disperse protesters, who had vowed to bring Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, to a standstill with a statewide strike yesterday. Public works engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta was found beaten to death in Auraiya on Wednesday. A lawmaker from the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was taken into custody in connection with Gupta's death and will be held until he appears in court on January 7, police said. Reuters http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/india/2008/12/26/189302/Hundreds-detained.htm December 26, 2008 10:05 am TWN, Reuters Hundreds detained over India protests LUCKNOW, India -- Police fired teargas and live rounds into the air to disperse hundreds of protesters who took to the streets in northern India?s Uttar Pradesh state on Thursday after the killing of a senior public servant. The protesters, from the opposition Samajwadi Party, stopped trains in several cities and and blocked traffic in the state capital Lucknow. Police said they detained nearly 1,000 protesters. The most violent protests took place in the city of Auraiya, where television footage showed stone throwing protesters and several burning buses. ?We were compelled to fire a few rounds in the air and also release some teargas shells on Samajwadi Party activists,? a senior police official said by telephone from Auraiya. Police also used batons in several areas to disperse protesters, who had vowed to bring Uttar Pradesh, India?s most populous state, to a standstill with a statewide strike on Thursday. Public works engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta was found beaten to death in Auraiya on Wednesday. A lawmaker from the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was taken into custody in connection with Gupta?s death and will be held until he appears in court on Jan. 7, police said. No formal charges have been laid. The BSP in Uttar Pradesh is headed by Chief Minister Mayawati, who emerged as a potential kingmaker in Indian politics after state elections last year. Mayawati, who goes by one name, is known as the ?Queen of the Dalits? because of her power base among the Dalits, or untouchables. National elections are due by May, and some analysts see her party as a potential third force in Indian politics behind the ruling Congress led administration and the main BJP opposition. http://www.indiaenews.com/politics/20081224/167091.htm Wednesday, December 24, 2008 Samajwadi Party protests engineer's lynching in Uttar Pradesh From correspondents in Delhi, India, 10:00 PM IST The Samajwadi Party has called for a shutdown in Uttar Pradesh Thursday after a ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator was arrested for lynching a government engineer, and also has asked the central government to seek the governor's report on the state's law and order. Party general secretary Amar Singh said Public Works Department engineer Manoj Gupta was thrashed by BSP legislator Shekhar Tiwari and his musclemen after he failed to raise the requisite sum demanded by the legislator to be given as gift to Chief Minister Mayawati on her birthday Jan 15. Amar Singh said his party workers would organise a state-wide shutdown Thursday to protest the killing by Tiwari and his henchmen, who barged into the engineer's house in the middle of the night and thrashed him. Singh said he also expected that the Congress party would also support the call. The state administration said the killing had no connection with Mayawati. Decrying the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Singh said earlier a police officer, facing consistent pressure from Mayawati's henchmen to give fund to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), had committed suicide owing to his failure to do so. Singh alleged BSP workers were behind the killing of four businessmen in Baghpat district as they had refused to extortion money. In Lucknow, Samajwadi Party leaders told a press conference that state legislators and ministers have been asked to donate specific amounts for the chief minister's birthday. 'For example, Naseemuddin Siddiqui has to pay Rs.15 crore (Rs.150 milion), Nakul Dubey has to give Rs.5 crore, Satish Mishra Rs.20 crore and Ram Achal Rajbhar has to give Rs.5 crore,' Samajwadi Party state president Shivpal Yadav said. 'The contribution has been fixed depending upon the ministry and post enjoyed by the legislators and MPs,' Yadav said. The Uttar Pradesh Engineers' Association declared an indefinite strike to protest the killing. http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/25up-engineers-death-sparks-off-protest.htm Engineer's murder sparks off state-wide protests in UP Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow | December 25, 2008 21:42 IST While the state echoed with widespread violent protests and arson against the brutal killing of a public works engineer by a ruling Bahujan Samaj Party MLA in Auraiya district about 250 Km from Lucknow in the wee hours on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh [Images] Chief Minister Mayawati [Images] sought to give the case an interesting twist. "Apparently, the murder was a fallout of professional rivalry and underhand deals within the Public Works Department," Mayawati told a press conference in Lucknow on Thursday afternoon. In a desperate bid to give herself a clean-chit and clear herself of the charge that the engineer lost his life for refusing to concede the MLA's demand for money required to fill the coffers for Mayawati's birthday celebrations on January 15, she also hit out at the opposition for maligning her. Mayawati clearly focused all her energies towards taking the spotlight away from the widely believed theory that the PWD executive engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta was beaten to death simply because he refused to concede BSP MLA Shekar Tiwari's extortion bid for Rs 50 lakh. "Preliminary investigations have revealed that the murder was the result of some kind of professional tussle and kickbacks, " she claimed. "The allegation that my party MLA was indulging in extortion to contribute money for my birthday celebrations was absolutely false, baseless and a part of the opposition slander campaign to malign me and my party," the BSP leader asserted. Meanwhile, according to the autopsy report, Gupta's body bore 32 injury marks, while one of his arms was fractured. He had been given electric shocks, and his hair had been pulled out in chunks, the report added. However, in a sharp deviation from Wednesday's stand about entrusting the case to an agency that the victim's family would prefer, Mayawati refused to concede the popular demand for handing over the case to the CBI. Not only did she go about blaming it all on the opposition, but virtually reprimanded the media for dragging her name into the controversy. "What is the basis of your reports alleging that the MLA was induging in extortion for my birthday." she asked angrily . She also went about harping, "I do not believe in shielding anyone indulging in any unlawful activity, no matter however high and mighty he might be. We have done so in the past and even in this case, we have booked BSP MLA Shekhar Tiwari under stringent laws and have put him behind bars and I can assure you that he will not be spared under any circumstances." Meanwhile, a local court in Auraiya has remanded Tiwari to judicial custody until January 7. No effort was made by the state authorities to seek his police remand for further interrogation. Earlier in the day , hundreds of protesters resorted to stone throwing and arson in Auraiya, where they torched a police outpost and a bus. Trains were stopped in Allahabad, Etawah, Kanpur and a number of other districts, while roads blocks were staged in Lucknow . Over 1000 protestors were detained by the police across the state. Among those detained were Shivpal Yadav, acting state president of the Samajwadi Party, and party MP Akhilesh Yadav, who is also SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav's [Images] son, who were taken into custody from outside the State Governor's house in Lucknow along with 300 party workers. Even as the chief minister and her entire administrative machinery has been working overtime to persuade and pressurize the media to believe that the murder had nothing to do with the money collection drive for her birthday on January 15 , she did not hesitate to admit that the day was traditionally observed as "aarthik sahyog diwas". "We make no bones about observing my birthday as a day for seeking donations from our party supporters , who shell out their savings, with which we sustain our party," asserted Mayawati in an obvious bid to justify her birthday collections. "Unlike other political parties including the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bhartiya Janata Party, our Bahujan Samaj Party was not one supported by big industrial or business houses, therefore we have to depend on small contributions made by our supporters," she claimed. Tiwari and his musclemen had allegedly barged into Gupta's house around 0200 hrs on Wednesday, locked up his wife in the bathroom and thrashed the engineer after stripping him. Around 0500 hrs, Tiwari carried a severely injured Gupta to the nearest police station and told the police to register a case against the engineer for "indulging in hooliganism". The police, however, took him to hospital around 0700 hrs where he was declared dead. His two cohorts named in the FIR were yet to be arrested. "Manoj had been telling his wife that he was under tremendous pressure to shell out a hefty amount for Mayawati's birthday celebrations," The victim's kin told rediff.com. Every year on Jan 15, the BSP supremo holds a big birthday bash and party leaders at various levels are reportedly directed to make their assigned contributions. She, however, added: "This time I had issued directions not to involve party MPs and MLAs in the fund collection , that was to be handled only by party functionaries." Mayawati declared that her next birthday would be celebrated as 'dhikkar diwas' without the usual bash. "BSP workers will stage rallies at all district headquarters across the state to condemn all political parties which have been making false and wild allegations about extortion of money for my birthday. They will expose misdeeds of the Congress-led UPA, BJP-led NDA and their allies, including the Samajwadi Party," she asserted. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/engineers-death-sparks-protest-in-uttar-pradesh_100135067.html Engineer??s death sparks protest in Uttar Pradesh December 25th, 2008 Lucknow, Dec 25 (ANI): Activists of Samajwadi Party (SP) clashed with the police here today while protesting against the killing of an executive engineer allegedly by a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator. Samajwadi Party activists, led by state party chief Shivpal Yadav clashed with police while marching to Governor??s office. ?A protest march led by Shivpal Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav from their party office was making its way to the Governor? office. When police tried to stop them, the protestors forcibly broke the barrier set up by the police. The police have restrained themselves so far not to use force against them but now they have staged a sit-in protest; as such the police have now arrested the protestors who were present here,? said Akhil Kumar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Lucknow. Samajwadi Party leader Bhagwati Singh said that they ware marching peacefully to submit a memorandum to the Governor demanding action against the Mayawati government. ?We came here to submit memorandum to the Governor to take action against the corrupt Uttar Pradesh government as their party workers are extorting money from people for the occasion of the Mayawati??s birthday. Such an act is a major source of corruption in the State. The officials, workers and people here are facing difficulties due to this. We now demand that such a Government should be devoid of any powers,? he added. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mayawati has rejected CBI probe into the murder of the PWD engineer. She strongly condemned it to be a mischievous campaign by the Opposition to defame her govt by linking the killing to her birthday celebrations. ?Where is the need for a CBI probe when the state police, on my orders, have arrested all the accused in the case,? she asked. Shekhar Tiwari, BSP legislator, who reportedly has a criminal background, was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with the murder of the Executive Engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta of the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD). Gupta, was reportedly battered to death, allegedly by the MLA and his two henchmen, for refusing to pay contribution for celebrating the birthday of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP chief Mayawati next month, a charge Bahujan Samaj Party has denied. (ANI) http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP397695.htm Hundreds detained over north India protests-police 25 Dec 2008 13:58:19 GMT Source: Reuters LUCKNOW, India, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Police fired teargas and live rounds into the air to disperse hundreds of protesters who took to the streets in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state on Thursday after the killing of a senior public servant. The protesters, from the opposition Samajwadi Party, stopped trains in several cities and and blocked traffic in the state capital Lucknow. Police said they detained nearly 1,000 protesters. The most violent protests took place in the city of Auraiya, where television footage showed stone-throwing protesters and several burning buses. "We were compelled to fire a few rounds in the air and also release some teargas shells on Samajwadi Party activists," a senior police official said by telephone from Auraiya. Police also used batons in several areas to disperse protesters, who had vowed to bring Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, to a standstill with a statewide strike on Thursday. Public works engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta was found beaten to death in Auraiya on Wednesday. A lawmaker from the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was taken into custody in connection with Gupta's death and will be held until he appears in court on Jan. 7, police said. No formal charges have been laid. The BSP in Uttar Pradesh is headed by Chief Minister Mayawati, who emerged as a potential kingmaker in Indian politics after state elections last year. Mayawati, who goes by one name, is known as the "Queen of the Dalits" because of her power base among the Dalits, or untouchables. National elections are due by May, and some analysts see her party as a potential third force in Indian politics behind the ruling Congress-led administration and the main BJP opposition. (Reporting by Sharat Pradhan; editing by Tim Pearce) http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122660061000.htm National Samajwadi Party workers stage protest Atiq Khan Samajwadi Party cadres demonstrating in Lucknow on Thursday against the alleged involvement of Shekhar Tiwari, BSP legislator from Auraiya, in the murder of PWD engineer M.K. Gupta. (Bottom) Tiwari comes out of the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Auraiya. LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party workers on Thursday resorted to stone throwing and made an attempt to torch a police outpost in Auraiya town of Uttar Pradesh in protest against the killing of PWD engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta and alleged extortion by the Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs for giving donations to Chief Minister Mayawati?s birthday on January 15. ADGP( Law and Order) Brij Lal said three companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary were deployed in Auraiya and the DIG, Kanpur Range, was asked to camp in the town. Mr. Lal described the situation as under control. A symbolic protest was staged by SP workers in Allahabad by stopping trains, the ADGP said. About 100 SP workers, led by State unit president, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Kannauj MP Akhilesh Singh (the former Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh?s son) were arrested at the Raj Bhawan here. SP workers staged a demonstration at the party office and marched to the Raj Bhawan where they were arrested. They were released later. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122654680500.htm Other States - Uttar Pradesh Samajwadi workers protest Atiq Khan About 100 party workers arrested at Raj Bhawan ________________________________________ Demand for Rs.25 lakh ex-gratia relief for Gupta?s family ?We will continue with our strike till our demands are met? ________________________________________ LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party workers on Thursday resorted to stone throwing and made an attempt to torch a police outpost in Auraiya town of Uttar Pradesh in protest against the killing of PWD engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta and alleged extortion by the Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs for giving donations to Chief Minister Mayawati?s birthday on January 15. ADGP( Law and Order) Brij Lal said three companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary were deployed in Auraiya and the DIG, Kanpur Range, was asked to camp in the town. Mr. Lal described the situation as under control. A symbolic protest was staged by SP workers in Allahabad by stopping trains, the ADGP said. About 100 SP workers, led by State unit president, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Kannauj MP Akhilesh Singh (the former Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh?s son) were arrested at the Raj Bhawan here. SP workers staged a demonstration at the party office and marched to the Raj Bhawan where they were arrested and taken to the Reserve Police Lines. They were released later. Engineers go on indefinite strike PTI adds: Meanwhile the Uttar Pradesh Engineers Association on Thursday went on a state-wide indefinite strike saying the cease work will continue till its demands in connection with PWD Engineer M K Gupta?s murder are met. Seeking a CBI enquiry into the killing of Gupta in Auraiya on Wednesday, the engineers also demanded Rs.25 lakh ex-gratia relief for his family, security cover for the members, a class 2 category job for Gupta?s wife and a type IV residence for the family. The association has already sent its demands to Chief Minister Mayawati. Claiming support of many other engineer associations, UPEA president Akhtar Ali Farooqui said, ?We have got both the written and oral support of engineer associations from 15 states and we will do everything democratically to ensure that our demands are met. ?We will continue with our strike till our demands are met.? http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/samajwadi-party-protests-engineers-lynching-in-uttar-pradesh-lead_100134808.html Samajwadi Party protests engineer?s lynching in Uttar Pradesh (Lead) December 24th, 2008 - 11:11 pm ICT by IANS New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) The Samajwadi Party has called for a shutdown in Uttar Pradesh Thursday after a ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator was arrested for lynching a government engineer, and also has asked the central government to seek the governor?s report on the state?s law and order.Party general secretary Amar Singh said Public Works Department engineer Manoj Gupta was thrashed by BSP legislator Shekhar Tiwari and his musclemen after he failed to raise the requisite sum demanded by the legislator to be given as gift to Chief Minister Mayawati on her birthday Jan 15. Amar Singh said his party workers would organise a state-wide shutdown Thursday to protest the killing by Tiwari and his henchmen, who barged into the engineer?s house in the middle of the night and thrashed him. Singh said he also expected that the Congress party would also support the call. The state administration said the killing had no connection with Mayawati. Decrying the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Singh said earlier a police officer, facing consistent pressure from Mayawati?s henchmen to give fund to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), had committed suicide owing to his failure to do so. Singh alleged BSP workers were behind the killing of four businessmen in Baghpat district as they had refused to extortion money. In Lucknow, Samajwadi Party leaders told a press conference that state legislators and ministers have been asked to donate specific amounts for the chief minister?s birthday. ?For example, Naseemuddin Siddiqui has to pay Rs.15 crore (Rs.150 milion), Nakul Dubey has to give Rs.5 crore, Satish Mishra Rs.20 crore and Ram Achal Rajbhar has to give Rs.5 crore,? Samajwadi Party state president Shivpal Yadav said. ?The contribution has been fixed depending upon the ministry and post enjoyed by the legislators and MPs,? Yadav said. The Uttar Pradesh Engineers? Association declared an indefinite strike to protest the killing. http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/01/stories/2009010154180500.htm Andhra Pradesh - Karimnagar Activists of PR, Congress clash Staff Reporter Mohd. Ali Shabbir?s remarks on Pawan Kalyan draw flak KARIMNAGAR: Mild tension prevailed in Karimnagar town when Praja Rajyam activists and fans of film star Pawan Kalyan and Congress party activists clashed over the reported remarks by Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir against the film star on Wednesday. The Praja Rajyam leaders led by co-convenor Mohd. Arif and Pawan Kalyan Fans Association town president B. Madhu and others went in a procession to the Indira Gandhi statue to submit a memorandum in a symbolic appealIndira Gandhi to change the attitude of the Minister and help him strive for the welfare of the minorities and other sections of the society. They also condemned the Minister?s remarks . Getting wind of the news, some of the Congress minority cell activists led by Ahmed Khan, Javed Khan and others came in a procession along with an effigy of Pawan Kalyan and tried to set fire to it at Indira chowk. At this juncture, the PR leaders, who were in large numbers, obstructed their attempts and a clash ensued. The police led by Town Circlel Inspector Ganapath Jadhav swung into action and dispersed the mob. He took the PR leaders into custody . Later, the Congress leaders set fire to the effigy of Pawan Kalyan and raised slogans against him and his party. At the police station, Praja Rajyam leader Mohd. Arif demanded the arrest of Congress leaders for obstructing their peaceful demonstration after taking police permission. He alleged that the Congress leaders had come on to the roads without taking any permission from the police and attacked the PRP leaders. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122453290300.htm Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore Journalists stage demonstration Staff Reporter Coimbatore: Nearly hundred journalists from various media organisations representing both print and electronic media staged a demonstration in front of Red Cross Society Buildings on Huzur Road in the city in protest against the recent assault on media persons at Vettaikaranpudur, near Pollachi, during a clash between two groups. On Sunday evening a clash occurred between two groups in which two police personnel and a sub-inspector besides four home guards sustained injuries. The attack also resulted in the photo and video camera equipment of the four journalists being damaged. Journalists had already preferred a complaint and the journalists in Pollachi staged a demonstration on Monday. In Coimbatore, members of Coimbatore Press Club, Coimbatore Journalists Association and Tamil Nadu Press Club staged a demonstration and raised slogans demanding the arrest of the accused, protection for journalists while on duty and legal amendment ensuring the same. http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20081220/1133214.html Puducherry Journalists Union stages demonstration Puducherry | Saturday, Dec 20 2008 IST Puducherry Journalists Union today held a demonstration infront of the police head quarters here demanding action against the police personnel who attacked the photo journalists inside the court complex here yesterday. A large number of scribes, including leaders of AIADMK, BJP, NCP, RJD, BSP, VCK, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam and Federation for Peoples Rights, also joined the agitation. Alleging that the Puducherry Chief Minister was not taking any action, they demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking proper action against the police personnel and adequate compensation to the affected scribes. Earlier, the scribes took out a procession from the Puducherry Press Club to the police head quarters. -- (UNI) http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122150840300.htm Other States - Puducherry Journalists take out protest rally PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry Journalists? Union on Saturday took out a rally from the Press Club to the office of the Director-General of Police (DGP) to condemn the police action against a few cameramen while covering the incident on the court premises on Friday. The rally went through S.V. Patel Salai, M.G. Road, J.N. Street, and Mission Street, before reaching the DGP?s office. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121556170300.htm Karnataka - Mysore Church members stage demonstration Special Correspondent Members of Wesley Cathedral seek removal of pastor ? PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM Clarifying: Father Johnson Paul addressing the members of Wesley Cathedral in Mysore on Sunday. MYSORE: A few people staged a demonstration here on Sunday seeking the removal of the pastor of Wesley Cathedral. Sources said slogans were raised against the pastor Johnson Paul, who is also the chairman of the Area Property Committee, in connection with a transaction regarding a property belonging to the Church of South India (CSI). Allegation The protesters alleged that the Mission Bungalow, a property of the church where a rehabilitation centre was functioning, was leased to a U.S.-based company after the residents were forced to leave. The trouble began as soon as the prayers started when the members questioned the pastor. About 800 people were presentand a few people demanded that the pastor step down. The members objected to the reported agreement and expressed fears that a historic structure would be effaced if the project was allowed to take shape. However, Fr. Johnson Paul clarified that the ownership of the property had not changed and it continued to vest with the CSI Trust Association. Proposal He said that they had received a proposal from a U.S.-based health group for the construction of a hospital and health care centre at the venue. The proposal was discussed in the Area Council Meeting and the committee members approved it on certain conditions, including giving preference to the local community while allocating jobs. However, it was regrettable that a few members were misinterpreting the MoU which was signed between the church and the healthcare group, added Fr. Johnson Paul. Security arrangements were stepped up at the church following the demonstration. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/protest-in-orissa-against-arrest-of-kandhamal-book-author_100129778.html Protest in Orissa against arrest of Kandhamal book author December 11th, 2008 - 5:44 pm ICT by IANS - Bhubaneswar, Dec 11 (IANS) Rights activists, journalists and writers sported black badges and gagged their mouth Thursday as they staged a sit-in outside the official residence of the Orissa governor here to protest the arrest of a journalist for writing a book on the recent violence in Kandhamal.Lenin Kumar, the editor of the quarterly magazine Nishan, was arrested Monday after his book ?Dharma Nare Kandhamalare Raktara Banya? (Flood of blood in Kandhamal in the name of religion) came out. Police termed the publication provocative and intended to disturb communal harmony. Two others who helped him print and circulate the book are also arrested and jailed in Bhubaneswar after their bail pleas were rejected. The protesters sat in front of the governor?s house for nearly three hours holding placards and banners that read ?Stop communalism?, ?Free Lenin and others with apology?, ?Thinking and writing is not crime?, and ?Support the right to Dissent?. A delegation later handed over a memorandum to the officials at the governor?s house demanding immediate release of the writer. ?Police have tortured my husband, violating all basic human rights,? Lenin?s wife Rumita Kundu said as protests were organised in Bhabanipatna town in Kalahandi district Tuesday. ?Everybody has the right to express his thoughts. It is an attempt by the government to suppress writers who have independent voices,? eminent writer and columnist Bibhuti Patnaik said. Added civil rights activist Sudhir Patnaik: ?It is a move to curb free, frank and fearless speech of writers and journalists.? The Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), journalist associations and writers associations across the state have also issued statements condemning the arrest of Lenin. Police has claimed it has seized at least 700 copies of the book from the printing press. Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread communal violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23. While the police blamed Maoists for the killings, some Hindu organisations held Christians responsible for the crime and launched attacks on the community. Thousands of Christians were forced to flee from their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs. About 8,000 people are still living in government-run relief camps in the district. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121251280300.htm Karnataka - Shimoga Congress, JD(S) stage noisy protest Special Correspondent They complain of protocol lapse; ZP president and CEO promise action ________________________________________ Restrictions on protest come in for criticism ?They are in place following Chief Minister?s order? ________________________________________ MONTHLY MEETING: The Shimoga Zilla Panchayat in session on Thursday. SHIMOGA: Members of the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) staged a noisy demonstration at the monthly meeting of the Shimoga Zilla Panchayat here on Thursday complaining that they were being insulted by not being invited to people?s contact programmes which was a clear case of protocol lapse. The members raised the issue even as the house began its proceedings urging the administration to see that such things were not allowed to happen in future. President of the zilla panchayat Chandra Kumar and Chief Executive Officer V. Anbukumar promised the agitated members that they would ask the taluk-level officers to follow protocol strictly. The restrictions imposed by Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey on protest demonstrations on his office premises came in for sharp criticism by the members. They said it was a matter of concern that people would have to go to jail if they staged a demonstration within the office premises to seek justice. ?This situation is reminiscent of the days of Emergency,? they said. A member alleged that the Deputy Commissioner was helpless in the matter as he had to abide by the order of the Chief Minister who appeared to have asked him to avoid protest demonstrations on his office premises. A member, Shantaveera Naik, drew the attention of the members when he alleged that a large-scale scandal had taken place in the programme to remove silt in public tanks. He said that the officers concerned were misleading the district administration by providing wrong information. He said that there was a violation of law in the transfer of tanks coming under the purview of the zilla panchayat to the Minor Irrigation Department and criticised the decision on handing over such tanks to the department. Mr. Naik questioned the propriety in taking up development of tanks coming under the jurisdiction of the zilla panchayat by the department. He said that it had made the engineering section of the zilla panchayat irrelevant. B.R. Jayanth, who joined issue, suggested that the tanks coming under jurisdiction of the zilla panchayat should be listed as many of them had been encroached upon. Executive engineer of Minor Irrigation Department said that while the public tanks were under the control of the Deputy Commissioner, their maintenance had been entrusted to gram panchayats. He said that the development of tanks was being taken up at the instruction of Cabinet sub-committee. Mr. Naik brought the issue of chemical fertilizers and pesticides being stocked to the notice of the meeting. He alleged that artificial scarcity had been created with government officials colluding with fertilizer dealers. He said that fertilizers were being sold at a premium of Rs. 500 a tonne over the recommended prices which had caused inconvenience to farmers. K. Ashokmurthy suggested that cooperative societies should be allowed to make direct purchase of fertilizers from companies to avoid irregularities in distribution. Mr. Chandra Kumar said that he would convene a meeting of the representatives of the Cooperative Marketing Federation, dealers of fertilizers and officials of the Agriculture Department in 15 days to sort out the problem. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121251080300.htm Karnataka Protest against police action Correspondent ________________________________________ Villagers submit memorandum ________________________________________ Karwar: Villagers of Tatwanagi, led by public representatives, staged a protest in front of the Tahsildar?s office at Haliyal on Wednesday against the alleged police atrocity on the gram panchayat president. They submitted a memorandum to the Tahsildar. In the memorandum, the villagers alleged that a case was filed against Tatwanagi Gram Panchayat president Abdul Aziz Davalsaab. The police allegedly entered the house of Davalsaab at midnight and dragged him out and misbehaved with him. The next day he was released owing to public pressure. Then he was asked to go to the police station at Haliyal to sign a document. When Davalsaab went there, the police made him sit through the day. Then he was handcuffed in the evening and produced in court with his family, the villagers alleged. The memorandum pointed out that though he was a public representative he was treated a like a criminal. Haliyal Tahsildar Aziz Desai, who accepted the memorandum, promised the protesters that he would send the memorandum to the authorities concerned. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122651890300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Kadapa All-party protests against attack KADAPA: Functionaries of Telugu Desam, CPI and CPI (M) staged dharna before Chinna Chowk police station on Thursday demanding stern action Congressmen, who allegedly attacked CPI (M) sympathisers at Ramakrishnanagar here on Wednesday night. In all, 17 CPI (M) members and four Congressmen sustained injuries, according to the police. ?Staff Reporter http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122654030400.htm Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur Journalists protest Mareppa?s remarks Staff Reporter ? Photo: R.V.S. Prasad ANGRY LOT: Journalists burning an effigy of Marketing Minister M. Mareppa during a protest in Anantapur on Thursday. ANANTAPUR: Journalists led by the district unit of Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) staged a protest here on Thursday against Minister for Marketing M. Mareppa for his reported remarks against a section of the media. The Minister is reported to have called upon people at a public meeting at Kalayandurgam in Anantapur district to beat reporters with chappals for filing false news. The protesting scribes led by district president M. Ramalinga Reddy, treasurer P. Ramkrishna, Addala Ramakrishna, D. Rajagopal, A. Ravichandra, Lokeshwar Reddy, J.Y. Nagi Reddy and others staged a demonstration at Sapthagiri Circle and later burnt an effigy of the Minister. They condemned the remarks of the Minister and said they amounted to violation of freedom of the press. State president of APRS K. Ramakrishna also condemned the reported remarks of the ministers and demanded an apology from him. He alleged that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had become a torch bearer for such Ministers indulging in undemocratic utterances as he himself was making irresponsible remarks very often both against the media and opposition parties. Meanwhile, the APUWJ sought an unconditional apology for his ?intemperate and undemocratic? remarks. Stating that journalists did not need the advice of Mr. Mareppa on what they should report and what they should not, the APUWJ has asked Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to check the Minister in the interests of democratic polity and freedom of press. Condemning the remark, APUWJ general secretary Y. Narendar Reddy urged the Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy to rein in his erring Minister. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122150060100.htm Front Page Protests throw traffic out of gear Special Correspondent CHENNAI: Traffic was thrown out of gear on the busy Anna Salai and General Patters Road here after cadres of different political parties staged road roko and demonstrations on Saturday. Tension prevailed in front of Satyamurthi Bhavan on General Patters Road when a large number of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) cadres raised slogans condemning the arrest of party leader Kolathur Mani. As the vehicles piled up, the police diverted traffic through other routes. Even as the police intervened and took away the protestors, a group of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) cadres came to Satyamurthi Bhavan and targeted the building. Within minutes, Congress functionaries marched to Anna Salai and squatted on the road demanding the arrest of those responsible for the attack. Another group took out a procession on General Patters Road condemning the assault. In the process, traffic on several roads was disrupted for a few hours. Being a Saturday, not much of traffic police had been deployed in the area, resulting in chaos. Since the agitators took to the road suddenly, it took some time for the police to react and make diversions, police sources said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121655020300.htm Kerala - Kozhikode Union registers protest Kozhikode: The district committee of the Kerala Water Workers? Employees Union has registered their protest against the attack on water authority officers and contractors who tried to stop ?water theft by the hotel owners in the city.? ? Staff Reporter http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120753920400.htm Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram TDB holds interviews amid protests Special Correspondent THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Braving protests by youth organisations, the Travancore Devaswom Board conducted interviews for the post of lower division clerk here on Saturday. From early morning, a tense situation prevailed at the board headquarters. A huge posse of police was posted there. Activists of the All India Youth Federation, Democratic Youth Federation of India and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha marched to the office demanding that the interview be stopped. AIYF and DYFI activists entered the board premises and staged a protest. There were attempts to block the candidates who came for the interview. The police arrested the activists. Board sources said that memos were despatched to 68 candidates, of whom 28 turned up. While president C.K. Guptan and member P.K. Sumathy Kutty Amma interviewed candidates, another member K. Narayanan abstained from the process. AIYF State president V.S. Sunil Kumar later demanded that the government expel Mr. Guptan and Ms. Sumathy Kutty Amma and annul the proceedings. He demanded that the vacancies be reported to the Public Service Commission. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120752630300.htm Karnataka JD(S) workers protest ?maladministration? Staff Correspondent DAVANGERE: Janata Dal (S) workers led by H.S. Shivashankar and N.G. Puttaswamy took out a procession here on Saturday protesting against the ?maladministration? by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The workers raised slogans against the BJP Government and against Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa all through the procession. They demanded that the Chief Minister step down as he had ?failed? to provide basic requirements such as power to the people, particularly farmers. The administration had come to a standstill, the agitators said, adding that the morale of government officers was at an all-time low as mass transfers were being carried out. The party workers submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in which they said people were disillusioned with the way the BJP Government had been ruling the State and said the Chief Minister had no moral right to continue in office. They said the crime rate in all districts had shot up as power supplying companies had resorted to frequent disruptions that too during evenings. They blamed the BJP for ?buying? legislators which had resulted in the byelections. The party workers called upon the voters to teach such leaders a lesson and ?restore democracy.? The JD(S) workers in Harihar and Chennagiri also staged dharnas in front of the taluk offices. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123053620400.htm Andhra Pradesh - Karimnagar Protests mar YSR?s visit Staff Reporter Telugu Desam Party activists caned while obstructing Chief Minister?s convoy Photo: UPPU DAMODAR Reining in: TDP leaders being whisked into a police van at Nusthullapur village on the outskirts of Karimnagar on Monday. ? KARIMNAGAR: The visit of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy to Karimnagar on Monday was marred by arrest of opposition leaders, obstruction of his convoy and caning of demonstrators by police. Though the police made tight security arrangements, the opposition parties managed to obstruct the Chief Minister?s programme in protest against the failure of the State government to stop construction of Babli project in Maharashtra. Near Nusthullapur village, TDP activists were caned by the police when they tried to block Dr. Reddy?s convoy. Some party men sustained serious injuries while several others were arrested. Leaders held Earlier in the day, the police picked up important leaders of the TDP, TRS, BJP and the Left parties from parts of the town and lodged them in various police stations to avert untoward incidents. In spite of the unprecedented security, a few Telugu Mahila activists managed to enter the convention of self-help groups from the north Telangana addressed by Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. They tried to disrupt the meeting demanding that the Chief Minister take firm measures to stop construction of Babli and other projects across Godavari in Maharashtra. Unfazed by the interruption, the Chief Minister invited a burkha-clad woman on to the dais to speak. Later, Telugu Desam legislator Sana Maruthi, district party president L. Ramana, CPI legislator Chada Venkat Reddy and others staged a dharna near Gandhi statue condemning the arrests and caning of the opposition leaders. Meanwhile, at the inauguration of Congress office building, some party leaders put up banners demanding that former Telangana Rashtra Samiti legislators, who rebelled against the party, should not be allowed into the Congress as they had betrayed their own party and also the cause of a separate statehood for Telangana, they said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122461471400.htm Front Page Left parties protest passage of Bills without discussion New Delhi Bureau NEW DELHI: The Left parties on Tuesday staged vociferous protests inside and outside Parliament against the manner in which Bills were passed amid pandemonium. As members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed into the well of the Lok Sabha demanding sacking of Union Minister for Minority Affairs A.R. Antulay, Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal proceeded with the business which included passage of Bills, undeterred by noise and disruption. Simultaneously, Left MPs rose to protest the move by the government to transact the business of passage of the Bills without any discussion. A total of nine Bills were passed in just over 15 minutes. While some Left MPs entered the well of the House, others occupied the aisles and many were seen tearing up papers protesting the move. Soon after, the MPs staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha and held an impromptu ?sit-in? outside the main gate of the Parliament House. Similar scenes were seen in the Rajya Sabha. Left MPs along with members from the Telugu Desam Party and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam coalesced into a slogan-shouting bloc distinct from the BJP members demanding the removal of Mr. Antulay. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon. When it reconvened the Left-AIADMK-TDP protests became more vociferous with some entering the well and while a few were seen tearing up papers and this forced another adjournment. By voice vote The Bills that were cleared by voice vote in the Lok Sabha included the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill and South Asian University Bill. ?The passage of nine Bills in such a fashion is unprecedented. I have been in Parliament for 20 years, this has never happened. This is the beginning of the end and I do not know when the dignity of the House will be restored,? lamented Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Dasgupta. Speaking to journalists outside Parliament, he said the manner in which the proceedings were stalled showed Parliament was being held to ransom by some members and, taking advantage of the situation, the government was getting the Bills passed. CPI (M) Parliamentary Party leader Basudeb Acharia charged the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party with ?killing democracy? together since so many important Bills were passed without any discussion. ?This is not a good sign for democracy. This has never happened in Parliamentary history.?The Left MPs boycotted the valedictory reference after which the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die. BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the government move to pass Bills under the cover of noise was ?regrettable.? http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122055170400.htm Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram Lawyers? association registers protest THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala High Court Advocates? Association on Friday registered its protest against the actions of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy in meeting the Prime Minister and demanding a High Court Bench in Thiruvananthapuram. Jacob Varghese, president of the association, said the Chief Minister and the Opposition leader had not consulted the Bar Association of various districts before placing the demand before the Prime Minister. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121451760300.htm Karnataka A novel protest in Karwar Correspondent Agitation: Social activist and writer Madhav Nayak polishing shoes outside Anjaneya temple in Karwar on Saturday. Karwar: Karwar city witnessed a novel protest by social activist and writer Madhav Nayak on Saturday. Mr. Nayak sat outside Anjaneya temple in Maruti Galli in Karwar and polished shoes of devotees who visited the temple as a mark of ?atonement? for having supported Ganapati Ulvekar during the last Assembly election. Mr. Ulvekar, who is the president of the Karwar Municipal Council, recently joined Minister for Fisheries and Science and Technology Anand Asnotikar?s camp after waging a political battle against the Asnotikar family. Mr. Ulvekar, who was one-time confidant of the Asnotikar family, fell apart with them during the last Assembly election and contested as a rebel candidate against Mr. Anand Asnotikar, who was then with the Congress. Mr. Ulvekar was defeated by Mr. Anand Asnotikar by a margin of 27,000 votes. Mr. Nayak had supported Mr. Ulvekar then. However, a few days ago, Mr. Ulvekar joined the Bhartiya Janata Party in presence of the party?s State unit leaders. Mr. Anand Asnotikar is contesting the byelection from Karwar as the BJP candidate. Sources close to Mr. Ulvekar have said that his decision to join the BJP was guided by his business interests. Mr. Nayak sat in front of the temple and polished shoes to protest against what he termed as the ?moral fall? of Mr. Ulvekar. He told presspersons that some of Mr. Nayak?s friends had advised him not to support Mr. Ulvekar because they had said he would join Mr. Anand Asnotikar in the future. Mr. Nayak had then said that he would polish shoes of devotees in front of the Anjaneya temple if Mr. Ulvekar joined Mr. Anand Asnotikar. He said Mr. Ulvekar had let down the people who had supported him. On learning about Mr. Nayak?s protest, Mr. Ulvekar and about 60 of his supporters came to the spot and tried to attack him. The police, who were present in large numbers, cordoned off the area. Later, Mr. Ulvekar told pressperson that he would ?unmask? Mr. Nayak if he continued such ?gimmicks?. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081227/jsp/northeast/story_10305095.jsp Killing triggers Manipur protest - IRB jawan dragged out of car, shot in front of wife, kids OUR CORRESPONDENT Protesters block the highway at Pandongbam Lamkhai in Imphal East district on Friday. Picture by Eastern Projections Imphal, Dec. 26: Irate residents of Sekta Makha Leikai today blocked the Imphal-Ukhrul road since noon, demanding arrest of the culprits involved in the killing of an India Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawan. Unidentified gunmen shot dead Shijagurumayum Surjit Sharma, 31, a resident of Sekta Makha Leikai, in front of his wife Chanusana Devi and their two minor sons in Imphal East last night. Surjit, a rifleman of the 4th IRB was under suspension. He was suspended in 2005 after he was caught by a mob for allegedly robbing two youths in Singjamei of Imphal West district. Chanusana said three gunmen stopped their car near Pundongbam, while they were way home in a car along with their two sons, aged three and one. ?They requested us for a lift and to take them to Sekta Awang Leikai, a village near Sekta Makha Leikai. The three got into the backseat of the car. When we reached the destination they told my husband to take them up to Lousangkhong, a village beyond Sekta Awang Leikai. On reaching Lousangkhong, they wanted to go further. When my husband told them he could not take them any further, one of them fired at him,? she said. ?While two gunmen got off the car at Lousangkhong, the one seated in the middle pulled out a small weapon and shot Surjit on the back of the head from point blank range. The other two pulled out the injured and bleeding Surjit out of the car and again fired four to five rounds at him,? Chanusana, who was still shaking with fear, recalled. ?They killed my husband right in front of me and our two young children. This is inhuman,? she said. ?My husband did not do anything to anyone. The killers should own up and tell us why they killed him,? Chanusana said. The assailants left the place on foot. No arrests have been made. No group has claimed responsibility either. The residents of the locality held a meeting at the Sekta lower primary school ground this morning and formed a joint action committee to take up the matter with chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. A resolution adopted at the meeting set a two-day deadline for the Ibobi Singh government to track down the culprits. It also demanded a government job for his wife. After the meeting, the villagers took out a procession and then blocked the Imphal-Ukhrul road at Pungdongbam close to Sekta. Police, however, persuaded the protesters to lift the blockade later in the afternoon. ?We will wait for two days for the government to trace the culprits. If it fails to find them, we will launch an intensive agitation,? I. Rabi Singh, convenor of the action committee, said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/11/stories/2008121154390400.htm Tamil Nadu - Chennai MDMK protest demands apology from Sri Lankan Army Chief Special Correspondent ? Photo: M. Vedhan airing his demand: MDMK general secretary Vaiko addressing party workers in Chennai on Thursday. CHENNAI: MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Wednesday said that India?s military aid to Sri Lanka had emboldened the island nation and its army chief Sarath Fonseka to pass remarks against Tamil Nadu politicians. Addressing a demonstration organised by his party demanding that India seek an unconditional apology from Mr. Fonseka, Mr. Vaiko said he would only blame the Central government for the entire episode. The protest was held on TTK Road leading to the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission. He also accused the Union government of not honouring the plea of the Tamil Nadu leaders who had sought its intervention to stop the war in Sri Lanka. ?External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee?s visit is not going to help.? CPI assistant secretary C. Mahendran said India should close down the operations of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai and expel the Deputy High Commissioner if Mr. Fonseka failed to tender an apology. Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P. Nedumaran and Sri Lankan MP Sivajilingam participated. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 24 23:37:59 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:37:59 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Pro-democracy, human/civil rights and anti-government protests, AFRICA - LATIN AMERICA - MIDDLE EAST - EUROPE, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AE3F247.4040904@tesco.net> AFRICA * NIGER: Thousands protest extension of strongman's term * BOTSWANA: Opposition candidate stages demonstration * MAURITANIA: Latest on anti-junta protests * KENYA: Vicious police attack on protest against anti-media law * KENYA: Mungiki, police in standoff over funeral * KENYA: Human rights groups protest over taxes, perks * KENYA: Kibaki heckled at public event * KENYA: Media protesters demand release of activists * ZAMBIA: Police attack opposition protests after election * SOUTH AFRICA: Police violence mars anti-poll protest * NIGERIA: Shutdown after police arrest taxi driver * NIGERIA: Youths protest "hijacking" of scholarship scheme * NIGERIA: Film marketers protest alleged sabotage * RWANDA: Kabuye attesy protests reach Brussels; businesses shut down in Kigali * BURKINA FASO: Street renamed in protest over murder * ZIMBABWE/IRELAND: Protest over humanitarian crisis * ZIMBABWE: Repression against constitution protests LATIN AMERICA * BRAZIL: Coconuts used as violence symbol in protest; police killings and disappearances blamed * PERU: Police injure 20 at protest against mayor; office occupied over corruption * BOLIVIA: Clashes at protest over used car ban * DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Youth protest against impunity for officials MIDDLE EAST * IRAN: Students protest against gender apartheid, censorship, clash with goons at pro-democracy rally * IRAN/FINLAND: Iranians protest at OSCE venue * IRAN: Student at centre of dispute over Ahmadinejad criticism EUROPE and NORTH * UK: Protest against "terror" trial of Baloch rights activists * KYRGYZSTAN: Opposition plans protests * UK/WALES: Fresh ID card protest * UK: Woman pays parking fine in pennies * UK: Police murder victim's family stage protest at inquest * UK: Anti-CCTV protest - alien hoax exposes privacy risk * UK: Footballers protest wrongful imprisonment * CANADA: Protests against coalition deal * CANADA - QUEBEC: Protesters hold symbolic dice tournament to protest fascistic social policing * AUSTRALIA: Protest against internet censorship * CROATIA: Facebook protests fizzle * AUSTRALIA: Protest targets lawyers * ITALY: Mayor chains self to pole to protest corruption probe coverage * IRELAND: Solidarity march over priest child abuse cases http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_West%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=nw20081227143712557C842232 Thousands protest in Niger December 27 2008 at 02:55PM Niamey - Thousands of people took to the streets of Niger's capital Niamey to protest against a move to extend President Mamadou Tandja's rule, due to expire at the end of 2009, by three years. The objective is to make "Tandja a president for life, a real political potentate", said Mamane Hamissou, head of a civic movement which organised the demonstration. Tandja's supporters have urged parliament to allow the president to head an interim transitional government between December 2009, when his second and final term expires, until the end of 2012. The move has sparked wide protests and the opposition has branded it a veritable coup d'etat. Tandja earlier said he would step down next year and not seek to prolong his rule like many of his African peers. - Sapa-AFP http://allafrica.com/stories/200812230504.html Botswana: Bulela Ditswe Loser Goes On Independent Demonstration Oarabile Mosikare 22 December 2008 Francistown ? Although he denies it, Gerald Estate Police have revealed that Cornelius Gopolang requested a permit to demonstrate as an independent candidate. Gopolang recently lost the Kanana ward primary elections against councillor, Ace Ntheetsang. Gopolang's loyal supporters lodged a complaint with the regional committee chairperson, Botho Ntirang. They threatened that their man would run as an independent candidate if their pleas were ignored. Last week Saturday, Gopolang and some of his supporters demonstrated around the ward after obtaining a permit from Gerald Estate Police. According to the station commander, Superintendent Motsholathebe Mothibi, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) politician requested the permit as an independent candidate. Mothibi disclosed that Gopolang was given a permit and the procession covered the Kanana ward. He said there was no way they could have given him the permit if he applied as an individual to hold a political demonstration. On the other hand, Gopolang denied that he applied for the permit to demonstrate as an independent candidate. "I applied for that permit as an individual," Gopolang claimed. He said he was still a staunch BDP member and he has not jumped ship. He challenged the motive of the police for disclosing the contents of his application. "What has that got to do with the police? They are not telling the truth if they say I applied for the permit as an independent candidate. I'm still a BDP member," he said. In a previous interview, Ntirang said BDP rules do not allow demonstrations. He said the weekend demonstrators broke party rules, but did not disclose if any disciplinary measures would be taken against the offenders saying it was an internal matter. One of the regional committee members said Gopolang's march was a flop because it was attended mostly by primary school pupils. He said they are not fazed by Gopolang's antics since he was an independent candidate. "It would be a waste of time to discipline him. How can BDP discipline an independent candidate?" he asked. (Mmegi) http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081221122317.2hn8p1s7p0&show_article=1 Protesters hold a poster of Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi Protesters hold a poster of ousted president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi during a demonstration in Nouakchott in October. Mauritania's military junta has freed the ousted elected president from house arrest after weeks of international pressure. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812160874.html We AreContent ProvidersAdvertisingMy AccountMyAfricaBiztechSustainablePeaceSite Fran?ais ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi) Kenya: Faiths Join Protests Against Curbs on Media Freedom 16 December 2008 Nairobi ? Violent scenes reminiscent of the dark days of President Daniel Moi's dictatorship have returned to the Kenyan capital after parliament passed a bill which tightens the state's grip on the broadcast media. In what may well be one of the worst indictments of President Mwai Kibaki's commitment to democracy, anti-riot police citing 'orders from above' beat up and arrested journalists and civil rights activists protesting against the new law. The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008 was passed on Thursday and is awaiting presidential assent. In addition to stringent licensing requirements, the bill vests excessive power in the Communications Commission of Kenya, empowering it to determine the time, manner and content of broadcasts. The bill also allows the internal security minister to switch off stations and seize equipment in case of "public emergency or in the interest of public safety and tranquility." The bill has been roundly condemned by the media fraternity, civil society, the faiths, and foreign missions, which have urged President Kibaki not to assent to it. Observers say legislators passed the bill to hit back at the media which has in recent months spearheaded campaigns to have Members of Parliament (MPs) pay tax on their hefty allowances. The Kenyan media, one of the most robust in Africa, have relentlessly championed reform, exposed corruption and fought the culture of impunity in officialdom. Media have also been critical of the performance of President Kibaki, whose landslide election in 2002 was touted as Kenya's second liberation. His bitterly disputed re-election last year plunged the country into its worst ever crisis. The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) asked the president not to sign the communications bill, advising him instead to refer it to parliament for further debate. "We take cognizance of the fact that the bill portrays the media as the problem in Kenya whereas everyone knows it is our politicians whose recklessness and selfishness is tearing our nation apart. What Kenyans would like to see is parliamentarians respect freedom of speech of other actors," NCCK said in a statement on Sunday. The organisation, which brings together Protestant and evangelical churches, further called on politicians to focus on resolving the problems facing Kenyans such as high food and energy prices, inflation and poverty. The new law has also been rejected by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM). On his part Cardinal John Njue, chairman of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, said he advocated for responsible media. At a church fundraiser attended by President Kibaki on Sunday, the cardinal was quoted by the Presidential Press Service as calling for regulations to ensure media houses acted responsibly and to restrain them from churning out programmes that made the society lose its identity and dignity. Information permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo said the government had no intention of gagging the media, but the new law "will regulate the electronic media by promoting ethical standards and enhancing our moral values." Kenya's media are already regulated by the state through licensing, laws on libel and protection of state secrets. The country also has a statutory media council to enforce professionalism. President Kibaki has not commented on the ongoing saga. But Prime Minister Raila Odinga said he would pass to the president a petition against the bill handed to him by media owners on Monday. http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4760663 Protesting journalists arrested in Kenya December 14, 2008 Edition 1 Police in Kenya arrested 23 journalists and activists on Friday during a protest against a controversial new media bill on the sidelines of the country's 45th anniversary celebrations. The police broke up the peaceful demonstration in Nairobi as it moved towards a football stadium, where President Mwai Kibaki was due to address tens of thousands of people celebrating independence day. Around 50 demonstrators took part in the demonstration, wearing T-shirts and holding banners urging Kibaki not to ratify the Kenya Communications Bill, adopted by parliament last week. "They were demonstrating without informing us. They didn't give us notice," said Nairobi police official Richard Mugwai, after those arrested were taken to Nairobi's police headquarters. The bill, which provides for heavy fines and prison sentences for press offences, has sparked an outcry among Kenyan journalists. In a letter to Kibaki, press rights group Reporters Without Borders described the bill as "draconian", adding that it gives the information minister the power to interrupt broadcasts, dismantle broadcasting networks, and tap telephones. The bill also gives the internal security minister the power to seize broadcasting equipment without referring to any other authority. - Sapa-AFP http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/501902/-/u0l6a6/-/index.html Students to hold demos to protest against Bill By SIMON SIELEPosted Saturday, December 13 2008 at 22:12 University and middle-level colleges on Saturday said they would organise a series of peaceful demonstrations to protest against what they called an attempt to muzzle the media. They said they would also protest against rising food prices and MPs? failure to pay taxes. ?This action is the only option left to instil a sense of responsibility in the Government,? they said. The group calling itself Student Leaders Forum took issue with the MPs? decision to vote in favour of the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill which they said is aimed at gagging the Press. ?We believe the Bill, if passed into law in its current form, will interfere with the democracy Kenya is enjoying, including freedom of the Press, which has done us proud by exposing the shoddy deals and scandals that we might not have known were it not for the media,? said their spokesman, Mr Mohammed Yosuf. He added that arrangements had been made for young people across the country to converge on Nairobi on Monday to bring pressure to bear on the President not to assent to the Bill. The students termed the proposed law ?draconian in its current form unless it is returned to Parliament for the necessary amendment.? They vowed not to pay taxes in future unless MPs do so in order allocations to the Higher Education Loans Board may go up. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812120585.html Kenya: New Media Law Provokes Protest, Arrests Katy Gabel 12 December 2008 Nairobi ? Kenyan police on Friday arrested several well-known media personalities who had gathered in Nairobi to demonstrate against a new media bill passed by Parliament this week. < The bill, which is now awaiting presidential ratification, would allow the government greater freedom to seize journalists' equipment and would empower government agents to open and search postal mail. The arrests occurred shortly before the official celebration of Jamhuri Day, the Kenyan national holiday marking the end of British colonial rule. During the official celebrations at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, a well-known comedian was arrested while attempting to pass a note to a person on the main stage, and a ruckus broke out in the stands. Later, spectators booed President Mwai Kibaki's speech, which addressed food prices, technology development and fuel prices, promised more funds for youth education and expressed commitment to a new constitution. In a live broadcast of proceedings, KTN television, which is owned by the East African Standard media group, ran an advertisement over Kibaki's image which read "Protect Media Freedom. Protect Your Right To Know." The broadcast also showed a demonstrator being arrested and removed from the stadium. Kibaki ended his speech shortly thereafter. Protesters are demonstrating their general dissatisfaction with the coalition government, formed in March to appease the country's two largest political parties after ethnic violence and widespread rigging of polls following the December 2007 presidential elections. Earlier this week, American Ambassador Michael Ranneberger called for the immediate implementation of reforms and urged MPs to pass "relevant legislation that is in the interest of all Kenyans." http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245953,kenyan-police-arrest-journalists-during-media-bill-protest.html Kenyan police arrest journalists during media bill protest Posted : Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:54:15 GMT Author : DPA Nairobi - Kenyan police Friday arrested 23 journalists and protestors demonstrating against a new media bill that many fear will curtail press freedom. Police say they arrested the demonstrators, who were heading to the Nyayo national stadium where President Mwai Kibaki was speaking during a national holiday, because they did not announce the protest in advance. Kibaki has the power to veto the controversial bill, which parliament passed this week. The bill allows the state to raid media houses, interfere with broadcasters' programming and take stations off the air. Information Minister Samuel Poghisio says the government is only trying to encourage responsible media. The government has in the past accused TV stations of inciting ethnic hatred. During the post-election violence this year the government halted live broadcasts in the interests of "national security." US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannenberger has expressed concern over the bill. December 12 is Jamhuri Day, or Republic Day, which celebrates Kenya's independence from Britain. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/502212/-/u0lp51/-/index.html Groups protest Bill on media Mars group civil society chairman Mwalimu Mati and his wife Jane leave Lang'ata police station following their release. They had been arrested last Friday. PHOTO/HEZRON NJOROGE By FRED MUKINDA and CASPER WAITHAKA Posted Sunday, December 14 2008 at 20:12 The directors of an organisation which supported protests during Jamhuri Day celebrations in Nairobi were released on Sunday after two days in police custody. However, Mwalimu Mati and his wife Jayne are not off the hook yet because police said they were still being investigated over claims of incitement. The couple is associated with Mars Group Kenya, a human rights organisation, which police blame for planning the protests that erupted during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium. They were released from the Lang?ata Police Station at 1.30pm, following protests from their supporters who had been camping outside the station. ?They are free without charges for now, and without bond or cash bail,? Nairobi police boss Njue Njagi said. Mr Mati and his wife had been arrested at Nyayo Stadium alongside 51 others who were freed hours later without charges. The Nation learnt that plans to arraign them in court on Monday were dropped at the last minute. On Friday, the police were targeting people who wore T-shirts that bore messages of dissatisfaction with the recently passed Communications Bill, which is designed to curtail the freedom of the press. According to police, the group?s officials distributed T-shirts with messages aimed at inciting Kenyans into disrupting the celebrations. The black T-shirts also had the identity of Mars Group Kenya. The celebrations, which marked 45 years of independent Kenya, were presided over by President Kibaki. ?We want a free Kenya where when people disagree they don?t become militant,? Mwalimu Mati said after his release. Malicious His wife said they would not relent on the fight, and if anything, they are going to push further. ?We will be calling on the implementation of the Waki Report, especially on police reforms to be addressed,? she said. However, the conditions under which they were released are still unclear. Their lawyer, Mr Harun Ndubi, refused to comment on the issue. On Sunday, an official of The Partnership for Change, Ms Wangui Mbatia, condemned the continued detention of Mr Mati and his wife. ?The charges being preferred against the two are not only ridiculous, but malicious and calculated to injure their reputations,? she said. http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Kenya_editors_protest_new_harsh_media_law_76872.shtml December 15, 2008 Kenya editors protest new harsh media law Risdel Kasasira Kampala The Association of Kenyan Editors has protested the parliamentary approval of new and harsher media law amendments. In a strongly worded statement issued yesterday, the Kenya Editors? Guild said Kenya?s Communications Amendment) Bill, 2008 is harsh and intended to muzzle media freedom in Kenya. The Kenyan parliament approved the new amendments to the Bill that seek strict media regulations. ?Kenya Editors? Guild is alarmed by the alacrity with which Parliament has passed the above piece of legislation intended to muzzle and cripple the operations of a free and independent media,? the statement signed by association Chairman, Macharia Gaitho reads. He said the media is witnessing ?not just an assault on media freedoms, but a creeping dictatorship and totalitarianism driven and executed by an unholy alliance between Parliament and the Executive.? The editors added ?Repression knows no boundaries, and will surely stifle all the freedoms and civil liberties supposed to have been restored with the end of the one-party state.? The editors said from the debate in Parliament on Wednesday, ?it is absolutely clear that the motive of the Bill was not to provide for a fair regulatory framework for broadcasters, but to punish the media for imaginary transgressions?. ?It was therefore a show of extreme bad faith for Parliament to be asked, and to so readily pass, the Bill in its original version,? Mr Gaitho said. The statement said in the last few years Kenyans have witnessed brazen assaults by the government on free speech and freedoms of assembly and association. http://kenyanexpressions.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/is-this-the-return-of-press-censorship-in-kenya/ December 12, 2008 Is this the return of press censorship in Kenya? Posted by maik under 1 | Tags: Media Bill, MP's Taxes, Press Censorship | No Comments Kenya?s Media Owners Association (MOA) has called on President Mwai Kibaki not to assent to the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill passed by Parliament on Wednesday. MOA Vice Chairman Martin Khafafa speaking at a press conference on Thursday, termed the proposed law that is awaiting President Kibaki???s final approval as draconian and not in line with any democratic principes as it curtails the freedom of information and goes against the rule of self regulation. ???We cannot allow the people who we pay to take away our voice, to take away our ability to think on our own. Freedom of expression is a basic human right enshrined in our constitution since independence. We will fight for it with our very lives,??? he said. ???The media today says ???Mr President, save our country. Please do not sign this Bill into law. Mr Prime Minister, save our country. Please do not agree for this to go any further???.??? Lawmakers collectively passed the Bill on Wednesday ignoring pleas by media stakeholders for them to delete Section 88 of the Bill, which gives the government powers to confiscate broadcasting equipment during national emergencies. The new law hands power to the Information Minister to dictate broadcast content. It proposes that stations commit a minimum amount of time to locally produced content in lieu of which they will pay a fine to be used to ?develop the Kenyan production industry?. Khafafa said, ???yesterday Parliament passed a law to ensure the media can never again tell the Kenyan people about their impunity and irresponsible looting of our taxes???. He added, ???Our politicians have now consigned all of Kenya to a permanent darkness. A darkness in which they will determine what they want Kenyans to hear and see and at what time they wish us and Kenyans to do so.??? Information and Communications Minister Samuel Poghisio supported the Bill, saying was it aims to enhancing the regulation of the broadcasting sector and provided a legal framework to encourage professionalism in the media industry. In the past week,some MPs had indicated that they would pass the Bill ???to punish the media??? over the extensive coverage of their failure to pay taxes on their hefty allowances. ???We feel it is a direct revenge against our exposure against their lack of paying taxes,??? said Khafafa. The MOA further accused Poghisio and his Permanent Secretary Dr.Bitange Ndemo of reneging on promises to delete the controversial clauses. Editors had asked Parliament and the Government to erase draconian clauses in the Bill, which they said could curtail freedom of speech and information. They had said that they would have no option but to go to court to have it repelled. The Bill was passed by Ninth Parliament but the Head of State returned it to Parliament for amendments after the media fraternity raised issues with the oppressive clauses. It had to be re-introduced in the 10th Parliament. Below is the Headline Story in the Jamhuri Day edition of The Daily Nation ( COURTESY OF THE NATION MEDIA GROUP) Don?t sign this bill Mr President The Government, working through the Postal Corporation of Kenya, can now open your letters without the authority of the courts. If your MP steals from the Constituency Development Fund and buys a fleet of limousines, your town newspaper cannot look over his fence and photograph them. If you insult anyone on SMS, you will most certainly go to jail. And when there is rioting in Kibera and police use live ammunition to put down the protests, the minister for Internal Security can send officers to TV stations to destroy equipment so that reports of the shootings are not aired. It is the minister for Information, Mr Samuel Poghisio ??? who, by the way, is being accused by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission of defrauding taxpayers ??? who will decide what can be broadcast, when and in what form. He will do so by giving guidelines to a Communications Commission of Kenya made up of people hand-picked by him. The minister claims he needs the powers to control obscene and objectionable materials, but the new law is deliberately vague, so that politicians will have the leeway to do as they please. These are just but a few of the examples of the effect of the Kenya Communications (amendment) Bill, 2008, which Parliament enthusiastically passed on Wednesday afternoon. That fraudulent law is not really about the media; it is about civil liberties. If you believe that it is right for the Government to read your mail, your SMSs and to decide what you can watch on TV, then you can sit back and relax. But the nature of civil liberty violations is that once the Government has tasted blood, it will not stop there. It will keep taking them until a perfect dictatorship is established. President Kibaki took an oath to defend the Constitution and civil liberties. Those were not mere words that he uttered; he must live to their spirit by returning to Parliament for amendment this Bill, which, with the stroke of a pen, would sink Kenya into the pits of infamy. With one signature, it would take away the freedoms of expression, thought and communications that make our cherished democracy. Throughout his political career, Mr Kibaki, despite his diplomatic mien, has been known for a certain quiet determination. In the 1970s, he was the only Cabinet minister with the libertarian instincts to attend the premiere of plays by dissident authors regarded as radioactive by politicians of those days. His partner in government, Mr Raila Odinga, has suffered personal pain for demanding the freedoms that the Government is now in danger of taking away. It is not always easy to recognise history as momentous when you are living it. MPs may not have realised how big a blunder, and what an injustice they were inflicting on the nation, when in 1982 they voted for Section 2(A), outlawing multi-partyism. That decision precipitated a coup attempt and unleashed a dictatorship whose excesses are the cause of the poverty and hardship that Kenyans experience today. The violations of human rights in the 1980s and the Government-driven development of ethnic hatred and politically-instigated clashes, which culminated in the massacres early this year and nearly broke the country apart, can be traced back to that single appalling vote. In 1987, very few visionaries saw the folly of stripping holders of constitutional offices of their security of tenure. Kenya was a democracy only in name, but even in a dictatorship, it is expedient to maintain a fa??ade of respectability to keep the masses settled and dissidents in check. The arrogance of power had persuaded the Kanu power-brokers that the fear of detention and torture could extinguish the candle of freedom in the human soul. It flickered on through the darkness of the Nyayo House dungeons, the secret graves and the tribal massacres. Today, it is still burning. Those who authored the mlolongo fiasco of 1988 thought they were being clever and ???strong??? by ridding politics of dissidents and enforcing conformity. Ultimately, that decision ??? by forcing sections of the political elite to rebel against their own party ??? cost Kanu power and produced an inter-play of events, the result of which is the fragile politics of today; the weak, insecure state and near economic collapse. The vote by Parliament to strip Kenyans of civil liberties in revenge because of the media???s coverage of the taxation of MPs??? salaries is an issue of the moment and one whose historic vibrations will be felt well into the future. President Kibaki must not miss the moment, nor must he delude himself that this is an event without consequences for the country he swore to protect, and for his own legacy. The law to gag the media ??? which otherwise seeks to regulate the ICT and broadcast industry ??? has been passed in gall and anger. But it is the one act, which finally throws aside the cloak of parliamentary politics, enabling Kenyans to see in stark relief the truth about corruption, evasion of tax and the breakdown of representation in Kenyan politics. In April 2006, the world was horrified when Kenyan MPs threatened to throw out that year???s budget if their mileage allowances were not increased. At the time, donors had issued an appeal to feed millions who were facing starvation. What kind of leader would demand a pay raise when the people are starving? The subversion of the legislative process to serve personal, myopic and emotional or financial needs in this brazen fashion will hopefully draw the attention of Kenyans to an awful truth: they spend a lot of money on elections and maintaining the National Assembly, they paid a high price for the election of their MPs, but these leaders are not their true representatives. Rather, the men and women in the House work for the interests of their own feudal estate, a class that sees nothing wrong in bankrupting the impoverished mwananchi (citizen) to protect its own shallow lives of excess and extravagance. Parliament is today a new aristocracy that has no regard for civil liberties, but is willing to go the extra appalling mile to nurse its own vanities and mask its corruption and emptiness. Kenyans need to know that parliamentary dictatorship is as evil as any form of dictatorship and is to be fought and vanquished at all costs. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_East%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=87&art_id=nw20081214132044713C873826 Kenyan protesters teargassed December 14 2008 at 02:56PM Kenyan police on Sunday fired teargas to disperse dozens of protesters demonstrating for the release of rights activists detained two days earlier. An AFP reporter at the scene said a group of around 40 protesters gathered in front of the Lanita police station, in Nairobi, were dispersed but regrouped to block the road further away. The demonstrators were calling for the release of activists detained on Friday during a protest against a new media bill they said curbed the freedom of the press. The bill passed by parliament on December 10 has been widely criticised, including by the United States. Prime Minister Raila Odinga's party has said it will take court action if President Mwai Kibaki signs it into law. On Friday, police arrested more than protesters including many journalists, in Nairobi. It was not clear on Sunday how many of them had yet been released. - Sapa-AFP http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2442137,00.html More protests over media bill 14/12/2008 17:13 - (SA) Nairobi - Kenyan police on Sunday fired tear gas to disperse dozens of protesters demonstrating for the release of rights activists detained two days earlier. An AFP reporter at the scene said a group of around 40 protesters had gathered in front of the Langata police station in Nairobi. They were dispersed, but regrouped to block the road further away. The demonstrators were calling for the release of activists detained on Friday during a protest against a new media bill they said curbed the freedom of the press. The bill, passed by parliament on December 10, has been widely criticised, including by the United States. Prime Minister Raila Odinga's party said it would take court action if president Mwai Kibaki signed the bill into law. On Friday, police arrested more protesters including many journalists, in Nairobi. It was not clear on Sunday how many of them had been released yet. - AFP http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/18/kenya-media-protests-communication-bill/ Kenya: Media protests communication bill Thursday, December 18th, 2008 @ 10:42 UTC by Rebecca Wanjiku During Kenya?s 45th independence celebrations on December 12th, the media engaged the government in confrontations and street protests over the Kenya Communication Amendment bill, a law that if passed will give the government rights to regulate electronic media in terms of content. While this kind of regulations exist in other countries, the Kenyan media has protested against the bill and the government has accused the media of following capitalistic interests and not using the available consultation avenues. There have been accusations and counteraccusations for days, and Kenyan blogs have brought out the alternative view, which has not exactly been represented in the mainstream media. Activists arrested at the Langata police station in Nairobi on Kenyan Independence day 2008 for wearing t-shirts advocating press freedom and calling for MPs to start paying taxes. (Picture by mentalacrobatics) Sukuma Kenya wrote about the arrest of journalists and members of the public who participated in the protests or were caught up in the mayhem: Caroline Mutoko of Kiss FM and Mwalimu Mati of Mars Group Kenya are among those who have this morning been arrested at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi. The two have been taken to the Langata police station. 60 other Kenyans are also being bundled into waiting police vehicles and it appears that it is planned to distribute those arrested in various police stations across the city. The 62 are part of a larger group of Kenyans that had gone to attend the national event at the Nyayo National Stadium as we mark Jamhuri Day today and use the forum to address our leaders, making the Kenyan citizen?s grievances heard. They were all wearing black T Shirts with the message ?No Tax for MPs, No Tax for Us? which is part of the campaign being run in conjunction with Kenyans who care and university students to protest against MPs refusal to pay tax. Kenyan Pundit, who also quoted Sukuma Kenya, offered several updates on the demonstration arrests such as this one: Four colleagues in Garissa remain in detention for simply trying to present the Provincial Commissioner with a memorandum. Kumekucha feels that the legislators are ?teaching? the media a lesson for exposing the MP?s decision to vote against a motion seeking to tax MPs: Tenth Parliament served the media sweet cold revenge marinated in the Kenya Communication (Amendment) Bill. And the Kenyan media must have seen it coming after their spirited exposure of the MPs? lust and opposition to have their salaries taxed. Welcome to Kenyan politics and way of life where national good only stretches as far as personal aggrandizement. The-xposer wonders why the bill was rushed through Parliament before consultations were over: Now it is clear why the Kenyan legislators rushed to pass the Media Bill, without proper analysis??.If revenge would be the code of operation in this nation, what will happen to morallity? How many Bills have been passed out of revenge??? Kenyan Entrepreneur labels the current problem as a symptom of poor leadership from the coalition government that came to power after the post election violence at the beginning of this year: I?ve said before that Kibaki should rule like a dictator, but that does not mean curtailing the freedoms of the press, which the public has come to rely on. I meant, that he should force through the fundamental changes that the country needs (without trying to look for consensus from parliament)?but changes that will have a POSITIVE effect on the country in the long-term. Things like, forcing the KRA to withdraw taxes from Mp?s salaries & daring the MP?s to go againt you or arresting people who pee on the streets or litter or spit, etc, etc?..So, it would be dictatorial yes, but in the long run, it would be good for the country. That?s the Lee Kuan Yew model: forced, positive, change. Kumekucha sheds more light on what the bill intends to achieve: Legalizing police raids on media house is akin to watering the seed of political incest where the Government would pretend to police itself in Parliament. Well, the politicians have selfishly made the bed and must accept to lie of it with all the thorns sprouting underneath. Self-regulation with independent arbiters is the practice the world over to have media remain responsible but not in Kenya. After all is said and done, Capt. Collins Wanderi Munyiri at Kenya Imagine blames the media for failing to take the necessary steps: But is the media entirely blameless? It celebrated in September 2007 when Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, then Minister for Information and Communications, withdrew the same bill from Parliament citing the need for further consultations, and the need to introduce clauses to deal with cyber crime as well as to protect the optical-fibre cable. My commentary on this Bill was published in the Business Daily on 4th September, 2007. Instead of using the window created by the withdrawal of the bill to highlight its weaknesses and lobby for the removal of the offending clauses, the media concentrated on political sideshows. Over the years, journalists in East Africa have failed to establish an effective mechanism of self regulation. The results have been catastrophic. In Kenya, wayward journalists have elevated politicians to the level of demigods through slanted coverage. Indeed, political content takes up most of the editorial space in the electronic and print media. My friends in the media openly admit that prominent politicians always have the press in tow because they generously tip (read bribe) reporters for favourable coverage. Any wonder, then, that all media houses in East Africa routinely ignore the professionals and businesses who sustain them through advertisement? The post further accuses the media of cultivating the characters that the legislators currently demonstrate: It is the prominence accorded to politics by the media in East Africa which has cultivated unparalleled arrogance in MPs, giving them a sense of invincibility. MPs, who often bribe reporters, believe they can ride roughshod over them and everyone else. I know that politicians bankroll journalists for favourable coverage and I have names of several reporters across all the media houses in Kenya; some do not even hide, they brag about it. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812180023.html International Freedom of Expression Exchange Clearing House (Toronto) Kenya: Authorities Arrest Journalists Protesting New Communications Bill 18 December 2008 Several journalists and civil society activists in Kenya were arrested last week while protesting the passage of a new communications bill that would give the authorities sweeping powers, reports the Media Institute (MI). The morning crew for Kiss FM radio station, co-anchors Larry Asego and Mzee Jalang'o, and Kenya's top female presenter, Caroline Mutoko, were arrested as they demonstrated against the bill, as well as the high cost of food and the refusal of MPs to pay taxes, on 12 December at Independence Day celebrations in Nairobi. Former Transparency International (Kenya) director Mwalimu Mati and many other civil society activists wearing black t-shirts were also arrested and locked up at various police stations in Nairobi. MI, the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) and the Journalists Association of Kenya condemned the arrests as a return to dictatorship and a violation of fundamental liberties, calling it "ironic" when the country was celebrating 45 years of independence from the British. The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008 was passed on 10 December despite months of behind-the-scenes consultations between government officials, politicians and industry stakeholders. The bill now goes to President Mwai Kibaki, who has two weeks to decide whether it should be signed into law. IFEX members are preparing a joint letter to send to Kibaki. According to MI, the bill will empower the Minister for Internal Security to take over media houses and seize equipment on grounds of state security - without referring to any other authority. Meanwhile, the Information and Communications Minister also has powers to search and seize broadcast equipment, in addition to the right to intercept and disclose telephone calls, emails and letters, says MI. The amendments also grant the Information Minister sweeping powers to control what can be broadcast, when and in what form. The Minister will also appoint the government-dominated Communication Commission, which is charged with licensing broadcasters and ensuring the broadcasts are of "good taste". Among other provisions, penalties for press offences - fines and jail time - have also increased, suggesting "a discriminatory and vindictive attitude towards the media," MI says. "This bill is unacceptable in a country that professes to be a democracy, as it literally takes away the fundamental freedom of expression and violates sections of the constitution that guarantee the same," says MI director David Makali. Analysts believe that MPs passed the bill in retaliation against media criticism that MPs allowances should be taxed. Kenya's MPs are among the highest paid in the world. According to MI, some MPs have launched a scathing attack on the media, angered by the all-out campaign against the bill, and vowed to ensure the bill becomes law. MI says that further demonstrations are planned to pressure President Mwai Kibaki to reject the bill. Visit these links: - MI: http://eastafricapress.net/ - MI on protests: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/99331/ - Reporters Without Borders letter to Kibaki: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=29657 - IFEX Kenya page: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/39/ (17 December 2008) http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-12-15-kenyan-journalists-held-at-protest-over-media-bill Kenyan journalists held at protest over media Bill NAIROBI, KENYA Dec 15 2008 14:39 Kenya police on Monday arrested four journalists protesting against a controversial media Bill, but Prime Minister Raila Odinga said he would hold talks with the president over the draft law. Police fired tear gas and pepper spray at about 50 protesters marching to Parliament to denounce the Bill passed last week and which has sparked criticism from media owners and rights groups. "Freedom of the press. Our right" and "We don't want the Bill to signed," chanted the group wearing black T-shirts, an Agence France-Presse photographer reported. The Bill will become law when President Mwai Kibaki signs it. Odinga's party, which formed a unity government with Kibaki's party earlier this year, has threatened court action if the president assents to the Bill. "We were hoping to have consultations before the Bill was presented to Parliament. Unfortunately that did not happen," Odinga told reporters after meeting media owners on Monday. "But I will present the petition to the president and we will then communicate the final results of the discussion. "I want to reiterate the government's commitment to the protection of the freedom of the press," he added. On Sunday, police freed dozens of people arrested during the country's independence day celebrations on Friday while protesting the media Bill and demanding that lawmakers' allowances be taxed. -- AFP http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/-/1070/506192/-/707c9i/-/index.html Mungiki and police clash over burial By WAIKWA MAINAPosted Tuesday, December 23 2008 at 20:34 In Summary ? Officers arrest mourners, among them school children Business came to a standstill for the better part of Tuesday in Murang?a Town, parts of Mathioya and the Murang?a-Kiria-ini road during a stand-off between the police and suspected Mungiki sect members. The outlawed sect members were part of more than 300 mourners on their way to Mathioya for the burial of Mr Joseph Kigotho Kinyua, 25, who was killed in Kiambu last week. The impasse was still on by late evening when the police ordered the mourners to take the body to the mortuary and destroy the casket until a new licence for the burial was issued. Mourners, who included children and women, were stranded at the Murang?a police divisional headquarters waiting to know the fate of their relatives taken to different police stations in the district. Some of them sustained serious injuries and were bleeding profusely as they were forced into police vehicles and driven away. The police have refused to disclose the whereabouts of the arrested people, some of them primary school children, said Mr Paul Kamau, the father- in-law of the deceased. Among those arrested and taken away were eight boys aged between 12 and 16 years. Mr Kamau said three of the boys were his sons. There was a heavy presence of police at the deceased?s Gikoe home, where the family was stopped from conducting the burial. Sect?s conditions However, district commissioner George Natembea denied that his officers barred the burial blaming the sect members for ?imposing? conditions on security officers. Trouble started at around 11am when the motorcade was stopped by police officers at Mukuyu road block. The police are said to have beaten up drivers as mourners watched. Mungiki sect political leader Njuguna Gitau called on the police to release the arrested youth, saying they were innocent people heading for Mr Kinyua?s burial. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/502780/-/u0lt8g/-/index.html Human rights groups defend Jamhuri Day protest marches By JAMI MAKAN and SUDHIR BYARUHANGAPosted Monday, December 15 2008 at 21:13 Human rights groups have defended their Jamhuri Day protests, saying, they will do the same in future unless MPs agree to pay tax on their perks and food prices are reduced. ?Non-violent, peaceful protest is a legitimate means of voicing legitimate concerns,? Ms Gladwell Otieno of he Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG), said on Monday. Separately, the Marketing Society of Kenya, the Universities? Academic Staff Union and the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya added their voices to the chorus of organisations condemning the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008. The Bill seeks to outlaw cross-media ownership and also allows the Government to raid media houses during a state of emergency. At a press conference in Nairobi on Monday, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), AfriCOG and other rights groups also said they would continue with protests over Government?s perceived inaction on the Waki and Kriegler reports and the refusal by MPs to pay tax their six-figure perks. The groups also condemned the detention of two protesters at Lang?ata Police Station for more than 24 hours, saying it violated the Constitution. The Constitution states that any person who has been arrested must be taken to court within 24 hours, unless he or she is suspected of an offence punishable by death. The two, Mr Mwalimu Mati and his wife, were released on Sunday after they were arrested on Friday. Elsewhere, the Marketing Society of Kenya criticised the Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008, which gives the Internal Security minister power to search and raid any broadcasting station during a state of emergency. Emergency Section 88 of the Communications Act 1998, which was not removed by the amendment Bill despite intense lobbying, reads: ?On the declaration of any public emergency? the minister for the time being responsible for internal security may? take temporary possession of any telecommunication apparatus or any radio communication station or apparatus within Kenya.? But the marketing society said freedom of expression is a necessary ingredient to good governance. And the Universities? Academic Staff Union urged President Kibaki to withhold his signature from the Bill, saying, the rights of all Kenyans, not just journalists, were under threat. ?In the era of the knowledge economy, press freedom is an instrument for keeping watch on human rights, trade union rights and academic freedom rights that are indispensable,? the group said in a statement. Also on Monday, the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya said: ?We, on behalf of the 67 churches and denominations under our umbrella, wish to strongly condemn attempts by Parliament to curtail the freedom of the media.? Meanwhile, four civil society members who stormed Jamhuri Day celebrations in Garissa Town were freed on cash bail on Monday after entering a ?Not guilty? plea. The activists from the Northern Forum for Democracy appeared before Garissa senior principal magistrate Maxwell Gicheru on charges of creating disturbances in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace and storming the dais armed with offensive placards. They paid Sh5,000 each. Additional reporting by Issa Hussein http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/501578/-/u0l3bp/-/index.html Protesting Kenyans take row to stadium Members of the public heckling as President Kibaki delivers his speech during Friday?s fete. Photo/HEZRON NJOROGE By MUCHEMI WACHIRAPosted Friday, December 12 2008 at 22:03 ? Members of public complain about rising costs of foods and issue of MPs? tax A moment of prolonged silence during the Jamhuri Day celebrations on Friday was enough indication that something was in the offing. The crowd that remained unexcited as President Kibaki went round in the ceremonial military Land Rover, only came to in protest against the arrest of comedian-cum-journalist Walter Mong?are. The silence had been occasioned by a crackdown on a group of members of the civil society who had earlier warned that they would lead people in staging protests at the Nyayo National Stadium, the venue of the celebrations. They wanted to protest against the rising costs of basic foods and the refusal by MPs to pay taxes. When Mr Mong?are, also known as Nyambane, who works with the Nation Media Group, was arrested, there was shouting and heckling. A section of the crowd even tried to hurl plastic water bottles at the security agents who were carrying the comedian out of the stadium. Made attempt Mr Mong?are, who had been seen earlier mingling with other journalists at the venue, changed his clothes and donned a white and black stripped shirt and pants, the official attire in the country?s jails. He made an attempt to access the podium where President Kibaki, the First Lady, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka were seated, but security agents quickly pounced on him. He resisted the advancing men, creating a scene, which became the centre of attention with journalists busy taking photos of the unfolding drama as the President and other dignitaries watched. It is after his arrest that the stadium became livelier and the crowd more animated. Several other side shows followed, diverting attention from the entertainment troupes. At one time, a crowd at the one of the terraces attempted to break the gates, demanding to take a petition to the President. Chaos followed as the police struggled to restrain the unruly crowd. But even after succeeding, a section of them continued shouting ?tuna njaa? (we are hungry), disrupting the speeches. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/501574/-/u0l3bl/-/index.html Police swoop on protesters Activists arrive at Langata Police Station after being arrested in Nairobi on Friday. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI By CASPER WAITHAKAPosted Friday, December 12 2008 at 21:59 Anybody in a black T-shirt outside the Nyayo National Stadium faced the wrath of the police on Friday. Although they had not staged any meaningful demonstration as they had planned, they were all seized and shoved into the nearby police post. Some were even plucked from the queue as they tried to enter the stadium and whisked into waiting police cars. Other innocent wananchi were caught up in the melee and found their way into the police post. Among those arrested are Caroline Mutoko and Larry Asego of Kiss FM and human rights activist Mwalimu Mati as they made their way into the stadium. The T-shirts bore the words: ?No tax no tax uta do?? (No tax no tax what will you do?) Those who wore them were pushing Members of Parliament to pay tax on their hefty allowances and lower food prices. They were said to be members of a lobby group calling itself the Citizens Alliance for Change and were protesting against the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2008, awaiting presidential assent. The Bill threatens to curtail freedom of the media. Two of their leaders who escaped arrest said they would hold demonstrations from tomorrow to press for the release of their members. Mr Richard Wafula and Mr Jakobuya Dimba said: ?We?ll keep on pressing for taxation of MPs and the freedom of the press.? They added: ?We realised that since the price of maize flour was lowered because of our loud protests, we felt that the only way to deal with the Government was through such action.? Unruly crowd They said 50 of their members were arrested. An officer who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity said there was nothing unusual about the arrests, adding that all they were doing was to contain the unruly crowd whom he noted were demonstrating at the wrong time. A lot of pressure has been piled on the Government, especially after the prices of maize flour hit a high of Sh120 for 2 kilos, which was beyond the reach of common Kenyans. The police post at the stadium was overwhelmed by the number of people arrested, who were later ferried to Lang?ata Police Station. At around midday on Friday, only seven suspects were being held at the police post. http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=70387&cat=0 Protests in Kenya Interrupt President Mwai Kibaki?s Independence Day Speech Atlanta, Ga. 12/12/2008 06:20 PM GMT (TransWorldNews) An independence day speech being delivered by Kenya?s President Mwai Kibaki was cut short on Thursday when protesters began jeering the leader after a man was arrested while trying to hand the leader a note. Kibaki was addressing a large crowd at Nairobi?s Nyayo Stadium in celebration of the country?s 45th Independence Day when protesters began to heckle him over recent government bills that have limited the rights of Kenyans. Many of the protesters expressed outrage over a bill passed on Wednesday that allowed the state to raid media houses and control broadcast content, a direct attack on freedom of speech and press. Many attending the Independence Day celebrations wore shirts bearing slogans that expressed extreme displeasure with the parliamentary measure. In addition to those protesting the media bill several voiced outrage over the rising food prices in the country At least 20 protesters were arrested during the celebrations. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Africa&set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20081214132044713C873826 December 14 2008 at 02:56PM Kenyan police on Sunday fired teargas to disperse dozens of protesters demonstrating for the release of rights activists detained two days earlier. An AFP reporter at the scene said a group of around 40 protesters gathered in front of the Lanita police station, in Nairobi, were dispersed but regrouped to block the road further away. The demonstrators were calling for the release of activists detained on Friday during a protest against a new media bill they said curbed the freedom of the press. The bill passed by parliament on December 10 has been widely criticised, including by the United States. Prime Minister Raila Odinga's party has said it will take court action if President Mwai Kibaki signs it into law. On Friday, police arrested more than protesters including many journalists, in Nairobi. It was not clear on Sunday how many of them had yet been released. - Sapa-AFP http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/107/article_2026.asp Banda wins presidential election with narrow margin Article published on the 2008-11-02 Latest update 2008-11-02 17:19 TU Rupiah Banda, acting president since Levy Mwanawasa's death from stroke in August last, was sworn in as President on Sunday. He won the election with a score of 40.09 per cent of the vote, narrowly defeating his opponent Michael Sata who took 38.13 per cent. Banda, sworn in just hours after the official result, said he would continue the policies of Mwanawasa and would fight poverty. He appealed to the opposition to "put aside petty squabbles" Police broke up protesters on Saturday night with tear-gas on the streets of Lusaska. Supporters of opposition candidate Michael Sata marched in Mandevu, an area of the capital, to voice their anger that, after an initial lead, Sata had dropped back behind Rupiah Banda. Police spokesman Benny Kapeso said the protests had begun at 9 pm Saturday and witnesses claimed that the demonstrators had attempted to set fire to the market. On Sunday police were deployed in key areas of the city and patrols were increased. Brian Lingeloa of the Media Institute of Southern Africa says that independant observers have described the election as free and fair and that Lusaka has been calm today. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812100807.html South Africa: Protests Mar City Poll Lindsay Dentlinger, Andisiwe Makinana And Murray Williams 10 December 2008 Cape Town ? Police used stun grenades to disperse crowds and reports of intimidation flowed in today as voting got under way in 27 by-elections in the Western Cape. A last-ditch attempt by the ANC to have the by-elections postponed failed to prevent polling stations opening their doors across the province at 7 this morning, where voting got off to a slow start. A total of 174 936 voters are registered to cast their ballots across the province before 9 tonight. The eight by-elections in the Cape Metro in which the ANC was disqualified were particularly volatile today, with trouble reported in Philippi and Gugulethu. Police used stun grenades to disperse about 100 people, mostly elderly women, as they attempted to enter the Intsebenziswano Senior Secondary School in Philippi shortly after 10am, where they were expecting to hold a meeting to pledge their support for the ANC. Women, surprised by police action, ran screaming down the road. "We were not doing anything. We've been peaceful, it's them (police) that are provoking the people." The gathering had marched peacefully from the Brown's Farm Community Centre, where they had started their campaign to discourage people from voting. One lady contended the police's action had been prompted by the "Shikota movement". "It's them, it's them," she shouted, as she ran to avoid the smoke of a stun grenade. Protesters had started their offensive against the Kosovo by-elections at the Weltevreden temporary polling station for Ward 33, which had been set up in a tent on a field. Wearing ANC T-shirts, a group of men discouraged people in the area from voting and handed out pamphlets informing people of the meeting at the school. The pamphlets informed people that the ANC had not been allowed to participate in the election, and discouraged sympathisers and members from voting to show their support for the party. The Weltevreden temporary polling station was one of the busier ones in the area today and, within two hours of the polling station opening, more than 70 people had voted and a steady stream, undeterred by the protests, were queueing up outside. After protesters were prohibited from meeting at the school, they instead moved through the area to discourage people from voting. Closely followed by police, they made their way through Philippi where three wards are being contested. Community organisers appealed for calm from their supporters and said they would await senior ANC leadership to give direction on holding a meeting later in the day. DA leader Helen Zille laid a charge of intimidation against the ANC with IEC Western Cape head Courtney Sampson after visiting the Efibedeni voting district in Kosovo in Philippi. "The ANC had erected a cordon and was physically preventing people from voting. People were going through anyway, but you had to be very brave to go and vote." Sampson confirmed that Zille had laid a complaint by telephone and that the police had also forwarded several complaints of intimidation against the ANC which they had received. Sampson said all these would be followed up. He said the primary complaints was of the ANC using loudhailers to allegedly dissuade voters from voting. "But it is a fine line between (allegedly) doing that and the ANC's (legitimate rights) to inform voters that it was not participating in the by-elections." He said he would visit several sites to personally investigate. In Gugulethu, ANC Youth League members, wearing party T-shirts, gathered outside the Gugulethu Library singing freedom songs and handing out pamphlets about the party's failure to register. At 11.25am, police were called to disperse the crowd, and they told the group to move away from the venue's entrance. An IEC official said: "It looks like the ANC is going to create problems for us. I'm nervous about this afternoon." Independent Democrats looked on, while Congress for the People (Cope) supporters "engaged" the ANC group. Inside the polling stations, voting went ahead, albeit at a "very slow pace". Five wards in the Drakenstein Municipality are being contested - three in Paarl, one in Saron and one in Wellington. In Ward 26 in Paarl, a representative for Cope said they were told by the IEC to remove their banners as the party was not yet registered. The voting station in Paarl was quiet this morning, but controversy erupted when it was alleged that the ANC was distributing food parcels to voters. Numerous sources, including the ANC head office in Paarl, later confirmed that food parcels were being distributed to ANC members. The Cape Argus was told by several ANC staffers at two different voting stations in Ward 26 that they had handed out food parcels containing basic foodstuffs - "but only if they were needy and were sure they were going to vote for the ANC". However, ANC MPL Garth Strachan said his staff denied this, and he promised to investigate. "It is widespread practice by all political parties to offer refreshments, but handing out food parcels is a different matter," he said. At the time of going to press, Strachan was obtaining sworn affidavits in which officials denied handing out food parcels. The ANC, out of desperation to contest today's by-elections in these areas, brought another urgent application before the Electoral Court on Monday night asking for the elections to be postponed. The ANC filed this second application to the Electoral Court even before the court had ruled against them in their first application challenging the IEC's ruling that they had missed the deadline for the registration of candidates to contest the elections. (Cape Argus) http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Cape%20Argus&fArticleId=4755779 Protests mar city poll Crowd dispersed with stun grenades Reports of intimidation December 10, 2008 Edition 2 LINDSAY DENTLINGER, ANDISIWE MAKINANA and MURRAY WILLIAMS Police used stun grenades to disperse crowds and reports of intimidation flowed in today as voting got under way in 27 by-elections in the Western Cape. A last-ditch attempt by the ANC to have the by-elections postponed failed to prevent polling stations opening their doors across the province at 7 this morning, where voting got off to a slow start. A total of 174 936 voters are registered to cast their ballots across the province before 9 tonight. The eight by-elections in the Cape Metro in which the ANC was disqualified were particularly volatile today, with trouble reported in Philippi and Gugulethu. Police used stun grenades to disperse about 100 people, mostly elderly women, as they attempted to enter the Intsebenziswano Senior Secondary School in Philippi shortly after 10am, where they were expecting to hold a meeting to pledge their support for the ANC. Women, surprised by police action, ran screaming down the road. "We were not doing anything. We've been peaceful, it's them (police) that are provoking the people." The gathering had marched peacefully from the Brown's Farm Community Centre, where they had started their campaign to discourage people from voting. One lady contended the police's action had been prompted by the "Shikota movement". "It's them, it's them," she shouted, as she ran to avoid the smoke of a stun grenade. Protesters had started their offensive against the Kosovo by-elections at the Weltevreden temporary polling station for Ward 33, which had been set up in a tent on a field. Wearing ANC T-shirts, a group of men discouraged people in the area from voting and handed out pamphlets informing people of the meeting at the school. The pamphlets informed people that the ANC had not been allowed to participate in the election, and discouraged sympathisers and members from voting to show their support for the party. The Weltevreden temporary polling station was one of the busier ones in the area today and, within two hours of the polling station opening, more than 70 people had voted and a steady stream, undeterred by the protests, were queueing up outside. After protesters were prohibited from meeting at the school, they instead moved through the area to discourage people from voting. Closely followed by police, they made their way through Philippi where three wards are being contested. Community organisers appealed for calm from their supporters and said they would await senior ANC leadership to give direction on holding a meeting later in the day. DA leader Helen Zille laid a charge of intimidation against the ANC with IEC Western Cape head Courtney Sampson after visiting the Efibedeni voting district in Kosovo in Philippi. "The ANC had erected a cordon and was physically preventing people from voting. People were going through anyway, but you had to be very brave to go and vote." Sampson confirmed that Zille had laid a complaint by telephone and that the police had also forwarded several complaints of intimidation against the ANC which they had received. Sampson said all these would be followed up. He said the primary complaints was of the ANC using loudhailers to allegedly dissuade voters from voting. "But it is a fine line between (allegedly) doing that and the ANC's (legitimate rights) to inform voters that it was not participating in the by-elections." He said he would visit several sites to personally investigate. In Gugulethu, ANC Youth League members, wearing party T-shirts, gathered outside the Gugulethu Library singing freedom songs and handing out pamphlets about the party's failure to register. At 11.25am, police were called to disperse the crowd, and they told the group to move away from the venue's entrance. An IEC official said: "It looks like the ANC is going to create problems for us. I'm nervous about this afternoon." Independent Democrats looked on, while Congress for the People (Cope) supporters "engaged" the ANC group. Inside the polling stations, voting went ahead, albeit at a "very slow pace". Five wards in the Drakenstein Municipality are being contested - three in Paarl, one in Saron and one in Wellington. In Ward 26 in Paarl, a representative for Cope said they were told by the IEC to remove their banners as the party was not yet registered. The voting station in Paarl was quiet this morning, but controversy erupted when it was alleged that the ANC was distributing food parcels to voters. Numerous sources, including the ANC head office in Paarl, later confirmed that food parcels were being distributed to ANC members. The Cape Argus was told by several ANC staffers at two different voting stations in Ward 26 that they had handed out food parcels containing basic foodstuffs - "but only if they were needy and were sure they were going to vote for the ANC". However, ANC MPL Garth Strachan said his staff denied this, and he promised to investigate. "It is widespread practice by all political parties to offer refreshments, but handing out food parcels is a different matter," he said. At the time of going to press, Strachan was obtaining sworn affidavits in which officials denied handing out food parcels. The ANC, out of desperation to contest today's by-elections in these areas, brought another urgent application before the Electoral Court on Monday night asking for the elections to be postponed. The ANC filed this second application to the Electoral Court even before the court had ruled against them in their first application challenging the IEC's ruling that they had missed the deadline for the registration of candidates to contest the elections. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812180173.html Nigeria: Protest in Akure Over Taxi Driver's Arrest Dayo Johnson 18 December 2008 Akure ? BUSINESS and commercial activities were totally paralyzed in Akure, the Ondo State capital for hours yesterday, following the arrest of the chairman of the state Taxi Drivers Association Chief Jacob Adebo by soldiers from the 323 Artillery regiment. The state governor Dr Olusegun Agagu had reacted swiftly by inviting all the warring parties to a meeting which was on going as at the time of filing in this report. The taxi drivers blocked the major roads in the metropolis leaving commuters stranded for hours. They used their vehicles to block other roads while commuters had to trek long distance to get to their various destinations. Investigations revealed that men of the 323 Artillery regiment in Akure reportedly beat up members of the drivers union and also arrested their chairman. According to the drivers," some soldiers came into their garage, beat some of them and took the chairman of the union to the Army barracks. But the soldiers while reacting, denied the allegation but said that it was the driver that beat up one army officer and a policeman and subsequently seized the car of the policeman. Speaking with newsmen, the Commanding Officer of the 323 Artillery regiment, Lt Col Muili Folorunso said "that one officer driving his personal car was traveling and on sighting the soldier decided to give him a ride since they were going to the same destination. Folorunso added that men of the drivers union, who acted as policemen, thought that the policeman in mufti was trying to carry their passenger, however swooped on them, beating them up and seized the vehicle. The military officer had to report to the Commanding Officer who directed that the vehicle should be brought to the barracks. (Vanguard) http://allafrica.com/stories/200812290850.html Nigeria: Ndokwa Youths Protest Alleged Hijack of Desopadec Scholarship Scheme Emma Amaize 29 December 2008 Wari ? PLACAD CARRYING youths from the Ndokwa Youth Leaders Assembly (NYLA) in Delta State stormed the residence of the chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Wellington Okirika, in Warri, during the yuletide break, alleging that the Commission's scholarship programme for Ndokwa East local government has been hijacked by some persons. They accused a top official of the commission of imposing fake names on the people and gave the Delta State Government a two-week ultimatum to remove him from office, but, the NYLA president, Mr. Chukwuma Theophilus was attacked by some opposing youths, believed to be loyal to the DESOPADEC official shortly after the protest. Before the attack, Mr. Theophilus had told Chief Okirika, "We are giving the Delta State Government and the leadership of DESOPADEC two weeks ultimatum to sack the official (names withheld) as a commissioner, representing Ndokwa East Local Government Area, starting from Wednesday, December 24, 2008. "This ultimatum became imperative as it is a known fact that the official was imported and imposed on the youths and people of Ndokwa land from USA with no idea of the suffering of the people of Ndokwa and youths activities in Ndokwa, not to mention the entire Ndokwa land." He told the chairman categorically that the just concluded scholarship scheme by the leadership of DESOPADEC to the students of Ndokwa land was marred with fake names as a result of the collaboration of the official with some unknown self acclaimed youth leaders to deprive the bonafide students of their scholarship dividends. The NYLA boss called for the suspension of the micro-credit finance scheme of the DESOPADEC for the youths and people of Ndokwa land, saying, "This call became necessary as the names on the list and the beneficiaries are sponsored youths and friends of the DESOPADEC official," he stated. Addressing the protesters, Chief Okirika promised to look into the issues raised and promised to pay those that had not benefited from the micro-credit scheme and scholarship. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812010432.html Nigeria: Film Marketers Protest in Onitsha Vincent Ujumadu 1 December 2008 AWKA-MEMBERS of Film Video Producers Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) at the weekend staged a protest at the Electronics Dealers Market in Onitsha over alleged sabotage of their business by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). They accused NFVCB of a deliberate plot to undermine the local film industry which they said, they have worked tirelessly to sustain. The film producers and marketers, who were billed to release their films into the market at the weekend, were stopped by their chairman, Mr. Rob Emeka Eze of Remmy Jezz Production to avoid infringing on the agreement they reached with the board. The chairman's action however did not go down well with the producers and marketers who moved around the market, protesting over the action of the Censors Board who they alleged, were bent on frustrating their business. Some of them said they borrowed from banks to invest in the production of movies which would have been released last Friday to meet the demand of the Christmas season. They claimed that over 40 titles of their members' films were with the Censors Board, adding that the situation was affecting them and the industry as their customers have started diverting to other African countries who took after Nigeria in film production. Reacting to the alleged sabotarge, the Onitsha zonal director of NFVCB, Mrs. Elizabeth Uwaezuoke denied any attempt to frustrate Nollywood industry, describing the allegation as "cheap blackmail". She wondered how the Censors Board would want to destroy a house it is building, stating that the problem was that at the time others were making efforts to obtain their licence, the Onitsha marketers refused because they were contesting the action of the board in the court. (Vanguard) http://allafrica.com/stories/200812020096.html Hirondelle News Agency (Lausanne) Rwanda: Protest in Brussels Over Kabuye's Arres 1 December 2008 Brussels ? About a hundred Rwandans protested last week in Brussels in front of the buildings of the Council of Europe and the European Commission to request the release of Rose Kabuye, the head of protocol for Rwandan President Paul Kagame arrested at the beginning of the month in Germany and transferred to France. The week before, a protest also took place in Kampala, the Ugandan capital. Rose Kabuye is one of the nine Rwandans targeted by the arrest warrants issued in November 2006 by French Judge Jean-Louis Brugui?re. He accuses these representatives of the regime in power in Kigali to have taken part, on 6 April 1994, in the attack against the plane of President Juv?nal Habyarimana. This attack preceded the beginning of the Tutsi genocide committed by Hutu extremists, which resulted in more than 800 000 deaths according to the UN. "These warrants are politicized", argued a spokesperson of the Rwandan Community in Belgium (CRB), the association at the origin of the protest, "we consider that the European Union does not have the right to thus assume the power to ridicule the sovereignty of poor countries". According to him, the arrest warrants issued in February by Spanish justice against forty soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the party in power, are as debatable in that they are based on the "negationnist theory" of the double genocide. Whereas a Rwandan inquiry commission published in August a report underlining the responsibilities of the French authorities in the conception of the 1994 genocide, the CRB also estimates that "France is in a bad position to want to try those who put an end to the genocide whereas it contributed to set it up". The protesters, which some carried caps of the RPF colors, addressed a memorandum to the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, in which they deplore "the improper use [...], for political ends, of universal jurisdiction". "Universal jurisdiction must have its true mission re-established, track and prosecute those who are really guilty", he advocated in this text. The CRB regrets, thus, that the genocidaires who live in countries of the European Union without worry and, while requiring a moratorium of the execution of the arrest warrants, requests the creation of a "supra-continental court" which would control the non-political character of possible arrest warrants incriminating African leaders. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812080226.html Rwanda: Business Operators Protest Kabuye Arrest Berna Namata in Kampala 8 December 2008 Kigali ? Over 1000 business operators from Nyarugenge Friday took to Kigali streets to protest the recent arrest of Rose Kabuye. This is the latest among a series of similar protests that have been going on across the country since Kabuye's arrest in Germany on November 9. By 2pm most business outlets in downtown Kigali had closed and the business owners had gathered at the city centre to march to the German embassy. They took to the streets carrying placards with several messages. Nyarugenge district includes the business district so most of the businesses in the city were closed. One of the placards directed towards those responsible for Kabuye's arrest read: "Why don't you arrest genocidaires on your soil!! Hypocrisy!" "After failing to stop the Genocide they have to arrest those who stopped it. Now they have become judges while protecting perpetrators of the Genocide," said Laurent Mwenzanyu, the chairman of the business community in the district. Kabuye was part of the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) a force that is responsible for stopping the Genocide against Tutsis which left over a million people dead. Mwezanyu who owns a wholesale shop the city said "we did it (protest) as Nyarugenge business community. We are showing our solidarity. We are going to match around the city in protest for the arrest." "Their radios [French] don't air what is going on so that people can have debates and get to the full understanding of issues," he added. "The French have always been against peace since their arrival in Rwanda," said an angry looking Joseph Mugarura an employee of Rwanda Micro Finance, a banking institution in Kigali. Rose Kabuye was arrested following indictments issued by French Judge Jean Louis Bruguiere against her and eight other former RPA officers claiming that they played a hand in the shooting down of former President Juvenal Habyarimana. The Government of Rwanda has strongly contested the indictments saying that they are politically motivated owing to the fact that the judge did not conduct investigations in the matter to come up with concrete evidence. On arrival in France, Kabuye was granted bail by court and she is currently waiting for a date of hearing to be fixed. Since her arrest numerous songs have been composed to stress Rwandan feelings against the arrest of Kabuye. (New Times) http://allafrica.com/stories/200812010564.html Rwanda: Hundreds Turn Up for Kabuye Protests in Brussels James Karuhanga 29 November 2008 Brussels ? Nineteen days after Rose Kabuye's arrest in Germany and extradition to France, protests against what many consider an illegal arrest of the chief of State Protocol continue all over the world. Apart from the ongoing online protests and petitions by Rwandans the world over, the Diaspora in Belgium also mounted a rally in Brussels, Belgium Thursday afternoon. Chantal Karara, head of the Rwandan Diaspora in Belgium confirmed this in a phone interview. She told The New Times that La Place Schuman, an area close to the European Commission institutions was the setting of the protests. "We sang and danced in protest to Rose's arrest," she said, adding that they also sent, through a representative, a memo of protest to Jos? Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. "His representative came and listened to our protests," she said, explaining that they also wrote requesting the EU to consider looking into the basis of the indictments and arrest warrants issued by French Judge, Jean Louis Bruguiere. Kabuye was arrested in Frankfurt, Germany on the basis of Bruguiere's arrest warrants. The French Judge claims that she played a role in downing former President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane. "We pointed out that people like Rose Kabuye are the ones who fought to liberate our country, unlike what is being suggested in the faulty indictment charges," Karara said. More protests are planned for today in Paris. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812140006.html Reporters sans Fronti?res (Paris) Burkina Faso: Protesters Rename Ouagadougou Avenue After Slain Journalist On 10th Anniversary of Murder 13 December 2008 Reporters Without Borders marked the 10th anniversary of journalist Norbert Zongo's murder today by organising a protest in which stickers were used to rename one of the capital's avenues after Zongo. The editor of the weekly L'Ind?pendant, Zongo and three companions were murdered in the southern town of Sapouy on 13 December 1998. In the course of a march through the streets of Ouagadougou organised by the Collective againt Impunity in Burkina Faso, Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-Fran?ois Julliard and head of information L?onard Vincent put up large stickers with the words "Avenue Norbert Zongo" in the form a Ouagadougou street-name sign. They distributed stickers to demonstrators and urged them to affix them everywhere in the capital as a tribute to the slain journalist and his three fellow victims. "Ten years after the multiple murder in Sapouy, the people of Burkina Faso are still in the dark although suspicion and evidence have pointed to the president's brother and the presidential guard," Reporters Without Borders said. "Not only have the authorities done everything to prevent justice being done in this case but - compounding scandal with contempt - they have done nothing to ensure that Burkina Faso honours one of its finest sons," the press freedom organisation add. "At least that injustice has been partially redressed today." Zongo (picture) was an investigative journalist and editor of the weekly L'Ind?pendant. His charred body was found along with the charred bodies of his three companions in their car in the southern town of Sapouy on 13 December 1998. At the time of his death he had been looking into how David Ou?draogo, the chauffeur of President Blaise Compaor?'s brother Fran?ois, died at the hands of presidential guard members after being arrested on suspicion of stealing from his employer. Following street protests, President Compaor? created an Independent Commission of Enquiry (CEI) to look into the multiple murder of Zongo and his companions. A few months later, the commission named "six leading suspects." Sgt. Marcel Kafando and two other presidential guard members were convicted in August 2000 of kidnapping Ou?draogo and torturing him to death. In February 2001, the public prosecutor went on to charge Kafando with murder and arson in connection Zongo's death. But despite the gravity of the charges, Kafando was allowed to continue living at his home in Ouagadougou all these years. Investigating judge Wenceslas Ilboudo finally ruled on 19 July 2006 that the investigation against "Marcel Kafando and any other unidentified person" for the murder of Zongo should be abandoned on the grounds that a prosecution witness had withdrawn a statement he had made eight years before. The ruling was confirmed on appeal, meaning that no further attempt would be made to find out who murdered Zongo. At that stage, the investigation could only be reopened if "new evidence" was produced. This is what Reporters Without Borders did on 20 October 2006, when it gave the Burkina Faso state prosecutor a copy of the original draft of the CEI's report, before it was toned down on the insistence of two of the commission's members, who represented the government. Passages about the contradictions in Fran?ois Compaor?'s statement and the attempts by businessman Oumarou Kanazo? to silence Zongo prior to his murder were completely eliminated from the final version of the report. The conclusions of the original report were also much more positive and detailed, and much more specific when identifying the "six leading suspects," all members of the presidential guard. Reporters Without Borders defends imprisoned journalists and press freedom throughout the world. It has nine national sections (Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland). It has representatives in Bangkok, London, New York, Tokyo and Washington. And it has more than 120 correspondents worldwide. http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsnaueyauql/rss2/ Dublin protest highlights Zimbabwe crisis 13/12/2008 - 15:17:51 Protestors have gathered in Dublin to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. "Friends of Zimbabwe in Ireland" were walking through the city centre to Government buildings to voice their concerns over the cholera epidemic in the country, which has killed almost 800 people so far. The World Health Organisation estimates that up to 60,000 people could be hit by the disease unless immediate action is taken. There are also concerns over the disappearance of a humanitarian worker in the country 10 days ago. Jestina Mukoko was abducted outside her home in Harare on December 3. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812160856.html SW Radio Africa (London) Zimbabwe: More Arrests And Injuries As NCA Lead Peaceful Protests Alex Bell 16 December 2008 Members of pressure group the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) again became targets of riot police on Tuesday, after yet another violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations across the country. Scores of people had been expected to take to the streets on Tuesday for the fourth round of NCA led protests calling for a democratic Zimbabwe. The last three actions have been the sites of chaos, as police used force to break up the crowds of demonstrators, and two weeks ago more than 20 people were injured at the hands of the police. Tuesday's planned demonstrations went ahead in central Harare, Mutare and Masvingo and predictably the crowds of demonstrators were once again dispersed by heavily armed riot police. According to a NCA statement released on Tuesday evening, the Harare demonstration had more than 500 participants who were set upon by police armed with guns, teargas and batons. The NCA explained that police did not hesitate to fire shots at the NCA members, and "all hell broke loose as the heavily armed police unleashed terror on the demonstrators as well as members of the public." More than 51 people were arrested and are currently in police custody at different stations in Harare, while more than 10 activists sustained serious injuries. At the same time NCA officials explained on Tuesday evening that eight people are confirmed to have been arrested in Mutare. Meanwhile, more than 300 demonstrators took to the streets in Masvingo, and successfully marched without any interference from police. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/12/13/brazil.violence/index.html?eref=rss_latest December 13, 2008 -- Updated 0224 GMT (1024 HKT) Protesters use 16,000 coconuts as symbols of violence ? Story Highlights ? Protesters line up coconuts on Brazil's Copacabana beach ? Rio de Paz says coconuts represent victims of urban violence, drug wars ? Protesters string up sign in sand that says "Shame" in four languages ? Earlier, group staged mock cemetery in beach sand representing missing people RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CNN) -- Antiviolence protesters stretched out 16,000 coconuts on Brazil's world-famous Copacabana beach Saturday, each one representing a victim of urban violence. Protesters used dummies to represent victims of violence on Brazil's Copacabana beach this week. Activists from ONG Rio de Paz led a protest march Saturday morning that included residents and tourists who usually can be found on the beach on weekends. The protesters strung up a sign on the sand that said "Shame" in Spanish, Portuguese, English and French. They finished with a minute of silence for the victims of violence. Rio de Paz said the coconuts represent victims of violence, homicides, dead police officers and those who have been shot in gunfights between authorities and gangs of narcotics traffickers. The figure itself was obtained from official information from the Rio de Janeiro governmental Institute of Public Security. It was the second protest staged this week on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach by the group Rio de Paz. On Tuesday, the group created a mock cemetery in the sand with mannequins representing 9,000 people who Rio de Paz says have been slain and secretly buried since January 2007. Don't Miss ? Brazil protesters say 9,000 have disappeared in 2 years Rio de Paz President Antonio Carlos Costa said he believes that about 6,000 of the missing people were killed, many by drug traffickers fighting for territory in Rio's slums and poor neighborhoods. Others, he said, were killed by hit squads and police acting on their own. "In general, they are assassinated by police -- police acting outside of their regular work hours," Costa said Tuesday. "They are also assassinated by narcotraffickers. The bodies are disposed of in secret cemeteries in the metropolitan Rio de Janeiro area or incinerated alive by narcotraffickers in what they call 'microwaves.' " To illustrate the point, demonstrators also constructed facsimiles of the "microwaves" that narcotics traffickers and death squads reportedly use to cremate remains of those they have abducted. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/10/content_10481618.htm At least 20 injured in clash with police in Peru www.chinaview.cn 2008-12-10 09:51:16 LIMA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 people were injured Tuesday during a protest against the mayor of a northern Peruvian city, local media reported. The injuries occurred when about 2,000 residents in Juanjui, San Martin province, staged a protest against Mayor Walter Hildebrandt, whom they accused of embezzling municipal funds and not doing "any public work" in the past two years. About 200 protestors occupied the Municipal Palace before a clash with police. At least 20 people were injured in the encounter. The protestors were still occupying the Municipal Palace while Hildebrandt took cover at a police station. Cesar Villanueva, president of San Martin province, told local radio station Radio Programs del Peru that the residents overreacted when questioning the work of the municipal government. He urged them to be calm and start a dialogue with the municipal government. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15523741.htm Bolivian police, protesters clash over used car ban 16 Dec 2008 00:51:20 GMT Source: Reuters LA PAZ, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Monday to break up a protest by Bolivians angry over a new government law banning the import of older used cars, killing at least one person. The government of President Evo Morales issued a decree earlier this month prohibiting importers from bringing cars manufactured before 2004 into the country, saying they posed an environmental and safety risk. Some Bolivians who work in the car import industry blocked a key road on Monday in protest. One protester was killed when a rubber bullet hit him on the neck, Bolivian daily La Razon reported on its website. Deputy Interior Minister Marcos Farfan confirmed the death and said three policemen were injured while dispersing protesters blocking the road linking Bolivia's administrative capital La Paz with the central Oruro city. Protest leader Jaime Rueda, speaking to local radio Erbol, warned more protests were possible because thousands of jobs are at risk. Most vehicles in South America's poorest country are tattered cars imported from Asia via ports in neighboring Chile. The government estimates that most of the 10,000 vehicles imported into Bolivia every month are at least 10 years old. "We want the vehicles coming into Bolivia to ... be safe and not pollute," deputy Finance Minister Roberto Ugarte told the state-run television network. Although recent polls indicate that leftist President Morales is highly popular, trade unions often turn to roadblocks and rallies to protest against government policies they think could threaten their livelihoods. (Editing by Mohammad Zargham) http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/12/29/30569/Dominicans-protest-presidential-pardons 29 December 2008, 7:56 AM Text size: Smaller Bigger Dominicans protest presidential pardons The poster for Monday's demonstration "In black against impunity". Santo Domingo.- Under the slogan ?Dressed in black against impunity?, representatives of several youth organizations are holding a protest against the pardons issued by president Leonel Fern?ndez and the Supreme Court?s ruling in the Sun Land case. The event is planned for today, Monday 29th December at 4:00 p.m. in La Lira Park on Santo Domingo?s Lincoln Avenue, at the intersection with Lope de Vega Avenue, and participants will dress in black as a sign of ?mourning?. The organizers and their supporters, which include the Frente Amplio de Lucha Popular (Falpo), are calling on all citizens to turn out and reject the presidential pardon and the Supreme Court?s sentence, which declared the unconstitutionality recourse against the multi-million dollar loan contracted with Sun Land as ?inadmissible?. The organizers also include a group of young people ?committed to the need for a country where the dignity of its inhabitants is respected?, according to the Falpo press release. The president pardoned Vivian Lubrano de Castillo, convicted in the Baninter fraud case, transport union leaders Casimiro Antonio Marte Familia (Antonio Marte), Milc?ades Amaro Guzm?n and Gervasio de la Rosa, as well as former government official Pedro Antonio Franco Bad?a, convicted in the Plan Renove fraud case. http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/08/iran-students-protest-dictatorship-and-gender-apartheid/ Iran: Students Protest Dictatorship and Gender Apartheid Monday, December 8th, 2008 @ 16:34 UTC by Hamid Tehrani Photo is from yaarinews.com A group of students held a protest rally against the Iranian government and president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the University of Tehran on Sunday to commemorate Student Day, the anniversary of the murdering of three students of University of Tehran on December 6, 1953. Daftare Tahkim Vahdat (means the Office of Consolidation of Unity), an important student association, had organised this demonstration to protest against censorship, gender apartheid and pressure on students. They chanted slogans such as ?Down with the dictatorship? and clashed with security forces. You can see a collection of photos here. Here is a video on the demonstration: Salam Demokrat says that students who had been in jail or deprived of studying delivered speeches at the university. The blogger adds: ?? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ? ???? ????? ? ???????? ??????? ?? ????????? ???? ????. ??? ?? ???? ????? ????????? ???? ?????? ? ??? ?? ???????. ? ????????? ????????? ??????? ??? ????? ? ????????? ????????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? Mahdieh Golro talked about the women's movement and her experience in prison. Students encourgaed her very warmly. After Golro, Kurdish students read their statement and socialist students distributed their tracks. The blogger adds that the number of students was between 3000 to 4000. See more photos here. Posted by Hamid Tehrani Print version http://newsblaze.com/story/20081208064801zzzz.nb/topstory.html December 08,2008 Send to a friend 'Thousands' at Iran Anti-President Protest By The Media Line News Agency Thousands of Iranian students staged a protest at Tehran University against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad on Sunday, student sources say. The protest was organized by the Office to Consolidate Unity, a pro-reform student group and was held amid tight security. There are contradicting reports as to the number of participants in the demonstration with the pro-government Fars news agency claiming only 150 protesters turned up. Organizers said "thousands" of students poured in from other universities to participate, according to AFP. The protest appears to indicate a growing dissatisfaction with the president's conduct. Ahmadi Nejad was elected to office in August 2005. His term ends in 2009 but he will be eligible to run again in the next presidential elections. Students were protesting against Ahmadi Nejad's economic policies and called for an improvement of human rights in the country as well as greater academic freedom. Students have traditionally been an active political force in Iran and the country's universities are a hotbed of political activism. Parallel to the reported protest at Tehran University, students also gathered outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran on Sunday, expressing disapproval of the perceived normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, Fars reported. Students were demonstrating after Saudi King 'Abdallah Bin 'Abd Al-'Aziz participated in an interfaith meeting that was attended by Israeli President Shimon Peres in New York last month, the agency said. Another student protest took place outside the Swiss embassy on Sunday to protest what demonstrators said was the world's silence on the suffering of the Palestinians and the "merciless" treatment of Gaza Strip residents. Students have always been politically active in Iran and they were the drive behind the revolution, according to Dr. Mahmjoub Zweiri, an expert on Iran from the University of Jordan's Center for Strategic Studies. "No doubt they're a strong presence in politics in Iran and they were also behind the reform movement in Iran in 1997," he told The Media Line. Zweiri said he did not think students were strong enough to topple the president or his government but they could weaken him and the president would not be able to marginalize them entirely. Ahmadi Nejad is facing pressure because of his economic policies and his hard-line rhetoric, which has affected Iran's image internationally, Zweiri said. It is still unclear whether he will indeed run in the next presidential elections. "Everything will depend on what the new American administration will do over the next six months," Zweiri said. "If the new administration tries to be involved in Iranian politics, Ahmadi Nejad's position will be strong. If the new administration avoids any intervention, I think he will face a real problem in his political career in the future." http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSDAH75316320081207 Group causes damage at Tehran University: report Sun Dec 7, 2008 12:39pm EST 07 Dec 2008 TEHRAN (Reuters) - An "illegal splinter group" of an Iranian student body caused damage and clashed with security personnel during a gathering at Iran's largest university on Sunday, the official IRNA news agency reported. Pictures obtained by Reuters showed hundreds of people gathered at Tehran University in the center of the Iranian capital, some of them carrying pro-democracy banners. One photograph showed some demonstrators tearing down a metal gate at the university, one of the oldest campuses in Iran. IRNA called those who gathered a "limited group" and said they had attacked the university's western entrance gate. Student protests have been relatively rare in recent years in Iran, which is embroiled in a nuclear row with the United States and is often criticized by Western rights groups for cracking down on dissent at home. Liberal-minded students and academics have criticized President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for clamping down on dissent on campuses. The president and his government say they support free speech and welcome constructive opposition. Ahmadinejad is expected to seek another four-year term in an election next June. "We want democracy," said a placard carried by one protester on one of the photographs made available to Reuters. "Return expelled students and professors," said another. IRNA said people gathering at the campus "must have confused Tehran University with a battlefield" and denounced their "savage moves and insulting slogans." Referring to a prominent Iranian student movement, the state news agency said "an illegal splinter group associated to the Office of Consolidation of Unity tried to express their existence by inflicting damage to the university's property." It did not give details about the damage at the university. Students and activists say some of those who have spoken out against the conservative government have been detained or blacklisted from university courses. Rights activists say other dissenting voices, including labor movement figures and women's rights campaigners, have also been targets of a government crackdown. (Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) http://en.yle.mobi/news/ns-yduu-109398 Iranians Protest at OSCE Meeting Venue 04.12.2008 18:26 (updated 05.12.2008 5:46) Image: YLE Members of The Iranian opposition held a protest in Helsinki on Thursday at the venue of the Ministerial Council meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Up to about 80 supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) took part in the demonstration on Thursday morning. Police say that the demonstration proceeded peacefully. The aim of the demonstration was to draw the attention of the international community to the actions of the Iranian regime. The protesters said that the Iranian government supports terrorism and hard-line Muslim movements all over the Middle East. Detention of Iranians at Airport Criticised The demonstrators also criticised the detention of two Iranian men who arrived in Finland on Sunday, whom the Iranian government considers terrorists. The men were detained on the basis of an international arrest warrant. They were released on Wednesday, but ordered not to leave the country. The two were in Finland to take part in NGO activities linked with the OSCE foreign ministers' meeting. Finland has not received an official extradition request for the men. Minister of Justice Tuija Brax says that the Ministry of Justice will not deal with the matter until an official request is made. She also emphasised that Finland does not return people to countries where they would face the death penalty. YLE http://hotair.com/archives/2008/12/18/video-a-protest-where-it-counts/ Video: A protest where it counts posted at 1:22 pm on December 18, 2008 by Ed Morrissey The Left fell in love with a reporter who threw shoes at a man who couldn?t (and wouldn?t) take retribution against his protest. What about supporting a protester who actually put his neck on the line to ?tell truth to power?? Two weeks ago, an Iranian student ripped Ali Larijani to his face at a speech and denounced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: No shoes were harmed in the filming of this incident, but the speaker may have been lucky to get out alive. As soon as he denounced Larijani as illegitimate, a cheer went up in the auditorium, but it quickly got drowned out as soon as the student directed his ire to Ahmadinejad. While the protester described the Iranian president as ?nauseating?, some in the auditorium jumped to their feet and started chanting support slogans for Ahmadinejad ? including ?Death to hypocrites!? Note the reaction of the rest of the students in this video, taken at Shiraz University on December 5th. They don?t seem happy to find themselves in the middle of this near-riot, although Larijani himself seems unmoved by either the criticism or the response. The student gets shouted off the stage, and no one seems interested in defending him. Which took more guts ? tossing shoes at President Bush in Iraq, or standing up to the mullahcracy in Iran? http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414268.html Imperial justice: cops bully London protestors Ahmar Mustikhan, Freelance Journalist | 03.12.2008 17:52 | Analysis | Repression | Social Struggles | World Protest marred the trial of Hyrbyair Marri and Faiz Baloch in London. The two have tried to organize the Baluch resistance against Pakistan military atrocities in Baluchistan, that includeds killing, rape, torture and disappearances. By Ahmar Mustikhan LONDON, U.K.: As the Baloch 'terrorism' trial resumed in London friends and supporters of the defendants, Hyrbyair Marri and Faiz Baluch, staged a protest outside the court, calling for the trial to be halted and the charges dropped. Marri is a younger brother of Nawabzada Bala'ach Marri, member of the Baluchistan state assembly, who was assassinated by the Pakistan army on November 20 last year. Prior to Marri's death, one of the most popular politicians former governor and chief minister Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed by the Pakistan army on August 26, 2006. The two were among tens of thousands of Baluch people killed in Baluchistan in their sporadic movements to drive out Pakistan's nuclear armed army from their territory. Ghulam Hussain Baloch, an activist of the Baluch Human Rights Council -- one of the most potent voices of the Baluch Diaspora worldwide --, said the Baluch gathered at the Woolwich Crown Court premises to show solidarity with the under-trial. "The court is at the southern most tip of London, but a sizable number did get there," Baloch said. Baloch said the hearing was meant for selecting a jury and a verdict is expected in February. Although the police and court officials were needlessly bullying, forcing the protesters to leave the court grounds, the supporters of the defendants made their point and were seen by court staff and by everyone who came to the court and who passed by it. The Balochistan human rights crusaders Hyrbyair Marri and Faiz Baluch are being prosecuted on terrorism charges, which are widely believed to have been concocted by Pakistani intelligence. Monday's protest was supported by Baloch and Sindhi rights campaigners from Pakistan and by members of CAMPACC, the UK Campaign Against Criminalising Communities, which opposes abuses of the anti-terro laws. Mr Marri and Mr Baluch are represented in court by two of the UK's leading human rights barristers, Henry Blaxland QC and Dame Helena Kennedy QC. Mr Marri is a former MP and government minister in the regional assembly of Balochistan - a previously independent state, which was invaded and annexed by Pakistan in 1948, and which has ever since been under illegal Pakistani military occupation. Mr Baluch is his campaign assistant. "The Pakistan High Commissioner, speaking on behalf of the new democratic government of Pakistan, says his government wants reconciliation in Baluchistan and opposes the prosecution, effectively calling for the charges to be dropped," says human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who helped coordinate Monday's protest. "Previously, the acting Interior Minister of Pakistan, Rehman Malik, announced that terror charges against Mr Marri in Pakistan have been cancelled; stating that the case against him had been politically motivated by the Musharraf dictatorship. This discredits the whole basis on which Marri and Baluch have been charged in London. "The trial is another abuse of the anti-terror laws, whereby legitimate human rights campaigners end up on trial. "It appears that the UK government has been blackmailed into arresting these men and harassing other Baloch exiles and refugees. It is reported that Pakistan's military and intelligence services have threatened to end all cooperation with the UK government in the "war on terror" unless critics of its war in Balochistan are silenced and jailed. That is probably why Marri and Baluch are on trial. "The UK authorities seem to have decided these men are expendable for the sake of the 'greater good' of tackling terrorism by maintaining close relations with the Pakistani military and intelligence services. "Marri and Baluch have campaigned for self-determination for Balochistan and helped expose Pakistan's annexation and oppression of the Baloch nation. They are defending their people against military oppression and economic exploitation. Pakistani military chiefs want them prosecuted because they have been such effective campaigners, exposing to the world Islamabad's tyranny in Balochistan. "For nine years, the UK's Labour government aided and abetted the illegal dictatorship of Pervez Musharraf, selling him military equipment that was used to prosecute Pakistan's illegal war in Balochistan - a war that has involved the perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity and which has been strongly condemned by international human rights groups," said Mr Tatchell. According to British news reports charges against Hyrbyair Marri and Faiz Baloch were primarily brought up as a trade-off beteen London and Islamabad to have Rashid Rauf arrested in Pakistan. Rauf was suspected of involvement in an aborted Transatlantic Aircraft Plot to blow up airplanes midair when they are flying from the Europe to U.S. Rauf was married to a relative of Maulana Masood Azhar, founder of the extremist Jaish-e-Mohammed or 'Army of Mohammed.' Some planted Press reports said Rauf was allegedly killed in a U.S. attack in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas on November 22, but his family said he is alive. He had earlier mysteriously escaped from a Pakistani jail on December 14 last year, while handcuffed. Rauf has dual nationality, Pakistani and British. "Some 800,000 strong, many with Kashmiri roots, the British Pakistani community is an attractive target for many reasons not the least the fact that second and third generation members have British passports and can thus travel more easily in the West," says Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at Brookings Instituion and advisor to President-elect Barack Obama on Pakistan. Photos of the London protests are available to view and download: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11288615 at N00/?saved=1 [Freelance journalist Ahmar Mustikhan is founder of the DC-based American Friends of Baluchistan] Ahmar Mustikhan, Freelance Journalist e-mail: ahmar_reporter at yahoo.com http://www.nowpublic.com/world/protest-against-uk-puppies-queens-hygiene Protest Against UK: Puppies for Queen's Hygiene? Share: by Ahmar Mustikhan | December 29, 2008 at 02:55 am 256 views | 0 Recommendations | add comment QUETTA: Baluch students and youths protested in multiple cities and towns in Baluchistan and in Pakistan's commercial capital of Karachi Sunday against the terror trial of two Baluch activists Hyrbyair Marri and Faiz Baluch in London. ?Protests were held all over Baluchistan,? Majeed Baluch, a member of the Baloch Human Rights Council, said from Muscat, Oman?a Gulf nation with significant Baluch population. The Baloch Students Organization (Azad), organized the rallies. Marri and Baluch were arrested after the British government reportedly made a secret, unspoken deal with Pakistan military generals to get Rashid Rauf, a Briton of Pakistani origin, extradited to the U.K., in return for charges against them. Rauf, a relative of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar, was allegedly involved in a conspiracy to blow up Western airliners flying to the U.S. from Europe over the Atlantic. Rauf mysteriously escaped from a jail in Islamabad last year. Marri and Baloch had tried to organize the Baluch against the atrocities of the Pakistan army in Baluchistan. The Baluch accuse Pakistan army of Nazi-style brutalities against them in five military operations in the last six decades. At the protest rally in Karachi Sunday, a girl protester Maheen Baloch said every nation has the right to freedom under the United Nations charter. ?Why can't the Baluch enjoy the same rights?? she asked. She deplored Baluch villages were being bombed by fighter jets supplied to the Pakistan army by Pentagon. ?The United Kingdom is a democratic country and talks about human rights, how has it put on trial two defenders of Baluch human rights,? she questioned in a live interview with the Sweden-based Baluchi Radio channel Gwank from the protest venue in front of the Karachi Press Club. This is the first time in Baluch history girls and women have taken to streets of Pakistan. As many as 900 activists remain missing in Baluchistan and 600 are still languishing in Pakistani jails, according to Ghulam Mohammed Baloch, president of the Baluchistan National Movement. In Iran too, Baluch face public hangings at the hands of the Islamic regime. Baluchistan, named after the ethnic Baluch people in southwest Asia, is a Texas-sized stateless region divided among Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Marris' brother Bala'ach Marri was allegedly killed by the Pakistan army in November last year in Sarlath area. Twice-premier Benazir Bhutto had visited with his father Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri to condole the death, inviting the ire of Pakistan military generals. Bhutto herself was killed on December 27 last year. Samad Baloch, a leader of the B.H.R.C. in London, has accused the Pakistani military of using phosphorous bombs to bomb Baluch villages in the Marri and Bugti areas, strongholds of resistance against Pakistan military. Recent Pakistani Press reports have suggested kidnapped Baluch women are being forced into sexual slavery. Pakistan military has routinely used rape and sodomy against the Baluch resistance. In spring this year, Pakistani soldiers burned alive three Baluch tribesmen, loyal to resistance leader Nawabzada Brahamdagh Bugti, grandson of former governor and chief minister of Baluchistan, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. Earlier on January 2, 2005 a woman doctor Shazia Khalid was raped in the Sui area in Baluchistan. Nawab Bugti, 80, rose up in arms against the rape and the aging leader along with nearly three dozen of his supporters were killed in army bombing in the Bhanbore area of Baluchistan in August 2006. Former military coup leader-turned-president General Pervez Musharraf defended the rapist Captain Hammad and congratulated the Pakistani soldiers who killed Bugti. The prosecution tried to link Marri and Baluch, both secular nationalist leaders with the Taliban movement, said Maheen Baloch. The American Friends of Baluchistan described Marri and Baloch as foot soldiers in the war against religious extremism and bigotry promoted by Islamabad. It hoped the British authorities under Prime Minister Gordon Brown would come out of its Victorian age mindset. ?Those were the days when Victorian queens used Pomeranian puppies for hygiene as they could not take regular shower because of the extreme cold. This is an age when all secular forces should unite against Al Qaeda,? said Mohammed Ali Baloch, an A.F.B. leader. Maheen Baluch regretted that the trial of Marri and Baloch showed the U.K. Government was colluding with Pakistan army in its human rights violations in Baluchistan. ?Britain is not lagging behind Pakistan when it comes to Baluchistan,? she said. International human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell Sunday deplored the politically motivated terror trial against Marri and Baloch in spite of lack of any real evidence. The trial will expose high level collusion between the British government and the agents of the former Pakistani dictator, Pervez Musharraf, said Tatchell, who is a personal friend and political ally of the two defendants. He stood bail for Baluch. "These men were framed by the Musharraf regime, to silence their highly effective campaigning against Pakistani human rights abuses in Baluchistan," added Tatchell. He accused the U.K. authorities of conduct unbecoming of a civilized European power. "The British government was blackmailed into arresting them. Musharraf's agents issued an ultimatum to the U.K. authorities: arrest these men or we will halt all cooperation in the war on terror. The Labor government caved in to these demands from Musharraf's dictatorship. It decided these men were expendable for the so-called greater good of anti-terrorist cooperation with the Pakistani regime," said Tatchell. Marri and Baluch are accused by London of preparing acts of terrorism abroad - charges they strenuously deny. Both men have been law-abiding citizens. They fled to Britain to escape persecution by the former military coup leader and tyrant, General Pervez Musharraf. Marri is a former MP and government minister in the regional assembly of Baluchistan - an independent state, until 1948. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Asian Human Rights Commission have documented and condemned severe and widespread human rights abuses by the Pakistani armed forces in Baluchistan - abuses that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas and the systemic use of torture. In one of the most gruesome recent abuses, human rights campaigners allege that Pakistani soldiers boiled to death four Baloch prisoners in April this year. Marri's father is a renowned Baluch national leader, attended Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 as a guest of the British government, Tatchell said. The elder Marri has stubbornly resisted any deal with Islamabad and has thrown the gauntlet at the Pakistan army twice in the last four decades Marri and Baluch, were arrested by police in London last December. Marri spent four months in Belmarsh high security prison, and Baluch eight months. "The police and security agencies in the UK have pursued these terror charges based on evidence provided to them by Musharraf's dictatorship - a dictatorship that the arrested men campaigned against," said Tatchell. "Marri and Baluch have been set up by Musharraf's agents because of their highly effective exposure of Pakistan's war crimes and crimes against humanity in annexed Baluchistan," Tatchell said. "Our government has ignored the fact that Musharraf's henchmen in the Pakistani intelligence agency, the ISI, are notorious for framing political opponents, especially Baluch nationalists. "This belief has been reinforced by the acting Interior Minister of the new democratic government of Pakistan, Rehman Malik. He recently announced that terror charges against Marri in Pakistan have been dropped; stating that the case against him had been politically motivated. This discredits the whole basis on which Marri and Baluch have been charged in London. "Marri and Baluch's arrest came just a few months after Musharraf demanded that the British government arrest Baluch activists in London. In exchange, Musharraf offered to hand over Rashid Rauf, implying that action against the Baluch activists was a precondition for surrendering Rauf to the U.K. Rauf is wanted in this country in connection with the 2006 Islamic terror plot involving liquid explosives on trans-Atlantic airliners, which resulted in the conviction of three men in London in September. He is also sought in connection with a murder in the U.K. "Prior to Marri's arrest, Musharraf's regime made repeated representations to the U.K. government that he was wanted on terrorism charges in Pakistan - charges that have now been dropped by the Pakistani authorities. "Soon after Musharraf met Gordon Brown at Downing Street in January this year, he held a press conference for Pakistani journalists where he allegedly denounced Marri as a terrorist and praised the British government and police for cooperating with his regime. "Claims of connivance are credible. For nine years, the U.K.'s Labor government supported Musharraf's dictatorship politically, economically and militarily, despite him having overthrown Pakistan's democratically-elected government in 1999. Labor sold him military equipment that his army uses to kill innocent Baluch people. The US supplies the F-16 fighter jets and Cobra attack helicopters that are used to bomb and strafe villages. "Marri is an unlikely terrorist. He is a former Baluchistan MP (1997-2002), and was the Minster for Construction and Works in the provincial assembly in 1997-1998. He fled to Britain in 2000, fearing arrest, torture and possible assassination by Musharraf's men. "The arrest of Marri -- together with the murder of one brother and the attempt to frame another brother [Mehran Baluch]-- looks like a systematic attempt to target his family and crush three leading voices of Baloch dissent. "The Asian Human Rights Commission reports that Pakistani army raids have resulted in 3,000 Baluch people dead, 200,000 displaced and 4,000 arrested. Thousands more have simply disappeared," said Tatchell. Marri is represented by Henry Blaxland QC and Jim Nichol of TV Edwards Taylor Nichol solicitors (020 7272 8336) and Baluch is represented by Helena Kennedy QC and Gareth Peirce of Birnberg Peirce solicitors (020 7911 0166). Prominent civil liberties lawyer Sajida Malik is also on the defence panel for Baluch. "A former British Protectorate, Baluchistan secured its independence in 1947, alongside India and Pakistan, but was invaded and forcibly annexed by Pakistan in 1948. The Baluch people did not vote for incorporation. They were never given a choice. Ever since, Baluchistan has been under military occupation by Islamabad. Baloch demands for a referendum on self-rule have been rejected. Democratically elected Baloch leaders who have refused to kow-tow to Pakistan's subjugation have been arrested, jailed and murdered,? said Tatchell. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav120408a.shtml CIVIL SOCIETY KYRGYZSTAN: NATIONWIDE PROTESTS TO BEAR AN ISLAMIC STAMP Arslan Mamatov 12/04/08 Print this article Email this article As opposition parties around Kyrgyzstan gear up for promised demonstrations in mid-December, one new party is using religion to cement its appeal. Two prominent opposition leaders, Tursunbai Bakir uulu of Free Kyrgyzstan and Nurlan Motuev of the Kyrgyz Patriotic Party, recently announced their unification as the Kyrgyzstan Muslim Union and promised nationwide protests throughout the country in mid-December. At a press conference announcing their party on November 25, Bakir uulu and Motuev described their support. "We prayed with believers, then we talked with them outside the mosque. Over six days we visited three regions and met 80,000 people," Motuev said. Co-Chair Tursunbai Bakir uulu claimed that 95 to 98 percent of the people they met supported their plans. The Kyrgyzstan Muslim Union plans to start protest rallies on December 16 in Naryn and finish on December 24 in Bishkek, covering all seven of the country?s regional centers in eight days. Corruption and the misuse of resources are at the center of the Muslim Union?s agenda. Referring to the presidency of Kurmanbek Bakiev, Motuev explained: "Corruption and other bad things flourish in this power. These are rejected by Islam and Sharia law." The Muslim Union will demand an end to alleged corruption in the president?s family, food price stabilization, a decrease in the price of coal and electricity, and checks on how the president appoints officials. "If authorities do not follow our demands, we will demand the resignation of all government officials," said Bakir uulu. Already the group has faced obstacles. The Kyrgyz constitution forbids political parties from organizing along religious lines. But the organization is making no attempt to hide their intentions. "We cannot be registered as a Muslim party and that?s why we have to register as a union," Motuev said. "But you should consider the Kyrgyzstan Muslim Union a party." Tursunbai Bakir uulu is already a well-known politician. In his run for president in 2005, he positioned himself as the only true Muslim on the ballot, winning slightly less than four percent of the vote. He is also quick to point out his sober credentials. "We represent a moderate Islam and are opposed to radicals," he told EurasiaNet. "Before joining with another politician, I thought of all politicians and realized there was not a true Muslim among them," Bakir uulu said. "First, I met Nurlan Motuev praying in the Central Mosque. Then I saw him praying in the prison. In a difficult time, he didn?t leave Allah and his faith. So my choice was with him." Some observers were surprised at the choice. Motuev is widely regarded as something of an oddball in Kyrgyz politics, known for outlandish accusations. He is infamous for illegally seizing a coalmine in 2005 and spending some time in prison a year later. [For details, see the Eurasia Insight archive]. This October he staged a protest against the presence of US troops at the Manas Airbase outside of Bishkek. He burned a US flag and effigy of President George W. Bush in front of a small crowd, claiming the Muslims of Kyrgyzstan would unite to push the US out of the country. Observers say Bakir uulu needed a northerner to bolster support for the alliance and spread its appeal beyond his native South. As Islam spreads in Kyrgyzstan, the union?s political blend may have a cadre of likely followers. "Allah will save our country," a teenager from the Chuy valley who gave his name as Nursultan said. The 16-year-old prays five times a day in his village, where the majority of young people are unemployed, including his two older brothers. Kadyr Malikov, an expert on Islam at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavonic University in Bishkek, described the upswing in religious practice. "The process of Islamization [in Kyrgyzstan] is very fast. Seventy percent of the population consider themselves Muslim. It is inevitable and natural that during a social-economical crisis, believers become politicized. Unfortunately, the ruling Soviet elite lacks flexibility . . . It relies heavily on control and repression," he said. "We have been warning the Kyrgyz government about possible religious protests since 2005. We said that there were politicians who were ready to use religious slogans in political games. Now Tursunbai Bakir uulu and Nurlan Motuev are the first to legitimize Muslim political discourse," Malikov said. The Kyrgyz Muslim Union emerges at a time of increased religious tension in the country?s South. In October, villagers in Osh region protested when authorities did not allow them to hold festivities marking the end of Ramadan. On November 28, 32 people were sentenced to between nine and 20 years for participating in disorderly demonstrations. Authorities allege all are members of the banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir party. Still, Kyrgyzstan?s official Muslim Spiritual Board does not believe that this is a major shift in the country?s religious dynamics. "Our society is not ready for Muslim leadership," Asan Saipov, the Board?s press secretary, told EurasiaNet. The public organization regulates Muslim affairs, including mosque activities and organizing the yearly Hajj. "I am not sure that Tursunbai Bakir uulu is a person who can lead the Muslim community," Saipov continued. "Of course, some people who consider themselves Muslim may follow him. But they must know he wants only power." But Bakir uulu remains resolute. "True Muslims will support us; that?s why we are full of optimism," he said. Editor's Note: Arlsan Mamatov is the pseudonym for a Kyrgyz journalist. Posted December 4, 2008 ? Eurasianet http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414272.html Protest against ID cards on 10th December in Cardiff No Borders South Wales | 03.12.2008 19:04 | Migration On Wednesday 10th December the registration of non-EEA students and spouses for ID cards will begin in Cardiff. At 12 noon No Borders South Wales will be holding a protest outside the UK Border Agency at 31-33 Newport Road where this registration will happen. We invite all opponents of ID cards to join us. This is a follow up to the last demonstration when ID cards came into force on the 25th November in the same place, which was part of a national day of action by No Borders. All the info: http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/tag/id-cards/ No Borders South Wales http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2008/12/03/Woman-protests-fine-with-pennies/UPI-29941228353818/ Woman protests fine with pennies Published: Dec. 3, 2008 at 8:23 PM Order reprints | Feedback CHISELHURST, England, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A Chiselhurst, England, woman said she paid a $160 parking fine in pennies after her parking pass fell off her windshield. Maggie Gebbett, 63, said she received the penalty notice in May and wrote a letter of appeal to Bromley Council, explaining that she had purchased a parking pass but the hot weather had caused it to peel from her windshield, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday. Gebbett said a solicitor acting as an adjudicator for the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service recommended the fine be canceled despite ruling that there had been a technical breach. However, she said the council refused to cancel the fine and told her it would be increased if it was not paid by Wednesday. "I just think they have been extremely shabby about everything that has gone on," Gebbett said of the council as she rolled a wheelbarrow of 1 and 2 cent coins to the council office. "I have been told I can't have my case reviewed if I pay, but I am going to try and insist on a review. I have written a letter to say I'm making the payment under protest." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7766825.stm Friday, 5 December 2008 Ignore protest, Menezes jury told The coroner said a verdict of unlawful killing would be not be justified The coroner at the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes has told the jury to "ignore" a courtroom protest by family members. On Thursday, several relatives walked out of the hearing wearing T-shirts criticising the coroner's decision to exclude a verdict of unlawful killing. Sir Michael Wright said it was "wrong for anyone to try to put pressure on a jury and it should not have happened". Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot in 2005 by police hunting a would-be bomber. 'Not justified' The Menezes family staged their protest just before the 11-strong jury was sent out to begin its deliberations. They wore T-shirts bearing the slogans "Unlawful killing verdict" and "Your legal right to decide". On Tuesday, the coroner had told the jury at the Oval Cricket Ground in London that it would not be able to return an unlawful killing verdict. Sir Michael said that, having heard all the evidence, such a verdict was "not justified". Everyone relies on you to make your decisions only upon the evidence you have heard in court Sir Michael Wright, coroner Criticising the protest, he told jurors: "In any event, it is quite wrong for anyone to seek to put pressure on a jury and it should not have happened. "To turn it upside down, to turn it on its head, just suppose the families of the police officers had come to court wearing T-shirts with particular messages seeking to influence you. "You would readily understand that that was quite wrong and that you should ignore [it], and exactly the same applies here. "I am very aware that these proceedings are stressful for a large number of people, and not just for the family of Mr de Menezes, but everyone relies on you to make your decisions only upon the evidence you have heard in court." On Tuesday, Sir Michael said that his decision to restrict the choice of verdict did not mean mistakes had not made in the lead-up to Mr de Menezes' death. But he added: "All interested persons agree that a verdict of unlawful killing could only be left to you if you could be sure that a specific officer had committed a very serious crime - murder or manslaughter." http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Courtroom_T-shirt_protest_by_Menezes_family&in_article_id=432216&in_page_id=34 Courtroom T-shirt protest by Menezes family Thursday, December 4, 2008 Vivian Figueiredo, Patricia da Silva and Alessandro Pereira staged the protest. Relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes staged a courtroom protest today - just minutes before jurors were sent out to consider their verdicts. The 27-year-old Brazilian's cousins stood up in front of the jury and unveiled T-shirts displaying the message: "Your legal right to decide - unlawful killing verdict." Coroner Sir Michael Wright directed the jury earlier that they could return only a verdict of lawful killing or an open verdict. Several of the 11 jurors looked on open-mouthed as Patricia da Silva, Alessandro Pereira and Vivian Figueiredo - stood up and unzipped their jackets, revealing the message. It came after the de Menezes family legal team withdrew from the inquest. Michael Mansfield QC, the barrister representing the Menezes family, and his junior, Henrietta Hill, were absent from court when the jury returned to hear the coroner complete his summing up. Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot dead by police marksmen at Stockwell Tube station in south London on July 22 2005 after being mistaken for failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman. Coroner Sir Michael Wright told the jurors: "You may notice that Mr Mansfield and Miss Hill and their instructing solicitors are no longer in their places. "The evidence and legal submissions, of course, are now all over, and we have had all their assistance throughout those very important stages. "I understand, however, that from this point they will no longer be here. "There is absolutely no difficulty about that, no disrespect is meant by it to anyone, and I am sure that you will have been greatly assisted by their work over the course of this inquest. The other representation remains as before." The coroner's ruling out of unlawful killing leaves the jury with a straight choice between lawful killing or an open verdict. http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/263503 Intergalactic alien mounts protest against privacy invasion by CCTV cameras By Adriana Stuijt. Published Dec 15, 2008 by ? Adriana Stuijt An irate UK citizen, sick and tired of the snooping by police CCTV cameras into his flat, asked an Intergalactic Alien to help mount a protest against this invasion of privacy. And it worked a treat. Bournemouth resident James Sanger said he only realized exactly how much his privacy was being invaded after he saw the police cameras scanning and tracking him as he walked from the petrol station to his flat. "I then realized that they could see right into my flat and even watch everything I was doing. This was a gross invasion of my privacy." He pointed out that his town was the first in the UK where the police installed CCTV cameras in 1986. And now there are some 4-million cameras countrywide, watching UK citizens constantly while they go about their ordinary, every-day activities. In fact a citizen strolling through central London 's shopping district runs a good chance of being recorded at least 300 cameras by CCTV cameras. Sanger said in his case, he realised that this was clearly the way the police were actually profiling him for no apparent reason at all. He decided to 'hoist them with their own petard,' by devising an innovative citizen protest... He created an Intergalactic Alien, 8 foot tall -- his buddy, with flippered feet, grotesque protuberances and slouching gait -- to stroll around the city centre at night and peer into the store-front cameras. His unique protest action certainly made the point - and even the evening TV-news. And the police were there in a flash... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5280253.ece December 3, 2008 Liverpool avoid FA punishment over support for campaign to free Michael Shields (AFP PHOTO/ PAUL ELLIS) Steven Gerrard was one of a number of players who wore T-shirts in support of Shields before the match against West Ham United Times Online The FA will not take formal action against Liverpool after its public display of support for the campaign to free Michael Shields, the fan serving a ten-year jail sentence for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian waiter in Istanbul in 2005. The governing body wrote to the club for an explanation after players wore T-shirts with the slogan ?Free Michael Now? before the televised match against West Ham United on Monday. Fans on the Kop also held up a mosaic calling for the release of Shields, 22. "We have spoken to Liverpool Football Club today about this matter," an FA statement read. "We understand that Michael Shields' case is a very emotive issue and one that many Liverpool players and fans feel strongly about. "Having heard the club's explanation we will not be taking any formal action, and we are satisfied that they understand the sensitivities around football matches being used as a platform for political messages." Related Links ? Carragher upbeat despite draw ? Benitez backs Keane to regain form ? Benitez needs brave hearts to cope with pressure Despite another man confessing to the attack, Shields was jailed but has since had his sentence was reduced to ten years on appeal. He was transferred to the UK to serve the remainder of his sentence, but his supporters have never halted their campaign to prove his innocence. A judge at London's High Court decided last month that Shields' case should be heard in full by three judges and a judicial review hearing is due to begin tomorrow. Shields insists he did not commit the crime and still remains behind bars despite the best efforts of his family and various local politicians, who have campaigned for his release. Earlier this year Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov refused to pardon Shields and Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said that he had no power either to pardon or grant Shields an early release. A Fifa spokesman confirmed the organisation had been liaising with the FA over the matter and said the decision to not discipline the club was down to the host authority. http://www.nowpublic.com/world/canadians-rally-and-protest-coalition-deal-harper-address-public Canadians Rally and Protest Coalition Deal, Harper to Address Public Share: by Rob Walker | December 3, 2008 at 01:42 pm Deals have been inked today between the Canadian Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois. The deals laid out procedures and divvies up cabinet positions evenly. The major impact of the pact promises major economic action, including an immediate stimulus package. "The chief (one) would be an immediate stimulus package, one that would be substantially larger than anything we've heard the Conservatives talk about," Comartin said. Source: canada.com With the political crisis heating up, Conservative leader and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will take to Canadian airwaves to talk about the opposition coalition. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will address the country at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday to talk about the political crisis that could topple his Conservative minority government. Harper will take to the airwaves to rally support to prevent a Liberal-NDP coalition from taking power. The coalition, which is backed by the Bloc Qu?b?cois, has asked for equal TV time to respond. Source: cbc.ca Already thousands of people have gotten together online and are working on having protests for a 'Rally for Canada'. The website rallyforcanada.ca is urging Canadians to protest the liberal-NDP-Block quebecois coalition pact. The site urges people to turn out Saturday on Parliament Hill, Queen's Park, Halifax, Montreal, Kitchener, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Matthias O'Brien, 19, one of the organizers, said the protests are part of an effort to save Canada's democracy. Source: torontosun.com NowPublic staffer Jordan wrote about the Canadian dollar slumping below 80 cents US, and how this current crisis could be part of the cause. Easy come, easy go... once riging high, the Canadian Dollar is once more losing ground. Maybe due to the cartoon-brawl into which our government has descended: a little tornado with fists flying in and out. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/12/08/2003430610 Pro, anti-Harper groups hold demonstrations TAKING TO THE STREETS: A recent opinion poll showed that 56 percent of Canadians favored a return to the polls rather than for the opposition to rule through a coalition AFP, OTTAWA Monday, Dec 08, 2008, Page 7 Supporters and foes of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper demonstrated on Saturday in cities across Canada after a week of political crisis. Harper on Thursday obtained an unprecedented shutdown of parliament, thwarting an opposition bid to unseat his ruling Conservatives and install a leftist coalition. The coalition opposed to Harper groups the Liberals, New Democratic Party (NDP) and the separatist Bloc Quebecois. They accused the Canadian prime minister of failing to shore up the Canadian economy, and were angered by a proposal ? since withdrawn ? to cut subsidies for political parties. Harper attacked the opposition which had sought to bring a motion of no-confidence against the government today, saying the coalition was led by socialists and separatists. Most Canadians backed Thursday?s move by Governor General Michaelle Jean to suspend parliament and avert the vote, an Ipsos poll found. Some 56 percent of respondents said they would preferred to return to the polls rather than let the coalition take power. The coalition hopes to topple the government when work resumes next month. If Harper?s government collapses, it will be up to Jean to decide if she calls new general elections or gives the coalition a chance to govern. The biggest demonstration on Saturday brought out 2,500 people in Calgary, Alberta. In Toronto, about 2,000 people rallied with Liberal leader Stephane Dion and NDP chief Jack Layton. ?Harper took an economic crisis and added the parliamentary crisis, but he then tried to transform it into a national unity crisis ? all of this because he cares more about his job than your jobs,? Dion said. Layton added that Harper ?by closing down parliament ... has silenced your voice. He has turned his back on the economy and on the people who are being thrown out of work.? http://www.vancouversun.com/Police+carefully+patrol+protest+volatile+Montreal+neighbourhood/1073684/story.html Police carefully patrol protest in volatile Montreal neighbourhood By Michelle Lalonde, Canwest News ServiceDecember 13, 2008 MONTREAL ? About 100 protesters held a symbolic dice tournament in a parking lot in Montreal North Saturday afternoon, near the spot where 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva was killed by police after they allegedly intervened to enforce a bylaw against public gambling last August. Despite a heavy police presence, including four officers on horseback hovering nearby and a police commander who waded through the crowd as protesters chanted anti-police slogans, the protest ended peacefully. The event was in part a response to an announcement on Dec. 1 that no criminal charges would be laid against Jean-Loup Lapointe, the Montreal police constable who shot Villanueva. A public inquiry is to be held on the killing by Quebec Court Judge Robert Sansfacon. Francois Ducanal, spokesperson for the Coalition against Police Repression and Abuse, which organized Saturday?s event, said the dice tournament was meant to highlight the group?s contention that police officers often use little-known bylaws to harass people they consider ?undesirable?. ?They use bylaws that most people don?t even know exist as excuses to target people because of their skin colour, or because they are young, or poor,? Ducanal said. As perplexed parents shepherded their kids through the crowded parking lot behind a hockey arena, protesters tossed dice onto recently removed campaign posters of provincial politicians, including Premier Jean Charest and Parti Quebecois leader Pauline Marois. Police spokeswoman Anie Lemieux said it was not unusual for Montreal police to send mounted officers to public demonstrations. She said the police had no intention of enforcing the bylaw against public gambling. ?We are not going to intervene in this game of dice because it is symbolic and it is part of a demonstration,? she said. ?They have the right to demonstrate peacefully. If they start throwing things or jumping on people, then we are ready to intervene.? Not far from the dice throwing, a poster bearing a photo of Villanueva was taped to a tree. Flowers and candles had been placed around the trunk, marking the spot where Villanueva, his brother and friends were allegedly playing dice when the conflict with police began. Banners were draped on a nearby fence and across a mountain of snow, reading ?On ne joue pas avec la vie? (You don?t play with lives) and ?Justice pour Fredy?. Ducanal said his group has three demands: that the inquiry to be held into Villanueva?s death be truly independent and impartial; that police end practices his group considers to be racial and social profiling; and that politicians work to solve the root social problems of poverty and discrimination in Montreal North. The group plans to hold another protest Monday night at Montreal City Hall. Ducanal said an earlier attempt by members of his group to ask Mayor Gerald Tremblay questions about the issue during a public question period were stymied when the doors to city hall were chained shut. Montreal Gazette mlalonde at thegazette.canwest.com http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=77&ContentID=113052 Protestors rally against internet censorship 13th December 2008, 13:00 WST A crowd of several hundred gathered at Stirling Gardens in Perth today to rally against the Australian Government?s plans for mandatory censorship of the Internet. Scott Ludlam Greens MP spoke at the rally, putting forward his queries about the proposal. He questioned exactly what the Government?s plans were and said he wanted to know why they had announced changes to censorship with no further explanation. Mr Ludlam said the rally was a great opportunity for people to air their concerns in a public domain rather than in an online environment. ?It was good for people with similar concerns to meet face to face,? he said. He said the plan would not only slow internet connections but would be unlikley to catch the very people it sought to stop. A Facebook page titled, Perth Australians against Internet Censorship, Say No to Mandatory Internet Filtering states that the Australian government was ?quietly going ahead with plans to filter all Australian?s access to the internet in a manner similar to the People?s Republic of China an Iran.? According to the group, the filter will significantly slow down the internet for all Australians, will not prevent distribution of illegal material and the filter represented ? a dangerous erosion of our freedom.? Prior to the rally more than 600 people had indicated on the Facebook site that they intended to attend the rally. Similar rallies took place in capaital cities around the nation PERTH LISA CALAUTTI http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24795948-2,00.html?from=public_rss Digital Liberty Coalition protests against web filter held across Australia By Andrew Ramadge, Technology Reporter NEWS.com.au December 13, 2008 07:00pm Digital divide ... hundreds attended rallies across Australia today to oppose the Government's web filtering plan. ? Protests against web filtering scheme ? Held in capital cities across Australia ? Monthly rallies until March HUNDREDS of people attended rallies in Australian capital cities yesterday to voice their opposition to the Rudd Government's planned internet filtering scheme. The rallies, held in seven cities including Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, were the first in a series of demonstrations organised by anti-censorship group Digital Liberty Coalition (DLC). In Sydney a crowd of up to 300 mostly young and tech-savvy protestors gathered at Town Hall to hear guest speakers including bloggers and musicians criticise the web filtering scheme. IT worker Jon Seymour, who runs the blogs Broadbanned Revolution and Filtering Fallacies, said he was concerned the filter had the potential to be misused. "Even if there's no realistic scenario where it's going to be abused now, it's certainly possible that future governments might choose to use (it) to start frustrating political opinion," he said. "We have to resist this now, because once it's in place it will be very hard to dismantle." UNSW computer science Dane Edwards said he attended the rally to voice concern over the effect the filter would have on people who were less technologically savvy. "For people who are technically skilled, people who know how to use computers properly, this censorship is going to be pathetically easy to defeat," he said. "(The fear is that) a lot of material that shouldn't be blocked will be." Under the Government's current plan, all Australians will be served a "clean" internet feed with websites on a secret blacklist maintained by the communications watchdog blocked. A secondary filter to block material inappropriate for children will also be introduced, however users will be able to opt-out of this system by lodging a request with their internet service provider. Opponents to the plan are concerned the filter will slow internet connection speeds and accidentally prevent access to a large number of legitimate websites. Studies cited by the Australian Communications and Media Authority this year found web filtering software blocked the wrong content in up to 25 per cent of test cases. Anti-censorship advocates are also concerned that the secret blacklist of websites to be blocked for all users could be misused or expanded for political reasons. DLC Sydney rally coordinator Jerry Hutchinson said the low take-up of existing free web filtering software, introduced by the previous government, showed that parents were not interested in the concept. "The Howard government spent a lot of money on that and people aren't downloading it," Mr Hutchinson said. "Why? Because people can monitor their own children ? they don't need censorship in their home." A live trial of filtering software is scheduled to begin this month, with internet service providers Optus and iiNet taking part in the test. Australia's biggest ISP Telstra has refused to take part, with chief operating officer Greg Winn calling the Government's plan a "pipe dream". DLC plans to hold anti-filter demonstrations in capital cities once a month until March, when it will promote a national protest in Canberra called March in March. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/hands-off-our-internet-say-freespeech-protesters/2008/12/13/1228585168416.html Rally rejects Rudd's internet filter Andrew Wight | December 13, 2008 Hundreds of free-speech advocates and internet aficionados turned out at Reddacliff Place in Brisbane's CBD today to protest the Rudd government's proposed mandatory internet filter. ------------------------- GALLERY: Brisbane protest ------------------------- With 937 people registering on the event's Facebook group, the tech-savvy crowd turned out in the summer heat to raise awareness of the problems that would arise from the proposed filter, which will block all websites found on a government "black-list." Holding a sign labelled "hands off my LOLcat", education and IT worker James Croft, from Brisbane's south-side, was concerned about the curtailing of free speech such a filter would result in. "The only other countries that have a mandatory filter are Iran, Burma, China, Saudi Arabia and North Kore.: Australia will be the first democracy to have one," he said. "It's a slippery slope. Once you have the censorship in place, who will have control over what other sites are blocked?" One of the speakers on the day, IT consultant Mike Fitzsimon, told the crowd how a website that had helped him through a grievous medical condition would probably be blocked by a mandatory filter. "Ostomates.com is a site run by a woman in Perth, where people can discuss their medical problems and give each other support," Mr Fitzsimon said. "But on these forums, people also use language that could be misconstrued by the censors. "Because we are describing anatomy, but using our own terms, this site could be placed on the black-list." Mr Fitzsimon's said the government's figure of 0.08 per cent of all websites being blocked would actually mean three to eight per cent of legitimate websites would also be accidentally blocked. "The government's (current) Netalert in-home system is the best solution to the problem (of child porn) because it is applied where its needed - in the family home," he said. Digital Liberty Coalition Brisbane rally co-ordinator Jasmine Marosvary said the group hoped to raise awareness of the problems which would arise from the proposal. "We feel a mandatory filter will infringe on our civil rights and there are other means available to protect children," she said. "Helping parents supervise and educate their children about the dangers of the internet is another way. "Digital Liberty Coalition has brought together many different concerned groups and we are holding rallies around the country. "We're expecting all kinds of ages, from parents with kids and teenagers." In the midst of all the commotion, a lone Byron Bay system administrator dressed as a robot was adamant that the filter represented censorship. "All us robots have to stand up for free speech," he said. http://www.examiner.com.au/news/national/national/general/cash-floods-in-for-anticensorship-protests/1379008.aspx Cash floods in for anti-censorship protests ASHER MOSES 5/12/2008 4:06:00 PM Political activists GetUp have raised over $30,000 in less than a day to support their fight against the Government's plan to censor the internet, a response the group has described as "unprecedented". The money will be put towards an advertising blitz designed to inform the public of the consequences of the plan, which experts say include slower internet speeds, significant false positives, failure to stop people from subverting the filters and the risk that the blacklist will be expanded to include the blocking of regular pornography, political views, gambling and pro-abortion sites. Meanwhile, as the Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, continued to dodge questions regarding the scheme in Senate question time, it emerged that protesters are planning anti-filtering marches for Saturday December 13 in Australia's capital cities. Almost 500 people have signed up on Facebook to attend the protest at Sydney's Town Hall, while more than 1000 will picket at Melbourne's State Library. Thousands more are listed as "maybe attending". Live trials of the controversial internet filters, which will block "illegal" content for all Australian internet users and "inappropriate" adult content on an opt-in basis, are slated to begin by Christmas, despite harsh opposition from the Greens, Opposition, the internet industry, some child welfare advocates, consumers and online rights groups. Even NSW Young Labor has abandoned the Government's filtering plans, passing a motion last week rejecting the mandatory scheme and calling on Senator Conroy to adopt a voluntary opt-in system. Ed Coper, campaigns director at GetUp, said the response to the anti-censorship campaign had been "astronomical" and "quite unprecedented". Almost 80,000 people have signed GetUp's petition and the organisation has created a widget that website owners can embed on their sites, which allows their visitors to sign the petition and obtain more information about the filtering plans. Mr Coper said GetUp's advertising blitz would begin next week, with the number of ads determined by how much money is raised. "We're thinking about putting it [the ad] on high profile news websites but also on the websites that are trafficked by the more engaged internet users - the technological websites that the regular internet users visit a lot," he said. Despite having yet to prove the viability of its filtering plan, the Government will by the end of the year shut down the existing NetAlert scheme, which was set up by the previous government and provides free software filters to all Australian families. These are different to the filters proposed by Senator Conroy, which are mandatory and block sites from the ISP end. In 1999, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, then the Opposition communications spokesman, told Parliament that ISP filters were "largely ineffective", citing CSIRO research that found software filters were better because they were voluntary and the level of blocking could be customised by users. Newer tests released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority in June found available ISP filters frequently let through content that should be blocked, incorrectly blocked harmless content and slowed down network speeds by up to 87 per cent. Moreover, none of the filters will be capable of filtering non-web applications such as peer-to-peer file sharing programs. And the filters can easily be evaded by those set on accessing child pornography, using freely available tools. During Senate question time this week, Senator Conroy refused to say how many customers an ISP would need to enlist for a trial to be credible or whether the results would be independently examined and verified. He justified the closure of NetAlert by saying it was a "monumental failure of a policy" because the free voluntary filters had attracted "extraordinarily small usage". Anti-filtering advocates have seized on those comments as a sign that there is little demand for internet filters in the first place. http://www.croatiantimes.com/index.php?id=2070 08. 12. 08. - 12:00 Anti-government Facebook protests fizzle Croatian Times Anti-government protests organized on Facebook fizzled Friday when roughly 3,500 people turned out for a demonstration that organizers hoped would draw 60,000. About 2,500 people gathered in the capital, Zagreb. Several hundred turned up in Croatia's second-largest city, Split, and a few hundred more in five other cities to protest government austerity measures. "It's easier to click a mouse, in the safety of your home, than show up in public," said Jaksa Matovinovic, a spokesman for the group that organized the protest. Still, the protests demonstrated that online social networks have began to have some political impact in this former Yugoslav republic, where only 2 in 5 households have access to the Internet Younger generations are well-versed in the Internet, but gaffes by some politicians reflect Croatia's relative computer illiteracy. Speaker of parliament Vladimir Seks called the social networking Web site "Facebok." Opposition lawmaker Mato Arlovic, spoke of "emajl" - enamel in Croatian - when he meant e-mail. And former Interior Minister Ivica Kirin called YouTube "Jubito" in a widely played clip posted on that site. The Facebook group, called "Tighten your own belt, you gang of knaves," criticized Prime Minister Ivo Sanader's measures to fight a potential financial crisis, saying they would hurt the average Croat while politicians and the rich would be unscathed. It also blames the government for failing to fight crime and corruption. "Only united we are becoming a force that no one can ignore," the group's leader, Josip Dell Olio, told the crowd in Zagreb. Recent police questioning of two members of Facebook groups critical of the government signalled that politicians may not be prepared for a new, cyberspace opposition. Irate Croat politicians still sometimes place calls over critical stories in traditional news media, and occasionally, stories are being pulled or changed as a consequence. Although there are few formal restrictions, Croatia still has some ways to go in shedding its authoritarian past, first imposed by communism and then by the nationalist forces that ruled the ex-Yugoslav country in the 1990's. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/keddies-protest-takes-to-the-street/2008/12/11/1228585025698.html Keddies protest takes to the street Jennifer Cooke Legal Affairs Reporter | December 12, 2008 USING crocodiles to illustrate his deep unhappiness with his former law firm, Mohammed Tariq mounted a one-man sandwich board demonstration in the city yesterday, calling for an independent inquiry into the activities of Keddies Lawyers. He wants the Legal Services Commissioner, Steve Mark, to withdraw himself from investigating multiple complaints about the firm, some of which were lodged more than a year ago, and to recommend to the Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos, that a retired judge take over. Mr Tariq, a former court interpreter who has been unable to work since receiving brain, neck and back injuries in a car accident last year, says the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner, the legal regulator to which all complaints about NSW lawyers are referred, is "toothless" and incapable of investigating multiple complaints about the state's largest personal injury law firm. In a letter he sent to the commission, Mr Tariq asked Mr Mark to remove himself from investigations into complaints that include excessive charging, not providing bills and not telling clients the total amount of their injury compensation. A complaint by Xi Chen, who says her case was settled without her consent, was lodged more than two years ago. In the interim, many complaints against Keddies have been dismissed, or the commission's file on the matter closed after complaints were withdrawn. Some of the withdrawals occurred after refunds were paid by Keddies. Despite requests by the Herald this year, Keddies has not explained why $100,000 was refunded via two separate cheques to Gu Xi Liang, who has since made further complaints, including against his two barristers. Mr Tariq, who remains incensed about his solicitors' bill, parts of which are plastered to the back of his sandwich board, believed that his only other avenue of complaint - the Law Society of NSW - was barred to him due to what he saw as a conflict of interest in Scott Roulstone, a Keddies partner, being a member of its executive. However, a spokeswoman for the society said yesterday that Mr Roulstone, who remains a Law Society councillor, did not nominate or accept a nomination for the position of senior vice-president during council elections two weeks ago due to work commitments. She said any complaint against a councillor would only be dealt with by the commission. A spokesman for the Bar Association declined to comment. Mr Mark did not return the Herald's call. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=6407567 Florence Mayor Chains Himself in Rome Protest Florence mayor chains himself to pole in Rome to protest coverage of corruption probe ROME December 6, 2008 (AP) The Associated Press The mayor of Florence says he has chained himself to a metal pole outside two publications in Rome to protest coverage of a corruption probe. Images broadcast on Sky TG24 show Mayor Leonardo Domenici chaining himself to the pole outside the offices of Italian weekly L'Espresso and Rome daily La Repubblica. He is pressing his claim of innocence. The Florence probe is looking into plans to develop an area of the city, including possible construction of a soccer stadium. News reports say two city commissioners are being investigated. Domenici told reporters Saturday his governance has been above board. Milan daily Corriere della Sera quoted Domenici as saying in an interview he is so disgusted he will leave politics in June when his second term expires. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1230/1230581467509.html December 30, 2008 Priest in child abuse protest urges bishop to step down Fr Michael Mernagh at St Colman's Cathedral in Cobh yesterday. He is to walk to Dublin to show solidarity with victims of clerical sex abuse. Photograph: Michael MacSweeney/Provision OLIVIA KELLEHER A PRIEST who is walking from Cork to Dublin to show solidarity with victims of clerical sex abuse has met Bishop John Magee of Cloyne diocese. Bishop Magee has been severely criticised over recent weeks following a report on the mishandling of allegations relating to clerical sex abuse in his diocese. Fr Michael Mernagh (70), who yesterday said he believed Bishop Magee should step down from his post, also maintained a three-day vigil outside St Colman's Cathedral in Cobh over Christmas in protest at the Cloyne revelations. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has also added its voice to calls for Bishop Magee's resignation. Chief executive Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop said his handling of the abuse cases was "absolutely unforgiveable". She was not surprised he had not resigned, but "our culture has changed. We now have national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children, Children First, but he definitely did not put children first" and he should stand down. Fr Mernagh said he had the meeting with Bishop Magee after a concerned member of the clergy came outside to talk to him on Christmas Eve and invited him in to speak to the bishop. Fr Mernagh said he had had an informal chat with the bishop in which he outlined his concerns. "I explained what I was about and my purpose in being there. I think he took that on board. I wasn't there to confront him. I said the reason I was doing it was because I had a responsibility as a priest to atone for what had happened and to be in solidarity with the victims of abuse in all dioceses, not just in Cloyne. "I was straight out with it. I didn't feel uncomfortable. We talked a bit. It wasn't a long conversation as he was just off the altar. It was cordial." Fr Mernagh said he told Bishop Magee that his walk wasn't just about Cloyne but the whole church. The Dublin-based Augustinian priest said he was treated with respect by the bishop and his secretary even though they were "under a lot of stress". Meanwhile, Fr Jim Killeen, director of communications in the diocese of Cloyne, yesterday refused to comment on rumours that Bishop Magee may have travelled to Rome in recent days. Fr Killeen said no further statements would be issued on the Cloyne report. Sources however, have indicated that Dr Magee is still in Cobh and has no plans to travel. Bishop Magee sought to defuse the child protection controversy through a special Christmas message in which he personally accepted responsibility. At Christmas Eve Mass in Cobh, Dr Magee said he took full responsibility for the "errors" made in relation to the management of child sexual abuse claims in the diocese. He gave a full assurance that such mistakes would not happen again. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 12:00:38 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:00:38 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Peace protests, Dec 2008 Message-ID: <4AEC8956.9090604@tesco.net> * PAKISTAN: Massive protest urges end to US supply lines * PAKISTAN: Protest over Rice's visit to India * NEPAL: Protests over Indian intrusions in Susta, villagers demand withdrawal * CZECH REPUBLIC: Hundreds protest against US radar base * FRANCE: Dynamite planted at store in Afghanistan war protest * UK: Festive protest at nuclear bomb-makers * UK: Raytheon rooftop protest * UK: Horse show protested over arms links * US: California - Army video games festival protested * US: Oregon - Protester fasts over National Guard Iraq deployment * US: California - Anti-war carol event * UGANDA: Protest in parliament against escalation in LRA war * UK: Protest at EDO factory http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=KHA20081220&articleId=11448 Mass Anti-US Protest Movement in Pakistan 10,000 urge Pakistan to cut US-NATO supply line by Riaz Khan Global Research, December 20, 2008 International Herald Tribune - 2008-12-18 Thousands of anti-government protesters demanded Thursday that Pakistan shut the route along which supplies are ferried to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, adding to the growing pressure on Islamabad's beleaguered leadership. The demonstration by more than 10,000 people in the northwestern city of Peshawar also focused on a recent series of U.S. missile strikes against suspected al-Qaida and Taliban targets in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border and Pakistani military offensives against Islamic insurgents in the area. Leaders of the demonstration drew links between the missile attacks and the supply line, saying the equipment was being used for attacks on Pakistani soil and vowing to shut down the convoys. "We will no longer let arms and ammunition pass through ... and reach the hands of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan," Sirajul Haq, the provincial head of hardline Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, told the crowd. "They are using the same against our innocent brothers, sisters and children." The supply line ? along which gear passes from the Pakistani port city of Karachi and through the Khyber Pass ? has increasingly come under assault, leading U.S. and NATO forces to scout possible alternative routes. Hundreds of vehicles, including Humvees allocated for the Afghan army, have been torched in recent weeks in arson attacks on terminals, leaving several security guards dead. The convoys also are targets in Afghanistan, despite armed escorts. But U.S. Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said Thursday that convoys continue to flow along the route at the rate of about 150 trucks a day and reiterated that the attacks "have not affected our ability to operate (in Afghanistan) at this point." "It continues to be a viable supply route. That said, we are looking at ways not only to improve the security along that route but other alternatives to it," he said. Thursday's rally appeared to be the largest against Western use of the route since Pakistan's civilian government took office in March and one of the largest anti-government protests so far. Banner-toting demonstrators chanted "Down with America" and "Jihad is the only solution of America" as they marched along a key road in Peshawar, led by party leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed. "If America continues atrocities against Muslims, it will also not be able to live in peace," Express television showed Ahmad saying. The protest ratchets up pressure on the new government at a time when it is also dealing with a tanking economy and the fallout over the Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 160 people. Pakistan's main stock market index plunged to its lowest level in more than three years Thursday, as tensions with New Delhi appeared to be rising. India ordered cricket officials to cancel next month's scheduled tour of Pakistan ? a blow to the sport, which had been used to help with rapprochement between the two countries. Pakistan also summoned an Indian envoy for an official protest over last weekend's reported incursions into Pakistani airspace by Indian aircraft after Islamabad initialized downplayed the incidents. India says the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group was behind November's attacks in the Indian financial capital. Pakistan has arrested some suspects and clamped down on a charity, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, allegedly linked to the outlawed group, but it insists it needs evidence from India. The crackdown on the charity also has stirred anti-government sentiment, with a series of recent demonstrations on behalf of Jamaat-ud-Dawa. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/12/20/2003431619 Protesters tell Pakistan to shut supply route AP, ISLAMABAD Saturday, Dec 20, 2008, Page 5 Thousands of anti-government protesters demanded that Pakistan shut the route along which supplies are ferried to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, adding to the growing pressure on Islamabad?s beleaguered leadership. The demonstration Thursday by more than 10,000 people in the northwestern city of Peshawar also focused on a recent series of US missile strikes against suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban targets in Pakistan?s lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border and Pakistani military offensives against Islamic insurgents in the area. Leaders of the demonstration drew links between the missile attacks and the supply line, saying the equipment was being used for attacks on Pakistani soil and vowing to shut down the convoys. ?We will no longer let arms and ammunition pass through ... and reach the hands of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan,? Sirajul Haq, the provincial head of hardline Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, told the crowd. ?They are using the same against our innocent brothers, sisters and children.? The supply line ? along which gear passes from the Pakistani port city of Karachi and through the Khyber Pass ? has increasingly come under assault, leading US and NATO forces to scout possible alternative routes. Hundreds of vehicles, including Humvees allocated for the Afghan army, have been torched in recent weeks in arson attacks on terminals, leaving several security guards dead. The convoys also are targets in Afghanistan, despite armed escorts. But US Department of Defense spokesman Bryan Whitman said on Thursday that convoys continue to flow along the route at the rate of about 150 trucks a day. ?It continues to be a viable supply route. That said, we are looking at ways not only to improve the security along that route but other alternatives to it,? he said. The protest ratchets up pressure on the new government at a time when it is also dealing with a tanking economy and the fallout over the Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 160 people. Pakistan?s main stock market index plunged to its lowest level in more than three years on Thursday, as tensions with New Delhi appeared to be rising. India ordered cricket officials to cancel next month?s scheduled tour of Pakistan ? a blow to the sport, which had been used to help with rapprochement between the two countries. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/19/2450811.htm Pakistanis protest against US alliance Posted Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:00am AEDT Thousands of demonstrators have rallied in Pakistan to protest against the Government's support of coalition troops in Afghanistan. The group shouted anti-American slogans as they marched on the streets of Peshawar in north-western Pakistan. Up to 5,000 people joined the protest, which called for the Pakistani Government to halt its support of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan. Peshawar has been the site of escalating violence, including attacks on convoys carrying supplies for coalition forces across the border. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to arrive in Kabul later today to hold talks with his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai on how to improve security in the region. http://www.funonthenet.in/forums/index.php?topic=117686.0 Pakistanis protest Rice's visit to India Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:27:24 GMT Reference Source - Press TV Anti-US demonstration in Islamabad Thousands of Pakistani students have held anti-US rallies to protest US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to India. More than 2,000 students belonging to Pakistan's largest religious and political outfit, the Islami Jamiat-e-Tulaba, marched through Islamabad, shouting anti-US, anti-Israeli and anti-Indian slogans. The protest came as Rice said the Pakistani government must show "resolve and urgency" as she called for international cooperation in the investigation into the recent Mumbai attacks. The participants, backed by Jammat-e-Islami, chanted slogans against Washington, Tel Aviv and New Delhi amid growing tensions with neighboring India over last week's attacks, a Press TV correspondent reported. Carrying banners and flags, the demonstrators made it clear that they were united to protect Pakistan from any foreign aggression saying, "We are ready to sacrifice ourselves by launching Jihad (Holy war) against the enemies of our country." They claimed that India itself had planned the Mumbai attacks as a means of waging a war against Pakistan. They blamed the White House for the growing unrest in Pakistan and said that the US wanted to destabilize Pakistan and that was the reason it was using India to create tension in Pakistan. They also demanded the government to cut ties with India and also to stop operations in tribal regions against pro-Taliban militants. Public sentiments remain high across Pakistan as India blames the country for last week's Mumbai attacks which claimed 188 lives. RZS/SME/RE http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/dec/dec20/news03.php Susta villagers up for protest movement again Villagers in Susta, Nawalparari district, have once again shown their unity against the continued intrusion of Indians into Nepali border areas and ignorance of the government to look into the problem. A team of Susta locals is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu Saturday to meet political leaders including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and apprise them of the Indian encroachment of the Nepali land in the area. The team expects a meeting with Indian envoy Rakesh Sood and handover a memorandum demanding end to Indian encroachment in Susta. Chairperson of the Save Susta Movement, Gopal Gurung, said they would stage protests if the Nepal government and India continue to ignore their demands. nepalnews.com ia Dec 20 08 http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=344826 Hundreds protest against U.S. radar base in Prague published: 17.11.2008, 21:41 | updated: 17.11.2008 22:07:45 Na N?rodn? t??d? protestovali odp?rci radaru Prague - Hundreds of opponents of the planned U.S. radar base on Czech soil demonstrated in the centre of Prague today, demanding that the project be scrapped and that the government, which promotes it, be unseated. The demonstration, organised by the No To Bases group, blocked the traffic along the bustling Narodni street. In the beginning, a few supporters of U.S. the missile defence shield turned up and exchanged verbal attacks with the anti-radar protesters. The skirmishes ended with two radar advocates being taken away by the police. Another clash between the participants and the police broke out outside the Government Office where the demonstration culminated in the evening. Arriving at the Government Office, the protesters unfolded posters reading "This government must end." They lit candles as a symbol of Mirek Topolanek's centre-right cabinet's end, and chanted slogans against the government. Around 20:00 the demonstration ended without any major incident. The police estimate the number of the participants at 1,000, while the organisers put the number at up to 600. The banners the demonstrators were carrying read "You cannot cover radar with velvet" and "76 percent against the radar," alluding to today's anniversary of the November 17, 1989 start of the anti-communist "velvet" revolution in Czechoslovakia and to public opinion polls showing that a majority of Czechs is opposed to the radar project. The protesters also demanded that the radar issue be decided on in a referendum. The radar base, to be situated in the Brdy military district 90km southwest of Prague, along with a base with interceptor missiles in Poland, are to be elements of the U.S. anti-missile shield aimed against hostile missiles states such as Iran might launch. The relevant two Czech-U.S. treaties are yet to be discussed by the Czech parliament where they are not sure of the necessary majority support. Apart from the left-wing opposition, the project is opposed by a few rebels among the government deputies. Author: ?TK www.ctk.cz http://news.scotsman.com/world/Dynamite-protest-at-Paris-store.4799147.jp Dynamite protest at Paris store Published Date: 17 December 2008 POLICE found explosives in a Paris department store yesterday after a tip-off from a group demanding the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan. Five "relatively old" sticks of dynamite without detonators were discovered in the Printemps store. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415279.html Festive Protest at Nuclear Bomb Makers, London Dec 12 Peter Marshall | 13.12.2008 15:52 | Anti-militarism Around a dozen activists turned up in Victoria, London on Friday for a festive protest outside the offices of the US companies involved in the production of the UK's nuclear weapons and the huge expansion of bomb production facilities at Aldermaston - costing ?6,000,000,000 - which has never been debated or approved by Parliament. Ten members of the 'Muriel Lesters', a London affinity group of Trident Ploughshares dressed in Santa suits, white nuclear inspector overalls and festive hats and called for an end to bomb production at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Appropriately, their renditions of festive songs and carols with modified anti-nuclear lyrics were less than tuneful (one of those taking part was hear to say "I'm a Quaker, we don't sing" - who could contradict him.) They called for a stop to the illegal activities of these companies in making weapons. First to be serenaded by the group were the offices of the US arms giant Lockheed Martin, makers of bunker buster and cluster bombs, the worlds largest exporter of weapons and leading member of the consortium set up to produce the nuclear warheads of the UK Trident replacement at Aldermaston. After an hour or so of leafleting and displaying banners on Vauxhall Bridge Road just around the corner, the group moved to the front door of the building housing Lockheed Martin and several other companies in Carlisle Place for their half hour carol 'concert'. It was a site I knew from the 'Merchants of Death' tour by CAAT earlir in the year. A number of people came in an out of the building while this was going on and some took leaflets while others hurried past, often to waiting taxis. Half way through the performance, a police car pulled up and dropped off two constables who came to talk to the protesters. They asked who was in charge (and nobody was) and for a mobile number they could use to contact the group, saying "it's standard practice for protests". Oh no it isn't. They were handed a leaflet with the details of Trident Ploughshares, but that wasn't what they had in mind. The police were informed that the real criminals were in the Lockheed Martin offices, carrying out the vast expansion in UK nuclear arms, a breach of the UK's obligations under Article VI of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Eventually the officers went away, reminding the protesters that while the police supported the right to demonstrate, it was important to keep the pavement clear. As they left, one member of the group stretched out "dead" on his back on that pavement as a symbol of the many victims of nuclear weapons, including those killed in nuclear strikes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and "bomb test veterans, and victims of leukaemias, lymphomas and cancers caused by exposure to radioactive discharges from AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield in Berkshire, Sellafield in Cumbria, Rolls Royce Raynesway in Derby and other sites" I left the group as it packed up and decided to take a short break before going on for a similar protest at the London offices of Jacobs Engineering and Fluor Corporation, two other US companies who are competing for the stake in the AWE bomb-making contract currently owned by the British Nuclear Group. The third player in the contract ? the only remaining UK involvement - is SERCO. http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2008/03/mar.htm#serco Earlier demonstrations at Aldermaston this year included one celebrating 50 years of protest in March http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2008/03/mar.htm#aldermaston and the highly successful blockade of the base in October, where I arrived too late to see much of the action. http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2008/10/oct.htm#aldermastonPeter Marshall e-mail: petermarshall at cix.co.uk http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415192.html Raytheon rooftop protest continues. day 3 paster | 12.12.2008 16:49 | Anti-militarism | Iraq | Palestine Call-out for Carnival against the Arms Trade This weekend in Bristol Raytheon rooftop protest continues. Carnival protest against the arms trade THIS Saturday 1-3pm Transport available from central Bristol 12.00 prompt outside the Magpie Centre, off Stokes Croft 12.15 pm outside the Red Factory, Portland Square, St Pauls 12.30 pm outside Kebele, Robertson Road, Easton. Or make your own way to:- The Raytheon office is at Argentum House, Bristol Business Park Frenchay Turn off the roundabout on Coldharbour Road in front of UWE Frenchay Campus (see map below) The rooftop protest at Raytheon is continuing, despite rain and sub-zero temperatures. Cops and Security are playing it really cool. Food and supplies are getting up to the protesters -they even have a tent now! They plan to stay indefinitely to protest Bristol?s involvement in the arms trade, exposing dealers-in-death like Raytheon and the many other companies like them. Are you fed up with the War? Are you against the Arms Trade? Now is the time for Bristol to show support! Come and joint the protest in carnival mood ? cyclists, skaters, jugglers, musicians, peace-protesters, zombies, fairies, anarchists, punks, young, old, everyone welcome. If you have a practical head we need this too. Bring you camera, video, placards, leaflets, and campaigning skills to build this into an on-going campaign. Come to have fun because Raytheon is deadly serious. "Day turned to Night, and Night turned to Day" Eye-witness account of the bombing of Fallujah. RAYTHEON Raytheon are 4th largest arms company in the world with a $20 billion turnover per year. They are involved massively in the manufacture or delivery systems of WMD. They are the biggest cruise missile maker (Patriot and tomahawk). Their range of both cruise-missiles and plane-dropped bombs can be loaded with cluster bombs. Cluster bombs are indiscriminate weapons killing civilians and soldiers alike. During the 2006 War on Southern Lebanon, Raytheon were supplying the Israeli military who were using the weaponry on civilian targets and deliberately sprayed millions of bomblets throughout the country. They also manufacture DU depleted-Uranium tipped Bunker Busters bombs, such as the ones that killed hundreds of civilians in the Amiriyah shelter in Baghdad. DU has had devastating health effects on civilian population of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as on British soldiers. Raytheon munitions were used extensively in the destruction of the city of Fallujah during the second Iraq war. Have the UK contract with MOD for UK inland security and the Olympics, plus are involved with the new military training academy being built at St Athens in South Wales. They are also researching military technology for civilian control, such as a sinister crowd-dispersal microwave beam called ?The Silent Guardian? which causes intense burning effects on the recipients. Background notes: Videos and info on previous demonstrations at Raytheon in Bristol see www.RaytheonOut.wordpress.com Previous protest http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/689068 Raytheon cluster-bomb systems see http://thisworldisnotforsale.com/dawc/myReportOnCluster....html Raytheon Bunker Busters bombs see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiriyah_shelter In August 2006 Anti-War protesters in Derry organized a non-violent occupation of Raytheon's plant in the Ulster Science and Technology Park and were acquitted recently. See http://www.thisworldisnotforsale.com/ Related Link: http://www.RaytheonOut.wordpress.com http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414934.html 3rd Raytheon Rooftop Protest Bristol paster | 10.12.2008 18:16 | Anti-militarism | Iraq | Palestine | South Coast Anti-war protesters have again outwitted cops and security guards and occupied the rooftop of the Raytheon office block in Frenchay near Bristol. They are waving banners and shouting slogans. We just Love on the roof tops in Bristol! This is the third roof-top protest as part of a total of eight on-going weekly protests at the Raytheon offices. A roof-top protester said ?The US and Britain had no more right to invade Iraq or Afghanistan than Nazi Germany did to invade Poland or France. Raytheon played their part by producing foul, indiscriminate weapons and we won?t be quiet till they have left our city for good.? The rooftop protest is being led by ex-soldier named Elijah Smith. Aged 43 he served with the French Foreign Legion 1986-88 and with the British Army 1990-92 rising to the rank of corporal in the Parachute regiment. He saw active service in Northern Ireland, Croatia, and Rwanda. He says ?We?re living in ridiculous times. As civilians we?re increasingly being controlled and criminalised. Yet at the same time the Government sends our troops to fight illegal wars against relatively weak third-world countries. And no one, at all, controls the global arms industry which is producing the most evil and barbaric weaponry imaginable. More and more civilians are being slaughtered in our so-called hi-tech warfare. Entire countries, such as Iraq, are laid waste with toxic chemicals and depleted uranium waste. And I know personally countless young soldiers returning from duty who are permanently poisoned by the chemicals and the psychological damage. I?ve seen too much in my time and I?m totally sickened. That?s why I?m devoting my life to stopping it.? http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415975.html London horse show protest reveals arms fair links dv | 24.12.2008 00:09 | Anti-militarism Event organisers Clarion, the promoters of the International Horse Show (16-22 December), were exposed as the owners of five major arms fairs at a protest at Olympia Exhibition Centre in London on Sunday (21 December). Six members and supporters of London Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), some in costume, displayed humorous placards, handed out leaflets and sang alternative Christmas carols outside the venue for two-and-half-hours, from 10.45am. As well as promoting the International Horse Show, Clarion Events recently became the owner of London's biennial Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi), the world's biggest arms fair, and four other international arms fairs. Publishing company Reed Elsevier was forced to sell DSEi and its other arms fairs following strong criticism from its own customers, shareholders and campaigners. Clarion took over ownership of DSEi and several other arms fairs earlier this year. Shortly before the protest began, security manager Trevor McNevin went over to the group to explain that Olympia was privately owned and that if they wished to remain on the property then they would need to go into the pen provided. One of the group responded that if an attempt was made to limit their ability to impart information to the public, he was prepared to challenge this in court, as he believed this would interfere with his right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, incorporated into domestic law through the Human Rights Act 1998. He suggested that any such court action would generate adverse publicity for Clarion (or alternatively provide an additional opportunity for Clarion to promote its upcoming arms fairs). Mr McNevin went away. As the protesters began leafleting at the exit to Kensington (Olympia) station, a jobsworth London Underground guard approached and began hassling them. Mr McNevin then returned and this time authorised the protesters to remain on Olympia property adjacent to the station exit. Seemingly on a charm offensive at this stage, he offered hot drinks to the protesters, which they politely declined. Four of the group stayed there whilst a further two went off to leaflet at the top of Olympia Way. Many visitors en route to the event were curious, particularly children, and readily accepted leaflets highlighting the perhaps not self-evident link between the Horse Show and arms fairs. Having distributed around 700 leaflets by lunchtime and with the flow of equestrian enthusiasts drying up, the group went off for a nice cup of tea and a bite to eat (at a local caf?, rather than taking advantage of Clarion?s hospitality). CAAT, the Space Hijackers and other campaigners have been highlighting Clarion's involvement in the arms trade at some of the company's other events this year, including the Spirit of Christmas Fair at Olympia in November and The Baby Show at London?s Earl's Court in October. Children's charity UNICEF and major sponsor Bounty withdrew from The Baby Show in October when they learned of Clarion's links with the arms trade. Government and military representatives from a number of countries with less-than-exemplary human rights records have been invited to DSEi in recent years, including Saudi Arabia, Libya, Indonesia, Colombia and China. Torture equipment has been marketed at the event in the past. The next DSEi exhibition is due to take place at the ExCel centre in London's Docklands in September 2009. Campaigners have vowed to ramp up the pressure on Clarion Events, with protests planned at the next London Baby Show at ExCel itself (27 February - 1 March 2009). Protester Daniel Viesnik explained his presence at the International Horse Show thus: "The rivers of blood that flow around the world start at London's DSEi and other arms fairs owned by Clarion. Millions of horses and other animals have been the innocent victims of brutal conflicts waged by mankind over the years. Profiting from all this is a global arms industry that Clarion now unashamedly promotes with such zeal, aided and abetted by a British Government that has blood on its hands." http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=51581 Rancho Cordova Army Video Game Tourney Draws Protest Posted By: Jason Kobely 4 months ago RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - A small but vocal group of military veterans picketed outside a U.S. Army-sponsored video game tournament in Rancho Cordova Saturday, claiming the event was staged to lure teens into enlisting in the military. A handful of members from the Veterans for Peace group protested outside the Army training center on Gold Tailings Court in Rancho Cordova Saturday while teens were inside competing. "It's like giving candy to kids," Sacramento Veterans for Peace president John C. Reiger said. "It's sort of like military pedophilia in a way, preying on our young people." Army Sgt. Victor Farrier said the tournament was meant to draw attention to the new video game "America's Army," which the Army said provides civilians with an accurate portrayal and inside perspective on life in the Army. "The event is nothing more than an opportunity for people to become familiar with the Army," Farrier said. Farrier said the tournament was open to players 17 and over. Anyone under 17 was required to have a parent or guardian present to compete. News10/KXTV http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_121108_news_fasting_protester.514bde51.html Fasting protester agrees to eat after meeting with governor 10:11 AM PST on Thursday, December 11, 2008 By BRAD CAIN, Associated Press Writer SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- A Corvallis peace activist agreed to end her 40-day fast on the state Capitol steps Wednesday after Gov. Ted Kulongoski met with her and others who oppose the planned deployment of Oregon Army National Guard troops to Iraq. Mike Galimanis, KGW-TV Michele Darr has been on a hunger fast in protest of an Oregon National Guard deployment. Michele Darr has been camped out on the Capitol steps, living on tea, water and vitamin supplements, since early November. At an hour-long meeting with Darr and the others, Kulongoski said he shares their doubts about the war but lacks the authority to block the scheduled deployment of more than 3,000 Oregon Guardsmen to Iraq and possibly Afghanistan next spring. "They wanted to know how we got in this war in the first place. We're all still trying to figure that one out," Kulongoski, a former U.S. Marine, said after the meeting. Darr said she was pleased that the governor had agreed to talk with her and six other opponents of the deployment. She said her first meal likely will be toast or something "light" -- but she said the vigil by her and others on the front steps of the Capitol would continue. She said the activists plan to press the 2009 Legislature to approve a resolution putting the state on record in favor of giving Kulongoski and other governors authority over deployment of Guardsmen to war zones. "We will keep this protest going until there is a resolution to this issue," Darr said. "We want this deployment halted in whatever way that can come about." Among the others who met with the governor was Richard Portelli, a 21-year-old Guard soldier who potentially could be among those sent to the Middle East next spring. Portelli, who's spent the past several weeks protesting with Darr on the Capitol steps, said the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are losing causes that are bankrupting the country. "We're fighting a two-front war. This county is just shoveling money into a fire," he said. Kulongoski, meanwhile, said he sympathizes with the opponents' views and that he met with Darr, the mother of six children, out of concern about the effects that a prolonged fast would have on her health. "I wanted her to eat; I wanted her to be healthy," the governor said. "She said she will start eating." http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_121008_news_kulongoski_fasting_protester.4c8b568b.html Governor to meet with fasting war protester from Corvallis 02:48 PM PST on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 By ERIC ADAMS, Kgw.com Staff SALEM, Ore. -- Gov. Ted Kulongoski has agreed to meet with a Corvallis woman who has been fasting on the Capitol steps in protest of a planned deployment of Oregon National Guard troops to Iraq and Afghanistan next year. Mike Galimanis, KGW-TV Michele Darr has been on a hunger fast in protest of an Oregon National Guard deployment. A spokeswoman for the governor said he is concerned about the health of Michele Darr, who has been camping on the Capitol steps for nearly 40 days, drinking only tea and water and consuming only vitamins and the occasional cup of coffee. Darr has been sleeping on a thin mat outside the Capitol since late October. She said she planned to end the fast after marking a symbolic 40 days and nights of protest. More: War protestor fasts on Capitol steps The governor will talk to Darr about his role as commander in chief of the Oregon Guard, and share her concerns with soldiers and their families, the spokeswoman said. ?I have close friends in the National Guard,? Darr said. ?I instantly saw the toll it took on them to be called up again and I found that very sad and disheartening.? Some 3,500 Oregon National Guardsmen and women are scheduled for deployment in 2009. She said sacrificing this time away from her children is nothing compared to the sacrifices that soldiers are required to make overseas. ?It's taken a huge, tremendous toll on the guard and their families,? Darr said. ?We feel at the very least they're owed a justification for the sacrifice they're being asked to make.? Darr?s partner, Reese Gooch, stayed by her side. Other protestors occasionally stop by to show support. Kulongoski is the commander and chief of the guard but he does not have authority over deployment. KGW Reporter Amanda Burden contributed to this report. http://www.myantiwar.org/view/168474.html Thursday, December 18, 2008 War protesters sing carols to Rep. Rohrabacher Military Families Speak Out members sing protest versions of classics. BY CINDY CARCAMO The Orange County Register Comments 19 | Recommend 4 HUNTINGTON BEACH ? Rep. Dana Rohrabacher had no cookies and milk for the carolers outside his Surf City home on Thursday night. Maybe it was because they served up Christmas favorites with altered lyrics, urging Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) to bring U.S. troops back home from the Middle East. The 16 carolers, members and supporters of Military Families Speak Out, certainly weren't wishing him Christmas tidings when they belted out "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" ? la war protest. "We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Our troops deserve a Merry Christmas. Our troops deserve a Merry Christmas. Our troops deserve a Merry Christmas, so bring them back here! Yes, stopping this war is something Congress can do: So, Dana, stop funding, or the death toll's on you," sang the protestors, who were decked out with Christmas hats, a guitar and even a tambourine. Rohrabacher, who voted for the invasion of Iraq and historically supported the Bush administration on the war until recently, didn't exit his home. However, human figures moved inside Rohrabacher's well-lighted Surf City Street home, only blocks away from downtown. Twelve star-shaped decorations hung from the rooftop and only a dummy Santa greeted carolers such as Jeff Merrick, of Long Beach, whose oldest son is a Marine who has served two tours in Iraq and is currently in Afghanistan. "I don't think we'll change his mind. We just want to let him know we're still around and that there are people in this district who disagree with this war," Merrick said. He snapped pictures of the group and sang along to songs like a rendition of "My Favorite Things," warping it to "Dana Rohrabacher's Favorite Things." "Kidnap dissenters to wisk off to prison. Dissing our founders and committing treason. Killing democracy. Endorsing kings. These are Old Warbackers favorite things." Rohrabacher wasn't the only legislator to receive holiday greetings. Protesting carolers also sang to Congressman Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) on Tuesday at his home. While most thought their caroling wouldn't change Rohrabacher's mind, Vern Nelson, who serenaded the 46th district representative with a guitar, believed he may have a change of heart and call for immediate troop withdrawal. "He's our Congressman and? we have to push to do to the right thing," said Nelson, a Huntington Beach resident. "Who thought Scrooge would turn around and do the right thing? You never know." Thu Trang Tran, 26, of Fountain Valley, said she was there to hopefully make the Congressman a little uncomfortable. "He shouldn't have it easy." Tran said of Rohrabacher. "When our men and women are stuck out on the sandbox? they don't get to come home for the holidays. It's only fair that we give him equal treatment." The hourlong sing-along ended without incident. Rohrabacher didn't answer the door when a reporter knocked. http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=613799 Uganda legislators protest military attack on LRA rebels Posted: 2008/12/17 From: MNN Legislators from war-ravaged northern Uganda on Tuesday urged the government to halt a military offensive against the rebel Lord`s Resistance Army (LRA), saying the military option would not bring peace to the war-torn region. KAMPALA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- "Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) calls upon Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)and southern Sudan to halt the joint military operation forthwith and revert to the peace process as the only way forward," said a statement from APG. The statement said the military option had failed to resolve the conflict for 20 years. Military forces from Uganda, southern Sudan and DR Congo launched an attack on Sunday on rebel leader Joseph Kony's base in Garamba forest in northeastern DRC.The joint operation, which entered the third day on Tuesday, was prompted by Kony's repeated refusal to sign a final peace agreement the rebel group negotiated with government for over two years. The Ugandan government on Tuesday explained to foreign envoys here and Parliament that the offensive was carried out to force the elusive rebel leader back to the negotiation table and sign the deal. Ruth Nankabirwa, minister of state for defense, told Parliament in a statement that the attack was also carried to rescue women and children from southern Sudan, the DR Congo, the Central African Republic and Uganda who are under LRA's captivity. The legislators also appealed to the LRA to exercise maximum restraint and stop looting and abductions in the DR Congo and southern Sudan. The LRA's over- two decade insurgency has left tens of thousands of people dead and about two million homeless in northern Uganda. The legislators warned that the resumption of war is likely to create panic among the population which was returning home during past two years following the relative peace in the region. # http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415618.html?c=on#comments Edo Arms Factory - Protest Report Sam Hiscox | 16.12.2008 22:01 EDO MBM Technology Ltd in Brighton UK, designs, develops and manufactures weapon interfacing systems, cable assemblies and electrodynamic products for the aerospace and defense industries - components for making and dropping bombs. Sam Hiscox went down to a protest against the factory to speak to the proesters. The march was fairly violent and all protesters interviewed here prefered to maintain anonimity. http://www.dontpaniconline.com/magazine/success/edo-arms-factory---protest-report Sam Hiscox ? Download this article in pdf format ? Email this article to someone; ? Submit an addition or make a quick comment on this article Comments Hide the following 5 comments Sam Hiscox, if you're reading this... 17.12.2008 00:18 ...you provide no evidence that the "march was fairly violent" apart from someone saying that the police had 'maced' someone in a wheelchair. I doubt you mean police violence, but if you do say so. And if you don't, but provide not a shred of conjecture about protestors 'violence', then keep your gutter-journalism off this forum. radar ________________________________________ @radar: I think he does mean police violence 17.12.2008 01:00 @radar: I think you are being too paranoid. It's fairly clear to me that the author is referring to violence used by the police against protesters. Not that I think it would be wrong for people to be violent to the police, but maybe is it tactical to avoid it. anon From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 12:18:03 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:18:03 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Worker protests, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AEC8D6B.1090405@tesco.net> * US: Illinois - Window factory occupation becomes iconic moment * MALAYSIA/BURMA: Migrant workers deported after protest * TURKEY: Tire workers occupy plant over job cuts * MALAYSIA: Sixteen-day pedal protest for minimum wage, against repressive laws * TAIWAN: Workers fight police over unpaid wages * CHINA: Strike at Shanghai factory * BAHAMAS: Protest over sandal factory layoffs * INDONESIA: Hospital staff strike * INDONESIA: Metal workers rally in Jakarta * INDONESIA: Thousands join rallies nationwide against attack on wages * TAIWAN: Hundreds protest forced leave * BOLIVIA: Miners protest firings by Swiss company * NIGERIA: Sacked telecom staff stage demo * NIGERIA: Protest in Bayelsa for promised jobs * NIGERIA: Dockworker protest closes central Lagos * THAILAND: Thainox workers protest attacks on conditions * TRINIDAD: Petrol workers continue strike into holidays * ZIMBABWE: Strike against cash withdrawal limits; police attack protest * PAKISTAN: Young doctors demand salary increase * PAKISTAN: Journalists protest "economic murder" after employee's death * THAILAND: Auto parts workers in successful bonus protest * UGANDA: Clearing agents protest at customs * ANGUILLA: Chinese migrant workers protest for unpaid wages, return to China * KENYA: Council workers in pay protest * INDIA: Labour protests roundup * HUNGARY: Workers protest strikebreaking at airport, demand agreement * SERBIA: Warning of mass protests ahead * AUSTRALIA: Building workers protest * UK: Derby fire crews protest cuts * US: Union protesters target own representatives * US: Protests after WalMart stampede death * FRANCE: Life models brave the cold to protest nude * JAPAN: Workers protest wave of job cuts * US: Protest at Associated Press over attack on staff conditions * US: California - Health workers protest rival union over centralised bargaining * GREECE: Workers block stores in protest over Sunday opening * US: University staff protest for right to smoke http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=SOM20081209&articleId=11342 Worker Protest: The Chicago Factory Occupation and The Economic Crisis by Eric Sommer Global Research, December 9, 2008 A rare defining moment in social class relations occurred a few days ago in Chicago, U.S.A.: In the wake of the economic chaos unleashed by the financial crisis, class struggle of the working class was reborn in America with a full-force factory occupation by workers. Workers at 'Republic Windows and Doors' in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. have assembled vinyl windows and sliding doors for many years; now, told that they are to be laid off with only three days notice, they have refused to leave the plant and have barricaded themselves inside until money and benefits owed to them are provided. Large numbers of people, and community organizations, are backing them, bringing food and other support items to the factory. To understand the Chicago occupations importance, an analogy is useful. In the mid-1960's every U.S. male was required to carry a 'draft card' bearing a number which would be used by the U.S. government to induct or force them into the U.S. Army if the government chose to do so. As the imperialist Vietnam war expandanded, the government required ever-more soldiers, and one day around 1965 a group of young men publicly burned their draft cards together in California to symbolize their refusal to enter the U.S. Army if they should be ordered to do so. What looked at the time like a lone and perhaps hopelessly quixotic act of a few unusual individuals was in fact very far-sighted. Over time, as literally millions of men were ordered into the army over the next 10 years, hundreds of thousands refused service, following on the example of this first set by the brave initial card burners. In retrospect, the timing of the draft-card burners was perfect; it was a perfect preparation of American males to resist the massive war of occupation and aggression by the U.S. in Vietnam. Similarly, the auto industry workers occupation today is also a case of perfect timing. Their example will - almost without doubt - inspire large numbers of other workers in America, also faced by factory closures, mortgage foreclosures, and the like, to act militantly - as members of the working class - to secure their livelihoods and futures. It's important to understand that the standard method of worker protest, recognized by U.S. law, is the strike, in which workers refuse to work and perhaps picket outside a workplace. Occupation or seizure of control of the workplace is a much rarer and more serious matter, as it directly threatens the control of production and of property by the owners of capital, and points, in the limit case, to worker control of the economy. The Chicago occupation indicates both the severity of the economic crisis, and the kinds of working class actions which are now on the horizon. Below is a first report in the NY Times, followed by a link to a more detailed account of the support effort for these workers. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/us/08chicago.html?_r=1&em In Factory Sit-In, an Anger Spread Wide Workers laid off from a Chicago factory on Saturday at what they called an occupation of the plant. They criticized their former bosses, the company?s creditors and the federal government. By MONICA DAVEY Published: December 7, 2008 CHICAGO ? The scene inside a long, low-slung factory on this city?s North Side this weekend offered a glimpse at how the nation?s loss of more than 600,000 manufacturing jobs in a year of recession is boiling over. Workers laid off Friday from Republic Windows and Doors, who for years assembled vinyl windows and sliding doors here, said they would not leave, even after company officials announced that the factory was closing. Some of the plant?s 250 workers stayed all night, all weekend, in what they were calling an occupation of the factory. Their sharpest criticisms were aimed at their former bosses, who they said gave them only three days? notice of the closing, and the company?s creditors. But their anger stretched broadly to the government?s costly corporate bailout plans, which, they argued, had forgotten about regular workers. ?They want the poor person to stay down,? said Silvia Mazon, 47, a mother of two who worked as an assembler here for 13 years and said she had never before been the sort to march in protests or make a fuss. ?We?re here, and we?re not going anywhere until we get what?s fair and what?s ours. They thought they would get rid of us easily, but if we have to be here for Christmas, it doesn?t matter.? The workers, members of Local 1110 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, said they were owed vacation and severance pay and were not given the 60 days of notice generally required by federal law when companies make layoffs. Lisa Madigan, the attorney general of Illinois, said her office was investigating, and representatives from her office interviewed workers at the plant on Sunday. At a news conference Sunday, President-elect Barack Obama said the company should follow through on its commitments to its workers. ?The workers who are asking for the benefits and payments that they have earned,? Mr. Obama said, ?I think they?re absolutely right and understand that what?s happening to them is reflective of what?s happening across this economy.? Company officials, who were no longer at the factory, did not return telephone or e-mail messages. A meeting between the owners and workers is scheduled for Monday. The company, which was founded in 1965 and once employed more than 700 people, had struggled in recent months as home construction dipped, workers said. Still, as they milled around the factory?s entrance this weekend, some workers said they doubted that the company was really in financial straits, and they suggested that it would reopen elsewhere with cheaper costs and lower pay. Others said managers had kept their struggles secret, at one point before Thanksgiving removing heavy equipment in the middle of the night but claiming, when asked about it, that all was well. Workers also pointedly blamed Bank of America, a lender to Republic Windows, saying the bank had prevented the company from paying them what they were owed, particularly for vacation time accrued. ?Here the banks like Bank of America get a bailout, but workers cannot be paid?? said Leah Fried, an organizer with the union workers. ?The taxpayers would like to see that bailout go toward saving jobs, not saving C.E.O.?s.? In a statement issued Saturday, Bank of America officials said they could not comment on an individual client?s situation because of confidentiality obligations. Still, a spokeswoman also said, ?Neither Bank of America nor any other third party lender to the company has the right to control whether the company complies with applicable laws or honors its commitments to its employees.? Inside the factory, the ?occupation? was relatively quiet. The Chicago police said that they were monitoring the situation but that they had had no reports of a criminal matter to investigate. About 30 workers sat in folding chairs on the factory floor. (Reporters and supporters were not allowed to enter, but the workers could be observed through an open door.) They came in shifts around the clock. They tidied things. They shoveled snow. They met with visiting leaders, including Representatives Luis V. Gutierrez and Jan Schakowsky, both Democrats from Illinois, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Throughout the weekend, people came by with donations of food, water and other supplies. The workers said they were determined to keep their action ? reminiscent, union leaders said, of autoworkers? efforts in Michigan in the 1930s ? peaceful and to preserve the factory. ?The fact is that workers really feel like they have nothing to lose at this point,? Ms. Fried said. ?It shows something about our economic times, and it says something about how people feel about the bailout.? Until last Tuesday, many workers here said, they had no sense that there was any problem. Shortly before 1 p.m. that day, workers were told in a meeting that the plant would close Friday, they said. Some people wept, others expressed fury. Many employees said they had worked in the factory for decades. Lalo Mu?oz, who was among those sleeping over in the building, said he arrived 34 years ago. The workers ? about 80 percent of them Hispanic, with the rest black or of other ethnic and national backgrounds ? made $14 an hour on average and received health care and retirement benefits, Ms. Fried said. ?This never happens ? to take a company from the inside,? Ms. Mazon said. ?But I?m fighting for my family, and we?re not going anywhere.? http://www.fightbacknews.org/2008/12/support-grows-for-republic-window-occupation.htm Support Grows for Republic Windows Occupation By Stephanie Weiner UE Local 1110 President Armando Robles speaks at Fight Back! event, funds collected to support struggle Chicago, IL - Saturday, Dec. 6 brought more inspiration from workers at Republic Windows and Doors who are occupying their plant in Chicago. The workers? union, Local 1110 of the United Electrical workers (UE), held a rally at noon outside the plant doors. By then, the workers? militant action had already become international news. Lalo Mu?oz, a worker in the plant for 34 years spoke to the rally and explained that they had just been given notice on Tuesday that the plant would close Friday. The company had no plans to pay them the 75 days pay required in the Illinois WARN Act, nor their sick pay or vacation pay, and their health insurance would end immediately. Behind him were other occupying workers with blankets wrapped around them to protect them from the below zero temperatures. Reverend CJ Hawking from the Interfaith Committee on Workers? Issues called up speaker after speaker to express the importance of the plant occupation for all workers across the U.S. Teamsters Local 743 President Richard Berg, AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Larry Spivak, SEIU Local 73 executive board member Joe Iosbaker, Michelle Aymold, an officer with the Graduate Employees Organization at UIC, Moises Zavala from UFCW, Martin Unzueta from The Chicago Workers Collaborative and Jobs with Justice director James Thindwa called these 260 workers true heroes. Leaders from the United Electrical workers, Carl Rosen and Leah Fried, explained that the workers were told that Bank of America would not loan the company money. Bank of America denied the loan despite the $25 billion taxpayer bailout the bank had recently received. The 200 person crowd assembled on hours notice chanted, ?You got bailed out, we got sold out!? By the end of the rally, Congressman Luis Gutierrez promised to stick with them until they got justice. People left with concrete plans to return to the 1333 N Hickory Street factory with food, supplies, money, endorsements and ready to get more people for the planned Monday and Tuesday events. Local 1110 President Armando Robles and his family spent the late afternoon explaining to Chicago activists the details and history of their struggle. As he walked into the packed room at the 17th annual People?s Thanksgiving fundraising dinner for Fight Back! newspaper, the ecstatic crowd chanted ?Si se puede!? The room included people from the disability rights group Access Living, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Southside Together Organized for Power, Sector Latino, the activist fan club of the Chicago Fire, SDS, Palestine Solidarity Group, National Lawyers Guild, Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism, and even the staff of the Venezuelan Consulate. The crowd made it clear that the workers? action on Friday had inspired folks far beyond the traditional labor movement. The fundraising bags circulating the room were filled as people came forward to put in $100 donations. After the event a group of 25 people drove to the factory to personally deliver the $1500 raised. By late night the factory had numerous TV trucks parked outside and was busy with Mexican community members bringing in large silver pots of homemade soup through the barricaded front doors of the main plant filled with expensive equipment and merchandise. The workers had already developed their own food, housekeeping, security and media committees. Vicente Rangel, a union steward with 15 years in the plant, was on his way to a live CNN interview. Next steps Sunday morning, Rev. Jesse Jackson of Operation PUSH met with the workers in the plant cafeteria and stated his intention to press Bank of America to reinstate Republic?s line of credit. UE has set up a website for this as well: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/bankofamerica A labor rally will be held at the factory door on Monday, Dec. 8 at noon, called by Chicago Federation of Labor president Dennis Gannon and SEIU state council head, Tom Balanoff. The next negotiations between the company, the bank, Local 1110 and Representative Gutierrez will take place on Monday, Dec. 8 at 4:00 pm. If the company does not agree to the workers? demands for justice, the occupation will continue. The workers will rally on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at noon in front of the Bank of America, 231 South LaSalle Street in Chicago. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/07chicago.html?partner=rss&emc=rss After Layoffs, Workers Stay at a Factory in Protest By MONICA DAVEY Published: December 6, 2008 CHICAGO ? Scores of workers laid off from a factory here that makes windows and doors have refused to leave, deciding to stage a ?peaceful occupation? of the plant around the clock this weekend as they demand pay they say is owed them. Workers at Republic Windows and Doors, which laid off about 250 people, said they were notified Tuesday that the plant, more than four decades old, would close Friday. They said they were given insufficient notice and were never paid for vacation days or severance. The workers, many of whom were sitting on fold-up chairs on the factory floor Saturday afternoon, said they would not leave. ?They?re staying because the fact is that these workers feel they have nothing to lose at this point,? said Leah Fried, an organizer for the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 1110, who said groups of 30 were occupying the plant in shifts. ?Telling them they have three days before they are out on the street, penniless, is outrageous.? Officials from the company, which makes vinyl windows and patio doors, were not at the plant on Saturday and could not be reached by telephone. Crain?s Chicago Business reported that the company?s leader had reported that sales had fallen drastically over the last month. The Chicago police said they were monitoring the situation but had no reason to remove the workers. ?We haven?t got any reports of a criminal nature at this time,? a police spokesman said. Workers blamed Bank of America, which they said had served as an important lender to Republic Windows, for cutting off credit to the company and preventing workers from being paid. Some workers carried signs and stickers criticizing the bank: ?You got bailed out, we got sold out.? A spokeswoman for Bank of America, Julie Westermann, said in a written statement that ?because of our client confidentiality obligations, we cannot comment on any individual clients? situations.? But Ms. Westermann noted, ?Neither Bank of America nor any other third party lender to the company has the right to control whether the company complies with applicable laws or honors its commitments to its employees.? Representative Luis V. Gutierrez, Democrat of Illinois, said union leaders hoped to meet Monday afternoon with the company?s leaders and its lenders. Meanwhile, workers said they were going nowhere. ?It came as a complete surprise,? said Lalo Mu?oz, 54, who had worked at Republic for 34 years and who spent the night on the factory floor Friday and was still there Saturday afternoon. ?We?re waiting for answers.? http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/08/20081208workers-takeover1208-ON.html Laid-off workers become symbol of mounting anger 16 comments Dec. 8, 2008 06:04 PM Associated Press CHICAGO - The nation's grim economy now has a rallying point: Employees at a window-and-door factory that went out of business have taken over the building in a siege that has come to symbolize the woes of the ordinary worker. The Republic Windows and Doors factory closed abruptly last week after Bank of America canceled the company's financing. Since then, about 200 of the 240 laid-off workers have taken turns occupying the factory, declaring that they will not leave until getting assurances they will receive severance and accrued vacation pay. But the standoff has also come to embody mounting anger over the government's willingness to bail out deep-pocketed corporations but not average people. "There's a simplicity and straightforwardness to this particular case that anybody can wrap their head around," said James Thindwa, executive director for the Chicago office of Jobs With Justice, a national coalition of unions, community groups and other organizations. Apolinar Cabrera, a 17-year Republic employee, lost his job and benefits just as his wife is about to deliver their third child. "I don't know what to do," said Cabrera, 44, who worked in Republic's shipping department. He has been shuttling between the plant and home so he can check on his wife. The workers show up in groups of 50 or 60 to occupy the plant around-the-clock in eight-hour shifts. The union assigns some employees to clean the factory and make sure it's safe. Others take in food donations brought to the door. Outside, they hung a huge American flag, and some are huddled around a fire in a garbage can. The protest - along with vocal support from President-elect Barack Obama, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, civil rights activists and others - has also created something else: a chance for unions that have been losing members and strength for years to show they still matter. "I hope it's the beginning of a real fight-back movement," said Leah Fried, an organizer for the United Electrical Workers, which represents the Republic workers, who are mostly Hispanic. Jobs With Justice organizers said it was time to seize the moment by reviving a tactic - the sit-in - that has not been widely used in the U.S. in decades. The workers say the company violated the federal law because employees were not given 60 days' notice that they were losing their jobs. The company did not return calls for comment, but issued a timeline of its discussions with Bank of America through a public relations company. Republic said it presented a plan for an "orderly wind down" to Bank of America in October, including its intention to end manufacturing in January 2009. On Nov. 25, Republic said it requested "permission" from Bank of America to issue vacation pay to its employees, but said the next day the bank "rejected" that request. "The company wished to pay but was not allowed to make that payment according to the instructions of the bank," said Tom Figel of Lake Effect Communications, the company retained by Republic. In a prepared statement, Bank of America said it had "worked with the company and shared our concerns about the company's situation and its operations for the past several months." But the bank said it agreed that Republic should try to honor its obligation to employees. Most of the anger over the plant closure has been directed at Bank of America, not the company, which has not sought to evict workers from the building. Fried said the company cannot pay its employees because the bank will not let it. The law allows businesses to close without giving the required notice under certain circumstances, such as if another company that is the sole source of income suddenly goes out of business, said Mark Johnson, president of Erisa Benefits Consulting in Grapevine, Texas, who said he was not familiar with the Republic case. Blagojevich on Monday ordered all state agencies to stop doing business with Bank of America to pressure the bank into using federal bailout money it received to help the laid-off workers. "We hope that this kind of leverage and pressure will encourage Bank of America to do the right thing for this business," Blagojevich said outside the plant. "Take some of that federal tax money that they've received and invest it by providing the necessary credit to this company so these workers can keep their jobs." Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said he wanted to ask his fellow senators to remind banks that the bailout wasn't to be used for dividends and executive salaries. "They're for loans and credit to businesses just like Republic," he said. On Monday, about a dozen protesters, including some former Republic workers, rallied outside a Bank of America branch on the city's West Side, handing out fliers, carrying signs and banging drums. Several tried to enter the bank to deliver their message, but were turned away. The support generated by the sit-in has surprised some workers. "We never expected this," said factory employee Melvin Maclin, vice president of the union local that represents the workers. "We expected to go to jail." http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2008/12/08/cbs-sides-union-chicago-factory-protest CBS Sides With Union In Chicago Factory Protest By Kyle Drennen (Bio | Archive) December 8, 2008 - 18:34 ET At the top of Monday?s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith teased an upcoming story about a protest by laid off workers at a Chicago factory: "Fighting back, workers stage a protest after being laid off, refusing to leave their Chicago factory until their demands are met...We'll take you there live and hear what they're fighting for." Later, co-host Maggie Rodriguez interviewed Leah Fried of the United Electrical Workers and liberal Congressman Luis Gutierrez, no spokesman for the management of the company, Republic Windows and Doors, was featured. Rodriguez found the real culprit: RODRIGUEZ: The company says that it had to close because Bank of America canceled their line of credit. I take it you're not buying that? FRIED: Oh, no. Bank of America definitely is -- is in charge here. RODRIGUEZ: But I'm saying that you're not satisfied with that explanation? FRIED: No, no -- well this is the same bank that got $25 billion in bailout funds, so I think we definitely need to hold them accountable for what they do to our economy and whether or not they're investing in jobs, whether or not they're keeping people employed. So we're -- we're fighting hard to make sure that Bank of America is held accountable for what they're doing and the workers feel very strongly that -- that they need to do the right thing here. Story Continues Below Ad ? RODRIGUEZ: Bank of America says the company should be held accountable, not them, because this was not a good loan. FRIED: Well, frankly, right now, what matters is that Bank of America owns millions of dollars worth of assets of this company and these workers are owed their vacation pay and if this factory continues to stay closed, then they're owed 60 days pay under the Warren Act, and, you know, that's just not right to throw people out on the street with nothing. Rodriguez then turned to Congressman Gutierrez: RODRIGUEZ: Representative Gutierrez, how will you get involved in this? LUIS GUTIERREZ: We've organized a meeting today between the union representatives, the company, Bank of America, and my office, at 4:00 this afternoon. We want to end the finger-pointing. Whether it's the company or Bank of America, let's open up the books. The company has agreed to come and sign a release, a waiver, so that -- a confidentiality waiver, so we can look at the books and see where the money is at. Look, we -- you guys are reporting on what we did for the financial industry. $700 billion another $15 - $20 billion for the automobile industry. Who's standing up for workers? We think the federal government has to make sure that the Warren Act, which says that these workers are due 60 days of pay and health benefits, has to be enforced. Let's make sure the federal government does its job with these workers, not with just those on Wall Street, but those really, this is main street here. Let's make sure that we make sure that in the end, the federal government, the laws that are on the books to protect these workers, are respected. ?Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. http://us.cnn.com/2008/US/12/08/chicago.labor.protest/index.html Mon December 8, 2008 Illinois workers' sit-in near resolution, mediator says ? Story Highlights ? Mediator Rep. Luis Gutierrez says settlement could come Tuesday ? Governor says state will temporarily suspend business with Bank of America ? About 200 laid-off workers have occupied Chicago, Illinois, plant since Friday ? They say Republic Windows and Doors didn't give proper notice or pay From Susan Roesgen CNN CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A resolution could come Tuesday to the sit-in by laid-off workers at a Chicago window factory, a mediator in the talks said Monday night. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, center, speaks to reporters Monday after meeting with workers. 1 of 2 There was a tone of reconciliation and of wanting to find an end to the situation in talks between representatives of the factory, the laid-off workers and Bank of America, said Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who has been helping mediate the discussions. Gutierrez said talks had progressed and he hoped there would be a resolution by Tuesday afternoon. "Tomorrow we hope to have the kind of resolution that allows these families to have a good holiday," Gutierrez said. About 200 workers from the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America have conducted what they called a "peaceful occupation" of the Republic Windows and Doors factory since Friday, the day layoffs were supposed to take effect. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered the state government to suspend doing business with Bank of America Monday as the weekend protest spilled into the workweek. Watch workers explain why they're staging the sit-in ? The workers said Republic gave them three days notice that they were losing their jobs, telling them Bank of America had cut off credit to the company. Federal law requires either 60 days notice or 60 days pay for the laid-off workers. Don't Miss ? Obama outlines plans to create 2.5 million jobs ? WLS: Day 4 of protests at Republic "We are going to do everything possible here in Illinois to side with these workers," Blagojevich said after meeting with them. "And it isn't just lending them moral support, but it's putting pressure on financial institutions like the Bank of America as well as making sure that we have our court system enforce the federal laws so these workers are getting what they're entitled to under the law and under what is the right thing to do." The Bank of America "received $25 billion in taxpayer money as part of the financial bailout," the governor said. "This is exactly and precisely the kind of thing that isn't right when, on the one hand, powerful special interests get the help of taxpayer money to bail them out, the banks. And yet the purpose of that money was supposed to be to provide a line of credit to businesses like this to keep workers working and keep people employed." Republic Windows and Doors has not commented publicly on the layoffs or the sit-in. Bank of America said it is not responsible for action taken by Republic. "Neither Bank of America nor any other lender to the company has the right to control whether the company complies with applicable laws or honors its commitments to its employees," the bank said in a written statement. But union representative Leah Fried said Republic had put the blame squarely on the bank. "The company told us very clearly they are shutting down, shutting their doors because Bank of America refused to continue their credit and their financing," she said. "They also told us very clearly that Bank of America did not authorize any expenditures towards people's vacation pay or any money they would be owed. Now, that can't be clearer to me that Bank of America is calling the shots." Fried also said that because Bank of America owns the equipment at the plant, workers are concerned that it might liquidate the assets. "We're saying you've got a choice," she said. You can either liquidate those assets and take the money for yourselves, or let's talk about doing the right thing and finding better management for this company, keeping it open, saving 300 jobs. Or at the very least allowing Republic to fulfill its obligation to pay its workers what they're owed under law." Blagojevich told reporters that his office was seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent Republic from dissolving before its workers have a chance to seek redress. The state is also working with food banks to provide food deliveries for the laid-off workers and their families. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson delivered turkeys to the workers Sunday. Political figures in the Chicago area have turned out to support the sit-in -- including the former South Side state senator who was elected president last month. "Number one, I think that these workers, if they have earned these benefits and their pay, then these companies need to follow through on those commitments," President-elect Barack Obama said during a news conference Sunday. "And, number two, I think it is important for us to make sure that, moving forward, any economic plan that we put in place helps businesses to meet payroll so that we're not seeing these kinds of circumstances again." http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1276535/republic_windows_and_doors_workers.html?cat=62 Republic Windows and Doors Workers Take Over Building to Protest Illegal Layoffs, Pay Loss December 06, 2008 by Carol Bengle Gilbert 250 former workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago organized a rotating sit-in yesterday upon learning that the factory was to abruptly close. The workers, members of the United Electrical Union, did not receive the Federally mandated 60 days Republic Windows and Doors Workers Take Over Building to Protest Illegal Layoffs, Pay Loss notice of the layoffs or alternative severance pay, and their ability to collect accrued vacation leave is in jeopardy. A Republic Windows and Doors representative told union officials that the closing was necessary because Bank of America abruptly pulled the company's financing, according to AFP. Bank of America was the company's main lender. According to Associated Press, Chicago police are aware of the sit-in and are monitoring the situation. Republic Windows and Doors, a Chicago presence for 48 years, has pledged not to eject the workers from the building and to attempt to resolve their concerns at a meeting Monday between the union, the company and the bank. Bank of America, which had been lobbying Congress for a Federal bailout since January 2008, got a Federal bailout throught the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in recent weeks. In an interview with AFP, union representative Leah Fried expressed outrage that Bank of America abruptly cut Republic Windows and Doors' lifeline after itself receiving relief at the expense of Federal taxpayers. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122879049064190563.html?mod=rss_whats_news_us_business ? DECEMBER 9, 2008 Escalation of Layoff Protest Poses Risks for Bank of America ? Article ? Comments (42) more in Business ? CHICAGO -- Sit-in protests after job layoffs at a local door-and-window factory here have escalated into an intense labor-relations fight that could have financial ramifications for Bank of America Corp. On Monday, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, at a news conference in front of the Republic Windows & Doors factory, called on state agencies to suspend business with Bank of America, based in Charlotte, N.C. The city of Chicago also threatened to stop doing business with the bank. Gov. Blagojevich's comments came a day after President-elect Barack Obama offered support for the employees, saying at a news conference that they are ... http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/12/10/illinois.labor.protest/ December 10, 2008 -- Updated 0432 GMT (1232 HKT) CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Laid-off workers at a Chicago window factory ended a five-day sit-in after banks agreed to lend the failed company $1.75 million for outstanding wages and benefits, union officials said Wednesday. Protesters demonstrate in support of the window-factory workers in Chicago on Wednesday. "The occupation is over," said Armando Robles, president of the United Electrical Workers local 1110, which led the sit-in. About 200 workers launched what they called a "peaceful occupation" of the Republic Windows and Doors factory Friday after Republic gave its employees three days notice of the layoffs. According to the workers, Republic told them that Bank of America had cut off credit to the company. Federal law requires 60 days notice or 60 days paid compensation for workers when they close plants. Bank of America agreed Wednesday to approve $1.35 million in loans to pay those obligations. Another $400,000 came from J.P. Morgan Chase, union officials said. Workers approved the deal at a meeting Wednesday night. Union official Carl Rosen said the average worker will receive about $6,000 under the package. But he added: "This is about more than just money. It's about what can be achieved when workers organize and stand up for justice." Don't Miss ? Illinois workers' sit-in near resolution, mediator says Union representative Leah Fried said this week that Republic had put the blame squarely on the bank for the layoffs. "The company told us very clearly they are shutting down, shutting their doors because Bank of America refused to continue their credit and their financing," she said. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered the state government to suspend doing business with Bank of America on Monday as the weekend protest spilled into the workweek. After meeting with the workers on Monday, Blagojevich told reporters that "we are going to do everything possible here in Illinois to side with these workers." His meeting with the workers came a day before he was arrested on federal corruption charges related in part to the selection of a successor to President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/illinois-governor-blagojevich-8283.html State of Illinois Boycotts Bank of America amid Protests By Joshua Philipp Epoch Times Staff Dec 9, 2008 ILLINOIS: Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama (C) talks with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (R) and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (L) April 16, 2007 during a rally for support of the 2016 Olympic Games at Daley Plaza in Chicago. (JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images) Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said Dec.8 that the state would suspend business with Bank of America. On Friday, Dec. 5, Republic Windows and Doors, a Chicago business, was forced to close after Bank of America canceled the company?s line of credit. Members of United Electrical, Radio, and Machinery Workers of America (UE), an independent union, have held an ongoing sit-in at the plant to protest its closing. The company, which had been in business since 1965, announced that it would be going out of business, giving its near 200 employees just three days notice. In addition, protesters have said that they were not given the 60 days notice that is required in a mass layoff, nor were they given their vacation and severance pay. In response, 15 members of the Chicago city council have called for the city to end all financial ties with Bank of America. Illinois Governor also said on Dec. 8 that the state will not do business with Bank of America until the situation is resolved. President-elect Barack Obama was quoted Sunday by the Chicago Sun-Times, offering his support to the laid-off workers. "When it comes to the situation here in Chicago with the workers who are asking for their benefits and payments they have earned, I think they are absolutely right," Obama is quoted saying. "So, number one, I think that these workers, if they have earned their benefits and their pay, then these companies need to follow through on those commitments. Number two, I think it is important for us to make sure that, moving forward, any economic plan we put in place helps businesses to meet payroll so we are not seeing these kinds of circumstances again,? Obama said. A statement released by Bank of America on Dec. 8 has dodged the blame, saying that Republic Windows and Doors should be responsible to ?honor its obligations to its employees and minimize the impact of failure on those employees.? ?When a company faces such a dire situation, its lender is not empowered to direct the company?s management how to manage its affairs and what obligations should be paid. Such decisions belong to the management and owners of the company,? the statement says. The UE, on the other hand, has pointed the blame to Bank of America. Al Hart, editor of the UE news, said in a phone interview that Bank of America is the responsible party. ?When your credit is cut off, unless you've got some internal financing, you're forced to close up,? said Hart. ?This, of course, flies in the face of what we were told when the government approved the financial bail-out for the banks. ?If they don't give $700 billion to the financial industry, credit will dry up, factories will be forced to close, and people will lose their jobs,?? said Hart. ?Well, we had the bail-out, Bank of America got $25 billion from taxpayers, and yet they're cutting off credit to a company like this and forcing them to close down.? ?If you look over the past year, and some of this was before the bailout, they bought Countrywide, they bought Meryl Lynch around the time of the bailout. They're buying up other banks and other financial institutions instead of doing the things that they're supposed to do as a bank?which is providing credit to keep the economy functioning.? Last Updated Dec 12, 2008 http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=2024 Burmese migrants deported from Malaysia after protest Dec 18, 2008 (DVB)?Around 40 Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia were deported to Burma yesterday morning after a protest, causing uncertainty among Burmese migrant communities in the country. A Burmese employee at an electronic company in Johor state said the workers were deported because they had protested against tightening regulations on migrant workers. The employee said the workers had sought help from the Burmese embassy in Malaysia but officials there had given them no support. Some of those who were involved in the protests, mainly Nepalese nationals, were allowed to return to work. Reporting by Aye Nai http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/finance/10596945.asp Turkish tire factory workers occupy plant after unexpected job cuts Some 1,000 workers at Brisa, the Turkish subsidiary of Japanese tire maker Bridgestone, barricaded themselves inside the factory to protest the unexpected announcement of more than 30 job cuts, Dogan News Agency reported on Thursday. (UPDATE) The workers occupied the factory of Brisa Bridgestone Sabanci Tire Industries in the city of Izmit, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Istanbul after the factory laid off around 30 workers. Turkey's leading industrial conglomerate Sabanci Group, owns 43 percent of Brisa, country's leading tire producer, as does the Bridgestone Corporation, with the remainder of the company held in public shares. Brisa announced Thursday that it had terminated contracts of 32 workers at the plant due to falling sales figures stemming from declining demand. The workers have halted production at the plant, the company also announced Executives of the Tire Labor Union joined the protest, the DHA said. http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200812180328DOWJONESDJONLINE000426_univ.xml Malaysian Protesters Defy Police Ban; Cycle To Parliament12-18-08 3:28 AM EST | E-mail Article | Print Article KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)--Malaysian activists escorted by opposition lawmakers defied a police ban to cycle to parliament Thursday in an attempt to press for the repeal of a tough security law and enforce minimum wage. The activists, who have spent 16 days pedaling across the country, were blocked by police who deployed scores of officers, threw up barricades at the entrance of parliament and warned organizers their action was illegal. But a band of 10 cyclists crossed the police line after opposition lawmakers intervened and said it was their democratic right to demand social and political reforms. Scores of supporters wearing red T-shirts and carrying banners reading " Cyclists for Change" shouted "Long live the people" as the activists rode into the grounds of parliament. Among their demands are the scrapping of security laws that allow for detention without trial, the introduction of a minimum monthly wage of MYR1,500 ($429), lower food prices, and housing for the poor. Some 130 activists, including schoolchildren, launched the cross-nation biking campaign on December 3, led by the so-called "Coalition of Oppressed People" which champions equality and human rights. Two groups of protesters converged in the capital Kuala Lumpur, one which had traveled from northern Penang state, and another from southern Johor state which borders Singapore. Police on Monday detained 57 participants including 28 children and teenagers in an attempt to end the cycling protest. They were later freed. During the campaign, organizers said their bicycles were set on fire by unknown individuals and stones thrown at the vehicle accompanying them. "The aim of this campaign is important. People are suffering. The government must address the problems which are real," said A. Kalishwaran, a 16-year-old participant who said he was held overnight by police. Malaysia's coalition government has faced unprecedented opposition over the past year, culminating in March general elections that produced its worst results in half a century. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45141 POLITICS-MALAYSIA: Protestors Pedal to Parliament, Brave Police By Anil Netto Cyclist protestors on their way to Parliament. Credit:Anil Netto/IPS PENANG, Dec 17 (IPS) - Dozens of cyclists promoting workers' rights are on an extraordinary odyssey across the country, scheduled to climax with the handing over of memorandums in Parliament on Thursday. It has been a rough ride, so far, with arrests and police harassment constantly threatening to bring their journey to a premature end. Two cycling teams - four dozen from the north of the peninsula and three dozen from the south - each accompanied by a dozen or so activists have been pedalling their way to Kuala Lumpur since early December. Along the way, they have met with almost daily police action including road blocks, detentions and arrests. Organisers, cyclists and those distributing leaflets have been hauled up, bicycles have been carted to police stations, and dozens of arrests made as police continue to look for possible violations of the law. In one mysterious incident on mainland Penang, eight bicycles were torched - three of them badly damaged - by arsonists at dawn. The "People, the Force of Change" cycling campaign is organised by the Oppressed People's Network, known by its Malay acronym ?Jerit?. The Jerit network brings together factory workers, plantation workers, students and youths, urban settlers and civil society groups. The memos to be presented to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim contain economic demands such as calls for the enactment of a Minimum Wage Act, adequate housing for all, price controls for essential goods, and an end to the privatisation of water supply, health care, education and other basic services. There are also pro-democracy demands such as the repeal of oppressive laws and the re-introduction of local town council elections, which were suspended in the 1960s and 70s. The bicycle campaign has been endorsed by 47 civil society groups, federal-level opposition political parties belonging to the People's Alliance and some of their parliamentarians and state assembly members. On Monday, the teams encountered police action typical of the sort they experienced since the start of their journey. Both cycling teams were confronted by police as they approached Kuala Lumpur from the north and south. Of the 59-member northern team, about 30, including organisers, were arrested for illegal assembly. Another 27 cyclists below 18 years of age were held by police for their parents to collect them. Police are also holding on to their bicycles, says one of the Jerit organisers. The police chief of Selangor state Khalid Abu Bakar said the arrests were made to stop children from being exploited or misused by irresponsible groups. "When giving their statements, these children said they did not know why they were asked to participate in the cycling event," he was quoted as saying by the national news agency Bernama. Organisers disagree. ''Many of those below 18 are children from areas where there have been struggles - land struggles, plantation workers fighting eviction from their homes or other similar struggles,'' says Rani Rasiah, a Jerit coordinator. ''Others are children of activists, like my son who is taking part, and there are also cyclists from the public who have joined in.'' By Tuesday afternoon the 27 teenage riders but only after their parents turned up to vouch for them. Nearly all of them said they wanted to continue cycling, but the last leg of the journey could be scaled down to avoid further delay. ''The children are saying they won't leave until all the organisers and their colleagues are released,'' said Rani. ''They are very spirited and angry with the harassment.'' Over in the south, some 20 organisers and 37 cyclists, about 20 of them below 18, were threatened with arrests after a convoy of a dozen police vehicles had tailed them in the morning. After a five-hour stand-off in the afternoon near the town of Bangi, the cyclists were 'released'. "All the youths have consent letters from the parents," Kohila Yanasekaran, national coordinator of Jerit told IPS. Organisers lodged a police report against the police on Tuesday, while the parents are expected to make a similar complaint. One text message, making the rounds, jokes that all these arrests are a bit late: they should have been made 67 years ago, when Japanese forces on bicycles were invading Malaya on their way to Singapore during World War Two! Along their way to Parliament, the Jerit teams have already submitted memorandums to the state governments in Kedah, Penang and Perak - all ruled by the People's Alliance - as well as Negeri Sembilan and Johor, both of which come under the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition. So far, chief ministers of three PA-ruled states - Penang, Perak and Selangor - have personally endorsed the campaign. The onset of the global economic stagflation has added to the workers worries in this export-oriented economy. Neo-liberal economic policies since the 1980s had already taken their toll among workers, especially marginalised communities who are finding it hard to make ends meet. Privatisation of essential services has added to the burden of ordinary workers. Urban-rural income disparities remain high and despite its relatively high human development, Malaysia has the widest income disparity in South-east Asia with the top 10 percent earning 22 times what the bottom 10 percent earn. Many plantation workers and urban settlers have been dispossessed of their homes with minimal compensation as landowners turn to property development. Although the official benchmark for measuring poverty is a household income of around 700 ringgit per month (200 US dollars), many believe the real poverty line should be closer to 2,000 ringgit (571 dollars). If that benchmark is used, 38 percent of Malaysian families could be classified as low-income and struggling. Activists were due to submit a memorandum to the Selangor chief minister before delivering their memorandums to Abdullah and Anwar on Thursday. How they will get there, in the face of police action, is another matter, says Kohila. "The Thursday appointment in Parliament is definitely on; how we are going to reach there - walking, cycling or taking a bus - we will discuss.?? Whether they succeed or not, their campaign message has already received publicity beyond anything the cyclists could have expected. (END/2008) http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/malaysia/2008/12/17/188019/Protesters-on.htm December 17, 2008 10:23 am TWN, By Sean Yoong, AP Protesters on bicycles defy Malaysian police KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Police have detained more than two dozen teenagers taking part in a protest over low wages that involves a mass bicycle trek across Malaysia to deliver a petition to the prime minister, a labor rights group said Tuesday. The riders are mainly ethnic Indian farmers, factory workers and their children. The minority Indian community, among Malaysia?s poorest, has been hit hard by rising inflation that recently reached its highest level in nearly 30 years. Two groups began pedaling on Dec. 3, one setting out from the north and the other from the south, said Y. Kohila, a coordinator for protest organizer, the Oppressed People?s Movement. They will each cover about 250 miles (400 kilometers) before they meet in Parliament on Thursday to hand a petition to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other lawmakers. Twenty eight teenage riders were detained Monday at a police roadblock in central Selangor state, said Kohila. They remained in police custody Tuesday because authorities were only willing to release them to their parents, most of whom are in northern Malaysia. ?Police made this move to save these children from exploitation by irresponsible parties,? Selangor Police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar told the national news agency, Bernama. Kohila denied the teenagers were coerced into the campaign, which she said is meant to ?make the government take action to alleviate the problems of plantation and factory workers.? Over the past two weeks, police have arrested the riders at separate locations for conducting a public protest without permission, but later freed them without charges. The riders have continued their journey after being released. The group?s wide-ranging demands include a minimum wage law, tighter government control of consumer prices, better public housing and a halt to privatization of public services including water, health care and education. http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/777/40111 Malaysia: Bicycle protesters for workers? rights defy police intimidation Oppressed People?s Movement 12 December 2008 The Oppressed People?s Movement (Jaring Rakyat Tertindas, Jerit) is conducting a cycling campaign throughout Malaysia to highlight demands for workers? rights, which will be presented to the prime minister of Malaysia. The campaign officially began on December 3 at Wisma Darul Aman Kedah, where 50 cyclists were flagged off. They will cycle for 16 days through Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor. On December 18, they will hand a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, at the national parliament in Kuala Lumpur. The six demands are: 1. Legislate a Minimum Wage Act; 2. Abolish draconian laws; 3. Adequate housing for the people; 4. Control prices; 5. Stop the privatisation of public services; 6. Revive local municipal council elections. The cyclists are riding a unique route to advocate change. The ?People the force of change? campaign is one of the Jerit?s ways of raising awareness about issues like domestic food shortages, the global food shortage, environmental problems, draconian laws and the financial crisis ? in an eco-friendly way to boot. The cycling campaign is inspired by the class struggles of the Bukit Asahan estate workers in Malacca in the 1970s, who marched to Kuala Lumpur to meet the prime minister to resolve their problems. On December 5, police stopped the Jerit cyclists from leafleting in Teluk Kumbar, Penang. The whole team was asked to go to Teluk Kumbar police station. Inspector Lokman (the police officer on duty) stopped the cyclists and warned them not to continue and threatened them to arrest them if they ignored the order. A bus and lorry containing the riders? bicycles was also brought to Teluk Kumbar police station. The police have continuously intimidated and threatened the cyclists since the campaign started on December 3. On December 4, Ruben al Loganathan was arrested by the police in Merbau Pulas, Kedah, for handing out leaflets containing the demands of Jerit?s bicycle campaign. The most serious police attack came on December 6, in the vicinity of Skudai in Johor. The area turned into an emergency zone, when the police units mobilised, from the Light Strike Force, the Federal Reserve Unit for traffic police, erecting road blocks which caused a massive traffic jam and massive public nuisance. This was to prevent the young and energetic from cyclists entering the area. When the riders attempted to negotiate with the police, they were threated with arrest for illegal assembly. At least 12 people were arrested, including Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) secretary general S.Arutchelvan, PSM treasurer A.Sivarajan, Jerit coordinator K.Simon and a 13-year-old boy. Another four Jerit and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (the human rights group Suaram) coordinators, including Ngo Jian Yee and Nyam Yee Han. While the 16 people were held in Skudai police station, the police put the others under ?house arrest? at the Suaram office. After negotiations between police and S.Arutchelvan, the police allowed everyone to leave with the condition that no cycling would continue in Skudai. Police said they would arrest any person found cycling, even after assurances that the cyclists would travel in a single line. The only assurance the police gave was that the cyclists and their lorries would be allowed to leave the district without problems. However, police then intimidated one of the lorries and plainclothes police harassed the cyclists by snapping photographs. With fewer bicycles after the bullying by the police, the Jerit southern team decided to cycle one by one, even if it meant arrest. The team was met by the Kulai police, who allowed the cyclists to continue but warned them that they would be arrested if they committed any traffic offences. Braving the intimidation, the Jerit team cycled on but after less than 2 kilometres the police once again diverted all the cyclists to the police station. This time they said that they had been stopped because they didn?t have reflectors. This further delayed the journey. The lorry carrying the remaining cyclists was again harassed. After this, since it was getting dark, the organisers decided to move on to their next destination, Simpang Renggam. On arrival, the police were once again harassing the team. The cyclists were met by some supporters from the opposition People?s Justice Party, and the team stayed in its local office. It was a day when the police from three districts in Johor had nothing to do except monitor a group of cyclists, a day when it seems no other issues mattered to them in Johor. For the cyclists, it was a frustrating day, yet their spirits remained high. By midnight, the young cyclists were putting on their reflectors again and were ready to pedal the next day. Suaram has strongly condemned the police for their ongoing intimidation and attacks on the freedom of expression, a fundamental right which is guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the federal constitution of Malaysia. Suaram demands that Malaysian government allow the cyclists to continue their ride and respect their freedom of expression as stated in the constitution. Despite constant police harassment, the cyclists are determined to reach parliament house as scheduled. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/6/nation/20081206134456&sec=nation Saturday December 6, 2008 MYT 8:10:40 PM 16 cyclists detained before protest campaign KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 16 cyclists taking part in a protest tour in Johor Baru were detained just before they were about to take part in a protest campaign. The 16, who were part of the Oppressed People?s Movement (Jerit), were arrested at 9am Saturday in front of the Suaram office just as they were starting their cycling campaign for the southern region. Suaram coordinator Wong Chai Yi said in a statement that 30 other cyclists were stopped and questioned by the police. Jerit had organised a nationwide cycling campaign for 16 days to make demands on the Government on several issues. The campaign began Dec 3 at Wisma Darul Aman, Kedah, in which 50 cyclists were supposed to cycle for 16 days through several states before handing a memorandum to the Prime Minister in Parliament on Dec 18. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=11257 800 workers clash with Taipei police over 'unpaid vacations' (12-23 15:39) About 800 people demonstrated outside Taiwan's labour department, occasionally clashing with police, in protest against unpaid leave forced by firms seeking to cut costs during the economic downturn. Waving signs with the characters for ''illegal,'' workers surrounded the Council of Labour Affairs in Taipei and shoved riot police, challenging laws allowing companies to require workers to take leave amid rising unemployment. The trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, euphemistically called ''unpaid vacation'' in Chinese, began in the memory chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump this year. From there it has quietly spread to other key sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips. Taiwan's jobless rate rose to 4.62 percent last month, its highest le http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/economicnews/view/395384/1/.html Industrial protests spread to China's commercial capital By Channel NewsAsia's China Correspondent Glenda Chong | Posted: 10 December 2008 1751 hrs Security guard stands as workers sit outside the factory gates of Shanghai Yihsin Industry in a western suburb of Shanghai. SHANGHAI: Recession-related worker unrest in China has spread to the country's commercial capital. Workers at a factory of Taiwan-owned, Singapore-listed Huan Hsin Holdings have refused to work since Monday due to salary issues. Shanghai Yihsin Industry Company, which has six plants in Shanghai, is a wholly-owned unit of Huan Hsin Holdings. Hundreds of factory workers maintained a peaceful protest outside the Yihsin factory in Shanghai's south-western suburb of Minhang for the third straight day. A worker said: "We rarely have any orders now. The workshops are all closed. We were told that we would be transferred to other factories. Our factory will be closed soon." The factory reportedly employs about 2,000 workers who are demanding for compensation, severance pay and legal benefits due to them. Under labour laws enacted last year, employers in China have to pay workers a whole host of compensation allowances. These include a so-called "high temperature" fee of no less than US$1.50 a day if they work in indoor temperatures of higher than 33 degrees Celsius. Those working the graveyard shift for 12 hours must also get an extra 60 US cents allowance. The protesting workers said they have only been paid their basic salary of about US$140. "We want our high temperature fees and night shift compensation. If they give us, we will go wherever they post us. It is just this simple," one said. Another added: "We will continue doing this. They should give us what is due. We don't ask for extra." According to some workers, they were told in September that they would be paid, but have yet to see the money. They also said they have been threatened since they began their protest. One of the factory workers showed footage recorded on her mobile phone, showing a scuffle with police. She also told Channel NewsAsia that some of her colleagues had been beaten up by gangsters on Monday. The company's secretary said they are dealing with the situation. A company spokesman also said production at the factory has not been suspended. The electronics component company manufactures for Siemens, Sony and Lucent Technologies. Parent company Huan Hsin reported that net profits fell 86 per cent in the third quarter of this year to about US$500,000. - CNA/so http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/293338347131038.php Sandals workers protest manner in which terminations were handled By K. NANCOO-RUSSELL Freeport News Reporter krystal at nasguard.com Employees of the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort who were laid off in a mass termination exercise on Friday took to the streets of downtown Nassau yesterday morning to protest against what they consider to be the deliberate firing of members of the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Workers Union (BHMWU). The protest took place in front of the Post Office building, where the Ministry of Labour is located. BHMWU President Lynden Taylor told The Freeport News that nearly 75 of the 150 employees who were terminated on Friday morning showed up, including the eight executive Union members who were let go despite labour laws which provide protection to Union executives. Taylor said among the main issues the Union is taking the Resort to task for is the manner in which they handled the terminations. "They had two pregnant ladies who were also let go. There's another lady who was on maternity leave who they called in. There was another lady who was on sick leave who they called in as well," he claimed. "And the majority of the rest of the line staff that were terminated were union members. We're arguing all that stuff with them, because they were cherry-picked. Every one of them were cherry-picked." Taylor said the Union was trying to have as many of the terminated employees as possible reinstated to their positions. "There are different ave-nues the company could have took. This was the perfect opportunity to get rid of a union because the company never wanted a union, but this is our right," he said. When asked about his response to statements made by Sandals consultant John Cook about the terminated employees being chosen based on production, attitude and behaviour, Taylor said the management was not unified in the reasons given since general manager Michael James claimed the lay-offs were as a result of the world financial crisis which is affecting the tourism industry. "They concoct whatever kind of story they want to concoct. This is what they did just to try and make themselves seem good in the public eyesight but the truth of the matter is that they picked the people out, they singled them out. Those that were outspoken and those that were a part of the union." Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes issued a statement on Saturday indicating that his Ministry was unaware of the termination of employment of executive members of the BHMAWU and that he was in discussions with management of the Sandals Hotel and the Bahamas Hotel Employers Association in an effort to bring about a quick resolution to the matter. When The Freeport News spoke with Foulkes shortly before 3 p.m. yesterday, he indicated that he had met with Union leadership after the demonstration. "I met with the employees who demonstrated this morning and I explained to their leadership what the current position is and in terms of what initiatives I have undertaken and that is where the matter now stands," he said. "I've made representation to the hotel and also the Bahamas Hotel Employers Association with respect to the eight executives who were terminated and I am hopeful that we can get that particular matter resolved very shortly. To terminate executives of the Union is tantamount to union busting and that is illegal." Pointing out that the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) is the only recognized bargaining agent for the workers at Sandals and that a case challenging that is currently before the courts, Foulkes said he will await the ruling on that matter before he makes the decision to hold a poll to determine which union the employees want to represent them. Hospital staff strike over wages, right to unionise Jakarta -- On December 9, around 200 employees from the Christian University of Indonesia Hospital in Cawang, East Jakarta could be seen lying around on in front of the hospital??s lobby while others danced around cheerfully. They weren??t being lazy, but were on strike in protest against unjust actions by hospital management. During the strike, which was joined by nurses, administration staff and radiologists, they also brought a banner with the message, ??We want our normative rights??. ??They (who are demonstrating) are from all elements in the hospital. This demo isn??t disturbing the patients. Because those demonstrating include the night shift staff, those treating patients on the afternoon shift are still working??, said action coordinator Anton Temaluruh. The employees had 10 demands: the freedom to form a union, equal rights for women and men, regular wage rises and promotions, unrestricted health insurance for employees, the reinstatement of transport allowances, an end to contract labour, that transfers and dismissal be conducted transparently and according regulations, overtime payments, leave on the second day of the Easter holiday, and the reinstatement of a sacked employee and an apology from the management. (Detik.com, 9/12/2008) Seven protests to enliven the capital today, beware of traffic jams Detik.com - December 16, 2008 Aprizal Rahmatullah, Jakarta -- It is as if Jakarta is never free from the bustle of protest actions. Today, seven groups of demonstrators are ready to enliven the capital with the potential to create traffic congestion. Based on data compiled by the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre (TMC) website, for Tuesday December 16, at 8.30am the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FPMI) will be holding a demonstration at the Central Jakarta Court of Commerce. Following on from this, for those of you who often pass through the National Monument area in Central Jakarta, it would be better to find and alternative route, because between 9am and 12noon, four protest actions will be held in the vicinity of the State Palace. The first group of protesters from the Block M Melawai Market Traders Association, accompanied by the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), will be demonstrating at the city hall and the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Jl. Merdeka Selatan at 9am. At 11am demonstrators from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) will also hold a protest action at the Jakarta city hall. Protesters from the Indonesian Poor People??s Union (SRMI) National Leadership Board meanwhile plan to visit the Department of Home Affairs on Jl. Merdeka Utara at 9am. Later in the afternoon, demonstrators from the Student Alliance of Legal Concern (AMPH) will hold an action at the Vice Presidential Palace, also on Jl. Merdeka Utara. Then at 10am, the offices of the Finance Ministry's Capital Markets Supervisory Agency (Bapepam-LK) on Jl. Wahidin Raya will be visited by the Indonesian General Insurance Association (AAUI) while the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building will be visited by a group calling themselves the Corruptor Eradication People??s Front (BRSK). (ape/mad) [Translated by James Balowski.] **************************************************** --------------------------------------------------- Workers in Medan reject four-minister decree Tempo Interactive - December 2, 2008 Sahat Simatupang, Medan -- Thousands of workers in Medan yesterday (1/12) hit the streets to reject the four-minister decree that restricts wage rises in an effort to anticipate the impacts of the global economic crisis. "The restriction for wage rises not to exceed six percent proves that the government is not serious in improving the lives of workers," Indonesian Prosperous Workers Union head, Tohonan Tampubolon, said in a speech. This is the fourth action during the past month rejecting the decree. North Sumatra Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) member, Harman Manurung, who received the statement letter rejecting the decree, said he would convey the workers' aspirations to the central government in Jakarta. --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Police detain activists burning pictures of president Tempo Interactive - December 4, 2008 Muh Syaifullah, Yogyakarta -- The police have detained two activists from the Unified People Coalition (KRB) for allegedly burning flyers with pictures of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the State Palace yesterday. The two, Andi Permana and Asibun Aliya, were accused of waving anti-government banners. "We are still questioning them," said Yogyakarta Police Commissioner Pitoyo Agung Yuwono, adding that the police also confiscated flyers and banners condemning the government. KRB coordinator Arif Brahman explained that the demonstration carried out by 50 students, NGOs, and workers are demanding that the President withdraw the ratified four-ministerial decree. "We want the police to release our friends," Arif said. --------------------------------------------------- Workers protest joint ministerial decree, call for decent wages Jakarta -- The atmosphere in front of the State Palace became increasingly boisterous as around 600 member of the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) held a protest action on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta on December 3. The protesters were demanding that the government revoke a joint ministerial decree (SKB-4) limiting wage rises to economic growth which they said would bring further suffering to workers. The workers held the demonstration behind another protest by victims of the Lapindo Brantas mud disaster who had arrived at the Palace earlier. During the demonstration they took turns in giving speeches from an open pickup truck. ??We are calling on the government to provide a decent national wage??, said ABM coordinator Anwar Sastro Maruf during a break in the action. In addition to giving speeches, the workers also erected red ABM flags and unfurled a variety of banners containing demands that the decree be revoked. (Detik.com, 3/12/2008) Two students arrested after burning pictures of president Yogyakarta -- Two students in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta were arrested on December 3 after they tried to set fire to posters of President Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla (SBY-JK). The arrests occurred during a protest action in front of the Gedung Agung Yogyakarta Presidential Palace by students from the United Student Coalition (KMB). During the action, the students took turns in giving lively speeches while other held up posters and photocopies of the president and vice president. In the middle of one of the speeches, a number of students suddenly started trampling on the posters. The police moved in and tried to seize the pictures but failed. A short time later, two students -- Andi Permana and Aslihul Fahmialya -- tried to set fire posters of SBY-JK and again the police took action. This time they were successful and after the posters were confiscated the students were placed in a truck. The arrest enraged the other students who threatened to go to the Yogyakarta regional police headquarters. ??We will not return home until our comrades are released??, threatened one of the students. (Detik.com, 3/12/2008) Workers say joint ministerial decree only benefits capitalists Medan -- Around 800 workers from a number of different trade unions in Medan demonstrated at the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on December 1 demanding that a joint ministerial decree (SKB-4) be revoked. The workers said that the decree will only be use to protect the interests of the capitalist class. In a speech, action coordinator Saragih explained that the joint decree, which restricts wage increases to 6 percent, will not just harm workers, but all elements of society, including farmers, fisherpeople and the urban poor. ??Not matter what their reasons are, the SKB-4 must he revoked immediately. The agreement will only bring suffering to the ordinary people??, said Saragih. In addition to opposing the joint decree, the workers also urged the government to reduce the price of fuel by 40 percent. After holding the action at the DPRD, the workers plan to demonstrate at the North Sumatra governor??s office and the offices of the state-owned oil company Pertamina in Medan. (Detik.com, 1/12/2008) http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081223-179611/Hundreds-protest-forced-leave-in-Taiwan Hundreds protest forced leave in Taiwan Reuters First Posted 16:37:00 12/23/2008 Filed Under: Labor, Unemployment, Overseas Employment, World Financial Crisis TAIPEI--About 800 people demonstrated outside Taiwan's labor department on Tuesday, occasionally clashing with police, in protest against unpaid leave forced by firms seeking to cut costs during the economic downturn . Waving signs with the characters for "illegal," workers surrounded the Council of Labor Affairs and shoved shield-bearing riot police, challenging laws allowing companies to require leave amid rising unemployment. "The economic crisis hurts, unemployment is rising, companies are hurting employees with wage cuts and even forcing unpaid leave, and the Council of Labor Affairs hasn't done a thing to protect workers," the protesters said in a statement. In Taiwan, the trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, euphemistically called "unpaid vacation" in Chinese, began in the memory chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump throughout most of 2008. From there this cost-saving measure has quietly spread to other key sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips. Taiwan's jobless rate rose to 4.62 percent in November to its highest level in nearly five years, while GDP growth posted its biggest drop in seven years on reduced demand for exports. The labour department had no comment on the demonstration, which dispersed at around noon local time. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/23/worldupdates/2008-12-23T133715Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-371560-1&sec=Worldupdates Tuesday December 23, 2008 Hundreds angrily protest forced leave in Taiwan TAIPEI (Reuters) - About 800 people demonstrated outside Taiwan's labour department on Tuesday, occasionally clashing with police, in protest against unpaid leave forced by firms seeking to cut costs during the economic downturn. Waving signs with the characters for "illegal", workers surrounded the Council of Labour Affairs and shoved shield-bearing riot police, challenging laws allowing companies to require leave amid rising unemployment. "The economic crisis hurts, unemployment is rising, companies are hurting employees with wage cuts and even forcing unpaid leave, and the Council of Labour Affairs hasn't done a thing to protect workers," the protesters said in a statement. In Taiwan, the trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, euphemistically called "unpaid vacation" in Chinese, began in the memory chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump throughout most of 2008. From there this cost-saving measure has quietly spread to other key sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips. Taiwan's jobless rate rose to 4.62 percent in November to its highest level in nearly five years, while GDP growth posted its biggest drop in seven years on reduced demand for exports. The labour department had no comment on the demonstration, which dispersed at around noon local time. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/12/24/2003431937 Union members protest over unpaid leave POINTING FINGERS: About 100 protesters attempted to break the line of police guarding the entrance to the CLA building, but backed down shortly afterwards By Shelley Huang STAFF REPORTER Wednesday, Dec 24, 2008, Page 1 A man smashes sheets of glass bearing protest demands as hundreds of workers mobilized by various organizations protest against compulsory unpaid leave outside the Council of Labor Affairs in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES Several hundred angry union members gathered in front of the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) building yesterday to urge the council to penalize businesses that force employees to take unpaid leave. Labor associations from all over Taiwan participated in the protest, including the National Federation of Independent Trade Unions (NAFITU), Tainan County?s Federation of Trade Unions, the Confederation of Taipei Trade Unions and the Youth Labor Unions, shouting slogans and holding placards reading: ?Stop unpaid leave,? ?Government, help businesses, Workers are losing their jobs,? ?Help workers, stop unemployment,? ?Bail-out fund should put workers first? and ?Protect nationals, stop using foreign labor.? The protesters demanded the council act against businesses that illegally force workers to take unpaid leave. The consent of workers and unions must be required, the groups said. They also demanded that unpaid leave not be allowed to affect a worker?s labor insurance and other benefits They also urged the council to subsidize individual workers, not businesses, when the workers? unpaid leave resulted in salaries dipping below the minimum monthly wage of NT$17,280. The council came under fire after it said that a worker may be paid below the minimum wage when on unpaid leave. The council reversed that decision a day later, but so far has failed to provide satisfactory answers to union representatives, the group said. On Friday, CLA Minister Jennifer Wang (???) said that the council had been mulling whether and how to subsidize employees or businesses to ensure that workers who are on unpaid leave are not laid off because the company could not afford to pay even the minimum wage. The council met with union representatives at the Legislative Yuan on Monday, but the meeting failed to reach any consensus. The council has not made any official announcements on the issues raised, including providing subsidies during unpaid leave or making adjustments to quotas for foreign laborers. One employee from Wintek Corporation (????) accused the company of violating the Labor Standards Law (?????) by laying off pregnant women. The employee said the company had also forced workers to sign a contract agreeing to take unpaid leave while still being required to work. ?Workers are vulnerable against businesses,? shouted Chu Wei-li (?? ?), president of NAFITU. ?When a company tells its workers to sign a contract agreeing to unpaid leave, how can a worker refuse to sign?? They demanded Wang come out and listen to them, but the council told them that Wang was at the legislature, and that CLA deputy minister Pan Shih-wei (???) was at a meeting in Beitou. At one point, about 100 of the protesters attempted to break the line of police guarding the entrance to the CLA building and force their way in. About 200 police officers were standing guard outside the building. The angry protesters managed to push the police line against the glass doors, but the protesters backed down shortly afterwards. Mao Chen-fei (???), chairman of the Confederation of Taoyuan Trade Unions and one of the people directing the protest, urged protesters not to use violence because ?people from the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] would call us ?violent? ... Let?s not do anything that would give them a chance to make us look bad. After more than an hour, the council?s senior counselor, Lin Jenn-yeu (???), came out to address the protesters. ?The council will call a meeting with local government officials to discuss the establishment of a system for businesses to report unpaid leave,? Lin said. The council would also hold meetings soon to discuss how to make adjustments to businesses quotas for foreign labor, he said. The protesters were not satisfied with this response and smashed glass panels on the ground to symbolize the council crushing their hopes. Before they left, the protesters vowed to demonstrate again at the Presidential Office during the Lunar New Year if their demands were not met. Meanwhile, official statistics released on Monday showed that more workers ? especially those in the photonic, semiconductor and computer manufacturing industries ? had been forced by their employers to take unpaid leave last month. The statistics, compiled by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), showed that as a result of the practice, 741,000 people worked less than 35 hours per week last month, an increase of 205,000 over October?s total. DGBAS official Huang Chien-chung (???) said that the mandatory unpaid leave plans being implemented by the high-tech sector were expected to increase and lead to a further decline in the nation?s already contracting wages. Previous statistics from the DGBAS showed that Taiwan recorded nominal wage growth of minus 0.27 in October ? the third negative monthly growth rate in a row. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/28/business/20081228072358&sec=business December 28, 2008 MYT 7:24:00 AM Bolivia miners protest firing by Swiss co. LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) - Bolivian miners are threatening to take over several mines to protest their firing. Union leader Roberto Chavez says mining companies made huge profits as metal prices soared, and shouldn't punish workers as prices now sink. Chavez says 700 miners at Sinchi Wayra, a subsidiary of Swiss miner Glencore International, may occupy and work its mines in cooperation with Bolivia's government. Chavez says Sinchi Wayra warned of firings and wage cuts next year. Sinchi Wayra officials did not respond to calls. Some 57,000 Bolivians worked in mining last year, 84 percent in small cooperatives. In 2007, $1.4 billion, or 31 percent, of exports were minerals, Bolivia's second biggest product after natural gas. - AP http://allafrica.com/stories/200812230766.html Leadership (Abuja) Nigeria: Retrenched Nitel Staff Protest in Kaduna From Samuel Aruwan 23 December 2008 Kaduna ? Angry retrenched staff and some serving staff of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited NITEL/MTEL, yesterday held a peaceful demonstration over non-payment of over eight months benefits and gratuity by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE). The aggrieved retrenched staff also apportioned blamed on the Federal Government over its negligence in meeting up with their legitimate demands, and the lackadaisical attitude of the BPE in settling their entitlement of several months aside the benefits supposed to be payable to the retrenched personnel. The angry protesters arrived the NITEL/M-TEL North-West Zonal Office, along Bima Road at around 8:00 am chanting solidarity songs and also demanding for the removal of the BPE's Director General, Mrs. Irene Chigbue. Expressing their displeasure, the protesters coordinator, Christopher D.Okoro said: "We, the entire NITEL/MTEL staff, North West Zone, Kaduna wish to bring to the knowledge of the Nigerian public and the international community, the inhuman treatment being meted out to us, our families and dependants by the Federal Government of Nigeria through her agency, the Bureau of Public Enterprises. Two years after the purported privatization of NITEL/MTEL our severance packages are yet to be paid. Furthermore, the salaries and allowances of the few retained staff have been in arrears for the past seven months. "The consequences of this government inaction include high death profile amongst staff, frequent break-up of homes and families, inability of parents to meet up with the payment of the school fees of their children and other requirements, malnourishment of families, inability of staff to meet up with their rent obligation, hence becoming homeless and uncertainty and hopelessness pervading the lives of the entire NITEL staff". Appealing for intervention towards saving them from excruciating situation they presently face, Okoro further stressed: "We therefore call on the generality of the Nigerian public, the National Assembly, state houses of assembly, the Federal and State Executive Councils, religious leaders and royal fathers to help us compel the Federal Government of Nigeria through her agency the BPE to quickly pay up the entire staff of NITEL/MTEL their severance packages and salaries. The early resolution of this matter indeed would avert staff restiveness." http://allafrica.com/stories/200812230353.html Nigeria: Nitel/Mtel Staff Protest Over Unpaid Salaries Abdulraheem Aodu 23 December 2008 The serving and disengaged workers of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited and Mobile Telecommunication yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Kaduna over the non-payment of their seven-month salary arrears and unpaid severance benefits by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The workers, who came out in their hundreds carrying placards at the NITEL/MTEL North West Zonal office around 8am, accused Federal Government of violating the rights of the current and former staff of NITEL/MTEL by BPE's refusal to fully settle their salary arrears and severance benefits, respectively. They therefore demanded the removal of the BPE Director General, Dr Irene Chigbue, over the matter. The protesting workers' placards displayed different messages like, "BPE is deadlier than HIV/AIDS", "Yar'adua, why do you hate NITEL?", "BPE pay us, we are jobless, homeless," "BPE/FGN pay us now! Our children are out of school" and "Remove Irene Chigbue for misleading government on privatization." They however appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on President Umaru Yar'adua to order the BPE to immediately pay them their severance packages and the salary arrears being owed the remaining staff. Chairman and Secretary of the NITEL/MTEL Staff in the North West Zone, Christopher Okoro and Habeeb Bello, respectively, told Daily Trust that BPE's failure to pay the retrenched workers their remaining pension pay-off since February 2007 and the seven-month salary arrears being owed the current staff had resulted in untold hardships for members and their families. The NITEL/MTEL staff therefore urged President Yar'adua to come to their aid immediately in collecting their salary arrears and remainder of their negotiated severance benefits from the BPE and the telecommunication companies, as all efforts, including holding meetings and dialoguing with the relevant government officials, ministries and agencies on the matter have come to nil. (Daily Trust ? Nigeria) http://allafrica.com/stories/200812190068.html Nigeria: Bayelsa Decries Protest Over Contract Jobs Samuel Oyadongha 19 December 2008 THE Bayelsa State government yesterday dismissed as needless the protest march by some youths and women in the state over the planned award of quick-win jobs to indigenes of the state as means of empowering them towards a successful celebration of the yuletide. No fewer than 500 youths had on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest calling on the state government to fulfil the award of the contract jobs and ensure that such jobs for the cleaning of streets, drainages and other menial duties are not hijacked by politicians in the state. But in a swift reaction the state government through the office of the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Chief Asara .A. Asara assured the youths of the commitment of the present administration at awarding the contract to deserving youths and not politicians as being speculated in some quarters. The commissioner explained that though the jobs are yet to be awarded, the processes that would follow the award of the jobs has been forwarded and it will be done through the respective local government areas in the state. Also the state chapter of the Action Congress (AC) in a statement issued yesterday signed by its Secretary, Comrade Ebikina Miriki said though the proposed quick-win job is a welcome development, the award of such jobs should follow due process and ensure it gets to the desired section of indigenes of the state. The party also expressed delight in the fact that the state government had through the office of the Due Process Bureau led by Mr. Von Kemedi that it had saved over N17.6billion and claimed that the party is vindicated by the news due to its persistent clamour for the use of single source/secret selective procurement methods. "The party has been vindicated because finally the state government has come out to tell Bayelsans and the world that they have saved some unspent money that they now want to share through their proposed Christmas contract instead of keeping safe account," the statement quoted the party scribe as saying. http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/24295/42/ Protesting dockworkers ground central Lagos Written by Victor Ahiuma Young Wednesday, 17 December 2008 AGGRIEVED members of Dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), yesterday, the paralysed activities at the Marina, Lagos headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and its environs over alleged refusal of the Management of the Ports Authority to implement an agreement on their improved welfare benefits seven months after. The protesting workers also called on President Umaru Yar?Adua and the leadership of the National Assembly to direct appropriate agencies to investigate the sum of N500 million allegedly paid on cargo surveyors that did nothing throughout the period of their contract. The workers did not only cordon off the NPA headquarters, but also barricaded and cut off all vehicular and other activities on the Marina for hours, making it impossible for people around the areas to access or conduct their businesses. Carrying a mock coffin and placards of various inscriptions, they warned that the management of NPA was pushing them to the wall and urged President Yar?Adua and the leadership of the National Assembly to call the management of NPA to order in the interest of industrial peace in the ports. Some of the placards read: ?NPA, tomorrow is too late, we want our new rate now; Dockworkers are paid peanuts in Nigeria compared to others in other seaports around the world; NPA stop stealing our money; NPA, today na today. You must pay us our new rate; EFCC and ICPC, investigate the fraud at NPA; The Bible does not support injustice. NPA pay us our due; NPA, what is the work of cargo surveyors?? The management of NPA, however, said the union leaders and management of the authority were meeting yesterday at the time of the protest, under a committee set up to address the grievances of the workers. The protesting workers who arrived the NPA headquarters before 9.00 a.m. in five Molue buses barricaded and cut off the Marina from the Catholic Mission Church Street for hours before a detachment of policemen dispersed them and asked them to limit their protest to the NPA headquarters. Speaking to Vanguard, a leader of the protesting workers and District Secretary of Tally Clerk/Security Pool of the union, Comrade Frank Akocha, said: ?We are here to draw the attention of the Federal Government, EFCC, Senate and House of Representatives to ways and manners Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is maltreating workers and wasting government money. It is on record that a document was signed on the 31st of May 2008 stating the payment of the new rate to dockworkers. Up till today, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has not implemented the payment. They only pay little percentage to workers. ?The rate which took effect from June 1, 2008 has not been paid to the Tally Clerk/Security men who are the eyes of Federal Government in the port. We should not forget that the works of these set of dockworkers cannot be toyed with in the ports. It is also on record that onboard security men detected the toxic waste at Koko Ports then and Tally Clerks are the instrument used to minimize the alarming rate of under declaration of tonnages and illegal importation of arms into our ports. ?We want President Yar?Adua and the leadership of the National Assembly to order appropriate agencies to investigate the sum of N500 million paid on cargo surveyors that did nothing throughout the period of their contract and even when the contract expired NPA management still paid them till March 31, 2008. ?The issue of cargo surveyors to us was a deliberate method to siphon government money by the immediate past management of NPA ?Now that the real workers are asking for the implementation of an agreement signed by all stakeholders on workers? welfare, it has become a problem for NPA. The question we are asking is: is it better to waste large amount of money on frivolous services than pay the benefits of workers? We appeal to NPA to please pay us our money and its accumulated arrears now so that ports will be conducive for all workers and business operations,? he said. However, the Management of NPA, through the Assistant General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Musa Iliya, expressed shock over the protest and said national leaders of the workers and the management of NPA were meeting to address the grievances of the workers. He said the issue had to do with money and the management was trying to deal with matter in the best possible way. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/17/national/national_30091163.php Thainox employees protest over benefit cuts By The Nation Published on December 17, 2008 More than 300 employees of Thainox Stainless Plc gathered yesterday to protest over changes to their pay and welfare. One protester, who used the alias "A", said the firm recently asked all employees to sign new contracts which substantially cut welfare and bonus payments, effective from January 1. The company also sought to cut their salary by 25 per cent during a suspension of work from Dec 15Jan 15. "Most employees are in trouble, as they have to pay instalments for cars and houses," she said. But employees reportedly agreed to resume work after executives vowed not to cut 25 per cent of their salary during the onemonth suspension. Meanwhile, the proposed cut in welfare benefits would be renegotiated on Jan 20. Steel companies have been hit by a sharp decline in prices, alongside other metals. Steel prices have fallen more than 50 per cent from peaks earlier this year. In related news, employees of leading watersports gearmaker Cobra (Thailand), in Chon Buri province, called yesterday for the Labour Ministry help to negotiate with the firm's executives for a Bt30,000 bonus. Workers' union president Navil Simaphan led a group of 200 employees to rally in front of the ministry in Bangkok yesterday. He said workers had requested the Bt30,000 bonus last month but the company shut down from December 3. Some 2,400 workers have been camped outside the company ever since in protest. At previous negotiations, the firm insisted it suffered losses and thus could only pay each worker an Bt8,000 bonus, he said. However, the balance sheets showed the firm had extended business and given out nearly Bt100 million in longterm loans, which should have been paid as the employees' bonus, he said. Somchai Wonthong, head of the Labour Protection and Welfare's Labour Relations Office, said his officials would call company executives to negotiations at Chon Buri's Amata Nakhon Estate at 10am today to try to find a solution to the problem. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161410029 One month of protest OWTU workers to continue strike into holidays Aretha Welch awelch at trinidadexpress.com Saturday, December 6th 2008 Today marks one month since National Petroleum workers downed their tools in protest over the slow pace of wage negotiations between their representative union, the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), and company management. And yesterday, OWTU president general, Ancel Roget, told the Express the workers will carry on the strike through the upcoming holiday season if negotiations do not proceed. He said the workers will also intensify their protest action if the negotiations continue at the current pace. Roget also alleged that NP had employed untrained labourers to carry out the jobs of the employees who are on strike. He said this was not safe, as these workers do not have the expertise required to work with LPG, which is highly volatile. Workers, he said, will have to move to shut down NP if these unsafe practices continue. However, NP communications officer, Caroline Ravello, yesterday assured consumers that "operations at the Sea Lots plants are continuing as they have been despite the strike action taken by workers over the past month". Ravello said despite warnings of possible shut downs, "the company anticipates minimal interruption in the supply of LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas/cooking gas) and of transportation fuels". She added that the workers who have been filling the gaps left by the striking workers are trained and always supervised by senior management, and therefore do not pose threats to anyone. With regards to fears surrounding possible gas shortages as a result of the strikes, she said, "Regarding LPG production, the daily levels at NATPET have continued in excess of 8,000 20-lb cylinders, as compared to regular output at the plant which estimates about 6,000 20-lb cylinders per day." http://allafrica.com/stories/200812020977.html SW Radio Africa (London) Zimbabwe: ZCTU Bank Protest to Continue as Planned Wednesday Alex Bell 2 December 2008 The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it will go ahead with its planned strike action on Wednesday, despite the central bank's announcement that cash withdrawal limits will increase once again. The labour grouping announced last week it would lead a mass demonstration against the Reserve Bank's capping of daily withdrawal limits, by leading the public to their banks on Wednesday to demand all their money. A procession is then expected to be made to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe where the ZCTU leadership will deliver a petition to the central bank governor, Gideon Gono. Gono announced that as of Thursday, a day after the ZCTU planned action, the withdrawal limit of Z$500 000 will increase to Z$100 million per week, but the ZCTU has argued its action will not be deferred, saying it wants the central bank to remove the limit in daily cash withdrawals completely. The ZCTU's Secretary General, Wellington Chibhebhe told Newsreel on Tuesday that Gono "has been in the habit of preempting out strike action by continuously raising the limits." "We have deferred our action on those occasions hoping things were going to improve," Chibhebhe argued. "It is now evident people's problems will not be solved by these meaningless adjustments." Chibhebhe also argued that a weekly rate of Z$100 million was not enough to cover the costs of food and medicine. Chibhebhe expressed anger that thousands of people are dying despite having money in the bank to pay for treatment and food, and explained that the public should not feel afraid "demanding what is theirs." "We are advising all Zimbabweans to join the strike because the cash crisis does not know any occupation or race and is affecting everyone on a very serious level," he said. Meanwhile, the planned peaceful action by pressure group, the National Constitutional Assembly that was set to go ahead on Tuesday, will instead take place on Thursday. Group officials announced the postponement earlier this week, saying its members would join the ZCTU protest on Wednesday. http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/International/04-Dec-2008/Riot-police-break-up-Zimbabwe-protests Riot police break up Zimbabwe protests Published: December 04, 2008 HARARE (AFP) - Baton-wielding riot police broke up protests in Harare and detained dozens of unionists as Zimbabwe???s health and economic crises worsened with more than 560 people now killed by a cholera epidemic. Trade unionists who staged a protest against limits on cash withdrawals from banks were beaten by security forces in central Harare. Police also dispersed doctors and nurses who tried to hand in a petition complaining at the collapse of the country???s health system. The army acknowledged, meanwhile, that unrest involving soldiers this week has been more widespread than reported. Police arrested more than 70 protesters and unionists across the country including Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary-General Wellington Chibebe who was detained while addressing workers, the union said. ???Chibebe, Raymond Majongwe, General Secretary of the Progressive Teachers??? Union of Zimbabwe, and 38 others in Harare have been picked up by the police, while 31 others have been arrested across the country,??? a ZCTU spokesman said. Police did not immediately confirm the arrests. The health workers staged their protest as the World Health Organisation said a cholera epidemic - which has led to water supplies being cut off in Harare - has now claimed 565 lives, a jump of 81 since Tuesday. The number of reported cases has risen to 12,546. The epidemic has piled pressure on a health system ravaged by shortages of even the most basic drugs and equipment and a chronic brain drain as the Zimbabwe crisis has worsened. ???We are forced to work without basic health institutional needs like drugs, adequate water and sanitation, safe clothing gear, medical equipment and basic support services,??? they said in a protest letter, signed by Amon Siveregi, chairman of Zimbabwe Doctors??? Association. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812041035.html SW Radio Africa (London) Zimbabwe: More Than 40 ZCTU Protestors Still in Custody Violet Gonda 4 December 2008 The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says 45 people remain in police custody, a day after the labour union held demonstrations in various parts of the country. The police are holding without charge 32 people in Gweru, seven in Bulawayo and five in Kariba. The workers were arrested on Wednesday when riot police used force to break up the peaceful protesters. The ZCTU led mass protests over the massive cash crisis in the country. Meanwhile it is reported the ZCTU leadership held a meeting with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono on Thursday to discuss the issue of cash withdrawal limits. We were not able to reach the union leaders for comment, or to find out what they discussed with Gono. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=150664 Young doctors hold protest, demand salary increase Likely to get 50% raise notification today Friday, December 05, 2008 Muhammad Qasim Rawalpindi The Young Doctors Association (YDA), Rawalpindi Wing, here on Thursday staged a sit-in protest in front of Benazir Bhutto Hospital against a notification issued by the provincial government that no raise in salaries would be given to junior doctors, including house officers (HOs) and postgraduate trainees (PGTs). House officers and PGTs, serving mainly in the provincial set-ups including Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, organised the protest. Junior doctors from Railways Hospital and Islamic International Medical College also participated in the protest. Junior doctors also arranged a walk from Chandni Chowk to Naz Cinema to record their protest against the government decision. ?Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif in a meeting with members of Young Doctors Association, Pakistan, had promised that their demands would be fulfilled, however, he did not keep his word,? said a member of YDA while talking to ?The News?. ?Yesterday, we received a notification that salaries of HOs and PGTs would not be increased that convinced us to hold the protest.? Junior doctors remained on strike on Thursday, however, they performed their duties as per routine in the emergency (ER) and outpatient departments (OPD) of the allied hospitals. ?We can understand the patients? woes that may be caused by the doctors? strike, so our members have performed their duties in ER and OPD as per routine,? said President YDA at BBH Dr Haroon adding that they have decided to hold a complete strike on Friday if the government would not revert its decision. The junior doctors have demanded of the government to raise the salaries of HOs and PGTs serving at the provincial set-ups and make permanent the jobs of PGTs working on contractual basis. They also demanded that the graduates of private medical colleges should be permitted to join government hospitals for house jobs and post-graduate training. Doctors serving in government set-ups on honorary basis should be given salary and all doctors should be provided security at the hospitals. ?Doctors should be provided with sufficient security at government hospitals to avoid incidents like that of the Federal Government Services Hospital where relatives of an influential government official beat a medical staff including other staff,? said a member of the YDA. The protest that started from BBH at around 10 am lasted for nearly six hours and caused severe traffic jams. Mohammad Hanif Abbasi, PML-N MNA from Rawalpindi, visited the protest venue and assured the junior doctors that their demands would be met. ?He then talked to the Punjab health secretary and informed that the government has announced 50 per cent raise in the salaries of HOs and PGTs,? said Dr Haroon adding that the YDA called off the strike in the evening. ?However, we will receive a copy of the fresh notification issued by the government regarding the increase in salary tomorrow (Friday) morning.? http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=101743 PAKISTAN: Protest held against TV employee's death Media organizations say publications and broadcasters that neglect to implement wage laws commit "economic murder" on journalists Dawn Wednesday, December 3, 2008 ISLAMABAD --- A demonstration was held against the tragic death of an employee of a private channel, Mohammad Azam Khan, who committed suicide after non-payment of salary for five months. Call for countrywide protests had been given by All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (Apnec) and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The protesters demanded probe into the death and punishment to those responsible. Speaking on the occasion, PFUJ Senior Vice-President Fauzia Shahid, Secretary-General Mazhar Abbas, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) Mohammad Afzal Butt, Senior Vice-President Shahryar Khan, local Apnec chairman Ikram Bukhari, National Workers Organisation (NOW) President Kaleem Shamim and C.R. Shamsi termed the tragic death as a murder and demanded registration of a case against the management of the private TV channel. They lamented that non-implementation of laws in newspapers and TV channels was resulting in economic murder of journalists and workers. The PFUJ secretary-general, Mazhar Abbas, announced setting up of protest camps across the country. Meanwhile, Apnec and PFUJ, in a statement, urged the Punjab and federal governments to take immediate action against those responsible for the death of Mohammad Azam and ensure payment of salaries to the workers in different newspapers and channels. "If the working conditions are not improved in the media industry there can be more suicide incidents," the two apex bodies of the newspapers employees warned. They demanded of the federal government to link the advertisement of the said group with regular payment of salaries and the same standard should also be applied on other newspapers as well. Apnec and PFUJ have given countrywide protest call on Thursday against the non-implementation of the 7th Wage Award, sacking of hundreds of employees from print and electronic media and action against those responsible for Azam's death. Protest rallies and Ghaibana Namaz-i-Janaza were held in different cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar. Central and local leadership of PFUJ-Apnec and affiliated unions participated in the rallies. Date Posted: 12/3/2008 http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/13/national/national_30090852.php Autoparts workers protest for bigger bonus and win By The Nation Published on December 13, 2008 More than 1,000 factory workers yesterday successfully pressured their employer to pay a bigger bonus. Workers of Yarnnapan Public Co, Ltd block Kingkaew road in Samut Prakarn province on Friday to demand for more bonus.//Supakrit Kumkhan More than 1,000 factory workers yesterday successfully pressured their employer to pay a bigger bonus. They went on strike and blocked traffic out of King Kaew Road onto Bang NaTrad Road in the morning. It was only after their employer, autoparts manufacturer Yarnapund, agreed to increase the bonus that they ended the blockade and dispersed. "Through negotiations, the employer has promised to award a bonus of two months' salary and not to punish anyone involved in the strike," Bang Phli district chief Nipon Lertsrisuwattana announced yesterday evening. Nipon stepped in because of the road blockade. Initially, autoparts manufacturer Yarnapund planned to pay a Bt5,000 bonus but its workers wanted one equivalent to four months' salary. "We also want a pay raise," strikeleader Suchat Kasemsas said during the strike. Over 100 policemen showed up to ensure the situation remained under control. Several protesters were clearly drunk. Aside from Nipon, senior police officers were also present when company executives met protest leaders. At noon the company offered to pay a bonus of 1.5 months' salary, but the protesters insisted on at least three months. "My wife's just lost her job, and we have two children to support. I've had to borrow money from loan sharks. I need the bonus to repay them," a 41yearold worker said. After working for the company for two decades, his salary is Bt9,900. As the day wore on, the negotiation finally came up with an agreement satisfactory to both sides. The workers did not get all their demands, though. There was no agreement on demands for a pay raise, the removal of three company executives, the establishment of a company labour union or permanentemployee status for all workers with over one year of service. In a related development, Labour Ministry permanent secretary Somchai Chumrat is to convene a meeting on Monday on how to deal with looming unemployment. Representatives from the Foreign Trade Department, Internal Trade Department and Industrial Works Department will attend. Pannapong Itattanon, secretary general of the Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry, urged the Labour Ministry to help workers facing layoff. On Monday official records showed 546 enterprises had gone out of business with 45,707 workers losing their jobs this year. Last year 153 firms had to shut down. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812020168.html Uganda: Clearing Agents Protest at URA Jude Kafuuma 1 December 2008 Kampala ? CLEARING agents yesterday held a protest at the Uganda Revenue Authority's headquarters in Nakawa, Kampala, demanding access to the Customs Business Centre (CBC) where imports are cleared. A public notice of November 28 ordered the agents not to enter the customs centre. "Denying us access to the centre means we cannot clear goods from the borders and this paralyses not only our clients' business but also URA because we cannot pay taxes without clear documents," said Johnson Tabule, the Uganda Clearing and Forwarding Association secretary general. He also complained of a delay in clearing goods and issuing licences, lack of equipment and the failure by the centre officials to listen to their pleas. "Are there no other people to take decisions on such simple issues even when the URA commissioner general is out of the country?" Tabule wondered. "We were told that new licences will be issued effective December 31. Even then, we did not have representatives constituting the committee that decided on our behalf. This angers agents." Officials at URA attributed the closure of the centre to a network failure. "We have been experiencing network problems in our service delivery. We use URA-NET platform at the headquarters, which supports our national connectivity to lodge entries but this has been on and off and has disrupted our work countrywide," said Paul Kyeyune, the public and corporate affairs chief. "We also barred them from accessing the CBC area because we had started losing vital documents." Peter Malinga, the centre commissioner, was not available for comment. URA officials on Monday had a closed meeting with Amos Baguma, representing the clearing agencies, to devise means of ending the strike. The tax body urged the business community to be patient as they rectify the problem. (New Vision) http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/l181/protest181.html 100 Chinese workers protest, visit Chief Minister?s office ANGUILLA--About 100 Chinese workers from the Flag Project who are working with Ashtrom went to Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming?s office to protest. The workers requested to see the Chief Minister to express their concerns and to share with him their experiences over the past four or five months. Police officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force went quickly to the scene to maintain law and order and informed those present that they did not have authorization to hold a gathering at the location in the manner in which they had assembled. Fleming agreed to speak to two of them who claimed to be representatives of the remaining Chinese labour force brought to Anguilla by Ashtrom. The Chinese workers put forward two main requests: firstly, they wish to have their wages owed to them by Ashtrom, paid; secondly, they wish to be repatriated to China as soon as possible, with a preference being in time for the New Year 2009. The Chief Minister told the representatives that prior to their meeting he was concerned as to the closure of Flag and has been in constant contact with the necessary personnel to resolve several issues, including the same requests that they were making. Fleming further informed the representatives that he will continue to work toward fulfilling their requests through dialogue with Ashtrom and Flag Luxury Properties. When the meeting ended, all the workers agreed to return to the campsite. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/506234/-/u0ohgj/-/index.html Council staff to continue pay protest By ABIUD OCHIENG? and ELISHA OTIENOPosted Tuesday, December 23 2008 at 21:22 In Summary ? Workers won?t resume duty over Sh165m salary arrears Workers at Kisumu municipal council have vowed not to go back to work until their salary arrears amounting to Sh165 million have been paid. They accused the mayor and the town clerk of reneging on an agreement made with the workers early this month. According to the Kenya Local Government Workers Union branch chairman, Mr William Otiende, the last meeting had resolved that the workers were to be paid their arrears in stages beginning with 2007 debt amounting to Sh37 million. This was to be done by December 22. The arrears date between 2002 and 2007. The workers are also calling for the implementation of two collective agreements signed in 2002 and 2005. Addressing the striking council workers on Tuesday, Mr Otiende said the strike would not be called off until the arrears were paid in full. He said the workers were appealing to Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who is also the Local Government minister, to intervene. Mr Otiende and the union?s secretary, Mr Rashid Ondu, were arrested by the police on Monday for inciting the workers to go on strike. They were released later in the day on a cash bail of Sh2,000 each. Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who held a meeting with mayor Sam Okello, however urged the union and council officials to meet and address the workers? grievances. At the moment, there is no revenue collection from the bus park, markets, town parking and town hall rates office. Meanwhile, CID officers have interrogated more workers at Migori municipal council as they intensified investigations into claims of corruption and mismanagement at the local authority. Senior officers Attempts by detectives to access the cash office were thwarted after the keys ?mysteriously went missing? but they broke into the offices in the presence of civic leaders and senior council officials. Employees manning the strongroom had said they did not know who had the keys. This forced the investigations committee chaired by councillor George Bonyo to retreat to a meeting to decide on their next move. Former town clerk Nicholas Okola and cashier Tom Minama recorded statements at the Migori CID offices. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121452340300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Kadapa Ryots protest before Dalmia cement unit KADAPA: Farmers staged dharna before Dalmia Cement factory coming up near Chinnakomerla in Mylavaram mandal on Saturday and locked up the factory gate demanding employment for locals in the factory. Congress leader Sivamohan Reddy and TDP leader Sivasankar Reddy led the protesters. ? Special Correspondent http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120552150300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Nizamabad Anganwadi workers protest at collectorates Staff Reporter ? Photo: Singam Venkataramana Tough measures: Police disbursing the anganwadi employees forcibly entering the collectorate by spraying water in Nalgonda on Thursday. NIZAMABAD: Anganwadi workers and helpers under the banner of their association affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)here on Thursday picketed the Collectorate demanding amendment to GO Ms. No. 42 which they said would transfer all powers to gram panchayats on the angawadis. They also demanded regular payment of salaries to the workers and helpers, prevention of political harassment, promotions to helpers as supervisors and recruitment for all vacant posts in anganwadis. Later, they burnt the copies of the GO at NTR Chowrasta. CITU district president Ramesh Babu and secretary Vijayalakshmi, Anganwadi Association president Tulasi and secretary Ch. Bharati spoke. Memorandum given Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: Hundreds of anganwadi workers held a dharna before the Collectorate for about four hours. Many of them participated in the agitation along with children. Later they submitted a memorandum to the district officials. Hyderabad Staff Reporter adds: The State committee of CITU condemned the police lathi-charge on protesting ?anganwadi? workers at Nalgonda district collectorate. In a statement, R. Sudhabhaskar, general secretary of the State CITU, alleged that the police declared war on the poor anganwadi women workers using a water cannon first and then resorting to lathi-charge. Six workers were injured. The district secretary, Sulochana fainted after she was kicked by the policemen. Another worker?s hand got fractured. He said the workers would stage demonstrations at their project offices on Friday to protest the police lathi-charge. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122651790300.htm Other States - Punjab Trade unions to launch protest for wage revision Chandigarh: A number of trade unions including Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Thursday decided to protest against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from January one demanding revision of monthly wages for labourers in the State. CITU vice-president Raghunath Singh said that the activists of trade union have decided to show black flags to Badal wherever he visits from January one onwards. ?The wage revision must be implemented by the government without further delay,? he said adding the Chief Minister had announced four months ago that the minimum monthly wages for labour would be increased from Rs.2,620 to Rs .,200. Mr. Singh said that as per the Minimum Wages Act, it needed to be amended every five years. --PTI http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/25/stories/2008122559460300.htm Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram KSRTC staff stage protest Special Correspondent THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Workers of the KSRTC Employees Association (CITU) took out demonstrations and held dharnas before KSRTC offices in many places in the State today to protest against the management?s failure to disburse the salary of the staff in advance on account of Christmas. General secretary of the organisation T.K. Rajan attributed the situation to the failure of financial management in the undertaking. Christmas was not a sudden development. Besides, the Association had asked the management in writing to disburse the salary and pension in advance. The management?s failure to do so indicated its incompetence, he added. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122461011000.htm Karnataka - Bangalore Insurance employees stage protest Staff Reporter BANGALORE: Over 1.5 lakh employees and officers of Life Insurance Corporation of India, National Insurance Company, United India Insurance Company and Oriental Insurance Company staged a nation-wide strike on Tuesday, to protest the two Bills introduced in Parliament to further liberalise the insurance sector. Criticised A press release from the All Indian Insurance Employees? Association (AIIEA) criticised the government for privatising the most successful institutions when governments across the world were nationalising the failed banks and insurance companies. President of the AIIEA Amanulla Khan in a press release said that the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2008, if enacted, would seriously harm the national interests. The claim of the Union Government that by increasing the foreign direct investment in insurance sector, the Indian infrastructure would get a boost, was baseless, the press release said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122454910500.htm Karnataka AI ground-handling staff stage protest Special Correspondent CHICKBALLAPUR: Ground-handling staff of Air India staged a demonstration at Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) in Devanahalli on Tuesday in protest against the Civil Aviation Ministry?s new policy on outsourcing ground-handling work, which is likely to come into force in January 2009. The demonstration was on the airport premises during the lunch break, according to sources in the airport. It is said that earlier in the day some of the Air India ground-handling employees even obstructed the staff of Singapore Air Terminal Services (SATS), specialised ground-handling agency, from discharging their duties. However, sources in Air India, who described the incident as a minor one, said that none of its airline crew took part in the demonstration and the protest did not result in flight delays. All these years, airlines themselves were taking care of ground-handling work at many airports in the country. The ground-handling staff fear that if outsourcing takes place in accordance with the new policy, many of them will lose their job. Industry sources said that according to the new policy, only three agencies would be allowed to take up ground-handling services at the major metro airports in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. These three would be airport operators or a joint venture company, subsidiary companies of National Aviation Company of India (NACIL) or their joint ventures or any other ground-handling service provider selected through competitive bidding on a revenue-sharing basis, they said. The Aviation Ministry is said to be of the view that more players joining the race would lead to competitive pricing and better services, the sources said. BIAL, which operates BIA, has outsourced the ground-handling work to SATS and Global Trade in accordance with a Director-General of Civil Aviation circular of September 2007. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122353650300.htm Other States - Orissa Novel protest by Konark TV employees Staff Reporter BHUBANESWAR: During past few days, passersby in the capital city halt for a moment when they see unusual scenes in front of offices of political parties. More than 100 people are regularly seen holding mass prayer seeking divine intervention to make political parties realise their sufferings. These people belong to Konark Television Limited, a television set manufacturing unit, whose products had become household name two decades ago. They have been demanding their rehabilitation after their parent company lost its sheen as well as existence due to bad managers. "Konark TV should be restructured to manufacture and assemble computers to cater to the needs of schools, colleges, panchayat institutions and state government offices at affordable rates. This is one way to revive the manufacturing unit as well as to bring back lost glory," said Shyam Sundar Patra, an employee of Konark TV. He said, "our gesture must have made many officials and leader see red, but we are doing it out of our utter desperation. Most of the employees have lost everything and don?t have the option to restart a career for livelihood." Under the banner of Konark TV Punargathan Abhiyan, they have been staging demonstration along the Mahatma Gandhi Marg and other parts of the city to draw attentions of government. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123060000600.htm Andhra Pradesh Novel protest by village servants Staff Reporter NIZAMABAD: As part of their ongoing agitation village servants under the banner of the Andhra Pradesh Grama Sevakula Sangham here on Monday took out a novel protest rally condemning the government?s alleged indifference in solving their long pending demands. Sangham district president Bandi Posetty, said though they were on a hunger strike , the authorities did not take the initiative.Chinna Mallareddy village servant Md. Chand Pasha died of a heart attack during the agitation which he said was indicative of the government?s apathy. Mr. Posetty sought Rs. 5 lakh as ex gratia to the bereaved family. Demands included promotion to eligible village servants as Class IV employees http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123051770300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool Anganwadi workers stage protest KURNOOL: Angawadi workers led by AITUC staged a protest here on Monday. The protesters urged the government to release the arrears due to the workers immediately and recognise the workers as government servants. They also demanded introducing of pension and provident fund provision for Anganwadi workers and streamlining of work by liberating the institutions from local bodies. The relay fast would continue on December 30 and 31 too. -Special Correspondent http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120252670300.htm Tamil Nadu Construction workers stage demonstration with begging bowls Staff Reporter Photo. N. Bashkaran United: Construction Workers Association staging a demonstration in front of the Krishnagiri Collectorate on Monday. ? KRISHNAGIRI: Construction workers staged a demonstration in front of the District Collectorate here with begging bowls on Monday. Their demands included a central law to ensure job security for unorganised labourers, regulation of wages for various labourers in the sector, inclusion of unorganised labourers under the purview of Employees State Insurance Corporation, granting of a minimum pension of Rs. 2,000 and implementation of Union Government?s various labour welfare measures through trade unions. About 150 members, including 80 women of the Construction Workers Association, participated in the demonstration. The association is planning a demonstration in Chennai on December 9. A demonstration will be staged before Parliament on December 10, 11 and 12. The association?s district secretary, K.M. Arumugam, presided. Association?s All India Additional Secretary R. Geethammal spoke. District treasurer G.A. Muthu welcomed the gathering. http://www.realdeal.hu/20081218/unions-protest-hiring-of-substitute-workers-at-budapest-airport December 18, 2008, 8:42 CET Unions protest hiring of substitute workers at Budapest airport By MTI Hungary's six largest trade union confederations and two international unions issued protests on Wednesday against hires by Budapest Airport management to keep passenger services running while employees are out on strike. The six Hungarian confederations charged airport management with violating the constitutional right of employees to strike. They also criticised the airport for seeking to forcefully end the strike by employing 38 Greek nationals to handle security and maintain services during the ongoing strike. The confederations demanded that airport management conduct real negotiations with striking unions. They have also appealed to Hungarian and international authorities for redress. http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idINLM62095320081222 UPDATE 1-Hungary airport unions to protest at German embassy Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:28pm IST BUDAPEST, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Striking unions at Budapest Airport called a demonstration outside the German embassy on Monday to push for a deal with the German airport operator on a new collective agreement. The airport unions are trying to push for a deal with the German airport operator, Germany's Hochtief AG (HOTG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), on a new collective deal, news agency MTI reported. Two unions at Budapest Airport launched a strike two weeks ago to demand a new agreement and a halt to layoffs. The 13-day-old strike initially caused severe delays and flight cancellations at Hungary's biggest international airport. However, most flights have been running on schedule since last week when the airport operator enlisted foreign workers to ensure the smooth operation of passenger security controls. The unions have said Budapest Airport employed foreign blacklegs to circumvent striking employees. Rail traffic was again disrupted on Monday as a workers' strike continued into a second week. The rail workers' union VDSZSZ began a strike on Dec. 14 to demand a 10 percent wage rise for outsourced employees and a one-off bonus of 250,000 forints ($1,267) for each worker from the sale of state railway firm MAV's freight unit. The union and MAV's management have failed to reach an agreement in several rounds of talks, and have not even managed to agree on a minimum level of services to be provided during the strike. Talks between the union and MAV will resume on Monday, and if the two parties do not reach an agreement the strike could disrupt traffic over the Christmas holidays. "The company ... is not able to meet the demands of unions as these are unrealistic, legally unfounded and the company does not have the financial resources to meet the demands," MAV said in a statement after talks broke down again on Sunday. MAV said about 1,200 to 1,300 trains ran on Sunday out of a scheduled 3,200 trains. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs and Krisztina Than; Editing by Sami Aboudi) http://www.b92.net//eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=12&dd=24&nav_id=55966 Trade unions threaten protests 24 December 2008 | 13:48 | Source: Beta BELGRADE -- Serbian trade unions have threatened protests should the government go ahead with plans to suspend application of the extended General Collective Agreement. Police, health and justice unions protested in front of government HQ today, while metal worker unions have announced a protest this afternoon in Nikola Pa?i? Square, from where they will walk to parliament to meet with Speaker Slavica ?uki?-Dejanovi?. After the meeting, they too will head to government HQ. The Serbian Alliance of Independent Unions will hold a protest in Kru?evac today as well. Alliance President Ljubisav Orbovi? told a press conference that the protests would continue until the government honored what it had signed and began implementing the expanded agreement, which includes hot meals and annual leave. He said that besides protests, the union would also hold warning and general strikes, and that the dynamics of the action would depend on an agreement with the remaining unions, primarily the Independence Union, which has also signed the collective agreement in question. Orbovi? reiterated that the Alliance had submitted amendments to the draft budget that would allow funds to be allocated for implementing the collective agreement. The amendments are supported by New Serbia and PUPS officials. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/02/2435506.htm Workers protest building industry practices By Maggie Hill Posted Tue Dec 2, 2008 1:23pm AEDT Updated Tue Dec 2, 2008 2:25pm AEDT Union members carry a coffin to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Brisbane CBD office. (AAP: Paul Osborne) ? Map: Brisbane 4000 About 2,000 building workers have rallied in Brisbane's CBD demanding changes to the way the industry is run. They want the Government to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and revoke regulations which they say are discriminatory and oppressive. Workers carrying a coffin led the march to the Prime Minister's Brisbane office. There was another death at a Brisbane construction site yesterday when a concrete beam fell on scaffolding in Brisbane's south. It is the 18th death in Queensland this year. Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) state secretary Michael Ravbar says workers are frustrated. "Safety's become a major problem in our industry and a couple of weeks ago we lost two in a row in one week and they've just had enough," he said. The union says the ABCC is treating workers unfairly and needs to be abolished. Mr Ravbar says more people have died since the laws have been put into place. "Queensland's had a bad year ... 18 deaths, which is about 35 per cent higher than normal," he said. "We lose one worker a week in Australia, but the last two years it's just gone through the roof. "A lot of the reason the guys are here, even though they're opposing and want the abolition of the laws, they're also sick and tired of too many deaths in the industry." Similar rallies are being held in Sydney and Melbourne. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-185495108.html Calling Notice: Derbyshire Fire Crews To Protest At Fire Authority Plan To Sack Fire Crews And Impose Shift Changes. Article from: Canadian Corporate News Article date: September 24, 2008 DERBY, ENGLAND, Sep 24, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX) -- Attn: Derbyshire Newsdesks and Planning Desks Venue: The Fire Authority meeting, Fire service Headquarters, Old Hall, Burton Road, Derby. Local fire crews will be available for interview. Time: 10 am, Thursday 25 September. Expect: a very well behaved rally involving local fire crews and their families from fire stations across Derbyshire. Fire crews from across Derbyshire will be protesting against a plan to force through shift changes from 1st January. The plan being put before councillors will mean, for the first time in the UK, sacking all local firefighters and forcing them to sign new contracts http://www.wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=48120 Union Members Protest Representation Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 ; 05:42 PM | View Comments | Post Comment Protest took place Monday morning in Jackson County. RAVENSWOOD -- Union protests typically are held if members are opposed to something management is doing. However, Monday morning's protest at the United Steelworkers Local 5668 in Ravenswood was held because members are upset with their Union Representatives. They claim they have lost wages and time off because of a lack of good representation. The protesters say they still support unions, just not their current representatives. http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-listam1221,0,3846835.story?track=rss Rally to protest Wal-Mart worker's stampede death BY MATTHEW CHAYES | matthew.chayes at newsday.com 3:03 PM EST, December 20, 2008 An immigration activist group plans to rally Sunday at the Green Acres Wal-Mart where a seasonal worker was trampled to death by bargain hunters who crushed through the doors on Black Friday. The protest and vigil to honor slain worker Jdimytai Damour, 34, is the latest pressure being put on the Bentonville, Ark.-based discount retailer for the way it planned -- or didn't adequately plan -- security at its Valley Stream store last month, when more than 2,000 people pushed their way into the store, breaking down the sliding locked doors and stepping on, over and around Damour, a tall, large man who lived in Queens. "Tis the Season to Put Workers' Lives & Health Before Profits," the activist group said in a flier advertising the event, to be held at noon Sunday at the mall entrance at Sunrise Highway and Green Acres Road. A spokeswoman for the group said picketers plan to go to the store where Damour died Nov. 28. Almost immediately after the death, the state's largest supermarket union, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500, called for state, federal and local investigations, saying the incident that led to Damour's death was "avoidable and irresponsible." Wal-Mart has strenuously resisted unionization at its stores. The Nassau County Police have repeatedly blamed Wal-Mart for the Black Friday melee, and the county legislature is considering regulating door-buster sales. Since the death, several lawsuits against the retailer -- as well as the police department -- have begun wending their way through the legal system. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice's office has begun an investigation into the retailer's potential criminal liability. Citing an ongoing investigation by authorities, Wal-Mart spokesman John Simley said he would have no comment on the rally. He referred to the company's previous statements that defended its security practices, and noted that it had hired additional security guards and deployed barriers at its Valley Stream store. "Despite all of our precautions," the company said in the statement last month, "this unfortunate event occurred." http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/16/france-art-life-models-protest Paris life models make nude protest to demand respect ... and better pay ? Strikers brave freezing outdoor temperatures ? Row began over ban on tips in city hall art classes * Angelique Chrisafis in Paris * The Guardian, Tuesday 16 December 2008 * Article history Students in a life drawing class, Paris Students in a life drawing class, Paris. Photograph: Bernard Annebicque/Corbis From Rodin and Courbet's naked muses and lovers to Degas's clinical study of the female form, the nude has always taken pride of place in French art. But Paris is now being accused of showing such philistine ingratitude to its life models that scores went on strike yesterday, taking to the streets to pose naked in freezing temperatures to shame the state. In front of the tastefully decorated Christmas trees outside Paris city hall's culture department, the naked and goose-pimpled models demanded a pay increase, proper contracts and, most of all, respect for their craft as they held trade union banners in the pose of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People. The disrespect shown to the models was "proof that something is badly wrong with French society", shouted one shivering male model through a megaphone. Artists, students and art teachers sat sketching them in support. The row began when Paris city hall, which runs an array of life-drawing classes, banned the tradition of the "cornet", a piece of art paper rolled into a cone and passed round for tips as a model gets dressed after class. Surviving on the minimum wage with no fixed contracts, holiday pay, security cover or job security, the crash-strapped models said the tips allowed them to survive. They also wanted to quash the misconception that life-modelling was merely something students and retired people did for pocket money. Sean Connery may have posed naked in Edinburgh to make ends meet when he was a struggling actor and Quentin Crisp may have spent the war years posing naked at Derby School of Art, but in France life-modelling is widely seen as a serious career choice. "This is a craft that should be respected, not just anyone can take their clothes off and hold a pose," said Deborah, 28, one of the strike organisers, who has worked as a full-time life model for four years. "It is artistic and physically demanding work." She had to swim regularly to stay fit enough to hold poses and felt models should be given access to subsidised municipal sports facilities to keep in shape for their jobs, as well as access to museums to do research for their poses. Leela, 33, a singing teacher and part-time model, said the "cornet" was crucial to supplement her pay of ?10 an hour. "Everyone puts in one or two euros, which can add up to ?20 to ?30. The next day I can go to the market and fill my fridge." Gerard Vilage, an art teacher from Paris's Beaux Arts Ateliers, said: "How can we teach drawing without these people, if they are left with meagre pay and no protection?" Christophe Girard, Paris city hall's culture supremo, who also moonlighted as a life model in his student days, tried to calm the row, urging the ministry of culture to review life models' status. He said: "Regarding tips, we can't let people collect money that's not taxed while working in a state building. "But I think this was a lovely protest in the French, gaulois spirit of resistance - taking your clothes off outside 10 days before Christmas shows real conviction. "Life modelling is an activity that is fragile and possibly under threat and I don't want to see it disappear." Case study: Christophe Lem?e, 52 After 30 years as an actor, I began life modelling to support my own theatre projects. It's a beautiful craft and very physically demanding. You have to forget yourself and move beyond the contours of your own body. It's not my body the artists are trying to capture, but the essence of human nature, existence and all the mystery that goes with it. I will often do nine-hour days - you have to be very athletic to do that. Each session is three hours long, divided into 45 minute poses followed by 15 minutes' rest. It's no easier holding a sitting pose than a standing pose. The weight will always be concentrated on some part of your body. I call it dancing without moving. You need a lot of psychological concentration to cope. You have to learn what your body can and can't do. I try to swim for an hour in the mornings to keep my body in condition for the poses. You are naked and defenceless in front of a room full of people, but it's not the same brash nudity you see everywhere in modern society. It's more spiritual. I'm exposed but I know that the people looking at me are exactly the same as me under their clothes. Life-modelling has always been crucial for western art, which is all about the glorification of the human body. You have a profound artistic relationship with the people who draw you and that is very rewarding. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/16/financial/f041831S85.DTL&feed=rss.business Japan workers protest massive wave of job cuts By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer Tuesday, December 16, 2008 ________________________________________ (12-16) 04:18 PST TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Hundreds of unionized workers rallied in Tokyo on Tuesday to protest massive job cuts, accusing the country's biggest companies of sacrificing jobs to protect profits. The global financial crisis has forced some of Japan's corporate giants to take drastic measures including job cuts, suspending production, postponing projects and closing factories. Sony Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. are among the major employers to trim thousands of workers from their payrolls. About 200 protesters waved banners and shouted slogans through loudspeakers outside the headquarters of the Nippon Keidanren ? Japan's largest business lobby group ? in Tokyo's main business district. "Toyota, stop cutting seasonal workers! We workers are not disposable!" they chanted. "Sony, stop massive firing!" Most of the job cuts have targeted temporary contract workers, but lately they have included full-time salaried workers. Speakers at the protest said some newly unemployed contract workers also lost their company-owned housing, leaving them jobless and homeless. "We do not accept job cuts in the name of the economic crisis," said Kazuko Furuta, a representative of New Japan Women's Association, a women's rights group that organized the rally with dozens of labor unions. "Shame on the Japanese companies that dump their workers like objects." Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai told reporters Tuesday that the government was doing its "utmost to support small businesses and ensure job security." Fujio Mitarai, head of Keidanren and also chairman of Canon Inc., said the influential lobby "will cooperate with the government" to implement job security measures. Japanese exporters have been hit hard by slowing consumer demand from abroad and the yen's appreciation, which erodes their overseas earnings. Sony announced plans to slash 8,000 jobs around the world ? about 5 percent of its work force ? and lowered its full-year earnings projection 59 percent from the previous year. Major automakers including Toyota and Nissan have terminated contracts with thousands of seasonal workers at their factories and parts makers. Citing their own tally, union members say more than 18,800 people, mostly contract workers, have lost their jobs in recent months. The government last week announced a 23 trillion yen ($256 billion) stimulus package to shore up the economy, including measures to encourage employment. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=prnw.20081215.DC52488&show_article=1 Associated Press Staffers Withdraw Bylines in Protest Dec 15 06:42 PM US/Eastern Comments (0) NEW YORK, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reporters and photographers at Associated Press are withholding bylines and personal equipment in protest over the news agency's proposals that would threaten job security, dramatically raise medical costs, and freeze wages. The protests come as talks continue between AP and the News Media Guild, the union that represents 1,400 editorial, technology and support staff at AP. "Staffers recognize the tough times, but they also understand that quality journalism at AP means attracting and retaining the best employees," said NMG President Tony Winton. "They're making it clear that AP's future success means respecting its workers, not imposing huge medical costs and regressing on industry-standard job security terms," Winton said. The Guild and the AP have been bargaining since Oct. 21. There has been agreement on a handful of articles, but the sides remain far apart. AP proposed a wage freeze in the first year of a two-year agreement, followed by a two percent increase a year later. The Guild opened with a 10% wage increase proposal, but has indicated flexibility at the bargaining table. The protest included other actions besides the withholding of bylines. Some planned to withhold use of their personal vehicles, cell phones, and other equipment, while others were "working to rule" to express displeasure at the company's proposals. The protest began Sunday afternoon and is set to end later this week. AP has publicly reported several years of increasing revenue and profits, and managers have stated they expect to end 2008 with more good results. However, they have said that 2009 forecasts are bleaker. The News Media Guild is Local 31222 of The Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. The Guild represents editorial, technology, and other workers in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The current agreement expired Nov. 30. SOURCE The Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America http://philippinenews.com/article.php?id=3768 Activists continue protests throughout Christmas Print | Email to friend Published: December 27, 2008 | Author: Pasckie Pascua Total Views: 825 | Rating: LOS ANGELES? Activists here continue their unrelenting advocacy in support of various causes and in protest of other issues even as the community savors Christmas and the advent of a new year. The Filipino Veterans Support Bill, or SB 3689, remains as the foremost concern of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV). Despite failing energy, living FilVets stay active on the road, making their presence felt in mass actions and community gatherings, and taking the opportunity to speak their minds. On December 8, JFAV announced the formation of a partner organization, the Association of Widows, Advocates and Relatives for Equality (Aware) at a meeting held at the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) here. In San Francisco, FilVets Gomer Bondad and Reggie Nacua, with activists Ago Pedalizo and Violy Reyes, discussed the seemingly unresolved impasse on the lump sum clause of SB 36879, now pending in the US Congress, at a community meeting held at the ABS-CBN studio in Redwood City last December 10. ?The JFAV does not endorse SB 3689. We criticize the fact that it has no recognition for Filvets, it comes with a quit claim clause, and there?s no provision for widows of the veterans. We will pursue a different strategy and tactics on the veterans? equity struggle,? says a JFAV statement furnished Philippine News. On December 11, JFAV veteran leaders Faustino Baclig and Jack Vergara were present at a rally staged by the United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) union local at the Radisson Hotel here against the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Trouble has been dogging SEIU?s California locals. Last summer, some 6,000 UHW union members staged a rally in Manhattan Beach to oppose a plan by SEIU for ?centralize bargaining? and other issues. Local leaders charged that Andrew Stern, SEIU president, wants to divide and weaken their local union?by pressuring 65,000 of their members to transfer to ?his favored local??and punish them for demanding their own voice. Filipinos comprise more than 30 percent of the total healthcare workforce in California. Meanwhile, a group of ?First Quarter Stormers? here, collectively known as Kilusang Dekada 70, issued a statement to local media calling for the release by the Philippine government of peasant rights advocate Randall Echanis, a known First Quarter Storm activist. The First Quarter Storm was a period of unrest in the Philippines, composed of a series of heavy demonstrations, protests and marches against the government from January to March 1970, two years before the country was placed under Martial Law. Kilusang Dekada 70 questions the administration of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo why Jocelyn Bolante, a former Cabinet person who was accused of diverting the 780 million pesos of fertilizer fund for his ex-boss?s 2004 presidential campaign, should be freed and not Echanis. ?What is the difference between Bolante and Echanis? Is it because Bolante served Arroyo, that is why he is treated royally, and Echanis isn?t?and should rot like a common criminal?? queries KD70 spokesperson Bonifacio Inkana. Echanis, deputy secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Farmers Movement of the Philippines), was arrested in January this year by police agents as he prepared to attend a conference of agricultural workers in Bago City, Negros Occidental. Located in the western Visayas region of the Philippines, south of Manila, Negros Occidental is the second largest province in the country. Most of its people are sugarcane workers and farmers. http://www.newstin.com/tag/us/95519088 Greek unionists protest against Sunday shopping iht.com Dec 28, 2008 Labor union activists blockaded some shops in central Athens that were trying to open Sunday to make up revenue lost in three weeks of rioting that badly damaged the capital's retail district. The shopkeepers' association had asked to keep their businesses open for a second consecutive Sunday ? one more than the customary Christmas exemption to the usual opening hours. They wanted to try to recoup some of their losses from the economic slowdown that has begun to affect Greece, and from the riots that followed the police killing of a 15-year-old boy. http://www.tobacco.org/news/276394.html Universities, union clash over smoking ban Jump to full article: AP, 2008-12-24 Author: MARTHA RAFFAELE, AP Education Writer Intro: Grabbing a quick smoke between classes has become impossible for Lock Haven University political science professor Robert Storch. An indoor and outdoor smoking ban imposed at Pennsylvania's state university system in September means Storch must walk off campus whenever he craves nicotine - a 20-minute roundtrip excursion that he cannot cram into a 15-minute break between classes. ``I find it ridiculous,'' Storch told a Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board hearing examiner Tuesday. ``You feel like a leper anyway. It's really very demeaning.'' Storch was among a handful of professors at the 14 universities who testified about the smoking ban during a hearing on an unfair labor practice complaint filed by the State System of Higher Education's faculty union. A ruling is not expected before February. The 5,900-member Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties wants the ban rescinded. The new policy was imposed with virtually no warning, and APSCUF argues that any changes should have been negotiated with the union first. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 12:41:45 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:41:45 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Repression news, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AEC92F9.2030300@tesco.net> UNITED STATES * Censorship of torture evidence continues * US refuses to free journalist despite Iraqi court order * Undercover police operations at RNC exposed * Eight protesters in court over RNC * Eco-protesters face trial for nonviolent actions * Cops waste thousands on Denver persecution * Washington cop admits assault on protester, spared jail * Crap arrest at animal rights protest * Expulsions for sex raise eyebrows * RNC protester admits breaking windows * Seattle parade law ruled unconstitutional NORTH * UK: Police seize Tamil national flags under "terrorism" law * UK: Baloch dissident show-trial collapses * AUSTRALIA: MP caught harassing protester * NEW ZEALAND: Swingeing police spy activity exposed * UK: Police steal phone to censor news coverage of protest * AUSTRALIA: Plans to ratchet up persecution of "trespass" protests as climate movement spreads * NEW ZEALAND: Leftist persecuted by airport goons * JAPAN: Pro-Korean group suffers police harassment * RUSSIA: Journalist arrested for covering protest * AUSTRALIA: Gunns settle protest SLAPP, protesters claim victory * CANADA: Police pay compensation for persecution of housing protest * CANADA: Byelaw fascists target snowman * HOLLAND/US: America tries to wriggle out of plea deal with Dutch suspect, files new charges SOUTH * INDONESIA/WEST PAPUA: Plan to microchip AIDS survivors reversed * INDONESIA: Islamists jailed for "treason" in dissent crackdown * INDONESIA: Social cleansing operation hits vendors * NIGERIA/US: Chevron cleared of role in murder of villagers * INDONESIA: Village linked to plantation company burned down * IRAQ: Shoe protester beaten, hit with gun * TURKEY: Attempts to impose massive jail terms on young Kurdish protesters * CHINA: Protesters, petitioners sent to mental asylums * ZIMBABWE: Human rights activist beaten, disappeared * INDIA: Karnataka - Ban on loud protests to be withdrawn * VIETNAM: Court frees Catholic protesters * IRAQ: Shoe protester jailed for a year * TUNISIA: Trade union leader on trial over protests * IRAN: Human rights group office closed by regime * INDIA: Orissa - Arrested anti-POSCO leader mistreated in custody * THAILAND: Anti-coup protesters tried, but not jailed * PHILIPPINES: Youth group activists arrested in "terror" crackdown * TUNISIA: Journalist sentenced in absentia for covering protests * EGYPT: Jailed protesters are scapegoats * INDIA: Police murder of acid attack suspects faces "muted" protests * COLOMBIA: Indigenous activist's husband murdered at checkpoint * SOUTH AFRICA: Pretoria power protest charges withdrawn * KOREA: Rightist goons plan new laws onslaught - anti-masking law, wiretaps * NIGERIA: 90 murdered by police in summary executions http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/12/aclu-protests-censorship-of-guantanamo.php Saturday, December 06, 2008 ACLU protests censorship of Guantanamo detainee testimony Lucas Tanglen at 1:50 PM ET [JURIST] The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [advocacy website] sought to prohibit government censorship of prisoners' testimony about alleged torture and abuse at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] in a motion [text, PDF] filed Friday in military commission proceedings against five "high value detainees" [JURIST news archive] accused of involvement in the 9/11 attacks [JURIST news archive]. The motion says observers at the proceedings watch on a closed-circuit video monitor with a 20-second delay, allowing officials to cut the feed when it appears a defendant is discussing the conditions of their detention. In the motion, the ACLU requests that: (1) in all future proceedings, the government not be permitted to exclude trial observers from hearing those portions of proceedings in which the defendants relate their allegations of abuse in U.S. custody; and (2) with respect to all prior proceedings, this Military Commission order the release of unredacted transcripts that include those portions in which the audio was turned off. "There is absolutely no justification for the suppression of detainees' allegations of torture and abuse," said [press release] Ben Wizner, staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. In October, a judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia granted summary judgment [JURIST report] for the Department of Defense, holding that unredacted transcripts allegedly containing evidence of torture used against the high-value detainees held at Guantanamo Bay could be withheld from the ACLU. Aides to President-elect Barack Obama have said the incoming president will likely not prosecute [JURIST report] Americans who approved or actually carried out the torture or other harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2008/dec/11/iraq-asia Protests at US refusal to free journalist Comments (0) There is mounting anger at the US military's refusal to free a Reuters photojournalist - despite a release order by an Iraqi court. A military spokesman told Reuters that Ibrahim Jassam Mohammed would be freed after the end of the year, depending on his "threat level." The U.S. has said in the past that it has the right to keep holding security detainees even if an Iraqi court orders them freed. A spokesperson repeated this explanation in a statement about why Jassam is still being held. Major Neal Fisher said in an e-mail: "Though we appreciate the decision of the central criminal court of Iraq in the Jassam case, their decision does not negate the intelligence information that currently lists him as a threat to Iraq security and stability." Reuters editor-in-chief David Schlesinger said: "I am disappointed he has not been released in accordance with the court order." In a much more trenchant protest, the International Federation of Journalists "strongly condemned" the decision. It "makes a mockery of the coalition's handover of powers to Iraqi sovereign institutions," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "The American military officials in Iraq should stop interfering with the Iraqi justice and free Ibrahim." Jassam was arrested on September 2 at his home in Mahmudiya, about 20 miles south of Baghdad. His cameras were confiscated and he was arrested as a threat to security. Last month, Iraqi prosecutors asked the US military for evidence against Jassam. Receiving none, they ordered him to be freed. (Sources: Reuters/PDN/IFJ) http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2008/12/rnc_protesters.php RNC protesters fooled by undercover cop, Fletcher continues witch hunt By Emily Kaiser in Protest News Monday, Dec. 1 2008 @ 9:45AM Leave it to the RNC Welcoming Committee to actually be welcoming to other protesters. Well, apparently that was their downfall. Marilyn Hedstrom, a deputy sheriff for the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, led an undercover life for a year to help infiltrate the group to monitor protester plans for the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, according to the Star Tribune. So what does it take to be part of the club? She went "dumpster diving" at the group's instructions to find food for the anarchists to eat. She cooked meals for some meetings, ran errands, coordinated committee discussions and represented the organization at some gatherings of the protest movement. She became friends of some of the activists. And she, ironically, even helped on security for the anarchists, who worried that the cops were infiltrating them. She was accepted because she wasn't the usual and sometimes suspicious young person, other protesters said. "Norma Jean looked like somebody's mom," recalls Meredith Aby, a member of the Anti-War Committee, a group that occasionally met with the anarchists. "She was treated by the Welcoming Committee as if she were one of their own." In other RNC protest news, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher is still on a witch hunt rampage to find protest participants who he says attacked police officers. The video evidence gives police some evidence on who these mystery attackers are, according to the Star Tribune. He says there still could be more charges coming. Why isn't he as concerned about addressing police misconduct? Fletcher and his fleet are perfect with stellar anger management control. RNC protest supporters will gather once again tomorrow to try and ruin lead RNC case attorney Susan Gaertner's birthday and gubernatorial fundraiser. Here are the details from Twin Cities Indymedia: A rally and dance party has been planned outside her fundraiser, starting at 4:30 on Tuesday, December 2nd. If you want the charges dropped for the 18 folks facing felonies, make it known to Susan and all her potential supporters that her political endeavors will never succeed with her prosecution of of RNC arrestees on her record. Come to the gates of the Minneapolis Club at the corner of 2nd Ave and 8th St in downtown Minneapolis at 4:30PM dressed warmly and ready to get down. Bring signs, noisemakers, and your loudest and dancing-est friends! http://www.twincities.com/rnc/ci_11240253?nclick_check=1 Republican National Convention Protesters In Court / 'RNC Eight' facing more felony charges Other misdemeanor cases processed By Emily Gurnon egurnon at pioneerpress.com Updated: 12/15/2008 11:32:03 PM CST The Ramsey County attorney has added more charges for the eight people facing terrorism allegations in connection with the Republican National Convention. As of Friday, each of the RNC Eight, as they have been dubbed, faces four charges. In addition to the original charge of second-degree conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism, they stand accused of conspiracy to riot in the second degree, conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property in furtherance of terrorism, and first-degree conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property. Police have said the defendants, ranging in age from 19 to 33, were members of the RNC Welcoming Committee. The anarchist group vowed on its Web site to "crash the convention" and encouraged activists to prevent delegates from getting to the Xcel Energy Center. Those charged are Robert Joseph Czernik, 33; Erik Charles Oseland, 21; Garrett Scott Fitzgerald, 25; Max Jacob Specktor, 19; Monica Rachel Bicking, 23; Nathanael David Secor, 26; Luce Gullen-Givins, 24; and Eryn Chase Trimmer, 23, all of Minneapolis. They have denied involvement in terrorist activities, and several said they have never advocated violence against people. Meanwhile, the courts continued to process other RNC protesters Monday. A trial for Vernon Rodrigues, 22, of Mount Eden, Calif., who faces felony charges of obstructing legal process and damage to property, was delayed. Other Monday cases involved gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors. One ________________________________________ Advertisement ________________________________________ protester did not appear, resulting in a warrant; one who had been charged with a gross misdemeanor pleaded guilty to a lesser charge; another guilty plea will be mailed in; one was dismissed but will be recharged; two were continued; and two are on call. After the court hearing, some activists took their complaints about the convention directly to Mayor Chris Coleman, who was hosting a Mancini's Char House fundraiser for his 2009 re-election bid. As Coleman's supporters gathered in the middle of the steakhouse's lounge, a group of about 20 activists sat in an adjacent seating area. Shortly after Coleman arrived, the activists began tinkling their glasses and proposed a "toast" to Coleman, briefly disrupting the restaurant with chants and allegations that St. Paul used a $50 million convention-security grant to "terrorize and brutalize our entire community." Coleman ignored the group, chatting with a defense lawyer for some RNC protesters with whom he attended law school. One activist got on top of a booth before she was helped down by Mancini's co-owner Pat Mancini, who then showed the group the door. The episode lasted less than five minutes. Jason Hoppin contributed to this report. Emily Gurnon can be reached at 651-228-5522. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/414218.html Save Dave Rave, Support gig for Dave Mahoney UK RNC protestor! WARN | 02.12.2008 22:27 | Globalisation | Repression | World Dave Mahoney was cycling to the grocery store with his girlfriend in Minneapolis on September 4th 2008, when an un-marked van pulled up, and two men wearing FBI shirts inexplicably bundled him into the back, and drove off. Dave was part of the protesters assembled at the Republican National Convention in the City that week, and was there to peacefully remind America and the rest of the world of some of the atrocities, and in-justices millions of people endure everyday across the globe - many of which link directly to the actions & policy of the Republican party. Instead, Dave's become one of the victims... facing trumped up charges of Assault, and Conspiracy to Riot with a Furtherance of Terrorism; if convicted he could get up to 12 years in jail AND a $24,000 dollar fine... http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/02/1202fplprotest.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=76 Trial underway for FPL plant protesters By SUSAN SPENCER-WENDEL Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, December 02, 2008 WEST PALM BEACH ? Seven environmentalists arrested while protesting Florida Power & Light Co's new gas power plant faced a jury this morning, on trial for misdemeanor crimes of unlawful assembly, trespassing and resisting without violence. Self-proclaimed anarchist Peter Tsolkas and others from Everglades Earth First! huddled around the defense table, their sport coats ill-fitting, their hair tousled or dyed pink, their activist spirit perfectly intact. "We hope to show this is a time for unconventional action, urgent action," Tsolkas said outside court. Tsolkas and dozens of others were arrested in February as some linked themselves together using PVC pipe and chicken wire, blocking an entranceway to the future site of FPL's West County Energy Center, snarling traffic for hours along Southern Boulevard. Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the scene, calling out their Emergency Field Force - an elite unit trained to respond to large-scale emergencies or natural disasters, a prosecutor told jurors this morning in opening statements. "You will hear they had to sit and cut apart every piece of PVC pipe and take the time to pry all these individuals out of these devices, "Assistant State Attorney Laura Burkhart said. Assistant Public Defenders Erich Taylor and Charles Fountain II, who represent the group, declined to give an opening statement. But they are anticipated to be relying on a legal rarity: a "necessity" defense allowed by law but rarely used. One after the other, sheriff's officers and witnesses took the stand as prosecutors Burkhart and Danielle Croke, introduced evidence - photo after photo of the posted no-trespassing signs, the video of the deputies carting the limp bodies of protesters away. The deputies politely recounted for jurors setting up a free-speech area for the protesters to move to, warning them repeatedly that they would be arrested if they didn't go there. "I heard traffic was blocked all the way to the Fairgrounds," said one witness, John William Bates, an operations manager of Palm Beach Aggregates on whose property who the protest occurred. "How far is that?" the prosecutor asked. "About 10 miles," Bates said. One juror raised her brow. Testimony in the case against Tsolkas, Lynne Purvis, Marc Silverstein, Russell McSpadden, Richard Halsted, Brandon Block and Noah Wilson is expected to continue through Wednesday in front of County Judge Laura Johnson. Possible penalties after a conviction could vary, depending on the person's criminal history or lack thereof. They could range from probation to some jail time and subject them to possible thousands of dollars in fines and restitution. This is the third separate trial held against the protesters. An earlier one ended in a partial acquittal, according the Everglades Earth First! web site. They are expected to present evidence and expert testimony about what they believe is the potential damage and danger of the power plant - belching carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and leaching pollutants underground just across from the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Tsolkas said the necessity defense means that one is allowed to break the law for the greater good and is buoyed by a recent not-guilty verdict for a person who used that defense in Great Britain. Florida jury instructions require much more, though. The instructions say that a person would have to reasonably believe that a danger posed significant harm and the harm was "real, imminent and impending." The plant, which FPL promotes as being among the cleanest of its kind in the nation, is still under construction. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/10/prosecuting-dnc-protesters-has-cost-taxpayers-2000/?partner=RSS Cops' tab in DNC protester cases: $20,000 By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News (Contact) Published December 10, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. Updated December 10, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. So far, it has cost taxpayers $20,000 for Denver police to prepare and testify in trials of protesters arrested during the Democratic National Convention this summer, according to figures compiled by the city. The tally came in response to a request by the People's Law Project, which has stressed that prosecuting the protester cases is a waste of taxpayer money. About 100 people were arrested Aug. 25 for blocking 15th Street at Court Place. About 60 people were set for trials that began in October and will continue into January. About half of those cases have been resolved by trial, dismissal or guilty plea. So far, five people have been convicted by juries. "The 316 hours is nearly 40 days of police time spent by police officers in court of preparing for court instead of being out fighting crime," said Brian Vi cente, director of the People's Law Project which helped find lawyers for the arrested protesters. "This is a major expense to prosecute people who were just out there trying to exercise their free speech rights," he said. http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=prnw.20081219.DC54004&show_article=1 Washington, D.C., Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Unprovoked Assault on Protestor Dec 19 04:56 PM US/Eastern Comments (0) WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Christopher Huxoll, an 18-year member of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department, pleaded guilty today to one count of aggravated assault for striking an unarmed man in the face with his riot baton during a march in 2005. Huxoll faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Russell F. Canan on March 6, 2009. The incident took place on Jan. 20, 2005, in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C., during an unauthorized march related to the 2005 Presidential Inauguration. Huxoll was on duty and responded to the Adams Morgan area when some of the marchers began engaging in incidents of vandalism. In his plea hearing, Huxoll acknowledged that he threw the victim to the ground because he believed, erroneously, that the victim had thrown bottles at him and other officers. Huxoll also admitted that, although the victim did not resist and was not aggressive, he grabbed the back of the victim's head while he was still on the ground, lifted it up and struck the victim across the face with his riot baton. The victim suffered a broken nose, lacerations and abrasions as a result of this assault. "Most law enforcement officers serve our Nation bravely, but in instances where they not only fail to uphold the law, but willfully break it, the Justice Department will not hesitate to vigorously prosecute," said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "This prosecution serves as an important reminder that although law enforcement officers have a tremendously difficult job, they are expected to perform their duties with the high level of professionalism that is the hallmark of the overwhelming number of law enforcement officers in this country," said Jeffrey Taylor, U.S. Attorney for the District of the District of Columbia. "As the resolution of this case demonstrates, where there is sufficient evidence that excessive force was used by a law enforcement officer, this office will not hesitate to prosecute." "All law enforcement officers have a duty to protect," said Cathy L. Lanier, Metropolitan Police Department Chief. "Mr. Huxoll's actions are reprehensible and completely contradictory to what my department stands for. His behavior does nothing but taint the phenomenal work done every day by officers who serve our city with distinction." The Justice Department is committed to the vigorous enforcement of every federal civil rights statute, including those laws that prohibit the willful use of excessive force or other acts of misconduct by law enforcement officials. In Fiscal Year 2008, the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section filed the largest ever number of federal criminal civil rights cases in a single year in the Section's history and the second-highest ever number of official misconduct prosecutions. The case was investigated by Detective Michael Shuck of the Metropolitan Police Department's Force Investigation Team. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cummings of the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Edward Chung of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice http://indymedia.us/en//2009/03/36566.shtml Former MPD Officer Sentenced to Probation in Assault DC , Mar 24, 2009 @ 23:01 GMT Former Metropolitan Police Department Officer Christopher Huxoll, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 13th in DC Superior Court, after pleading guilty in December to aggravated assault, or beating an anti-Bush Inauguration protestor with a riot baton, in 2005. The protester lost consciousness and suffered a broken nasal bone. [article.to_original.homepage.prefix]: http://dc.indymedia.org/ http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145940/index.php Another activist arrested in Baltimore while leafleting at Ringling Brothers Circus Author ? Robin Date Created ? 02 Apr 2009 An animal rights activist was arrested tonight, April 2, 2009, in Baltimore. He was legally and peacefully protesting the treatment of animals at Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, which is showing at the 1st Mariner Arena. Adam Ortberg arrived to join other leafleters in front of the arena, and was met by a plain-clothed police officer who is always seen at Baltimore Ringling shows. The officer told Adam that he was a "marked man" and that if he stepped over an imaginary line that they designated as a "no leaflet zone" (on public sidewalk), that he was going to jail for 18 months. It was obvious Adam was singled out amongst the rest of the activists by these police, as they hadn't said anything at all to any other activist present tonight. Preparing for the usual infringement upon Baltimore activists' rights, another activist took out her camera phone and began videotaping the scene. One of the plain-clothed cops saw her filming, walked over, and put his camera phone approximately 3 inches in front of her face. This is an obvious violation of police conduct. In an effort to protect the activist, Adam put a leaflet between the activist's face and the cop's camera. At that point, the cop told Adam he had assaulted him. Luckily, the whole incident was filmed, and what the cop claimed was obviously false, as it clearly shows in the footage. The activist who was filming told the police that there would be yet another lawsuit filed against them for false arrest and harassment. She was then told that if she "kept talking" that she'd be "locked up" as well. Several activists politely asked the cops for their badge numbers, and all were either completely ignored or rudely declined. All were caught on film. The video of the incident will be uploaded after clearance from Adam's lawyer, as there will be a false arrest civil suit filed against the officer. Last Wednesday, another activist, Aaron Ross, was arrested in front of the 1st Mariner Arena, for leafleting at the Ringling Brothers show. He was told he crossed the imaginary line into the "no leafleting zone" (on public sidewalk). As with all of the approximately 20 arrests of Baltimore animal rights activists in the past year, he was released with no charges. This is what the Baltimore City Police Department likes to refer to as a "walk through," when a person is arrested, taken to booking, processed, and released with no charges. Police succeed in getting protesters away from the scene by giving unlawful orders and then arresting, but then they are not held accountable for the false arrests, as they personally do not have to pay the settlements to the falsely arrested activists. This is a disgrace to the people of Baltimore. Our tax dollars are paying police to harass and falsely arrest peaceful activists, while the crime rate in Baltimore is outrageous! The murder rate in Baltimore is 5 1/2 times the national average, yet police are wasting time hassling people who are merely handing out leaflets and holding signs for abused circus animals. Please call Central Booking of Baltimore to request that Adam Ortberg be released in a timely manner, and that he is given vegan food. http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081219_Mother_protests_one-sided_suspension.html Posted on Fri, Dec. 19, 2008 Mother protests one-sided suspension By MENSAH M. DEAN Philadelphia Daily News deanm at phillynews.com 215-854-5949 Veronica Goss is the first person to admit that her son, Walter Ransome, made a big mistake in the stairwell of Francis Pastorius Elementary School the week before Thanksgiving. Walter, a tall, lean boy with a shelf full of trophies from a Christian Youth Basketball Association, agrees that he was foolish that afternoon. Before going to the after-school program at his Germantown school, Walter, 13, and an eighth-grade female classmate stopped in the stairwell. It was there that that they briefly had sexual intercourse. Walter got kicked out of school for the incident. The girl stayed in school. Now, Goss is demanding to know why. "I'm not going against the school board whatsoever. Punish these children the way they are supposed to be punished, but don't just punish one and not the other when they both were involved. That's not fair," she said. In an e-mailed statement, Fernando Gallard, the district's director of media relations, said: "Pastorius Elementary School is actively investigating an incident involving inappropriate sexual contact between students at an afterschool program at the school. All students involved in the incident will face disciplinary action in accordance to the district's Code of Student Conduct. "The disciplinary process is executed relative to each student's case history and background and in accordance with the law. Due to students' privacy rights under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the district cannot provide further details on this incident." Gallard and Cecilia Cummings, his boss, declined to say what punishment, if any, the girl has faced. Pastorius, a kindergarten- through eighth-grade school on Sprague Street near Stenton Avenue, has been abuzz about the incident since it happened. Student gossip reached teachers and finally the assistant principal, who on Dec. 5 suspended Walter for five days, Goss said. On Monday, Goss went to the school as instructed to meet with Assistant Principal Steven Hawkins about the incident and, she believed, to get Walter back in school. Instead, she was told that Walter's suspension would be extended through the end of this week. Goss said Hawkins told her the school would be sending her a letter concerning Walter's fate. The fact that her son was suspended for 10 days - considering what he did - was acceptable, said Goss, who has three younger children. But what was not acceptable, she believes, is that the girl involved was allowed to stay in school, which she also learned on Monday. This seeming inequity upset Goss so much that she called the Daily News Monday night. "I know he was wrong, he knows he was wrong. That part is resolved," Goss said. "But how come the little girl is not wrong? She participated in a sexual act also," Goss, 34, continued. Hawkins referred questions to Principal Kimberly Weston-Williams, who then referred all questions to the district's Office of Communications. District officials said they were not sure if the stairwell incident was captured on the school's surveillance cameras that constantly relay images from the school's grounds, stairwells and hallways to a monitor in the main office. "We don't know, we'll have to get back to you on that," Cummings said. Walter said he spends his days watching television, reading the newspaper and waiting for his friends to come home from school. He, like his mother, believes the school was wrong to bar just him from school. Now he's worried that his typically "C" and "B" grades will suffer. "Yes, I think I should be suspended, but I think she should be suspended too because she was in it too. All she had to say is she didn't want to do nothing, then it just would have been over," he said. Besides her son, Goss said other male students have been suspended for sexual activity while the girls involved have been allowed to remain in school. Walter noted that two other boys who engaged in "touching" another girl on a different part of the stairwell the day of his incident were also suspended, while the girl was not. Goss said a school employee told her that sexual activity is so rampant among some students that girls have been found with sexual contracts stipulating to whom they wanted to lose their virginity. "Who the boys and girls are, we didn't get all into that. But this is what he said to me and I'm like, shocked. Like I can't believe I'm hearing this," Goss said. The school of 679 students suffers from a lack of adult supervision, said Goss, who noted there is just one school police officer and no nonteaching assistants on staff. Making matters worse, she said, students in grades six through eight are crowded together on the school's third floor. Those three grades were added to the former elementary school over the last several years. When provided with the names of three other boys whom Goss said had been suspended for sexual contact with girls who were not disciplined, Gallard referred to his previous statement. He said the school has a record of two other morals offenses this year. Concerning the sexual contract allegation, Gallard said: "The school has no knowledge and no evidence of sexual contracts." * http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=532670 RNC protester admits to smashing windows ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A California man has pleaded guilty to smashing windows at the U.S. Bank building in downtown St. Paul on the first day of the Republican National Convention. Nineteen-year-old Dustin Machett Morales of Santa Cruz, Calif., admitted to the charge of first-degree damage to property, a felony. A criminal complaint alleges that Morales and another man -- 26-year-old Jesse James Forrey, also of Santa Cruz -- were throwing rocks at the bank's windows on Sept. 1. Morales is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 5. The Ramsey County Attorney's office says the judge will consider giving him a stay of imposition if he successfully completes probation, meaning the charge could be reduced to a misdemeanor. Forrey is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 12. Replacing the windows was estimated to cost $17,400. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008507613_demonstrations13m.html December 13, 2008 at 12:00 AM Comments (27) E-mail article Print view Seattle's parade law is unconstitutional Seattle's parade law is unconstitutional because it gives the police chief broad power to bar protesters from marching in the street, the Ninth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled. By Sharon Pian Chan Seattle Times staff reporter Seattle's parade law is unconstitutional because it gives the police chief broad power to bar protesters from marching in the street, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Friday. The case involves a group protesting police brutality in 2003, as part of a national campaign. In Friday's ruling, Judge Raymond Fisher wrote that the city's ordinance "vests the Seattle Chief of Police with sweeping authority to determine whether or not a parade may utilize the forum of the streets to broadcast its message. The First Amendment prohibits placing such unfettered discretion in the hands of licensing officials and renders the Parade Ordinance constitutionally defective on its face." Judge Ronald Gould agreed, while Judge Sandra Ikuta dissented. The ruling reversed a summary judgment made by Judge Robert Lasnik in the U.S. District Court for Western Washington. The Seattle affiliate of a national coalition, the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation, requested permits in 2002, 2003 and 2004 to march in the streets. Two of those years, police Chief Gil Kerlikowske issued the permit on the condition that if fewer than 200 people showed up, the group had to use sidewalks and obey traffic signals. In 2003, the group received a parade permit, without restrictions on group size. At the start of the march, police told the group of 80 to 100 people that they had to march on sidewalks and obey traffic signals. "The right to march peacefully in the streets has to be treated with respect,"said Doug Honig, spokesman for the ACLU of Washington, which represented the marchers. The city has not decided whether to rewrite the parade law or appeal, said Suzanne Skinner, director of the civil division in the Seattle City Attorney's Office. "We have to figure it out." http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/427063.html Large Protests Erupt In Support Of Tamils IMC Features | 09.04.2009 10:56 | Anti-militarism | World Spontaneous protests have erupted in London as a result of the ongoing state violence in Sri Lanka. On Monday, over 500 Tamil youths blockaded Westminster Bridge, which remained closed overnight. On Tuesday and Wednesday large numbers gathered outside parliament and had reached at its peak up to 3000 to call on Gordon Brown to 'open his eyes' and work towards securing an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka. Under the banner 'Stop the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka' a protest march has been called for Saturday 11th April at 1pm in Central London. Police tactics were again violent, with unprovoked attacks on demonstrators. On Wednesday morning Tamil flags were being confiscated under the Terrorism act. Demonstrators reported that police used truncheons and dragged protesters across the ground. A three-year-old's leg was reportedly broken in the process. Seven people have been arrested, two under the terrorism act on suspicion of carrying articles supporting proscribed literature. More than 300,000 Tamils are currently under siege by the Sri Lankan forces. Aerial bombardments and shelling of civilians are continuing. Women, children and elderly are dying as a direct result of the aerial bombardment. There has been increased violence in Sri Lanka following the capture of Tamil territory. It is estimated more than 70,000 people have already died in the conflict. http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/2488810-british-court-acquits-harbiyar-marri-and-faiz-baloch British court acquits Harbiyar Marri and Faiz Baloch By: ranigee Lahore : Pakistan | about 1 month ago 1 0 Views: 27 British court acquits Harbiyar Marri and Faiz Baloch LAHORE: A British court has acquitted Baloch nationalist leader Khair Buksh Marri?s son, Harbiyar Marri and his close aide Faiz Baloch of all cases against them, a private TV channel reported on Wednesday. According to the channel, they were arrested in London on charges of carrying out terrorism and sabotage activities in Balochistan. Harbiyar Marri was a provincial minister during the last regime of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz but went to London and sought asylum there after former president Pervez Musharraf took over in 1999. He was arrested after law and order worsened in Balochistan. According to the channel, Baloch National Front leader Saddiq Raisani said the decision of the British court was proof that Harbiyar and his aide were innocent http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24748081-29277,00.html?from=public_rss MP slapped for snapping protester By Karlis Salna AAP December 03, 2008 10:05pm PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has blasted a Labor backbencher for taking photos of a protester who threatened to set himself alight outside Parliament House in Canberra. Queensland Labor MP James Bidgood also agreed to supply the pictures to a newspaper in exchange for a reported donation of $1000 to a charity of his choice. The photo, which appears on the News Limited website, is of Marat Aminov, 28, who had doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself alight. Mr Rudd tonight blasted Mr Bidgood for taking the photos and ordered him to apologise to the Aminov family. "The prime minister believes the member's actions were deeply offensive and has demanded he apologise to the family," a spokesperson for Mr Rudd said. Mr Bidgood told parliament tonight that his actions were highly insensitive and inappropriate and that he would write a letter of apology to the family. "I deeply regret my actions and I apologise once again for any offence I have caused," he said. Earlier this week, Mr Aminov jumped onto the floor of parliament and was led away by guards. Mr Aminov wanted to draw attention to the plight of his parents - Samil and Alija Aminov from Sydney - who have long sought to obtain permanent resident visas. The family had been protesting on the lawn in front of Parliament House for the past week, according to the Social Justice Network. The incident occurred before Question Time as Families Minister Jenny Macklin addressed a function for International Day of People with Disability a short distance away. "Suddenly he stood up and he took off his clothes. He tried to put some petrol on himself and has a lighter in his hand," Social Justice Network spokesman Jamal Daoud said. "He said 'anybody come here I will set myself on fire, you need to listen to me'. And he started to talk about his family's ordeal." Mr Daoud said police convinced Mr Aminov to put down the lighter. He was then taken to hospital. The family, originally from Azerbaijan, was regarded as stateless. "This family has been in Australia for 11 years and they are still on bridging visas which entitles them to nil," Mr Daoud said. "The Australian government has tried ... to deport them to any country on the earth. They could not." Immigration Minister Chris Evans said Mr Aminov was a permanent resident and did not have a live immigration case before the department. "His concern seems to be with his parent's situation, who have applications before the department," he told reporters. Mr Aminov's parents have applied for permanent aged visas and are in a queue. Senator Evans said there was no threat that they would be deported. In April 2001, Pakistani man Shuharyar Kiyani died after dousing himself with petrol and setting himself alight outside parliament house in a protest against delays in bringing his wife and children to Australia. http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=94002&cat=987&fm=newsmain,narts Protesters deny they are a threat to security Greenpeace and Save Happy Valley Coalition is concerned about claims police spying on members and says there is no need 15 December 2008 Some of the groups who have allegedly been spied on by a special police investigation unit are denying they are any threat to national security. It is claimed the Special Investigation Group has been paying informants to spy on organisations such as Greenpeace, animal rights groups and anti-Iraq war demonstrators. The Sunday Star-Times has reported that Christchurch man Rob Gilchrist was paid to pass on information about protests and members' personal information to the SIG. The investigation group was set up in 2004 with the brief to concentrate on national security and terrorism threats. Police Minister Judith Collins is meeting with the Police Commissioner Howard Broad before deciding whether to launch an inquiry. Greenpeace says if police really are spying on its members, it is a complete waste of taxpayers money. New Zealand executive director Bunny McDiarmid, says any spying activity would be a gross invasion of the group. "Greenpeace is a very open organisation. The police can walk in there any day they like and talk to us about what we're doing and why we do it. It's ridiculous to think that they need to spy on Greenpeace." Ms McDiarmid would like to know just how much money has been spent on the alleged informants. The Canterbury group protesting against Solid Energy's mining activities on the West Coast is reassuring the public it is not a terrorist group. Alan Liefting from the Save Happy Valley Coalition says the police anti-terror squad should not be interested in his group. "They (the SIG) are set up to look into national security and counter terrorism. Now, there is no way that we fit into any of those categories." Mr Liefting says it is likely the police unit simply wants to be pro-active about knowing where and when major protests are happening. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7770921.stm Monday, 8 December 2008 'The police are taking my phone' Police have made more than 50 arrests following an environmental protest at Stansted airport that grounded flights and caused severe delays. Protester Olivia Chessell, speaking from police custody, was explaining why she felt the need to take action when the police took her phone. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/23/2453808.htm Activist airs climate change protest fears Posted Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:24pm AEDT ? Map: Kingaroy 4610 A protester who helped shut down a coal-fired power station near Kingaroy for five hours says he is worried about the future of legitimate climate change protests in Australia. No convictions were recorded against John MacKenzie, Bradley Smith and Eleanor Smith for entering the Tarong power station last month, but each must complete 90 hours community service. The Smiths must also each pay a $375 fine. John Mackenzie says it is unfortunate the penalties to protect energy assets are under review after state and federal energy ministers recently agreed current trespassing laws are not harsh enough. "I think it's particularly worrying at a time when the Federal Government has introduced a fairly woeful targets for addressing climate change that attorney-generals are examining specifically the types of penalties that will be available or that will be made available, to people that are taking non-violent and peaceful action against coal," he said. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00289.htm Communist League leader protests harassment Monday, 22 December 2008, 1:13 pm Press Release: Communist League Communist League leader protests harassment *by customs officers at Auckland airport*** A leader of the Communist League, Annalucia Vermunt, has issued an open letter to government officials protesting at how she was treated by customs officers at Auckland International Airport after they detained her on November 17. Vermunt, a meat worker, has been a Communist League candidate in elections, including standing for Manukau East in the November general election. She is an active unionist and has been involved over two decades in political campaigns for Maori rights, women's rights, and other working class struggles. SEARCH NZ JOBS AVIS: First day Free in Autumn Search New Zealand Business Over 90 fellow meat workers in Otahuhu, Auckland, have signed Vermunt's protest letter, as have officials of her union, the National Distribution Union, including national president Robert Reid and national secretary Laila Harr?. The letter has been signed by other union members and officials as well as by members of political organisations and supporters of civil liberties. Vermunt was detained at Auckland airport for over four hours. After subjecting her to two interrogations, searching her bags and taking swabs, officials found no evidence of narcotics or contraband. Despite this, she was subjected to a degrading strip search. Then, again without cause, officers continued to detain Vermunt and subjected her to a third interrogation. The customs official demanded that she answer questions about her political activity as a leader of the Communist League. Vermunt's letter to the ministers of immigration and customs demands that such harassment by officials of their departments cease. Vermunt was previously detained by customs officials at Christchurch airport in 2005 and 2006. Other individuals signing the protest letter include solicitor and Maori rights activist Annette Sykes; professor of law at the University of Auckland, David Williams; Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty; Helen Te Hira of the Council of Trade Unions Runanga; national secretary of the Service and Food Workers Union, John Ryall; national secretary of the Unite union, Matt McCarten; John Minto of Global Peace and Justice; Omar Hamed of the Auckland University Students Association; and Maire Leadbeater of the Indonesia Human Rights Committee. The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom signed as an organisation. Annalucia Vermunt commented, "What happened to me is an illustration of how increased powers being granted to police, immigration, and customs will be and are being used to target working class activists and political dissent. The October 15, 2007 police 'anti-terrorism' raids targeting Maori rights supporters demonstrated this. So too does the revelation last weekend of a 10-year infiltration of political organisations in Christchurch by a police spy." Vermunt and the Communist League were among those spied on by Rob Gilchrist, the police informant. "It is important that every violation of our rights, such as happened to me at the airport, is met with a response," Vermunt said. "That's why it is significant that so many have joined me in submitting this open protest letter." Vermunt's lawyer, Matt Robson, has written to the ministers of immigration, customs, and the Security Intelligence Service, requesting that they release all information they hold on file on Vermunt. Janet Roth Communist League http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2008/200812/news18/20081217-10ee.html December 18. 2008 Juche 97 Japanese Authorities' Suppression of Chongryon Protested Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- Representatives of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) including O Jae Se, managing director of the Permanent Council of the Korean Federation of Korean Workers in Commerce in Japan visited the Cabinet Office of Japan on December 11 to lodge a protest with the Japanese authorities against the search operation and human rights abuses ceaselessly perpetrated against Chongryon and the federation in pursuit of a sinister political purpose. They handed to it a written request addressed to the prime minister of Japan on behalf of the Korean Federation of Korean Workers in Commerce in Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Association of Korean Workers in Commerce in Japan and the Tokyo Metropolitan Shinjuku Association of Korean Workers in Commerce in Japan. The wholesale search operation the police authorities conducted on the groundless charge of "violation of the law on taxation" on October 29 and November 27 did harm to the dignity of the federation, threatened the rights of Koreans to do business and exist and created unrest in the Japanese society, too, noted the written request. It urged the Japanese authorities to stop the unreasonable suppression of Chongryon and the federation and provide the living conditions of the Koreans in Japan and guarantee their rights. It also urged the Japanese authorities to implement the DPRK-Japan Pyongyang Declaration at an early date and lift the sanctions against the DPRK. Then, O Jae Se held a press conference at which he referred to the sufferings the members of associations in different parts of Japan are undergoing owing to the politically motivated suppression by the Japanese authorities. He demanded the Japanese authorities stop at once the brutal suppression of organizations of Chongryon and immediately release the arrested compatriots. http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/99383 Journalists arrested while covering protest Country/Topic: Russia Date: 17 December 2008 Source: Glasnost Defence Foundation (GDF) Person(s): Vyacheslav Melman, Yegor Skovoroda, Alexander Artemyev, Sergey Lantyukhov, Roman Dobrokhotov Target(s): journalist(s) Type(s) of violation(s): arrested Urgency: Flash (GDF/IFEX) - A dissenter's march was held in Moscow on 14 December 2008. Authorities had not given approval for the march to be staged in the center of the city, so in response to the march OMON (the special police force) severely clamped down on the protesters detaining over 100 people and reporting their "effective control over attempts to commit acts of hooliganism". Several reporters covering the march were detained together with opposition activists. Encouraged by their commanders' radio instructions "to be more active", policemen grabbed people in all directions without trying to discern journalists from protesters. It is also possible that the police deliberately targeted reporters to minimise the number of media reports of OMON "heroism". The detainees include Vyacheslav Melman of http://www.Grani.ru ; Yegor Skovoroda of http://www.Liberty.ru ; Alexander Artemyev of http://www.Gazeta.ru ; Sergey Lantyukhov of http://www.Life.ru ; and Roman Dobrokhotov of the Govorit Moskva radio station who recently lost his job after he interrupted a speech by President Dmitry Medvedev in the Kremlin Palace. According to other sources, the police officers also detained a photographer for the website http://www.Kasparov.ru , a reporter for "Kommersant Daily" and a crew of reporters for REN-TV. The detainees were charged with violating article 20.2 of the RF Administrative Code ("Breach of order of an organisation's internal rules or the rules of holding a meeting, a rally, a demonstration, a march or a picketing action"). They will be required to appear in court and possibly pay a fine. The above information is based on Moscow Echo, http://www.Grani.ru , http://www.Gazeta.ru , http://www.Liberty.ru and "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" reports. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25195010-26103,00.html Gunns settles Wilderness Society claim ? Font Size: Decrease Increase ? Print Page: Print By Xavier La Canna | March 16, 2009 Article from: Australian Associated Press GUNNS Ltd and an environmental group have continued a war of words, each claiming the other was putting a false spin on the agreement, despite settling a four-year legal dispute today. The Wilderness Society claimed the move was "a significant win for free speech". The Wilderness Society said that after seeking $3.5 million in damages from 20 protesters, Gunns had to pay $350,000. The Wilderness Society's Virginia Young compared the payout to the "McLibel" court case, when McDonald's successfully sued activists for defamation but was perceived by many to have had a public relations disaster. "After spending probably $3 million of shareholders' money claiming that the Wilderness Society organised a grand conspiracy against them, Gunns has now had to drop the claims against the Wilderness Society and pay us money," Ms Young said. But a spokesman for Gunns Ltd had a very different interpretation of events. "Quite frankly their press release... I am trying to avoid calling it an out-and-out lie but it certainly glosses over some important facts, such as them paying us damages and them having to, on a net basis, having to pay us costs as well," the spokesman said. He said under the terms of the settlement the Wilderness Society would pay $25,000 in costs and, including amounts already settled, $105,000 in damages. The Gunns spokesman said while his organisation had to pay the Wilderness Society $350,000 in costs relating to part of the court action, the environmental group owed Gunns $375,000 in costs from a separate court action. "They had trespassed, it was alleged, onto Gunns property and damaged or destroyed logging equipment," he said. But Greg Ogle from the Wilderness Society said Gunns' figures about costs paid to them were false. "They have made that up completely," Mr Ogle said. Mr Ogle said Gunns were trying confuse matters by mixing in decisions from different court actions. "Where they are getting the $375,000 claim from is a case that we ran against the Federal Government over the pulp mill that they were a party to," Mr Ogle said. "That is their guesstimate on costs. There has been no award for that amount and we have not paid that amount. They are bringing in a completely separate case, which is a federal court case directed at the Federal Government," he said. There is still action ongoing against seven other defendants named in the case who were part of the original 20 named in Victorian Supreme Court action by Gunns. Gunns had earlier dropped its actions against five activists, including Greens leader Bob Brown. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/559364 Police, activists settle suit over housing protest Email story Print Choose text size Report typo or correction License this article Dec 29, 2008 07:50 PM Comments on this story (2) Isabel Teotonio STAFF REPORTER Note: This article has been edited from a previously published version Alex Brown is an unemployed truck driver who lives in a west-end rooming house and is on social assistance. He could use some money. But he won't touch a penny of the $116,000 that the City of Toronto and Toronto police agreed to pay to settle a lawsuit launched by Brown and two other housing activists nearly eight years ago. "It's very hard," he told the Star today about donating a portion of the settlement toward a trust fund for grassroots housing initiatives. "But what about the needs of others? You can't walk by (homeless people) and not care." His comments came after a news conference outside City Hall where the activists announced the settlement, which was reached days before an anticipated two- to three-week trial that was to begin Dec. 8. The settlement was a "victory" and should shed light on the issue of homelessness, said Brown, who lived on the street for about five years. His comments were, in part, echoed by his lawyers and co-plaintiffs, Oriel Varga and Elan Ohayon. Lawyer Vilko Zbogar, who represented the trio with Peter Rosenthal, called the settlement "a significant victory and vindication" in this "important human rights case." "Hopefully, the city's settlement offer in this case is an indication that the government authorities are listening and learning about the rights of the homeless," he said. But lawyer Kevin McGivney, who represented the city and police, later said in a phone interview that calling the settlement a "victory" is a "bit like calling a tie hockey game a victory." "This is purely just a settlement, a compromise on both sides," said McGivney. "Considering it's litigation over events that occurred 10 years ago, the best decision was to compromise the case and achieve a resolution rather than spend weeks in court fighting." Not only would fighting the matter have cost a "significant amount," he said, but "memories have faded, and evidence is not as clear, as fresh as it might otherwise have been." The plaintiffs had been seeking $150,000 in damages. Of the $116,000 settled upon, $60,000 was for damages and $56,000 was for pre-judgment interest and legal costs. Of the money received, about $70,000 will go into a trust, while the rest will go to lawyers' fees and others who worked on the case. The activists planned to argue a police crackdown on any shelter of a homeless person and their advocates - given the lack of housing and safe shelters - violates Section 7 of the Charter, which guarantees right to life, liberty and security. The matter stems back nearly decade when the trio were part of the Allan Gardens Project, a series of protests that started in August 1999. At the time, Brown was homeless and Ohayon and Varga were university students. For more than 120 consecutive Fridays, homeless and community activists slept in Allan Gardens, located at Sherbourne St. and Gerrard St. E., to protest what they considered a housing crisis. On Oct. 21, 2000, police cleared the park and arrested Ohayon, whose charges were later dismissed. The following year, they launched a lawsuit alleging the police and the city had violated their human rights. When asked why he participated in the suit, Brown pointed out: "Money was not the object here. It was basically for all levels of government to wake up." http://www.snowzilla.org/page/3/ Snowzilla, be warned: Rondy looks at building its own giant Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 | Snowzilla Articles | SnowZilla Festival?s version would be even taller The first thing he?ll need is a name. Frosty Kong? Coldlossus? Or maybe just ?Son of Snowzilla.? Indeed, the city is likely to face another giant snowman this winter. But unlike the renegade Snowzilla ? that 25-foot behemoth that appeared in Airport Heights last week despite a city ban ? this one has the mayor?s blessing. The plan is to create a snowman as tall, or taller, than Snowzilla in Ship Creek as part of the annual Fur Rendezvous winter festival, Rondy board president Ernie Hall said Tuesday. ?We?d like to make it huge,? he said. As of Tuesday, Hall hadn?t compared notes with Billy Ray Powers, father of the guerrilla Snowzilla on Columbine Street. Powers? snowman is roughly 25 feet tall and, according to the city, a safety hazard and public nuisance in a neighborhood that?s too small for giant snowmen. The city says Powers amassed a whopping pile of fines and assessments, his place appears to be a junkyard and he?s rebuked the city?s efforts to work with him. Powers describes himself as ?a welder and hobby blacksmith, a father and a gardener.? He says the city?s harassing and slandering him, and that it?s city officials, not him, who refuse to negotiate. Throw in a towering snowman in a top hat and you have a tale that swept the country this holiday season. Snowzilla was an Internet hit for a time and a stream of cars and gawkers flock to see him each day. He?s got his own Web site and T-shirts, and someone built a cluster of elf-sized snowmen ?protesters? outside City Hall last week. Fur Rondy is looking to capture some of that magic as the festival continues trying to reinvent itself from a fading tradition to a contemporary, can?t-miss attraction. For 2008, the festival added the ?Running of the Reindeer? ? which is exactly what it sounds like ? downtown. This winter, Hall hopes to see the festival begin building its own giant snowman as early as late January, in time to welcome the annual snow sculpture contest held near the Alaska Railroad each year. Meantime, Fur Rondy, which officially runs from Feb. 27 to March 8, could hold a contest encouraging people to build their own snowmen ? regular, not super-sized ? in front yards across the city. Hall said he?s talked to the railroad and to Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich about the plan. It?s easy to imagine this new snow giant emerging as Snowzilla?s rival. His very own Mothra. But Hall said that?s not the idea and hopes Powers will be involved in the Fur Rondy project, perhaps helping to create the new snow giant while demolishing Snowzilla back in Airport Heights. ?We would be thrilled to death if he said, ?Gosh, this is a great opportunity and I would love to build a bigger and better one down in the railroad yard,?? Hall said. He asked a reporter for Powers? phone number. The Fur Rondy board still has to approve the idea at its next meeting in January, but Hall said he?s talked to other members and is ?99 percent? sure the plan will proceed. Powers, meantime, hadn?t heard Hall?s idea Tuesday night. Sounds like the city wants to take away his snowman but capitalize on its popularity, he said. (Technically, Fur Rondy is its own independent nonprofit, though it gets some funding from the city.) Still, Powers said, ?Any time anyone talks about building a snowman, I?m all for it.? In fact, each snowman is an original work of art. That?s why the Fur Rondy snow giant shouldn?t share the Snowzilla name. ?Why would you make a painting of a beautiful woman and name it the ?Mona Lisa?? ? Powers asked. By KYLE HOPKINS, adn.com http://www.snowzilla.org/page/4/ Saving Us From Snowzilla Sunday, December 28th, 2008 | Snowzilla Articles | SnowZilla Every year for the past three years a massive snowman has risen from Billy Power?s yard in Anchorage, Alaska. Starting out at nearly 16 feet tall his first year, the snowman has grown larger each year reaching a whopping estimated 25 feet this year. As might be expected, the snowman, dubbed ?Snowzilla,? has annually drawn large crowds of admirers to the east Anchorage neighborhood he calls home. But this year the city government of Anchorage has chosen to bravely step forward to protect their fair city from Snowzilla. The city tacked a cease-and-desist order on Billy Power?s front door deeming Snowzilla a nuisance and a hazard to the neighborhood. And yet somehow ? mysteriously ? Snowzilla still arose this year bigger and better than ever. Powers takes no personal credit for the latest incarnation of Snowzilla; when asked how the giant snowman got there, he replied, ?Magic.? So how long will it be before the SWAT team is mobilized to deal with such an affront to public safety? It?s not a facetious question. Implicit in every law, ordinance, statute, and code is a mechanism for enforcement which, taken to its logical end, allows the state or municipality to use increasing amounts of coercion up to and including lethal force, if necessary, against the non-compliant. This is worth remembering when government at any level seeks to ?protect? us with official actions from ?monsters? that seem to exist primarily in the minds of busybodies who are eager to use their power to control, intimidate or inconvenience citizens who dare think outside the box. Safety is fast becoming an Orwellian buzzword for justifying increased government control at all levels. It doesn?t appear that any official move is afoot to address the nuisance of those appreciative spectators caused by Anchorage homeowners who decorate their homes so beautifully with Christmas lights. So why single out Powers? Part of the answer may lie in the fact that Powers has been a target of city code enforcers for some time now over what the city calls ?land use violations? involving his business which have earned him nearly $100,000 in fines. In spite of his friction with city hall, Powers has managed to keep his sense of humor intact as the city considers its next move. But how far can a man be pushed? The city of Kirkwood, Missouri, found out the hard way about a year ago when they annexed an unincorporated area and imposed their codes on a business owner named Charles Lee Thornton, hitting him with tens of thousands of dollars in fines for doing things exactly the same as he had legally done for the previous 20 years. They threw him out of city council meetings; they beat his lawsuit in court and it finally ended when he walked into city hall and killed 6 people including the mayor. There is no justification for Charles Thornton?s murderous rampage ? he acted like a government, after all ? but the $64,000 question remains: Were the city?s actions really necessary to protect rights and serve justice? The truth is that many of the monsters from which government claims to be protecting us are those of its own creation. By Bryan Hyde, a talk radio host and graduate student at George Wythe University in Cedar City, Utah. http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/anchorage/story/630926.html City code officer slays Snowzilla Giant snowman deemed a public nuisance, safety hazard By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK ebluemink at adn.com Published: December 21st, 2008 10:14 PM Last Modified: December 23rd, 2008 01:43 PM Anchorage's famous giant snow man, Snowzilla, finally met its match. It wasn't the weather. It wasn't angry neighbors bearing shovels and pick axes. It turns out Snowzilla's biggest foe -- the one who felled the controversial but much-loved giant -- was a notice-bearing city code enforcement officer. That's right, Snowzilla was abated. It was just a few years ago that 16-foot-tall Snowzilla arose in a residential yard in Airport Heights, launching an annual procession of local gawkers and an international media blitz. Camera crews came from Russia and Japan. But Snowzilla attracted a lot of naysayers too. Not everybody in the neighborhood liked all the cars and visitors. So, city officials have deemed Snowzilla a public nuisance and safety hazard. A few weeks ago, city code enforcers left three red signs at Snowzilla's bottom body ball telling its builders to cease and desist. The city also tacked a public notice on the door of the Powers family home at 1556 Columbine St. The Powers family and some of their neighbors have been building Snowzilla in the Powers' front yard since 2005. When the notices went up, Snowzilla still didn't have a full torso or head. "The kids had spent hours and hours of work on it," Billy Powers said on Sunday. City officials involved in the cease-and-desist order could not be reached for comment on Sunday. But on Dec. 11, the city notified the Airport Heights community council about its decision to abate Snowzilla, telling council members that the two-story snowman caused increased traffic to the point of endangerment and that the structure itself was unsafe. The city also asked council members to watch out for continued construction and to consider weighing in on Snowzilla at an upcoming, council members said. At last Thursday's community council meeting, no one offered a Snowzilla-related motion. "We're not really a policing agency," said Becky Kurtz, the council president. Now, Snowzilla is just a big pile of snow rubble. Powers said he doesn't plan to rebuild. He can't. Under the city's nuisance abatement order, if he tries, he could get arrested. http://www.aol.co.nz/news/story/Terror-suspect-faces-new-charges-in-jail-riot/1431381/index.html Terror suspect faces new charges in jail riot December 11, 2008, 12:25 AM Post Comments An Iraqi-born Dutch citizen facing U.S. terrorism charges has been hit with new charges stemming from allegations that he beat a prison guard unconscious. Justice Department officials say Wesam al-Delaema, 35, pleaded not guilty in Washington D.C. Superior Court Monday to two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly beating Charles White, a correctional officer at the jail. The alleged assault occurred in December 2007 during a jail riot involving Al-Delaema and six other inmates, who also are accused of attacking White, according to court documents. Al-Delaema's next hearing on the assault charges is scheduled for February. Al-Delaema has been held in the D.C. jail since January 2007, after he was extradited from the Netherlands on allegations that he conspired to kill Americans in Iraq and use explosives to destroy U.S. property, among other charges. He pleaded not guilty last year to the charges, which Justice Department officials called the first U.S. terror charges against insurgents targeting Americans in Iraq. A hearing on those charges is scheduled for January, Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said Tuesday. Al-Delaema had been wanted by the United States since 2003, when he and his fellow "Mujahideen from Fallujah" videotaped themselves planting explosives along an Iraq road used by U.S. troops. The explosives did not result in any deaths. Al-Delaema has said he is innocent, and his lawyers have argued the U.S. does not have the right to try him. As part of the extradition agreement with the Netherlands, al-Delaema will be tried in a federal court _ not by a military commission such as those set up for terror suspects being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Boyd told the Associated Press last year that the U.S. will also not oppose al-Delaema serving his sentence in a Dutch prison if he is convicted. Boyd declined to comment Tuesday on where al-Delaema, if convicted on the assault charges, would serve his sentence. --------------------------------------------------- Papua puts off controversial microchip plan Jakarta Post - December 16, 2008 Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura -- Papua's provincial legislative council has decided to postpone the endorsement of the Papua HIV/AIDS Handling bylaw planned for approval this Monday, after the provincial administration deemed it would violate human rights. "The endorsement was postponed because the legislative and executive branches had different perceptions on the use of microchips for people with HIV/AIDS," council deputy speaker Komarudin Watubun told The Jakarta Post on Monday. "The executive sees it as violating human rights, while we councilors view it as an effort to build awareness within society." Several NGOs working on HIV/AIDS and women's issues have also expressed strong opposition to the draft bylaw, Komarudin added. Because of this deadlock, he went on, the provincial administration and the legislature might agree to strike the controversial microchip article from the draft, following widespread public rejection of the article. "If the public cannot or will not accept (the article), the council cannot force its will," he said. "The bylaw's endorsement depends on public reaction. Why would we pass it if the public was against it? The draft bylaw will only be passed when the administration, legislature and NGOs agree on it. Meetings will be held to reach this." Papua Vice Governor Alex Hasegem, reading the administration's response at the legislature's plenary session, said HIV/AIDS handling should apply universal principles. One of those principles, he went on, was to respect people living with HIV/AIDS by eradicating stigmata and discrimination. "Implanting microchips in people with HIV/AIDS is not in accordance with these principles because it is a form of stigmatizing," Alex said. The proposed measure has never been done anywhere in the world and has not been tested to gauge its success. Alex rejected the inclusion of the microchip article in the draft bylaw, saying the regulation was not meant as a test run for the microchip scheme. As it stands, the 40-article bylaw requires microchips be implanted in people with HIV/AIDS deemed aggressive, or actively seeking sexual intercourse. In November, councilor John Manangsang said the public should not misunderstand human rights as it related to this issue. "If we respect the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, then we must also respect the rights of those without," he said. He added the public should judge the draft bylaw as a whole rather than by its constituent articles. "The draft, for instance, requires everyone to take HIV/AIDS tests so preventative measures can be taken early on." --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Proponents of Islamic state jailed Jakarta Post - December 20, 2008 Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung -- The Bandung District Court has convicted and sentenced 17 alleged members of the Islamic State of Indonesia (NII) to between two-and-a-half and three years in prison for treason. On Friday, the panel of three judges, hearing 14 dossiers, said the defendants were guilty of violating Article 107, clause 1, of the Criminal Code on treason, and Article 55 on conspiring to commit treason. Judges Yance Bombing, Joni Santosa and Abdul Moehan said the 17 defendants had caused public disturbance and threatened the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). "They have deviated from the NKRI by acknowledging the NII as their state," the judges said in their verdicts. The sentences handed down were lighter than those demanded by prosecutors, who had sought prison terms of four to five years. But the judges said the defendants had no prior criminal convictions and had behaved well during the trial that began on Aug. 8. Police arrested the men last April in the Bandung districts of Cihanjuang, Cijerah and Riung Bandung. The four men who received three-year sentences were: Suganda, alias Miftahayatudin, accused of being the Region 7 (Southern West Java) vice governor and chief spokesman; Mulyadi, the so- called Region 7 sharia division head; Uden Abdullah, the alleged Region 73 (Cianjur and Sukabumi) head; and Oban, considered the Region 72 (Garut and Sumedang) head. The men have not said whether they would appeal the verdicts. During a heated discussion with defense lawyer Seprandjaya at the court's detention room, the defendants said they feared receiving longer sentences should they file appeals with the West Java High Court. Seprandjaya called the verdicts ambiguous, claiming the judges did not take into consideration facts revealed during the trial that showed the men were unaware they were part of the NII. "The judges should not break the rules, they should be professional in handing down verdicts and not eliminate facts uncovered during the trial," he said, adding he would recommend his clients file appeals. "There were no witnesses called to testify, except for the defendants themselves." He added it was clear they knew nothing about the NII. "It all started when the defendants became involved in conversations with people such as Haidir, Musa and Abu Patin, who are still at large," he told The Jakarta Post after the sentencing. "These people then asked the defendants to join Koran study groups, leading to their being named by the police as NII officials." Most of the defendants, the lawyer went on, were only infak (tithe) collectors for the real NII leaders who had evade arrest. "If they are guilty of treason, then there must be masterminds who can attest to the defendants being part of the NII," he said. "But during the trial, no one knew who the masterminds were." --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Thugs are gone, for now, but the vendors linger Jakarta Post - December 1, 2008 Jakarta -- Armed with wooden sticks, several young police officers were seen banging on public minivans loading passengers at Tanah Abang market, Central Jakarta, and blocking the roads. One police officer turned to a line of fruit vendors on the roadside and picked up a rambutan with paying for it while chatting with the seller before returning to his job. The police officers were carrying out a public order operation against undisciplined public transportation workers, thugs, illegal-parking attendants and street vendors causing congestion in the area. The Central Jakarta administration, in cooperation with the police, has been conducting the operation since Nov. 25 to improve the market's image as Southeast Asia's biggest textile market. The operation is scheduled to last for four months. The operation has done little to ease traffic, but has been successful in temporarily ridding parts of the city of thugs. "I can run my business without having to pay thugs security money," said Juned, a clothing vendor. "I do not have to worry about the thugs messing up my stall because there have been no thugs here for the past three days." Juned said he was afraid the thugs would return after the operation was over. Tambunan, a bus driver, said that thanks to the operation, the streets were safer because there were no more thugs, but he doubted whether it would last long. Suwardi, from the Tanah Abang Police command post, said police were focusing more on the eradication of thugs. "The police are responsible for the eradication of thugs and clearing traffic, while the illegal vendors are the responsibility of the subdistrict office," he said. Despite its successes, resident said they still felt skeptical about the operation because it had not been conducted thoroughly. Harun, a Tanah Abang street vendor, said the police and public order officials only raided the vendors during the morning from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. "Most of the vendors here know that it is safe again to start selling after 2 p.m," he said, adding that earlier this morning some 10 fruit stalls had been raided by police. An ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver who refused to be named said an operation like this costs money and that was why it had not been conducted thoroughly. "The operation is just ceremonial, it's just a token measure to impress the mayor and the police chief," he said. He said similar operations had been conducted several times in the past, but the police failed to net many thugs and illegal street vendors because there were police insiders who tipped them off. "Some of these stalls are owned by retired police officers and civil servants, that's where they get the information prior to the execution of the operation," he said. Imam, a passing car driver, said the authorities were not serious about the operation. The operation does not reduce congestion in the area, he added. "Just look around you, there are a lot of minivans and buses still loading passengers anywhere they like, and there are a lot of illegal vendors selling their goods on the sidewalk and the roadside," he told The Jakarta Post. He said the problem of congestion would still remain unless firm action was taken against street vendors. "The vendors will feel that they have more freedom to run their businesses because they will no longer have to worry about paying thugs security money," he said. Last week, Central Jakarta municipality announced it would deploy 470 officers to "clean Tanah Abang market". The officers comprise 150 policemen, 150 public order officers, 60 officers from the transportation agency, 60 hired security guards, 20 from the parking agency and 30 from the military. Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni was quoted by beritajakarta.com as saying that the municipality would put 40 banners and 1,000 stickers to announce information on the sweep effort. In addition to that, a car equipped with an announcer will circle the area every two hours to blast out information, she said. (fmb) --------------------------------------------------- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/02/BUR014FG4P.DTL S.F. jury clears Chevron of protest shootings Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, December 2, 2008 ________________________________________ (12-01) 17:22 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal jury in San Francisco cleared Chevron Corp. of wrongdoing Monday in the shootings of Nigerian villagers who occupied an offshore barge in 1998 to protest the company's hiring and environmental policies. Two men were killed and two were wounded by security forces summoned by Chevron after three days of negotiations with leaders of about 150 tribesmen from the oil-rich Niger Delta. Villagers and their supporting witnesses said they were unarmed and peaceful, but Chevron's witnesses said the protesters threatened violence, held crew members captive and demanded ransom. After a four-week trial, the nine-member jury deliberated less than two days before unanimously rejecting the plaintiffs' claims that Chevron was responsible for assault, inhumane treatment, torture and wrongful death. The 19 plaintiffs included the two wounded men, relatives of one of the slain men, and the family of a fourth man who was beaten and died later of unrelated causes. Jurors left without talking to reporters. Their verdict didn't specify whether they had concluded - as Chevron argued - that the company was justified in calling for military intervention to protect its workers. They also could have found that excessive force was used but that Chevron had no reason to foresee it and therefore wasn't at fault. The company called the verdict a vindication. "The jury upheld our position that our response was reasonable to a dangerous hostage-taking situation where our employees were in peril," Chevron spokesman Don Campbell told reporters. He said the company sympathizes with Niger Delta residents but doesn't believe they should use violence to solve their problems. Plaintiffs' lawyer Bert Voorhees said his clients will appeal the verdict. "This was a difficult story to tell across several cultural barriers," he said. But the fact that the case even went to trial, despite Chevron's attempt to dismiss it, should serve notice that "corporations like Chevron can be held accountable," he said. Standing alongside Voorhees, lead plaintiff Larry Bowoto, who still suffers the after-effects of a gunshot wound to an elbow, said "We are not hostage takers." The suit is one of several that have been filed recently against U.S.-based corporations under the Alien Tort Claim Act, a law passed by the first Congress in 1789 that allows foreigners to sue in U.S. courts for violations of international human rights. A similar suit by villagers in Burma against Unocal for allegedly encouraging brutality by soldiers guarding its pipeline was settled in 2005 for an undisclosed amount of money, but no jury has yet found a company responsible for human rights violations by a foreign government. In the case of Chevron, which has a refinery in Richmond, villagers occupied a barge tethered to the company's Parabe platform, 9 miles offshore, in May 1998. They said drilling and dredging were polluting their wells and killing trees and fish, but Chevron's Nigerian subsidiary had refused to meet with them. Plaintiffs' lawyers cited a faxed message from an official of the subsidiary to the U.S. Embassy on the third day of the protest, saying the villagers were unarmed and the situation was calm. The soldiers and a mobile police force widely known as the "kill and go" arrived the next morning on helicopters leased by Chevron. But Chevron's witnesses said the protesters had written letters threatening violence and sea piracy, struck one or more crewmen, and poured diesel fuel on the barge and threatened to set it on fire - leaving the company with no option, its lawyers argued, but to call on the Nigerian government for help. E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko at schronicle.com. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416052.html Protest against fire-bombing of Indonesian village linked to plantation company Renewable Fuels Bullshit | 26.12.2008 00:14 | Climate Chaos | Energy Crisis | Globalisation Protest against fire-bombing of Indonesian village linked to plantation company Agrofuels still killing kids On 18th December, a village in Riau Province, Sumatra, was attacked by armed police and paramilitaries and also fire-bombed from a helicopter. This is a serious escalation of violence and human rights abuses in one of many land conflicts related to plantation expansion in Indonesia. The village of Suluk Bongkal was attacked by the police and by over 500 paramilitaries, armed with fire-arms and tear gas. A helicopter dropped incendiary devices which eye witnesses reported contained napalm. Although the nature of the bombs has not yet been confirmed, hundreds of houses immediately went up in flames. Two toddlers were killed, 400 villagers fled into the forest. Others were detained and 58 people remain in the village, under enormous psychological pressure and cut off from the outside. On 20th December, a helicopter dropped stones on tents set up by refugees from the village. The violence is linked to Sinar Mas, one of the largest pulp and paper and palm oil plantation companies in Indonesia. This particular plantation belongs to Sinar Mas subsidiary Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), which reportedly owns the helicopter used in the attacks. APP is one of the two largest pulp and paper companies in Indonesia. Many of their plantations have been set up in contravention of Indonesian laws, involving the destruction of highly biodiverse rainforests, plantings in water catchment areas and on steep slopes, and the displacement of communities. The plantation industry in Riau province is also linked to the deforestation, drainage and burning of peat swamps, one of the largest single sources of climate-change causing carbon dioxide emissions in the world. Please sign the letter below which will be sent to authorities in Indonesia and which supports demands by WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) that the state authorities must guarantee the human rights of the population and investigates and punishes those responsible for this crime, and that the business permit granted to the plantation company in question must be withdrawn and that the rights of the population must not be sacrificed for companies? economic interests. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10549266&ref=rss Beaten shoe protester hit in an eye with a gun 4:00AM Monday Dec 22, 2008 Afif Sarhan Muntadar al-Zeidi. Photo / AP The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush was viciously beaten after being taken into custody, according to a police officer who accompanied him to prison. Wrestled to the ground and then buried under a frantic mound of security officers, Muntadar al-Zeidi was last seen being dragged into detention. Controversy has since raged over what treatment was meted out to the man hailed a hero in many parts of the Arab and Muslim world for his protest against the invasion of Iraq. Yesterday there were further demonstrations in the Middle East calling for his immediate release. Witnesses to his arrest and imprisonment have said Zeidi was badly beaten, during and after his arrest, and that he risks losing the sight in one of his eyes. Zeidi is expected to be charged with insulting a foreign leader, which carries a prison sentence of up to two years. His family have received offers from hundreds of lawyers willing to represent him. An Iraqi judge said Zeidi had bruises on his face and around his eyes. These, said the judge, had been sustained during his arrest at the Baghdad news conference during which Zeidi threw his shoes at Bush, shouting: "This is the farewell kiss, you dog." Advertisement Advertisement His family, who have been denied access to him, have claimed he suffered far more extensive injuries and was subjected to a prolonged and vicious beating, suffering a broken arm, broken ribs and internal bleeding. The allegations appear to be borne out by others. One police officer who accompanied him to prison said the journalist, a Baghdad correspondent for Cairo's Al-Baghdadia TV, had been subjected to violence throughout the journey. The officer, who asked not to be named, said he witnessed security forces beating Zeidi in the car with such force that his ribs were broken. "I felt sorry when I saw them beating him. His mouth was badly injured and he did not utter a single word throughout until one of the guards hit him in his left eye with a gun. Then he cried out that he couldn't see, and I saw blood inside his eye. I am a police officer but even I have to say I felt proud of what he did." A doctor called to examine Zeidi said his right arm had been broken and he had haematomas - indicative of internal bleeding - all over his body, particularly on his left leg, shoulders, face and head. The doctor, who also asked to remain anonymous, said specialists called in to treat him warned security guards that they must make sure his eye was protected for fear of a further haemorrhage which could cause him to lose his sight. Zeidi's family allege that it is because of the severe nature of his injuries that he has not been called before a public court. Born into a traditional Shiite family, Zeidi made no secret of his vehement opposition to the US-led occupation of Iraq and, according to family and friends, had said many times he would like revenge on Bush. A younger brother, Haythem, said Zeidi had unexpectedly found himself called on to cover the press conference held by Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. His first action, it seems, was to return home immediately to change his foreign-made shoes for Iraqi-made ones. A colleague at the TV station said Zeidi mentioned just before going home that "if something had to be done, it had to be 100 per cent Iraqi". His family believe his actions may have placed both them and himself in danger and claim to have received threatening calls. - OBSERVER http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=160858 ?Demands for long prison terms for young protestors may escalate terror? The terrorist PKK has been using minors in illegal demonstrations for a long time, but prosecutors have started demanding longer prison sentences in the past few months. Several civil society organizations have raised their voices against demands for long prison terms for elementary school students participating in illegal demonstrations, saying such penalties may escalate tension and terror in the country, rather than deterring young protesters from attending such illegal activities. It all started last month, when a prosecutor demanded 23 years in prison each for six students, five of whom were in elementary school, between the ages of 13 and 14 for participating in illegal demonstrations in Diyarbak?r and throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the police during protests against a visit by the prime minister to the predominantly Kurdish Southeast. Then came a similar demand from an Adana prosecutor, who called for a highly debated sentence -- 58 years per protester -- for six youths between the ages of 13 and 16. Minors can be sentenced to several years in prison under various articles of Turkey?s Anti-Terrorism Law, including ?spreading the cause of a terrorist organization,? ?committing a crime on behalf of a terrorist organization without holding membership,? ?resisting police dispersion attempts with weapons or instruments? and ?vandalizing public property.? ?Punishing young children with long prison terms serves no purpose other than escalating terror. I don?t think the Republic of Turkey can solve the terrorism problem as long as it approaches it with harsh sentences,? said ?mer Faruk Gergenlio?lu, chairman of the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUM-DER). The Higher Criminal Court for Juveniles will hear the Diyarbak?r case in a few weeks. Many of the minors are under arrest pending trial. Gergenlio?lu stressed that the real reason behind the illegal demonstrations being attended by Kurdish citizens is not terror, as is believed by state and government officials. ?The real reason is the Kurdish question. The problem of terror in Turkey will not be solved unless the Kurdish question is solved,? he noted. Turkey?s Kurdish question has existed ever since the founding of the Turkish Republic, but has turned violent in the last 25 years, with the terrorist Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) launching an armed campaign against Turkish civilians and security forces for autonomy in Turkey?s predominantly Kurdish Southeast. The Radikal daily wrote in its lead story on Thursday that more than 100 children have faced the risk of being sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for participating in illegal demonstrations or rallies since last October. Demonstrations reached their peak in early November as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an traveled to Turkey?s eastern and southeastern regions, with pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) supporters protesting the visit violently in clashes with the police, throwing stones and burning vehicles. Demonstrators were protesting against the alleged mistreatment of jailed PKK leader Abdullah ?calan, who is being held on the prison island of ?mral?, where he is the sole inmate. The allegations were put forward by ?calan?s lawyers and no evidence was provided. Last month DTP leader Ahmet T?rk also slammed prosecutors asking for long prison terms for children, saying the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) cannot win the people back ?by turning the whole country into a prison.? ?What kind of a mindset is this? Is this the way you embrace the public? These children grow up under the shadow of guns and tanks,? he said, also criticizing a recent verdict by the Supreme Court of Appeals punishing people who had participated in demonstrations held in support of the PKK as if they were PKK members. ?This verdict means that all individuals participating in democratic demonstrations will be punished on charges of membership in a terrorist organization. It seems that the government will soon set up courts in the streets and judge millions of people,? he remarked. ?zt?rk T?rkdo?an, chairman of the Human Rights Association (?HD), said punishing children with harsh sentences would not deter them from participating in other illegal demonstrations. ?On the contrary, such sentences will have an adverse influence on youngsters. Punishing children with prison terms should be the last resort,? he argued. Stressing that children in Turkey?s eastern and southeastern regions grow up in the midst of conflicts and clashes, T?rkdo?an noted that youngsters participate in illegal demonstrations due either to the encouragement of their elders or of their own will. ?How can anyone believe that long prison terms will deter these children from attending other rallies? How old are they? Are they old enough to make a distinction between good and bad?? he asked. T?rkdo?an said the behaviors the children display in demonstrations are closely related to the attitude the police and security forces take toward them. ?There was a demonstration in Mersin in October. Police distributed balls and toys to children to prevent them from participating in the tension that erupted between security forces and demonstrators. You see, if the police behave toward the children in a positive manner, the children do the same,? he explained. T?rkdo?an also noted that there must be a directly proportional relationship between the crime and the punishment, adding that a child accused of throwing a stone at security forces should not be sentenced to prison as though he committed murder. ?I don?t think these children will end up being good citizens under unfavorable prison conditions. We all know about the conditions inmates are faced with in prisons. How can anyone expect to prevent these youngsters from joining a terrorist organization by sending them to prisons?? he added. Seda Ak?o, from the ?stanbul-based Child Abuse Prevention Platform, said children in the East and Southeast are caught in an unjust dilemma. ?On the one hand, there is a terrorist organization and, on the other, the police. It is known by everyone under what conditions these children are dragged into clashes with the police. We need to prevent them from participating in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Punishing them severely is no solution,? she noted. 07 December 2008, Sunday BET?L AKKAYA DEM?RBA? ?STANBUL http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/08/china-protestors-and-petitioners-penned-up-into-madhouse/ China: Protestors and petitioners penned up into madhouse Monday, December 8th, 2008 @ 09:06 UTC by Bob Chen ????????????????????????????????? Years later, the entire humanity will be astonished at what happens today!!!!!!!!! This is a comment people left after a news story. It is a story about petitioning, protest and madhouse. Reading the story, I am almost drowned by a sense of desperation infused in what Mr. Sun has gone through all these years, but also very much touched by Mr. Shi?s courage to expose such a scandal to public. I know, this would be a story worth record, and translation. In China, it?s a long tradition that people wronged by their hometown officials would trek to Beijing to appeal for justice. It is called petitioning, a mild way of protest. As mild as it is, however, no local government involved would easily let the petitioner go, and interruption, detain, threat are never unusual. And now, a more civilized way is employed, that is, asylum, or, madhouse. That?s where the story started. 57???????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ????????? ?????????? ????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????? Xintai Town, Shangdong. Mr. Sun-fawu, 57, got off the car and looked around for his companion he was to meet. Yet no one was there. All in a sudden, a microbus rushed to him and stopped, 3 people coming off and closing him in. One of them was identified as An-shizhi, Sun recalled, who is the director of the Petitioning Office (the official agency handles complaints) in the town. ?what are doing?? ?to find a job in Beijing?? ?Looking for a job? No, you are to petition. You are not let go!? Two men came up, snatched away the cellphone Sun was to use for police-calling, and pushed him into the microbus. Sun?s nightmare started. The place he was sent to is exactly the City Asylum, where the mentally disordered stay. The government men left him there. ??????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????? Sun yelled to the doctor coming to him, ?I am not lunatic! I am just going to petition!? The shout was heard by many ?patients? there, including Mr. Shi, a close friend to Sun later. The doctor says, ?I don?t care whether you are ill. You are sent by the town government, and I?ll treat you as of psychosis.? What he later went through was that: ????????????????????????????????????? ?????????? ??????????????????? ??7?????????????????????????????? ?I had all my limbs tied to the bed legs, and head wrapped up by a mask.? Sun heard some one saying ?pouring the medicine quickly?, and his mouth was forced to open. Mandible clutched, the pills ran into his throat. At 7 pm, Dr. Zhu gave Sun a shot, and he then lost all his consciousness. During his days there, Zhu has thought to escape, though he claimed time over time again he was normal. He pleaded the dean. But the answer was as cold as the patient room, that ?only those sent you here sign an agreement, you are allowed to go?. And a ?suggestion? followed, ?ask your family to find the government. But how to? Sun asked himself, with no phone with him. Sun?s grief Sun?s grief dates back to several years ago, when the land in his village sunk so much that it was no more arable due to the thriving mining at the place. Since 1988, the mine owners have compensated the affected villagers for a few times. ???????????4????????????????????300??? ??????? According to the criteria, Sun?s family could get over 40 thousand. But as Sun and some other villagers said, over 300 households in the village got no compensation at all. But the village officials insisted the fund has been distributed. Since 2001, villagers voted Sun as one of their delegates, to complain to the town government. The city inspection group, however, alleged that the fund has indeed been allocated after investigation. The villagers defied, sending more complaints and inquiry of further probe. ??????10?1??????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ?????? Three days later, 1, Oct, at night, over 10 people broke into Sun?s home when he was not there, and hacked down Sun?s son, who got married only 5 days ago, to be seriously injured. Sun?s wife, Zhang-xuefang recalled, those people yelled ?We?ll kill out your family if you keep on petitioning.? Sun didn?t stop. He haunted around town, city, and provincial Petitioning Offices, and even to as far as Beijing. In 2004, he was detained for 14 days, the prosecution being ?disrupting social order?. In 2005, he was sentenced to prison, again, but for over 1 year this time. Then in 2007, a new weapon was put in use. He was put in the asylum. ???????????????????????????????? ?Every day I took pills and injection.? Sun was sensitive to medicine. ?I felt dizzy, and can?t stand up.? He stayed there for 3 months, 5 days. Only did he pledged that no more petitioning would he committed was he released. In 2008, Oct, the story at the beginning of the article happened. This has been his second time to be a ?mad man?. A secret recorder ??????????????????????18?????????? Mr. Shi, 84, has his own secret mission. Up till now, he has recorded 18 petitioners penned up into the hospital. He used to go to Beijng to complain the negligence of duty of the local government. In 2006, he was sent by Tianbao government (another one) to the same hospital. He was called to go out later, but he refused. He required an explanation of such a treatment, and holds that if there is none, he would stay. No explanation was given, and he stayed. In the 2 years 5 months he spent there, he has been collecting evidence about the petitioners contained in the madhouse. ?????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ?????????????????? Sun made a lot of record, writing them on paper slips, sometimes even on used pill boxes. He said, all this was secret, because nurses didn?t allow the ?petitioner patients? to talk. The diary and papers were hidden under quilts. One of his diaries writes: ???????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ?some patients kept beating me up, as long as I quarreled with doctors and nurses. After they were gone, the patients would come up and hit me, clutched my neck. They must have been ordered to do so by the doctors.? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????? Since the second day in the asylum, he was forced to take pills. He would hide the pill down the tongue, and spit them after the nurses turned away. It was soon found out, however. And then, nurses would inspect their tongues every single time. Shi and another patient both said so. This is the end of the news story. It was released by the well-known Beijing-based paper New Beijing on 8, Dec, and very soon, it has caught the attention of the Chinese blogsphere. The comment at the beginning gained as many as 10000 support clicks on 163.com, and what we see is a gloomy picture of a muzzled world by methods as ridiculous as you can expect. How long has this happened? Would this keep on going if it was not revealed? And we have enough reason to doubt how many more remain undiscovered. And we are more than shocked. The life in madhouse is expected to be so horrible, that every word, every pleading, every complaint you yelled out would be considered a mad word, and no one would trust you. That's why those petitioners are more than admirable. Or, the entire society has already been such a madhouse? And finally, will we lose our sense of judgment, that we ourselves would doubt ?are we mad?? Is this what we are hoped to be? http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=683902&rss=yes Chinese protesters put in mental asylums 19:09 AEST Mon Dec 8 2008 The government of an eastern Chinese city has abducted protesting citizens and held them in mental asylums, state media has reported. At least 18 people were believed to have been detained in the city of Xintai, with some being administered debilitating drugs when they objected, according to an investigative report by the Beijing News, on Monday. The report said victims were released only when they vowed to drop their complaints. Under a system dating from imperial days, Chinese people who suffer injustices can petition central authorities in Beijing for help. The tradition has survived into the Communist era but has become a perilous undertaking for petitioners, who are often intercepted by local officials to prevent their complaints being aired in Beijing. The abductions have been occurring in Xintai city in Shandong province since at least 2006, the report said, quoted an unnamed retired official who counted at least 18 such cases. However, the head of the Xintai Mental Health Centre, Wu Yuzhu, was quoted admitting that the centre had "many" such petitioners in its care, paid for by the local government. The report focused on the case of Sun Fashi, 57, who for years had sought compensation for himself and fellow villagers over land subsidence, caused by excessive coal mining, that damaged homes and farmlands. Sun was abducted on October 19 as he headed for Beijing to petition once again over the issue. He was taken to the mental health centre, where he was frequently bound, drugged and threatened by staff and other patients when he demanded his release, the report said. "The doctors said, 'We don't care if you are sick or not. If the government sent you, we are going to treat you'," Sun was quoted saying. He was released on November 12 after signing a pledge to cease petitioning. Wu was quoted saying the centre had turned away many people brought by officials who were obviously healthy but that the government often provided documents certifying they were mentally ill. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/03/zimbabwe.banks/index.html?eref=rss_latest December 3, 2008 -- Updated 2042 GMT (0442 HKT) Zimbabwe activist abducted by 12 gunmen ? Story Highlights ? Amnesty International demands to know whereabouts of human rights activist ? Jestina Mukoko taken by force at dawn from her home in pajamas and barefoot ? Amnesty fears government trying to silence activists after trade union protests ? Zimbabwe is beset with political, economic crises and cholera HARARE, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- Amnesty International demanded Wednesday to know the whereabouts of human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, who it says was abducted at dawn by armed men in civilian clothes posing as police. People walk by shops that were looted by Zimbabwean soldiers who couldn't get money from banks Tuesday. Mukoko, director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, was taken from her home south of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, Amnesty spokeswoman Suzanne Trimel said in a written statement. ZPP monitors and documents human rights abuses in the troubled country. According to a witness, at least 12 men stormed Mukoko's home in Norton about 5 a.m., taking her by force while she was still in pajamas and barefoot, Trimel said. The men then drove off in two cars, one of which did not have registration plates. CNN is trying to get comments from police or other officials. Last Saturday, about six men, who Amnesty believes to connected to the group that kidnapped Mukoko Wednesday, tried to enter her house when she was away, said Trimel, quoting the same witnesses who described the alleged abduction. Amnesty International said three of Mukoko's colleagues at a clinic treating cholera victims were arrested in late November. "Mukoko's abduction or arrest was part of an established pattern of harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders by Zimbabwean authorities in an attempt to discourage them from documenting and publicizing the violations that are taking place," said Erwin van der Borght, Amnesty's program director in Africa. The human rights organization fears authorities may have launched a new campaign to silence human rights activists in the wake of protests by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. "We hold the Zimbabwean authorities responsible for anything that may happen to Jestina Mukoko," said van der Borght. "She should be released immediately." Zimbabwe is beset with political, economic and health problems. Watch why the Elders were not allowed into Zimbabwe ? Earlier Wednesday, police in the capital chased away residents who were in long lines in front of banks and arrested several trade union leaders ahead of protests over limits on cash withdrawals from the inflation-ravaged African nation's central bank. Trimel said the secretary-general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Raymond Majongwe, and a journalist working for a South African broadcaster were among the trade unionists arrested in Harare. A federation of trade unions issued a statement saying 69 people were arrested across the country during Wednesday's demonstrations against the bank restrictions. Amnesty "fears that authorities may have launched a new campaign to silence human rights activists in the wake of protests by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions," Trimel said. Queuing up to withdraw money has become a daily sight in the country, which is facing an acute shortage of cash. Zimbabweans complain that the money banks give out is not enough to purchase basic necessities. On Tuesday, Zimbabwe's former defense minister appeared on television, flanked by two top army officials, to warn the union groups against holding the protests. The former minister, Sydney Sekeramayi, accused the unions of colluding with soldiers who went on rampages in Harare twice in recent days. The angry, unpaid soldiers clashed with foreign currency exchangers and some civilians Monday. Last Friday, soldiers who had failed to get cash from their banks also looted some shops they suspected to be illegally dealing in foreign currency. iReport.com: Share questions for Christiane Amanpour The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe allows a maximum daily withdrawal of 500,000 Zimbabwean dollars -- the equivalent of about 25 cents in the United States -- as a way to ease the country's acute cash problems. The amount is not even enough to pay for a loaf of bread, which costs about 2 million Zimbabwean dollars ($1 U.S.). The cash rationing has added to the chaos in a country that is engulfed in an economic collapse and where the official inflation rate of 231 million percent is the world's highest. Meanwhile, health workers are grappling with a cholera outbreak sweeping through Zimbabwe that had claimed at least 565 lives by Tuesday, the U.N. Humanitarian Affairs Office said. Medical professionals blame the resurgence of the water-borne disease on the lack of safe water in many parts of the country. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/11/stories/2008121153460300.htm Karnataka - Shimoga Ban on loud protests to be withdrawn Special Correspondent A revised order will be issued soon: Shimoga Deputy Commissioner Exchanging views: Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey during a discussion with representatives of various organisations on the ban order in Shimoga on Wednesday. SHIMOGA: Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey said here on Wednesday that the order banning loud protests on his office premises, issued under Section 144 of the Cr.PC, would be withdrawn in the light of objections from various quarters. He, however, said that a revised order would be issued retaining some of the restrictions mentioned in the earlier order to ensure smooth functioning of offices located on the premises. Mr. Pandey announced this at a meeting convened by him with the representatives of various organisations and parties to discuss the ban order. He said it was impossible to suppress demonstrations in a democratic set up, but it was important to note that use of loudspeakers and drums during protests on the office premises would not only cause inconvenience to visitors but also affect working in various offices located on the premises. The Deputy Commissioner said that such noisy demonstrations would disturb proceedings of his court. The restrictions were imposed keeping all these aspects in view and also to curb noise pollution on the office premises, he said. Replying to observations at the meeting, Superintendent of Police S. Murugan said that people or protesters need not be apprehensive over imposition of the ban order. He said that a revised ?office order? would be issued retaining some restrictions of the earlier order. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=10689 Vietnam court lets Catholic protesters walk free (12-08 19:40) A court in Vietnam allowed eight Catholics to walk free with suspended jail terms for disturbing public order and damaging property in protest vigils over a land dispute. The defendants were among thousands of parishioners who joined prayer meetings and peaceful rallies over the past 12 months in the capital Hanoi calling for the return of church properties seized by the state half a century ago. Hundreds of Catholic supporters on Monday cheered and presented flowers to the defendants, four men and four women, as they left the Hanoi court building. Seven of the Catholics received suspended jail terms of 12 to 15 months, minus time already spent in custody, and administrative probation of up to two years, while one defendant received a warning, said the presiding judge. http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE5363NA20090407?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 Iraq shoe thrower's sentence cut to one year Tue Apr 7, 2009 3:21pm BST By Aseel Kami BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi reporter who was jailed for hurling his shoes at former U.S. President George W. Bush has had his sentence slashed to one year from three, the Iraqi Judiciary Council said on Tuesday. Muntazer al-Zaidi, 30, shot to instant global fame in December when he threw his shoes at the visiting president, who was deeply unpopular in Iraq because of the 2003 U.S. invasion and the years of insurgency and sectarian carnage it unleashed. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge of assaulting a visiting head of state and his family were devastated at what they called an excessive initial penalty of three years in prison. The shoes missed Bush, who ducked nimbly. "The appeal court issued its decision today to decrease the sentence against Muntazer al-Zaidi from three years in prison to one year, taking into consideration that he's still young and doesn't have any previous convictions," said Abdul Sattar al-Birqdar, spokesman for the Iraqi judicial council. "Thank God, today we found out the Iraqi judiciary is so strong in Iraq, after we were so afraid. Of course, I am happy," said Zaidi's brother, Haithem. The government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who was standing next to Bush at the news conference and tried to block one of the shoes, called the incident a "barbaric act." At the start of his trial in February, Zaidi said Bush's smile as he talked about achievements in Iraq had made him think of "the killing of more than a million Iraqis, the disrespect for the sanctity of mosques and houses, the rapes of women." In what will be remembered as one of the defining moments of Bush's military adventure in Iraq, Zaidi removed his shoes and hurled them one by one at Bush, shouting: "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog." In the Middle East, hitting someone with a shoe is considered an insult. In Iraq, a year's prison sentence is actually 10 months, so Zaidi, who has been in custody for four months, has six left to go. (Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Michael Christie and Mark Trevelyan) http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGNAU200812048511&lang=e&rss=recentnews Tunisian trade union leader on trial for role in protests 4 December 2008 A trade union leader and 37 others face trial in Tunisia on Thursday, accused of fomenting unrest during protests earlier this year in the Gafsa region. Adnan Hajji, Secretary General of local office of the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) in Redeyef, and his co-accused face charges including "forming a criminal group with the aim of destroying public and private property". If convicted, they could face up to more than ten years of imprisonment. At least six of 38 accused are to be tried in their absence. The phosphate-rich Gafsa region, in south-east Tunisia, was wracked by a wave of popular protests in the first half of this year. They began in the town of Redeyef after the region?s major employer, the Gafsa Phosphate Company, announced the results of a recruitment competition. These results were denounced as fraudulent by those who were unsuccessful and others, including the UGTT, and the protests, which developed into a more general protest about high unemployment and rising living costs, then spread to other towns as the authorities deployed large numbers of police and other security forces into the region. Hundreds of protestors were arrested and more than 140 have been charged with offences, some of whom have been convicted and sentenced to jail terms. Amnesty International has called on the Tunisian government to order an independent investigation into allegations of torture and other abuses by security forces when quelling the protests. In a letter to Tunisia's Minister of Justice and Human Rights B?chir Tekkari, Amnesty International called for the authorities to disclose the outcome of an official investigation. The organization said the investigation had been set up after police opened fire on demonstrators on 6 June 2008, killing one man and injuring others, sparking allegations that police had used excessive force. The letter also detailed cases in which people suspected of organizing or participating in protests are reported to have been detained and tortured by police. The police are accused of forcing them to sign incriminating statements that could be used against them at trial and falsified their arrest dates in official records. http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/12/26/0812261548_iran_nobel_winners_group_to_protest_office_closure.html Iran Nobel winner's group to protest Friday, December 26, 2008 15:47 [IST] Tehran: The rights group headed by Iranian Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi is to lodge a complaint against the "illegal" closure of its office, a founding member of the centre said today. Iranian police on Sunday raided and shut down the office of the Human Rights Defenders Centre as it was to hold a belated ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the United Nations declaration on human rights. "We are lodging a complaint on Saturday. We are also going to write to judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi to protest this violation of the law," Mohammad Ali Dadkhah told AFP. Iranian authorities said the office was shut down because the centre did not have an interior ministry permit to operate, but the police action signalled a toughening crackdown on rights groups in the Islamic republic. Ebadi's group says it has sought to obtain authorisation to no avail while insisting that founding associations without an official permit is lawful as long as they are not against Islam. "We went to the ministry six years ago and submitted all the required documents," Dadkhah said, adding that a former deputy interior minister in President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government "also said we were not illegal". "This is an organisation that does not seek power but it has solely been targeted for defending human rights," he added. Political parties and associations must have such a permit to be legally recognised in Iran. Source : PTI http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/arrested-anti-posco-protests-leader-being-humiliated-alleges-son_100134640.html Arrested anti-Posco protests leader being humiliated, alleges son December 24th, 2008 - 4:21 pm ICT by IANS - Bhubaneswar, Dec 24 (IANS) Abhaya Sahu, who was leading protests against the Posco steel plant in Orissa until his arrest in October, is being ill-treated by police, his son alleged Wednesday while demanding a probe by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). In a petition submitted to the SHRC, Abhijit Sahu said his father was being subjected to mental torture and humiliation by police. ?He is being treated like a criminal by police. He is taken to the doctor with handcuffs, which is inhuman and causes severe humiliation to him,? Abhijit said in the petition. Abhaya Sahu is chairman of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), one of the frontal organisations against a proposed project by South Korean steel major Posco in Orissa. He was arrested Oct 12. Abhijit urged the rights body to declare his father a political prisoner and ensure all the facilities accorded to one. ?My father suffers from asthma, rheumatism, high blood pressure and diabetes,? Abhijit told IANS. Posco plans to build a $12-billion steel plant in Jagatsinghpur district in one of the largest foreign direct investments in India. The world?s fourth largest steel maker signed a deal with the state government in June 2005 to build the plant by 2016 near Paradeep port, some 100 km from the state capital Bhubhaneswar. However, over 20,000 people from around 15 nearby villages have been protesting the project, saying it would take away their homes and livelihoods. Posco claims the plant would affect only 500 families but would create thousands of jobs. Police say the charges against Sahu include rioting, violence, attacking people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, kidnapping, attempt to kill people and possession of illegal weapons. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/25/politics/politics_30091825.php Trio avoid jail for anti-coup protest By The Nation Published on December 25, 2008 The Criminal Court handed suspended sentences yesterday to three activists for damaging the Democracy Monument by burning an effigy during an anti-coup rally last year. In its verdict, the court noted the gesture to safeguard democracy ended - ironically - by seriously damaging the iconic monument. It found grounds for leniency and suspended the one-year jail term for two years. It also ordered the three to complete 24 hours of community service within a year. Chaiyarit Chawiset, Ong-art Wichittranont and Boonsin Yokthip organised a mass rally in November 2007 to protest against the coup staged in September 2006. As an act of defiance against the power seizure, the three set an effigy of the Constitution on fire, but it got out of control and inflicted about Bt58,700 worth of damage to the monument. During the trial, which started last December, the three pleaded guilty and agreed to pay for the damage. The trio was originally sentenced to jail on charges of attempting to resist arrest and recklessness in setting a fire in a public place. The punishment was suspended because they showed remorse, cooperated with the judicial review and paid compensation for the damage. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20081223-179625/Youth-group-hits-arrest-of-15-protesters Youth group hits arrest of 15 protesters By Karen Lapitan Southern Luzon Bureau First Posted 18:06:00 12/23/2008 Filed Under: Protest LOS BA?OS, Laguna--The youth group Anakbayan in Southern Tagalog slammed on Tuesday the arrest of 15 protesters in Batangas City on Monday, claiming that it was part of a crackdown against militants in the region. John Paulo Bautista, Anakbayan-ST chair, said, "It is clear that the wholesale filing of criminal cases against activists in the region has become the Arroyo government's policy in facing the protest of the people." Among the 15 arrested are leaders of militant groups in Batangas. They are Isagani Iseta, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Batangas spokesperson; Thelma Maranan, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap-Batangas spokesperson, and June Arante, Anakbayan-Batangas secretary-general. They were arrested at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday while marching toward the city mayor's office. They were supposed to seek a dialogue with Mayor Eddie Dimacuha, Bautista added. Other members of militant organizations in the region are facing criminal charges for allegedly being involved in an ambush against government troops in Calapan City on March 2006. Among them is Pedro Santos Jr., former secretary-general of Anakbayan-Southern Tagalog. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812200010.html International Freedom of Expression Exchange Clearing House (Toronto) Tunisia: TV Reporter Sentenced in Absentia to Six Years in Prison for Covering Demonstrations 19 December 2008 Reporters Without Borders has learned that a court in Gafsa (350 km south of Tunis) sentenced reporter Fahem Boukadous in absentia on 11 December 2008 to six years in prison on a charge of "forming a criminal association liable to attack persons and their property" for covering demonstrations in the Gafsa mining region. Boukadous works for Al-Hiwar Attounsi, a privately-owned TV station based in Italy that broadcasts to Tunisia. "This harsh sentence is yet another example of the arbitrary manner in which all those who upset the authorities are treated," Reporters Without Borders said. "Journalism is a high-risk profession in Tunisia. The judicial system is subservient to the government led by President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and is always ready to convict anyone who could oppose the regime. Boukadous was just doing his job as a reporter." Boukadous' lawyer, Abderraouf al-Ayadi, told Reporters Without Borders the aim of the sentence was to prevent Boukadous from working as a journalist. "Fahem Boukadous never participated in the protests," he said. "He just sent footage of the incidents in the Gafsa mining region to the TV station." The lawyer added: "The police reports criticise Boukadous for his coverage of the protests, but Tunisian law does not punish TV broadcasts or working as a journalist. This decision was designed to sow terror among Tunisian journalists." http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Gulf%2C+Middle+East+%26+Africa&month=December2008&file=World_News2008121692028.xml Egypt jails 22 over food riots Web posted at: 12/16/2008 9:20:28 Source ::: AFP CAIRO: An Egyptian state security court jailed 22 demonstrators for between three and five years yesterday for taking part in deadly food riots in April, a judicial source said. Another 27 defendants were acquitted. The protesters were jailed for vandalism, resisting arrest and taking part in an illegal demonstration during the protests against low wages and high food prices in the Nile Delta industrial city of Mahalla on April 6-7. ?A special court in Tanta (in the Delta) sentenced 22 people to between three and five years in prison in accordance with the emergency law. Twenty-seven were acquitted,? the official said. Most of the defendants were workers at Mahalla?s textile mill, the largest in Egypt. One of those jailed was a woman demonstrator. Three civilians, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed by police, dozens were hurt and hundreds were arrested during the protests, part of a wave of demonstrations that swept the country earlier this year. Many of the arrested demonstrators were subsequently illegally handcuffed to their hospital beds during their recovery, sparking an outcry from Egyptian human rights groups. Demonstrations called to protest rising food prices turned violent when police used rubber-coated bullets and tear-gas on protesters who tore down billboard images of President Hosni Mubarak. Footage of the posters being torn down ? a crime against the president under Egyptian law ? and the subsequent violence could be seen on many television channels and on the Internet. In October, an Egyptian television agency boss was fined 150,000 pounds ($27,000) for broadcasting images of the rioters tearing down the portraits. Egypt?s emergency laws were imposed in 1981 after the assassination by Islamists of president Anwar Sadat. They allow special courts to try civilians with no right of appeal and are repeatedly criticised by human rights groups and regime opponents. Egypt extended its state of emergency by two years in May despite pledges to replace it with new legislation. The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights slammed the use of military courts to try civilians and demanded a retrial before an ordinary court. The rights group deplored ?the ongoing phenomenon of civilians being tried by military and state security tribunals. This is a clear violation of the universal right to face ordinary justice.? ?The accused should be tried again by ordinary courts in order to guarantee all their legal rights,? it said in a statement. Amnesty International also called for a retrial in ordinary courts. ?We urge the Egyptian authorities to stop undermining the ordinary criminal justice system by using extraordinary emergency courts that entrench human rights abuses, including torture,? Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy programme director, said in a statement. ?Those sentenced today are scapegoats used by the authorities to hide their inability to adequately handle the Mahalla protests and to cover up for their failure to investigate the killing of three people, including a 15-year-old boy?, she said. http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGPRE200812158682&lang=e&rss=recentnews PRESS RELEASE December, 15 2008 Emergency court rulings on Mahalla protests entrench abuses Amnesty International calls for the retrial by an ordinary court of 22 people sentenced today by an Emergency Court for their involvement in the violent protests of Mahalla in April 2008. ?Those sentenced today are scapegoats used by the authorities to hide their inability to adequately handle the Mahalla protests and to cover up for their failure to investigate the killing of three people, including a 15 year old boy,? said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy programme Director. The Emergency Supreme State Security Court (ESSSC), which was established under the Emergency law, flouts basic guarantees for fair trial and denies defendants the right to appeal. Monday?s prison sentences, which ranged from three to five years, are the first to be pronounced by the ESSSC since Egypt renewed the state of emergency in May 2008 invoking the treats of terrorism and instability in the region. Tariq Mohamed Abdel Hafiz Al Sawi, Ali Ali Amin Abu Omar, Ahmed Kamel Ahmed Mohamed Ismail, and Karim Ahmed Al Sayed Al Rifa?y, aged between 19 and 38, told the judges that they had been tortured by State Security investigations (SSI) officers to confess. However, the ESSSC has failed to order an independent investigation and used their confessions to sentence them to three years imprisonment. The 22 people sentenced on Monday are among a group of 49 people tried for their alleged participation in the violent protests against the rise in the cost of living which took place on 6 and 7 April in the industrial city of Mahalla, north of Cairo. At least three people, including schoolboy Ahmed Ali Mabrouk, died after being shot by the security forces while dozens were wounded in what appears to be excessive use of force during the protests. Amnesty International has been calling for an investigation into the killings by riot police of Ahmed Ali Mabrouk, as well as two men during the Mahalla protests. Such investigations are yet to take place. The ESSSC in Tanta, north of Cairo, acquitted all 49 people of the charges of arson and unauthorized assembly ?with the aim of disturbing public order and security? but sentenced 19 of them, mostly craftsmen in their twenties, to three years imprisonment on charges of theft. Ahmed El Sayed Al Dahan, a driver aged 24, and Mahmoud Abu Bakr El Shenawi, a carpenter aged 22, also received three years prison terms on charges of possession of firearms. Ahmed Abdel Raouf Hassanein, a 40-year-old unemployed man, was sentenced to five years for assault on police officers and possession of arms. ?We urge the Egyptian authorities to stop undermining the ordinary criminal justice system by using extraordinary emergency courts that entrench human rights abuses, including torture,? said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080076885 AP: Muted protests to killing of acid attack accused Uma Sudhir Wednesday, December 17, 2008, (Hyderabad) There was shock and public outrage after the acid attack last Wednesday on two final year engineering students in Warangal. The police was criticised for not acting promptly and effectively on one of the girls' complaint. The girl had complained that she was being hounded, and her family was being threatened with violence for not responding to her stalker's overtures. (Also see) "My husband is an ex-serviceman. He was supposed to defend the country. And yet there was no one to come to our rescue, to give us safety,'' said Sreelatha, mother of acid attack victim. A police force under pressure arrested and presented the three boys who threw acid before the media. Srinivas, one of the boys, confessed to the crime and even said that he had practiced throwing water 17 times on a doll. He said that he practised so that he would not miss causing maximum damage to the girl he claimed to have loved. Not much after the press conference, the police shot the three youth dead because the latter had apparently challenged an escorting police team. It's a theory few are buying, but given public celebrations at the deaths, no one's asking questions. The government also says that there will be no enquiry. "This kind of an action, intended or unintended, justifiable or unjustifiable, sends a clear message to those people who are likely to indulge in this kind of crime, by throwing acid. This is most cruel because you make a person suffer for as long as he lives,'' said M V Bhaskara Rao, Former DGP, Andhra Pradesh. The voices of outrage against the death of the attackers were limited and mostly confined to human rights activists. "If the police must do things like this for people to be scared, then we should take to public execution. Let us have a martyrs square every Sunday, start chopping off hands, legs and hands. Make a public example. Don't have a court, don't have the rule of law, don't have the courts, abolish everything,'' said Vasant Kannabiran, human rights activist. Opposition parties have said that the killing in custody was wrong but have not chosen to make too much noise about it. "Encounters are not the answer to solve the problem. We have to look at it differently where the mistake lies and why these things are happening in Andhra Pradesh,'' said Kadiam Srihari, TDP MLA, Warangal. One senior police officer who did not agree with the encounter killings said there was too much public and media pressure. But the question is whether the rule of law can be overruled by public opinion. "We need to nip it in the bud. It is important to report. These kind of attacks happen when there is no reaction. We need to take action fast, go to concerned authorities, be responsible,'' said Chalin Sawang, a student. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/12/16/colombia.shooting/index.html?eref=rss_latest December 16, 2008 -- Updated 1919 GMT (0319 HKT) BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Colombian soldiers on Tuesday killed the husband of a Colombian Indian protest leader, an army source said. Edwin Legarda was at a military checkpoint in the country's southwestern region when soldiers shot and killed him, the source said. He was the husband of Aida Quilcue. Legarda was killed when the military fired at his car some distance away from the checkpoint, a native Colombian Indian source said. Legarda's death comes not long after tens of thousands of Indians marched from the mountains of southwest Colombia to Cali, a city of 2 million, to demand more land, better education, health care and protection from corporations encroaching on their ancestral land. Protesters and police have clashed as well. Colombia's 1.3 million Indians rank among the most impoverished of the country's 40 million people. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Crime%20And%20Courts&set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20081229153015598C995794 Pretoria protesters let off the hook December 29 2008 at 04:20PM Charges have been withdrawn against 35 residents of the Schubart Park block of flats in Pretoria, police spokesperson Captain Dumisani Ndlazi said on Monday. They were arrested during violent protests in the Pretoria CBD on Christmas Day over power cuts apparently caused by a lightning strike at a power station. Police opened fire on the crowd with rubber bullets. It is understood that the case was withdrawn because those arrested could not be definitively linked to the protest. - Sapa http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/12/113_36899.html 12-28-2008 20:56 Largest opposition Democratic Party (DP) leaders protest against governing Grand National Party leader?s plan to pass some 85 bills this year at the DP?s headquarters in Seoul, Sunday. DP leader Chung Sye-kyun, right, holds a placard reading ?No wiretapping of mobile phones.? Others read, ?No ownership of banks and TV networks by chaebol? and ?no criminalization of protestors for wearing masks?. / Yonhap http://allafrica.com/stories/200812221084.html Nigeria: In Jos Riot-Police Killed 90 Youths in Summary Executions - Report Muhammad K. Muhammad 21 December 2008 Abuja ? Men of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army carried out more than 90 summary executions in suppressing the rioting that rocked Jos in November, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday. It listed a dozen separate incidents in which mainly Muslim men and youths were gunned down by men in uniform after the governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang, gave security agents a shoot-on-sight order. "Most of the killings", HRW said, "came on the same day after the Plateau State governor issued a 'shoot-on-sight' order to security personnel on November 29." In a report published yesterday, the US-based rights group referred to "seven separate incidents of arbitrary killing by the police during which at least 46 men and boys, all but two of whom were Muslims, were killed". "The vast majority of police killings were perpetrated by a specially trained anti-riot unit called the Police Mobile Force, known locally as MOPOL", the report said. It quoted a mechanic as saying that a number of mobile policemen had massacred at least 26 people in a garage. HRW also listed "six incidents involving the arbitrary killing of 47 men by the military. According to witnesses, all of the victims were Muslim men, nearly all were young, and most were unarmed at the time". There were wide allegations that uniformed men had broken into homes to bring out men, particularly youths, and shot them. In one incident, the HRW report said, "Witnesses described how four men wearing military uniforms and carrying assault rifles broke into three houses on two adjacent streets and gunned down at least 25 unarmed young men found hiding in these homes". According to the Associated Press, senior West Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, Corinne Dufka, expressed dismay over the incidents, saying: "The duty of the police and military was to stop the bloodshed generated by this extremely tragic episode of inter-communal violence, not contribute to it. "The Nigerian authorities should immediately set up an independent investigation into these extremely serious allegations". HRW also quoted military spokesman, Brigadier General Emeka Onwuamaegbu, in its report as saying: "Our soldiers went out with very strict instructions to use minimum force and follow the rules of engagement." The assistant commissioner of police in charge of operations in Plateau State, Oga Ero, also told the rights group that "there was no order by my officers to shoot on sight as far as I was aware". A number of fake soldiers were also arrested during the crisis, which resulted in the death of over 500 people and the destruction of billions of naira worth of property, including churches and mosques. Shortly after the crisis which was widely reported to have been poorly handled by security agents in Plateau State, police authorities redeployed the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Mr Samson Wudah to the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The authorities also ordered the mass redeployment of men and officers attached to the Plateau State Command, while those attached to the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) and its Chairman, Mr Gabriel Zi, were withdrawn. Rising from a meeting over the Jos crisis last Thursday, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) called for the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force. Speaking with journalists in Ibadan after the meeting, the President of the YCE, retired Major General Adeyinka Adebayo, said "YCE reiterates its calls for the decentralisation of the Police Force to all the three tiers of government and the private sector as has been done in many other parts of the world" if the nation were to overcome most of the security problems it faces currently. Adebayo also condemned what he called "the barbaric actions of some predators in human flesh who caused mayhem and murdered many innocent Nigerians recently in Jos", and called on the government "to find means to prevent a recurrent of such anywhere in Nigeria". Meanwhile, the plateau state local government election petition tribunal has been inaugurated at the chief magistrate court, Jos, over the weekend. The chairman of the tribunal, Ishaku Kunda, who presided over the session which marked the beginning of the tribunal, said they had so far received 33 petitions out of which six were for chairmanship while 27 were for councillorship elections. Kunda further stated that 15 petitions were from the southern zone, 18 from the central zone while the northern zone was yet to submit any. He also urged lawyers to avoid unnecessary applications so that the tribunal could quickly dispense justice, adding that the tribunal would live up to the tenets of its oath in adminstering justice without any sentiments. According to him, sittings for the purpose of taking evidence would be conducted in Pankshin and Shendam, headquarters of the respective zones, with six working days for each, in order to reduce the burden of transporting cases. He added that cases from the Pankshin zone would be heard on January 5. Mentioning of all petitions and preliminaries will take place from 29 to 31 December at the secretariat of the chief magistrate court 6. Reacting to the inauguration of the tribunal, the Coordinating chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties CNPP, Alhaji Muhammad Yusuf Kanam, said the setting up of the tribunal was irrelevant, pointing out that the election ought to have been cancelled by the state government. He also faulted the tribunal, alleging that one of its members was a card carrying member of the PDP. "We are challenging the state government on this tribunal because Mr Henry B. Gyang is a card carrying member of the PDP as well as their legal adviser; so how do you expect one to get fair hearing from people who are there to protect the interest of their party?" he asked. He condemned the Plateau State House of Assembly for keeping mute on the matter, stating that the House ought to have issued a comprehensive statement of its position on recent developments in the state but instead, it decided to remain silent. Kanam also called on the leadership of the State Assembly to come out and issue a comprehensive statement on recent developments in the state adding that CNPP would soon release a comprehensive statement to further make its position known to the world. (Daily Trust) From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 13:06:06 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:06:06 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] Ethnoreligious and miscellaneous protests, December 2008 Message-ID: <4AEC98AE.5030608@tesco.net> Group clashes, protests by particular groups, rightist protests, and some protests which don't fit anywhere else... * ZIMBABWE: Soldiers revolt over cash shortage * BANGLADESH: Nearly 50 dead after border guard uprising * US: Movie premiere sees Scientology protest * ISRAEL: Protest against "reality TV culture" * INDIA: Mumbai atrocity sparks wave of protests, some conciliatory, many communalist * BULGARIA: Cops hold string of protests * NEW ZEALAND: Anti-crime march in Opotiki * MEXICO: Doctors protest against drug crime * BELGIUM/EU: Steel workers protest climate change action * INDIA: Kolkata - Bigot protests stop AIDS centre * THAILAND: Protests against share listing of beer company * ISRAEL: Rightist settlers in protest over eviction * INDIA: Andhra Pradesh: Protest against pending Telangana deal * US: California - Jews, Indians protest against terrorism * INDIA: Kerala - Book cover protested over Buddha image * BULGARIA: Students in anti-crime protest after murder * SOUTH AFRICA: Cosatu protest killer appeal * AUSTRALIA: Bigots oppose local rehab centre * US: Protest against low income housing development * US: Christians protest Winter Solstice sign * SOUTH AFRICA: Football fans protest players' behaviour * PAKISTAN: Islamists in anti-US, anti-India protest * PAKISTAN: Students protest "blasphemy" * AZERBAIJAN: Protest at conference with Armenia * NEPAL: Ex-Gurkhas protest plan to stop recruitment * PARAGUAY: Landlords protest land occupations * SRI LANKA: Tamil protest against LTTE * INDIA: Puducherry - Cops protest against jailing for bribery * INDIA: Protest over division of community * INDIA: Protest over wine shop location * FRANCE: Symbolic protest "against new year" * INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest against reservations * NEW ZEALAND: Silent protest against abortion * INDIA: Tamil Nadu parties clash * BANGLADESH: Forty injured in group clashes between parties * BANGLADESH: Injuries in land dispute * INDIA: Group clashes roundup * NIGERIA: Katsina farmer-herdsmen clashes continue, 4 killed * SERBIA: Army veterans clash with police over Kosovo independence * PAKISTAN: 32 dead in clashes between MQM, ANP * BANGLADESH: 1 dead, 30 injured in land clashes * SUDAN: Thousands flee as army, police clash in central town * ISRAEL: Anti-Palestinian pogrom in Hebron sparks days of clashes * PERU: Police car torched, referee besieged in soccer unrest * GHANA: Party youth rally over location of presidential runoff * INDONESIA: Islamists rally for caliphate * INDONESIA: Churches, homes burnt in Maluku communal clashes http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/6192f501bf0aa478e6f2411652cdd41e.htm ZIMBABWE: Soldiers riot over cash shortage 28 Nov 2008 18:41:36 GMT Source: IRIN Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone. HARARE, 28 November 2008 (IRIN) - Uniformed Zimbabwean soldiers raided one of the capital's money-changing haunts after becoming frustrated with queuing to withdraw cash at a Harare bank, according to an IRIN correspondent who witnessed the event. The soldiers descended on foreign currency dealers in "Roadport" in central Harare on 27 November, where they assaulted money dealers and robbed them, an indication of the low morale among Zimbabwe's rank and file soldiers. A soldier, who declined to be identified, told IRIN that there were increasing levels of despondency among soldiers deployed by President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF government to suppress unrest and protest. "We have no food in the barracks. There is no medication in military hospitals, while we can not access our money in the banks. The general attitude is that even if people are to riot, there would be no enthusiasm to stop them. After all, we are all suffering, and the irony is that we have done our own rioting," the soldier said. Zimbabwe's official inflation annual rate is estimated at 231 million percent, but independent economists cite the inflation rate in the billions of percent; hyperinflation is causing widespread cash shortages. Banks have set a maximum daily limit of Z$500,000 (US$0.25), creating long queues at banks each day, with no guarantee there will be any money to withdraw. Go slow Soldiers and police officers are paid in local Zimbabwean dollars, and although in theory they are granted preferential treatment, in practice this is not occurring. A junior police officer, who declined to be named, told IRIN: "The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has a facility for us to collect money from the banks, but senior officers are looting all the money and asking us to go to get ours from the banks, and we have said we will not do much work, as we have no money." Low-ranking police and prison officers have embarked on a go-slow to protest their inability to access their wages, while the country's largest labour federation, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, and civil society organisations are calling on people to demand that banks allow them to withdraw all their money on 3 December. The cash shortages join other shortages such as food - the UN estimates that in the first quarter of 2009 nearly half the 12 million population will require food aid - medicines, electricity, fuel, potable water and agricultural implements. The collapse of municipal services has combined to produce a cholera epidemic that is sweeping the country, while Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal has stagnated; the latest dispute appears to be more about whether the power sharing deal has collapsed, or is on the verge of collapse. Bad blood A senior official of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who declined to be named, told IRIN a solution to the political impasse was not in sight. "The issues of genuine equal power-sharing, including the provincial governors and diplomatic appointments, will have to be ironed out before it is steered through Parliament. The matter of [former South African president] Mr [Thabo] Mbeki continuing as a facilitator would also have to be addressed." Mbeki was appointed as the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) negotiator, but the deal he brokered between the ruling ZANU-PF party and opposition MDC began unraveling at the first hurdle, when the signatories tried to decide on the allocation of government ministries. The MDC has questioned Mbeki's partisanship in recent months, but correspondence between MDC negotiator Tendai Biti and Mbeki, published by a South African newspaper on 28 November, has illustrated the bad blood between the Zimbabwe's opposition and the former South African president. In a letter to Mbeki on 19 November, Biti said the SADC decision to force the MDC to share the home affairs ministry with Mugabe's ZANU-PF was a "nullity", and warned that the Zimbabwe situation, "if left unresolved, will explode or implode, and indeed such an explosion or implosion will have a contagious multiplier effect in the region." Biti also said there was another wave of political violence against MDC supporters, contrary to the September power-sharing agreement, and that "the ZANU-PF regime is crafting an assassination plot, code-named Operation Ngatipedzenavo (Let Us Finish Them), intended to eliminate the MDC leadership." In his reply, addressed to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Mbeki said: "I must confess that the contents of this [Biti's] letter came to me as a complete surprise, causing me grave concern." Zimbabwe's regional burden Mbeki privately acknowledged in his correspondence to the MDC leader the Zimbabwean crisis was detrimentally affecting the SADC region, but "loyal to the concept and practice of African solidarity, none of our countries and governments has spoken publicly of this burden, fearful that we might incite xenophobia, to which all of us are opposed. "This particular burden is not carried by the countries of Western Europe and North America, which have benefited especially from the migration of skilled and professional Zimbabweans to the north," Mbeki said in the correspondence. "It may be that, for whatever reason, you [Tsvangirai] consider our region and continent as being of little consequence to the future of Zimbabwe, believing that others further away, in Western Europe and North America, are of greater importance." Mbeki's solution to the power-sharing deal impasse was: "All that is required is that you, the leaders of the people of Zimbabwe, should do what you have committed yourselves to do, and that is all!" Mbeki then used the opportunity to address the MDC's repudiation of the SADC as "cowards" after rejecting the SADC's recommendation that the MDC share the home affairs portfolio, which controls the police, with ZANU-PF. "All of us [SADC] will find it strange and insulting that because we do not agree with you on a small matter, you choose to describe us in a manner that is most offensive in terms of African culture, and therefore offend our sense of dignity as Africans." dd/go/he http://allafrica.com/stories/200812060008.html Zimbabwe: Rogue Soldiers to Appear Before Court-Martial 6 December 2008 Harare ? THE 16 soldiers who were arrested in connection with riots that broke out in Harare last week and this week are expected to appear before a court martial soon. Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena said the soldiers were still being held in custody as investigations intensified. "We are still investigating the case, but we expect the soldiers to appear before a court martial once investigations are completed," Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena said. Some rogue soldiers rampaged through the city centre last week and on Monday this week, damaging property, beating up people and stealing money in protest against cash shortages. Police -- in collaboration with the military police -- initially picked up 30 soldiers on Monday but released the rest after screening except for 10. The other six were arrested on Thursday last week. Government has since deplored the acts of violence, describing them as reprehensible and criminal and assured the nation that the situation was under control. Defence Minister Cde Sydney Sekeramayi said the incidents would be thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to book. He said the security forces had since put in place necessary measures to ensure that peace and tranquillity prevailed and that all citizens were entitled to carry on with their normal activities without fear. Cde Sekeramayi urged all Zimbabweans across the political divide, social affiliation or ethnic groups to shun violence and to desist from destructive actions and allow the political process to follow its peaceful course. (The Herald ? govt published) http://allafrica.com/stories/200812050560.html Zimbabwe: Govt Panics As Army Riots Dumisani Muleya And Constantine Chimakure 4 December 2008 PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe's government appears to be losing its 28-year hold on power, largely exercised through its iron grip on the military, with protests by soldiers this week. As the economic meltdown intensifies, starvation stalks the land, and a cholera epidemic spreads, military sources said Mugabe and his clique of loyal advisors are anxious to contain growing discontent within the army, the police, and the secret service. In the absence of a formal government, Mugabe is ruling with the help of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) and the Zanu PF politburo. The JOC brings together army, police and intelligence chiefs. The body itself has a divided view on what the solution to the current agitation in the army and public could be. Sources said JOC is fractured because some key members such as Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) director-general Happyton Bonyongwe and Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Philip Sibanda are seen as too soft compared to others like Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander General Constantine Chiwenga who support Zanu PF. While hardliners want a crackdown on dissent, reformers think political talks could be the best way out. Sources said Mugabe's diehards and some JOC members want the troops who rioted on Monday severely punished, while others want them to be warned and cautioned. The politburo was yesterday expected to deliberate on the riotous behaviour of the soldiers. Government is investigating the soldiers who staged protests twice inside a week against poor wages and working conditions. It was the first time since Independence in 1980 that troops have taken to the streets. A group of uniformed soldiers rampaged through Harare to protest poor pay and working conditions, causing alarm among the public. A similar riot happened last Thursday although it was confined to a small section of the city. The soldiers also chanted anti-Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono slogans and blamed him for bankrolling the foreign currency black market and denying the majority of Zimbabweans access to cash through the formal banking system. The agitated soldiers' primary targets were foreign currency dealers, but members of the public were caught in the crossfire while shops were looted. Mugabe's government was already facing strikes and protests by discontented public servants, including doctors and nurses. The discontent poses a serious threat to Mugabe's regime, and if fuelled by the military disturbances, it could erupt into a nationwide anti-government campaign. The incident on Monday, which resulted in injuries to onlookers, looting and damage to property, apparently [ends here] (Zimbabwe Independent) http://allafrica.com/stories/200812041034.html SW Radio Africa (London) Zimbabwe: Police Confirm Arrest of 16 Soldiers After Monday Cash Riots Lance Guma 4 December 2008 At least 16 soldiers were arrested this week, with 10 of them still being detained for interrogation following Monday's rioting in central Harare. The disturbances began last Thursday after frustrated soldiers failed to access their money from the banks. They went on a rampage, targeting foreign currency dealers, vendors and other innocent civilians. This week they upped the tempo, trawling through Market Square, Fourth Street, and the Road Port regional bus terminus, assaulting civilians, looting shops and beating up riot police who tried to intervene. Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told the state owned Herald newspaper that of the 16 soldiers arrested, 6 of them beat up people, while the other 10 were accused of looting shops in the city centre. 'Since we launched a joint investigation, which includes the military and the police, to look into what has happened, we have picked up 30 soldiers and screened them, leaving the 10 we have an interest in,' Bvudzijena said. On Tuesday the military police transported large sums of money from the different banks to the army barracks, to pay the soldiers, get them out of the bank queues and stave off further riots. The government has tried to blame the opposition for the soldier's rampage, saying it coincided with anti-government protests organized by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. On Wednesday the trade unions demonstrated against the cash withdrawal limits imposed by the central bank, but deny inciting the soldiers to riot. Analysts expressed worries that the accusations made by Defence Minister Sidney Sekeramayi were a precursor to pre-planned attacks and harassment of opposition activists. More importantly many believe Mugabe is desperate for an excuse to declare a state of emergency that will allow him to rule by decree. Meanwhile despite the Reserve Bank announcing new Z$10 million, Z$50 million and Z$100 million notes to go into circulation on Thursday, long queues persisted throughout the country at most banks. The state owned Herald newspaper announced the raising of cash withdrawal limits to Z$100 million a week for individuals and $50 million for company account holders. But the cash shortages continue and on Thursday our correspondent Lionel Saungweme in Bulawayo reported on how anti-riot police assaulted bank clients at Founders Building Society in the city on Thursday, after disturbances over the lack of money. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=79&art_id=nw20081202052302944C481730 Zim: Army clashes with money-dealers December 02 2008 at 05:27AM Harare - Zimbabwe's army beat up and arrested illegal foreign currency traders in the streets of Harare on Monday, accusing them of causing the country's severe cash shortages, police said. Soldiers clashed with dealers after the armed forces began rounding up currency traders in the capital, an AFP journalist said. Police were called to break up the clash, which degenerated into a looting binge in several shops, in which soldiers were accused of participating. The army and police refused to immediately comment. Black market foreign currency peddling has become rampant in Zimbabwe as the country battles food and chronic currency shortages with inflation at a staggering 231-million percent. Currency restrictions have led to long queues outside banks, with some depositors sleeping on the streets just to be at the front. While the currency, once on a par with the British pound, is in freefall, unemployment is a staggering 80 percent. In September, the reserve bank licensed some shops to sell goods in foreign currency in a bid to curb the burgeoning black market in basic commodities. Zimbabwe is also facing a cholera epidemic which has killed more than 400 people. - Sapa-AFP http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/features/article_1448724.php/Disgruntled_Zimbabwe_soldiers_warn_of_more_riots__News_Feature__ Disgruntled Zimbabwe soldiers warn of more riots (News Feature) Africa Features By Sebastian Nyamhangambiri Dec 16, 2008, 13:50 GMT Harare - In scenes that rattled the regime of President Robert Mugabe and stoked speculation its days were numbered, dozens of soldiers ran amok in the capital Harare on December 1 in protest over the country's economic meltdown. Some bystanders watched in amazement, some joined in as junior soldiers who, frustrated at being unable to access their meagre salaries because of acute cash shortages, ran through the streets, looting shops and attacking black-market currency dealers. Although the state moved quickly to put the genie back in the bottle, arresting 16 soldiers who face court martial proceedings, the footsoldiers of Mugabe's repressive regime warn they are likely to hit the streets again before long. 'Just like everyone else, we have stomachs and families to feed. We are suffering, just like most citizens in this country,' one junior officer Ola (not his real name) tells Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. Sitting in a house in Mbare township south-west of Harare in worn boots and faded fatigues, Ola, a 27-year-old father of two and Duke (not his real name), 29, tell of the frustration that provoked their outburst. 'There is no junior army officer that still supports Mugabe. We are tired, we are suffering,' says Duke. 'If a foreign army comes to fight us, we will join them or flee to a neighbouring country.' The riots began when the soldiers were forced to to stand in long line with ordinary Zimbabweans for their money at a bank ATM instead of being paid at the barracks. 'Cash ran out (at the barracks) because the top guns finished the money. We then started walking into town to queue for cash,' said Ola. 'We got angry when we could not get it (the banks ran out of cash). That is when the chaos started.' The rioting was the first open challenge to Mugabe in his 28 years in power from within the normally loyal military. While that loyalty is still strong among the top brass, whom Mugabe has showered with gifts, including luxury vehicles and confiscated farms, junior officers, who are feeling the pinch of the economic crisis, are showing signs of fatigue. The lowest-paid soldier in Zimbabwe earns about 10 dollars a month. 'I am now (illegally) changing money. My wife does that when I am at work,' says Ola, who has just returned from the city centre to receive a money 'drop' from his wife. 'Because of the recent unrest (a series of protests by unions and activists), we are not allowed to go on leave - lest the situation gets out of hand and the army is called in,' says Duke. 'They took our passports. Otherwise many of us could have fled the country and sought asylum,' Duke says amid widespread reports in recent months that thousands of soldiers have already deserted, mostly to South Africa in search of work. Although the soldiers were seen attacking money changers, Ola blames the police and military police for violence during the protest. The police used batons to quell the riot. 'The idea was to show the public that even soldiers were now tired of this chaos. We wanted them to join us in marching since they have the same problems like us,' Ola says. Coming after bombings at two police stations in recent weeks that were caused minimum damage and were described by police as an inside job, the riots have sparked speculation that Mugabe's hold on power may be loosening. Ola and Duke said junior soldiers were ready to meet the Mugabe regime 'head on.' 'The top guns are getting payment in foreign currency but the rest of us, we are getting shells of peanuts,' Ola complains. 'We want to see if we will get a substantial salary rise in December as they promised. Otherwise, there will be another round of protests.' http://www.buzzle.com/articles/238951.html Mugabe's Power Under Threat As Troops Riot Over Pay Zimbabwean soldiers clash with Harare police as cash shortage worsens and cholera epidemic spreads Dozens of Zimbabwean soldiers rioted in Harare yesterday, attacking banks after they were unable to withdraw their near worthless pay, in a further sign that Robert Mugabe may be losing control over the forces that have kept him in power. The unarmed soldiers also looted shops and were backed by some civilians as they clashed with riot police who fired teargas to break up the protest. The drastic cash shortages are caused by the country's 231m percent inflation rate, which has led the government to restrict people to withdrawing the equivalent of just 18p a day - not enough to buy a loaf of bread. The Associated Press reported that gunfire had broken out in the city center but it was not clear who fired. Though not large, yesterday's was the second such protest in a week and reflects a desperation within the military that will be of concern to Mugabe and his allies, who have relied on the army to suppress political opposition. Ordinary soldiers, often hungry and unable to feed their families, have grown disillusioned. If significant numbers were to turn against Mugabe, it could swiftly bring an end to his rule. The president's grip is in any case greatly weakened as Zimbabwe's collapse continues without respite. The authorities in Harare yesterday cut off water supplies to the city because there are not enough chemicals to treat the water in the midst of a cholera outbreak. The health ministry yesterday said cholera has now spread to all but one of Zimbabwe's 10 provinces, as sanitation systems break down across the country. The World Health Organization says about 425 people have died, but medical charities say the real figure is at least double that among the 11,000 reported cases. The UN estimates that 5 million people, about half Zimbabwe's population, will need food aid in the coming weeks. The opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, yesterday urged foreign governments to end the "man-made" humanitarian crisis, "as it has reached catastrophic levels". But there is unlikely to be any significant foreign aid until Mugabe agrees to implement the political deal reached in mid-September that required him to give up many of his powers to Tsvangirai, who was to be appointed prime minister. Mugabe has so far blocked its implementation by insisting that his Zanu-PF party should control all the key ministries, particularly those responsible for the security forces and finance. The most senior UN official in the country has warned that Zimbabwe could become a failed state similar to Somalia if the power-sharing deal fails. Agostinho Zacarias told a delegation led by the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan that Mugabe was more interested in protecting his power and legacy than rescuing Zimbabwe from disaster. "When asked by Mr Annan what would be the future of Zimbabwe were no political agreement reached, Mr Zacarias replied that it would become a 'Somalia', a failed state," said a report by Annan's delegation. "When asked what President Mugabe wants, Mr Zacarias explained that his interest is that of protecting his legacy and that of his political party." Mugabe's regime remains defiant. Yesterday it said it would not abide by a Southern African Development Community ruling that the seizure of white owned farms were illegal under international law. "They are daydreaming because we are not going to reverse the land reform exercise," Didymus Mutasa, the security minister, told the Herald newspaper. ? Guardian News & Media 2008 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/1203/1228234990887.html Wednesday, December 3, 2008 Frustrated soldiers clash with police in Zimbabwean capital over pay HUNDREDS OF unarmed soldiers engaged in looting and clashed with riot police in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, for the second time in a week on Monday after becoming frustrated with the city's banks over unpaid wages, writes BILL CORCORAN in Cape Town Angry soldiers looted shops and attacked money-changers operating in the black market, stealing their cash after banks refused to let them draw down most of their monthly wages, according to Associated Press reporters who witnessed the chaos. The country's banking system only allows customers to withdraw Zim$500 (less than a euro) per day, due to the country's dire financial situation and a lack of hard cash, which makes it impossible for the majority of people to survive. One civilian was shot and dozens of soldiers were arrested by the armed police, in what was just one of a number of recent episodes that highlight the country's deepening economic crisis and descent into ruin. The army played down the violence saying it was carried out by a "small number of indisciplined soldiers", but opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai warned the country had completely collapsed and called on the African Union to intervene. "The country is reaching a catastrophic level, in terms of food, health delivery, education. Everything seems to be collapsing around us," he said. Zimbabwe has come to a virtual standstill since last September because the country's rival political parties cannot agree on the details of a powersharing deal that paves the way for a new inclusive government. In the ensuing political vacuum the economy has collapsed, as have local government and health services, which has led to the outbreak of numerous diseases, including a cholera epidemic that has claimed the lives of over 500 people to date. On Monday, Harare's two million residents were left without water because the government-run Zimbabwe National Water Authority ran out of purification chemicals and was forced to stop pumping into the city's water reticulation system. Nearly 500 people have now died of cholera in the country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday."Cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe have occurred annually since 1998, but previous epidemics never reached today's proportions. The last large outbreak was in 1992 with 3,000 cases recorded," the WHO said in a report. Zimbabwean rights groups estimate that up to 1,000 people have died from the disease. "I'm shocked at the deteriorating humanitarian crisis," said EU development commissioner Louis Michel, urging the government to allow full assistance in from abroad. - (additional reporting: Reuters) http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Africa&set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=vn20081203053242603C155949 Mugabe shaken by rioting soldiers December 03 2008 at 06:26AM By Stanley Gama & Siyabonga Mkhwanazi Zimbabwe's capital Harare was calm but tense on Tuesday a day after hundreds of soldiers ran amok, rampaging through the streets and looting from shops in an unprecedented show of anger which has left President Robert Mugabe's government shaken. While the government announced that the situation was under control, heavily armed military police and riot police could be seen throughout the city while convoys of armoured vehicles and police trucks patrolled the streets the whole day. Witnesses told The Mercury that military police were busy in the city centre ordering every uniformed officer to return to barracks as they feared a repeat of Monday's violent protests. The soldiers ran riot, accusing the country's leaders of making them suffer while they enriched themselves. A combination of other factors is said to have triggered the sudden unrest by the usually loyal soldiers, including their failure to access cash from banks, their salaries being worthless and the general hardships they are facing. It now turns out that the protests were organised to be held at the same time in all the major cities but most were foiled even before they started. Both the army and the police were said to have made arrests although they are still being kept a secret. Alarmed by the rampage and looting in which shops lost goods worth millions of dollars, the government on Tuesday issued a stern warning to the soldiers while at the same time confirming that they had looted in the city. The minister of defence, Sidney Sekeramayi, also claimed that the situation was under control. "During the last five days, Harare experienced disturbances perpetrated by unruly elements from the Defence Forces. "As a result, properties were damaged, innocent people were injured, money and property was stolen," he told a press conference. "These actions are unacceptable, deplorable, reprehensible and criminal. The ministry of defence expresses sincere regret that this has happened and would like to assure Harare residents and the nation that the situation is under control." Sekeramayi also warned the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions against going ahead with their planned nationwide strike scheduled for Wednesday. "It is regrettable that these incidents happened at a time when there is also a call for a nationwide stay-away and demonstrations by the unions and some other anti-government civil organisations. The coincidence of the incidents and the call for nationwide stay-away demonstrations raises a lot of questions. "The security forces shall take all necessary measures to ensure that peace and tranquillity prevail and that peace-loving citizens are allowed to carry on with their normal activities without fear," said the defence minister. Top police sources said there was panic within the government as a joint union and soldiers' protest might be difficult to control. With the capital Harare without water for a second day running on Tuesday, staff at the city's main hospital stayed away from work. The World Health Organisation said the cholera outbreak could get worse unless people were treated quickly. The WHO said 483 people were now known to have died from the water-borne disease. Meanwhile, Congress of the People national spokesman Phillip Dexter has said Robert Mugabe should step down or "be forcibly removed". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5800613.ece February 26, 2009 Bangladesh: nearly 50 dead after border guard uprising (Rafiqur Rahman/Reuters) An injured Bangladeshi man is carried to safety during the violence Image :1 of 3 Jeremy Page in Delhi Gun and mortar fire echoed across the capital of Bangladesh yesterday as the police and army fought a group of border guards who mutinied, took hostages and seized a shopping mall. The Government said that nearly 50 people were killed before the rebels from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) began to lay down their arms and release about another 50 women and children they had held hostage. Kamrul Islam, the Deputy Law Minister, entered the besieged barracks to negotiate the mutineers? surrender. ?We talked to the BDR troops and they said some 50 officers have been killed,? he said, adding that he could not confirm the deaths because he had not seen the bodies. ?We heard that the casualties were kept at a hospital inside the compound.? It was unclear whether the two-month-old Government had met the rebels? demands for better pay and working conditions ? a common complaint among state employees. The fighting in central Dhaka raised fears initially of another military coup in a country that has witnessed several such takeovers since winning independence from Pakistan in 1971. Panic spread across the city and traffic came to a halt while a military helicopter hovered over the BDR complex and several explosions were heard. ?There has been a huge exchange of gunfire at the headquarters. We have heard mortar fire,? Nabojit Khisa, the chief of police, said. The mutineers soon made it clear, however, that rather than staging a coup they wanted a better pay package, including the right to take part in UN peacekeeping missions. ?We have always been neglected and continuing apathy towards our genuine demands has pushed our backs to the wall,? a guard told the ATN television network. The guards said that they had become angry when their officers failed to raise their complaints with Sheikh Hasina, the newly elected Prime Minister, when she visited their headquarters the day before. ETV, another local television channel, said that the guards left their barracks chanting slogans and seized a conference hall where officers were meeting. Some also occupied a shopping centre, the channel said, and several bystanders were hit by bullets. A rickshaw driver was shot outside the barracks and died at the state-run Dhaka Medical College Hospital, according to doctors. Several television channels said that the Bangladesh Rifles commander was wounded or possibly killed. Police said that they had found the bodies of two senior officers dumped in a drain behind the barracks. They were identified as Colonel Mujibul Haq and Colonel Enayet. The Prime Minister was keen to bring a quick and peaceful end to the stand-off, which threatened to grow into mass protests over high food prices and rampant corruption. After several hours of fighting she met 15 of the renegade troops at her home and offered them a general amnesty in return for their surrender. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/cruises-movie-premiere-sees-anti-scientology-protests_100131726.html Cruise?s movie premiere sees anti-Scientology protests December 16th, 2008 - 9:47 pm ICT by IANS - London, Dec 16 (IANS) Anonymous, an anti-Scientology group, held protests at the premiere of Tom Cruise? latest film ?Valkyrie? in New York.Anonymous made their presence felt with placards and chanting, reports thesun.co.uk. The superstar, however, looked unperturbed as he made his way into the Time Warner Building, where he joined British co-stars Bill Nighy and Eddie Izzard. This is not the first time anti-Scientology groups have protested against Cruise, a firm believer of the cult, and his family. Earlier, such groups held protests at his wife Katie Holmes? Broadway debut ?All My Sons? and said the actress had been duped into joining the religious movement. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/128886 Youth, Actors and Others Protest Against Reality TV Culture by Hillel Fendel (IsraelNN.com) Artists, actors, leaders of the IUPA (Israeli Union of Performing Artists), youth movements and others will hold a large rally on Tuesday evening, protesting the prevalent cultural preferences in Israel ? especially the ?Big Brother? phenomenon. The protest will be held at the Tel Aviv Museum plaza, precisely as the winner of Israel?s ?Big Brother? reality TV series airs on Channel Two. The show features a group of contestants who are filmed nearly 24 hours a day as they live together in a house for three consecutive months without leaving. The show has received much public criticism, but also high ratings. The protest event is being organized by the Performing Arts Core Groups movement, which organizes educational and cultural events in outlying communities. Among the prominent personalities scheduled to take part in the protest are TV personality Dori Ben-Ze?ev, Gashash HaHiver comedian Shaike Levy, musician/actor Nir Friedman, musician Arnon Friedman, editor and Prof. of Literature Nissim Kalderon, and representatives of the National Parents Association. ?When the messages are violent, shallow, and coarse, and that the lowest common denominator is what sells,? the promotional literature for the protest states, ?this explains the sorry state of our education, leadership, and language, and the loss of our social solidarity.? ?We demand culture of a different type!? the protestors say. The Performing Arts Core Groups movement has demands on the public as well: ?The consumer has a mission in creating different culture, and he must demand it. In the outlying communities, there are barely any options other than TV, and it is TV that nearly exclusively dictates our cultural consumption patterns. We are not fighting against a specific program; ?a different culture? is a social and national challenge.? The IUPA agreed to join forces with the above group in this mission, and IUPA Chairman Yankele Mendel explained, ?I don?t have a problem with these reality shows, but it must be in proportion. Everyone goes with the flow, saying, ?This is what people want.? Israeli culture is thus being liquidated in front of our very eyes, and the regulator is silent. But there are still many people who want something else, of a higher quality, and therefore we call on those who care about the coming generations to attend the rally.? Click here for the White Dot international campaign against television website. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5ec06bd8-c16f-11dd-831e-000077b07658.html Political elite feels wrath of protesters By Joe Leahy in Mumbai Published: December 3 2008 19:52 | Last updated: December 3 2008 19:52 The people of Mumbai on Wednesday night staged one of the biggest protests against the city?s political elite seen in years as anger over the terrorist strikes spilled on to the streets. The city?s southern Colaba area, whose main landmark, the Taj Mahal hotel, was the scene of some of the worst violence in the three-day assault, was gridlocked as people waving Indian flags and carrying banners marched through the streets. ?It is great to see that for the first time the public is out in mass [to protest] against this lazy government and terrorism,? said Farhan Jehani, the owner of Leopold Caf?, which was also targeted by the terrorists. In the days following the strikes, politicians have committed a series of gaffes including that by R.R. Patil, Maharashtra state home minister, who resigned after describing the attacks, which many see as India?s September 11, as a ?small incident?. In another incident the Communist party chief minister of Kerala state, V.S. Achuthanandan, was asked to leave when he visited the home of commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was killed in the strikes. Upset at being turned away, he seemed to insult the house to a television crew. Protest banners on Wednesday told of the public?s disillusionment. ?3 Enemies: politicians, terrorists, Dawood?, said one, referring to Mumbai underworld chief Dawood Ibrahim who is thought to be hiding in Pakistan and suspected of funding terrorist activities. ?Let us declare war on politicking?, read another while a third simply said: ?Help Us!? A group of Muslims also joined the protests. ?This is not jihad. It is absolutely against our Islam to kill anyone, these terrorist are only stupid,? said Sabir Nirbany, of the Ezad Academy. The protests come as police defused bombs left at Mumbai?s main railway station by the terrorists. Meanwhile, a senior police officer told the Financial Times that two days before the attacks, the group of 10 terrorists spoke to Yusuf Muzammil, chief of the banned Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba via a satellite phone that has been recovered from a fishing trawler hijacked by the men. The group also underwent training in a Lashkar-e-Taiba camp in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, the official said. This was confirmed by city police chief Hasan Gafoor. He said the lone terrorist in custody, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab or Mr Khan, told police of the training. ?Investigations and interrogations of the arrested terrorist have indicated that they were trained by former army men. Kasab however, refused to divulge the nationalities of their trainers?, said Mr Gafoor in the first press conference held after the attacks. Mr Gafoor said Mr Kasab told interrogators he and fellow gunmen spent between a year and 18 months in a Lashkar-e-Taiba camp. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/mumbaiterrorstrike/Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080076539&type=News Shiv Sena protests against lawyer willing to fight for Qasab NDTV Correspondent Monday, December 15, 2008 2:34 PM (Mumbai) The Maharashtra government has still not been able to find a lawyer for Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole terrorist captured alive during 26/11 attacks. And now, the Shiv Sena is staging protests outside the homes of lawyers who seem willing to take up the case. The party has staged protests outside the homes of two lawyers Ashok Saraogi and Mahesh Deshmukh. Earlier, a powerful Metropolitan Magistrate Bar Association had passed a resolution that its members would not take up his case. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/mumbai-muslims-protest-against-pakistan_100135533.html Mumbai Muslims protest against Pakistan December 27th, 2008 - 2:55 pm ICT by ANI - Mumbai, Dec 27 (ANI): Muslims in Mumbai held a rally on Friday to protest against the inaction of Pakistan government on the terror outfits operating from its territory after India blamed Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, for last month??s Mumbai attacks which killed 179 persons. Raising voice against Pakistan, the demonstrators urged the Indian government to destroy all militant camps operating in Pakistan. ?I want to inform the Government and give a message to the whole nation that all the militant camps should be destroyed. Islam asks you to sacrifice your life for the country you live in,? said Aftab Ahmad Khan, a protestor. The demonstrators holding dummy AK-47 rifles also demanded from the government that the police force should be fully equipped to deal with the militants. Relations between India and Pakistan have simmered after the former blamed the outlawed LeT for the spate of terror attacks in India. India has blamed Pakistan of backing out of its earlier commitment to take action against those involved in the terror attacks and has asked Islamabad to stop terrorist outfits operating from its soil. On the contrary, Pakistan has denied any links to the assault and has promised to cooperate with India in investigations into the assault, if provided with proof. (ANI) http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121660870300.htm New Delhi Lawyers protest against terror attacks NEW DELHI: A large number of Delhi lawyers took out a silent march here on Monday in protest against the Mumbai terror attacks, demanding concrete action against terrorists and their training camps. The march was organised by the Delhi High Court Bar Association and lawyers belonging to all district courts? bar associations participated in it. The protesters carried placards expressing condolences to the martyrs killed in the attacks as well demanding a firm action against the perpetrators and the sponsors of the crime. The march started from the High Court premises and terminated at the India Gate. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121458850400.htm New Delhi Lawyers to take out protest march New Delhi: Lawyers practising in different courts in the national Capital, including the Delhi High Court, will take out a protest march against the Mumbai terror attacks on Monday. ?The lawyers will march from the High Court complex to India Gate lawn at 3 on Monday afternoon,? said K C Mittal, president of High Court Bar Association (HCBA). ?The entire country is reeling under frequent barbaric acts of terrorists and even the courts are not spared by them,? Mittal said. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081207054313.q4fwl8j4p0&show_article=1 Indian Muslims protest against the Mumbai attacks during a rally in Siliguri Indian Muslims protest against the Mumbai attacks during a rally in Siliguri. Indian police have resumed interrogations of two men arrested on suspicion of helping militants carry out the Mumbai attacks, which have stoked tensions with neighbouring Pakistan. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7763446.stm Wednesday, 3 December 2008 Rulers bear brunt of Mumbai anger By Prachi Pinglay BBC News, Mumbai The protesters made their point forcefully but peacefully "I expect the government to exit en masse. I feel as if someone has broken into our homes. We have lived in Mumbai all our lives and we feel violated," said Khursheeda Mody alongside her friends, Gita and Reshne. The three women were among thousands of people who had gathered for a peace rally called to protest against the recent attacks. The message calling the protest was widely circulated by texts, with no one group organising the event. At the Taj Mahal Palace hotel - which was under siege by suspected terrorists for nearly 60 hours last week - there was no sign of apprehension. Thousands were unafraid to join the gathering from late afternoon. Candles Twilight is the time when south Mumbai normally witnesses an exodus of people who live by the tick of their watches and head for their suburban homes. On Wednesday, it was the other way round. I hope the government takes action and respects what people have to say Ismail Patanwala People came in groups or on their own - college students, professionals, retired citizens, religious groups, activists, celebrities and scores of other ordinary men and women. There were hundreds of candles, placards and signature campaigns. Several groups sang the Indian national anthem. Urban educated professionals demanded that citizens should not pay taxes until there was a serious security plan. Some demanded the resignations of all political leaders in power, advocating a "no-vote" option in forthcoming elections so that people could register their lack of faith in existing political representatives. Others called for a separate city-state status for Mumbai, India's financial capital. There were demands for compulsory military training for youngsters, "so that they can at least save themselves in such times of crisis". 'Ruined' While there were calls for military action against Pakistan, others pointed out that the media should exercise self-control while covering sensitive army operations and events that could create panic. However, everyone wanted the politicians to improve their act. "Politicians have ruined this country," said Naina, who proudly wore an "I love Bombay" T-shirt. Khursheeda, Gita and Reshne: Anger at government "Politicians have divided people for their benefit," she said. "We need to bring good people to govern this country." TS Anklesaria, who attended the gathering from a distant suburb with his wife, said that "perhaps the time has come to adopt what Jinnah said and not what Mahatma Gandhi said". "Jinnah said that if someone slaps you once, you must slap him harder. That is what we need now." Amid this plethora of demands and slogans, there was also support for systemic changes to the Indian political structure. "This gathering shows the strength of people. It is really nice that all of them have come together to make a point. I hope the government takes action and respects what people have to say," Ismail Patanwala said. Parul and Supreeta, who both have backgrounds in the defence industry, said that it was "not acceptable that anyone can saunter in with an AK-47 and shoot people". They argued that there needs to be "a serious security plan not for a few months but forever". But it was lack of faith in the political governance of India that seemed to sweep away other emotions. As one female college student succinctly put it: "I don't think anyone can do anything about this situation. I do not expect anything from the government. Whatever we have to do, we have to do it ourselves." http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/08/stories/2008120858060300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad Muslims hold protest march against terrorism Special Correspondent Misuse of the name of Islam for terror activities condemned ? PHOTOs: NAGARA GOPAL and K. Ramesh Babu Showing resentment: Women holding placards during a peace march organised by COVA. (Right) Train passengers lighting candles during ?Deep Aradhana? organised in memory of Mumbai terror attack victims, at Kacheguda railway station on Sunday. Hyderabad: It was a small but impressive rally. There was neither slogan shouting nor speeches. Holding placards denouncing terrorism, Muslims representing various organisations marched from the Mecca Masjid to the Quli Qutb Shah Stadium on Sunday. Similar rallies were taken out by Muslims in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Faizabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai on Sunday. Speaking to presspersons later, Mazher Hussain, executive director, Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA), strongly condemned the misuse of the name of Islam for terror activities. Those who indulged in terror should not be linked with any religion. Only this way they could be discouraged, Mr. Mazher said. Global phenomenon Terrorism had become a global phenomenon. People ought to voice their anger against such acts otherwise the terrorists would get legitimacy, he said. Meanwhile, at Kacheguda Railway Station, the setting couldn?t have been better than the century-old edifice to light a candle in memory of innocent victims of terrorism who died at another historical landmark - Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus (CST) in Mumbai. On Sunday, hundreds of people, without any prompting and invitation, volunteered on their own to light a candle in memory of the victims. There were software professionals, porters, passengers, railway police, auto and taxi drivers and even children who turned up to pay homage to the departed. Society for Preservation of Environment and Quality of Life (SPEQL) organized the light your candle ceremony at Kacheguda Railway Station. Nearly 500 people turned up, despite it being a Sunday, to take part in the ?light a candle? programme. ?Both CST and Kacheguda Railway Stations were set up in the late 1800s. They have continued to be in use even today despite the passage of 100 years. Moreover, so may people lost their lives and we thought this is the ideal place to remember them and light a candle,? said SPEQL president P. Anuradha Reddy. The programme concluded with the national anthem and slogans of ?Bharat Maata Ki Jai?. Several members from various organisations, including the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Hyderabad, Narrotam Das, were present on the occasion. http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/29mumterror-ban-pia-flights-at-mumbai-airport-demand-protestors.htm Ban PIA flights at Mumbai airport, demand protestors December 29, 2008 The residents of Sahar Village along with the members of Mitra Mandal, a non-governmental organisation, staged a protest against the recent terror strike on Mumbai [Images] at the Chhattrapati Shivaji International Airport in the city on Monday. The protestors urged the airport authorities to ban all aircraft of the Pakistan International Airlines from taking off or landing at the airport. It also urged airport workers to refuse to undertake any work such as loading, unloading, ground handling and catering of PIA flights. The protestors carried pigeons and posters of the Indian tricolour during the demonstration. They also chanted slogans against Pakistan and President Asif Ali Zardari [Images]. Photograph: Arun Patil http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/04/2437295.htm Thousands protest as anger grows in Mumbai Posted Thu Dec 4, 2008 7:00am AEDT Updated Thu Dec 4, 2008 7:46am AEDT Protest: Locals light candles to mark the attacks (Reuters) ? Related Story: Pakistan must cooperate with Mumbai terrorism probes: Rice ? Related Story: Police find explosives at Mumbai rail station Movie stars and sportsmen have joined thousands of Mumbai citizens in a protest against last week's attacks and the Government's failure to prevent them. The protests, organised by text messages and on social networking websites like Facebook, were the biggest outpouring of public anger and frustration since Wednesday's attacks by Islamist militants that killed more than 170 people. Around 10,000 protesters, many holding candles and flowers, marched from all over Mumbai and congregated at the Gateway of India, close to the Taj Mahal hotel, scene of a 60-hour siege. "You can see how angry people are and how hurt everyone is," said Mahesh Patel, a middle-aged trader who walked with a huge slogan-shouting crowd of students. "I have come with my friends because we cannot take it any more. The politicians must act, they must stop taking us for granted." Holding placards and banners condemning terrorism, the emotionally charged crowd raised slogans against Pakistan and Indian politicians. "Down down Pakistan, attack Pakistan," they shouted angrily. "Hail India, shame shame politicians." The demonstrators were furthered angered by news that it had taken police a week to find explosives hidden at the city's main rail station. Indian television quoted police sources saying that "improvised explosive devices" were found among baggage that belonged to victims gunned down when Islamist militants launched attacks across the city last Wednesday night (local time). They were similar to devices found outside the Taj Mahal and Oberoi/Trident hotels and Leopold's cafe, three of the main targets of the attacks that left 188 people dead and around 300 injured. They appeared to have been left "in the hope that they would go off later," the television quoted police as saying. Middle-class anger Mumbai has seen a slew of protests this week, as its largely middle-class civil society becomes more vocal in demanding accountability from politicians already under fire for failing to prevent militant attacks. For years, Islamist militants have bombed Indian cities, killing thousands of people, but public outrage has died down within days of every attack. But this time, social scientists say, is different. "The latest attacks affected some of the richest sections of the population, and since they have greater access to power and the media, their voices are being amplified," S Parasuraman, director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences said. "So together with the poorer sections of the society it is possible to crystallise this anger into a process that will exert pressure on the Government to clear up the mess." Text messages ridiculing politicians are circulating fast. One read: "Don't worry about terrorists coming by boat, they will end up dead. Worry more about those who come by your vote." A steel-making company even brought out a full page advertisement on Wednesday mourning the dead while also urging people to vote out corrupt politicians. "Learn to differentiate between good and bad politicians," the advertisement read. "They want to see incompetent, corrupt and ineffectual representatives go," Rahul Srivastava of Pukar, a Mumbai-based social organisation, wrote in the Mumbai Mirror newspaper. "Today, the middle classes and upper middle classes are waking up to the fact that they have to deal with politicians up front." Public anger was being vented as much through the internet as on the streets of Mumbai. Internet-savvy students and activists set up websites and blogs to encourage demonstrations. Websites spread the word about demonstrations and urge participation, while bloggers and social networking sites like Twitter and Flickr were buzzing. Advertising executive Sunil Agarwal, 42, said India's intelligence apparatus should be disbanded. "We lost our heroes," said Anamika Sharma, a housewife who came with her two college-going children. "This is the chance to find them in us. This is the time to show the politicians what people power is." - Reuters http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121754130300.htm Karnataka - Gulbarga BJP protest GULBARGA: Members of the district unit of the BJP on Tuesday took out a procession here from Jagat Circle to the Deputy Commissioner?s officer after blocking the road near the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Chowk under the leadership of district BJP president Amarnath Patil and zilla panchayat vice-president Suresh Sajjan. The protest was against ?failure of the UPA Government to deal strictly against terrorists and their supporters?. ? Special Correspondent http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/1201/1227910421501.html Monday, December 1, 2008 Inevitable public outrage finally erupts in street protests In this section ? ? India to overhaul and boost national security Army put on alert at border with Pakistan in New Delhi ? Late arrival of commandos just one of many mistakes ? 'Deadly fighters, disciplined and motivated' Harry McGee in Mumbai IT WAS hardly an hour since an unseen Indian army commando had dumped the limp body of the last extremist out of the ground floor window of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. In the vicinity of the massive building - India's most famous hotel - a heavy pall of putrid smoke still hung in the air as firefighters worked to douse the fires that were sparked by the last fierce gun battle inside. Some of the exquisite turrets and towers of the landmark building - the most potent symbol of Mumbai's status as India's financial capital and most cosmopolitan city - had been charred and disfigured by the onslaught and siege of the previous 62 hours. But at 9am on Saturday morning, if you moved a block or two away from the hotel's seafront location in the touristy Colaba area of the city, visually it was as if nothing had happened over the previous two days. Sure, a straggle of onlookers stood at the cordons watching the mop-up operation. But at popular tourist restaurant Leopolds, the only sign of the slaughter that claimed eight lives only three nights previously was a sad piece of string cordoning off the entrance. It was closed. There were no police nor any security outside. Passersby ambled up to try and peer through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. Superficially, it was almost as if the atrocity was being absorbed and swallowed up by this vast city of 16 million people. Such absorption, a kind of psychological denial of atrocities, has been a recurrent phenomenon in recent Indian history. The Mumbai attack, which has claimed 172 lives so far, is the worst atrocity, but only just, in India this year. Astoundingly, some 2,300 lives had been claimed in various attacks in Kashmir, Assam, Delhi, Jaipur and Ahmedebad in 2008, most carried out by Islamic extremists and separatists. And Mumbai (formerly Bombay) has not been immune from terrorist attacks. The bombing of commuter trains in July 2006 claimed 190 lives and there have been a series of terrorist attacks stretching back to 1993. A constant refrain from commentators was that no lessons had been learned from previous attacks. "Horror is part of life," an elderly American resident of the city told me when trying to explain the psyche of a city where wealth and poverty coexist cheek by jowl. "People in Bombay are born into a situation where people are dying and dead on the street and people step over them. Your defences are against anything that is negative. You cannot believe how people turn off bad news." That may well be so. But the quiescence on Saturday morning was deceptive. This time the sense of horror seemed of an altogether different dimension. What marked this out as particularly egregious stemmed from the sophistication of the planning and the deliberate rationale behind the choice of multiple targets; the two most famous hotels; the beacon for western tourists, Leopolds; and an obscure Jewish centre (the only one in the entire city). The inevitable public outrage finally erupted yesterday with huge street protests and the enforced resignation of the Indian home minister and national security adviser. And even before that, there was an extraordinary volume of vitriol and anger being directed at politicians of all hues, from prime minister Manmohan Singh to local politicians in Mumbai. Newspapers condemned the anaemic responses, text messages lampooned them, commentators on television lashed out openly at the "corruption" and ineptitude of the political classes. The outspokenness of actor Arjun Rampal, Bollywood's version of George Clooney, was typical. Speaking during a debate on a local TV station, he said: "The people who should be hiding their faces today are our politicians. We have shown the world how vulnerable and susceptible we are to terrorism. "We have done nothing about it since 1993 [the first major terrorist attack on Mumbai] until now," he said. That theme - that India's political class has learned nothing from the many previous terrorist attacks - recurred many times this week. Mumbai intellectual Gerson da Cunha, speaking on the same programme, referred to the tactic used by the terrorists holed up in the Taj hotel of switching off the lights. "In the Taj in the ballroom, when they were fighting in the dark, for me it symbolised the whole situation," he said. "We have to face the fact that in this area we are amateur and inept and have done a thoroughly bad job." In the 60 hours of the siege, it seemed as if normal life was suspended in the city. Mumbaikars spoke of little else, were glued to the rolling news coverage on over half a dozen channels. What was evident was the huge sympathy for those in the frontline and the victims. Posters were put up in virtually every shop in the suburb of Bandra saying: "We salute Mumbai police. We mourn the loss of Mumbaikars." Services and vigils were held across the city. Volunteer support centres were set up. The media described what happened as "India's 9-11". For once, they were not overstating it. http://andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=37243 Protests outside Taj demanding political accountability Updated: 12-01-2008 andhracafe --> Email this Page Mumbai, Nov 30 Hundreds of Mumbaikars gathered in front of the Taj hotel here and blasted politicians for failing to tackle terrorism. The protesters, a majority of whom comprised the young, carried banners demanding political accountability. They also hoisted the national flag at the site. One such protestor said: 'We saw the National Security Guard (NSG), the army and the police at their best while tackling the crisis, but what were the politicians doing? Where were they in those crucial moments?' The gathering took place Sunday afternoon, a day after the Mumbai terror tragedy ended leaving 183 people dead. Many others at the protest expressed anguish that terror had become a regular feature in the city of Mumbai that has witnessed a spate of terror attacks starting in 1993 when 257 people were killed. 'We want politicians to own up responsibility! We have had enough!' said another youngster. An elderly man said that he hoped that the public outcry would reach politicians 'who seemed to be in hiding'. http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=441201 Mumbaikars form human chain to protest against terrorism ________________________________________ IANS Friday 12th December, 2008 Thousands of Mumbaikars, including housewives and students, formed a human chain Friday to protest against terrorism. Carrying banners and placards with the motto of promoting peace, they shouted slogans condemning the terror attacks on India's financial capital. While one end of the chain was at Nariman House at Colaba, the other end was at the Oberoi Trident hotel. The protestors met midway on Swami Vivekananda Road in Bandra West. Another similar chain was formed in the eastern and western suburbs. Nariman House and Oberoi Trident hotel were two of the several prominent places in south Mumbai where terrorists struck on the night of Nov 26, killing at least 170 people and injuring about 300. Jatin Desai, one of the organisers of the human chain, told IANS that the effort evoked 'tremendous, spontaneous response from the Mumbaikars' who stepped out of their homes, offices and educational institutions to take part in the human chain. 'Many individuals carried banners and placards with slogans for peace on them, many raised slogans against terrorism. They took a firm stand against terror,' Desai said. Over a 100 voluntary organisations and NGOs took part in the effort co-ordinated by the group Mumbai for Peace. People from all walks of life, ages, faiths and linguistic groups around the city participated enthusiastically in the event. Prominent citizens like Tushar Gandhi (great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar, Bollywood actor Rahul Bose, freedom fighter and former city mayor Shanti Patel and other celebrities also joined the human chain at various locations, Desai said. Mumbai for Peace said that through this action, the citizens would demand that the government take responsibility and map out long term strategies to deal with such terror attacks. This should be followed by a swift, transparent and credible trial and punishment for all those involved in terrorist activities. It has also demanded a comprehensive Communal Violence Bill in place of the one pending in parliament, immediate implementation of police reforms, providing better equipment and training to security personnel. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/rashtrawadi-sena-stages-protest-against-pakistan_100135066.html ?Rashtrawadi Sena? stages protest against Pakistan December 25th, 2008 - 8:21 pm ICT by ANI -New Delhi, Dec 25 (ANI): ?Rashtrawadi Sena?, a radical Hindu organisation stages a protest demonstration here today demanding closure of terrorist training camps in Pakistan in the wake of recent Mumbai terror attacks. Rashtrawadi Sena chief Jai Bhagwan Das urged the Central Government to mount a strong action against terrorists and destroy their camps in Pakistan. ?We have staged this demonstration to convey our massage to President Pratibha Patil. We want the training camps to be closed in Pakistan as soon as possible We also want that all terrorists including who are in Indian jails should be hanged at once. ,?said Bhagwan Das. India and the United States have blamed Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for last month??s attacks in Mumbai that killed 179 people. Pakistan denies any links to the assault, blaming ?non-state actors? and has promised to cooperate in investigations into the assault if provided with proof. (ANI) http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=RSSFeed-India&id=96455b7c-e247-4e74-b31a-f41ae7a689ea&Headline=Citizens+protest+26%2f11+terror+attacks Press Trust Of India Mumbai, December 12, 2008 First Published: 13:05 IST(12/12/2008) Last Updated: 13:14 IST(12/12/2008) Protesting the terror attacks, Mumbaiites on Friday formed human chains at the spots targeted by terrorists and other key areas to raise their voice against the dastardly strikes. People expressed the need to establish peace by coming out on the streets and holding hands in unity for fifteen minutes this afternoon. "We have seen so much of hatred and bloodshed in our city that we will not give in to terror and to those who preach war, violence, hatred and intolerance," activist Jatin Desai said. "The citizens have come together to keep Mumbai a city that is peaceful and united and to build a world based on the principles of tolerance and peace, equality and justice," he said. The long chains running across the island city extend to the eastern and western suburbs. One route of the chain was from Nariman House to Oberoi Trident Hotels, via 4th Pasta Lane, Free Press Road and NCPA. The second route was along the west side of Oberoi Trident Hotels to S V Road, via Metro Junction, Kemps Corner, Worli Naka and Mahim causeway. The third route started from Nariman House to S V Road, via Hutatma Chowk, CST, Crawford Market, Byculla Flyover, Dadar TT, Sion Circle, and Mahim causeway. http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120252180300.htm Karnataka - Madikeri Vedike to stage protest against Mumbai carnage Staff Correspondent Madikeri: The Hindu Jagarana Vedike of Bhagamandala hobli in Kodagu will take out a procession from Karike in Madikeri taluk to Madikeri city on December 3 in protest against the recent Mumbai terror attacks and demand the introduction of POTA. Speaking to presspersons here, the president of the unit, M.B. Jayaraj, said the members of the vedike would converge on Karike at 9 a.m. and proceed in vehicles via Bhagamandala, Chettimani, Cherambane, Bettageri to the Deputy Commissioner?s office here to hand over a memorandum. The vedike condemned acts of terror and violence in the country. Napanda Rally, another member of the vedike, urged the President and the Prime Minister to bring back POTA to put down terrorism in the country. Political parties that depended on a particular vote bank in the country had encouraged terrorists to a great extent, he said. Organisations such as the Karnataka Forum for Dignity were attempting to foster communal disharmony and such organisations should be banned. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/18/stories/2008121853140300.htm Karnataka - Madikeri Autorickshaw owners, drivers stage protest Staff Correspondent Madikeri: The Autorickshaw Owners and Drivers Association, Kodagu unit, staged a protest at the Fort here on Wednesday to register its anger against the recent Mumbai terror attacks, demanding action against the culprits. Led by the association president, D.H. Medappa, the members demanded that the Government take steps to root out terrorism and bring to book those involved in the act. India should take action against that country supporting terrorist acts on Indian soil, they demanded. The president of the Madikeri city unit of the association, Naveen Kumar, was present. http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/setimes/newsbriefs/2008/12/14/nb-07 Bulgarian police officers hold silent protest 14/12/2008 SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Police officers in almost all major cities held a silent protest on Saturday (December 13th) demanding higher pay, better working conditions and social benefits. Representatives of the protesters said that they have repeatedly presented their problems to the interior ministry but are not satisfied with the response. The largest demonstration was in Sofia, drawing more than 3,500 people. Under Bulgarian law, police officers don't have the right to strike. Participants instead gathered to "smoke a cigarette" and quietly discuss their problems with their colleagues. (Dnes, Netinfo, Standart - 13/12/08) http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99825 Thousands of Bulgarian Policemen Stage Smoking Protest against Low Wages Politics | December 13, 2008, Saturday More than 4,000 policemen gathered Saturday in front of the Interior Ministry building in the center of Sofia to light cigarettes as a sign of protest against their low salaries. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency) More than 4,000 policemen gathered Saturday in front of the Interior Ministry building in the center of Sofia to light cigarettes as a sign of protest against their low salaries. The ministry's Secretary General, Pavlin Dimitrov, has also joined the demonstration and was applauded by the officers. The policemen chose that way to express their discontent with the state policy as they are not allowed to go on effective strike. Except the higher wages, the officers demanded better equipment, improved working conditions in the police stations, establishing of a new, "real" trade union within the system and severe punishments for criminals, who attack policemen. The Chair of the police syndicate Emil Rashev has recently called also for reopening of the social dialogue within the Interior Ministry. Otherwise, the officials threatened they are to organize nationwide protests. http://paper.standartnews.com/en/article.php?d=2008-12-12&article=26087 Police Protest Blocks Sofia Saturday The organization of the silent protest of Bulgaria's police officers is going on at full swing on www.policebg.free. Judging by the comments in the forum there are over 1,000 police officers who will for sure gather in front of the Ministry of Interior 'for a smoke' demanding higher salaries and better conditions for work. Security police, road police, anti-mafia officers as well as fire-fighters have promised they would come not only from Sofia but also from the entire country. "If we see no responsive action after the protest on Saturday, we will organize another one after the New Year," National Police Union head Sergey Rashev and Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria President Zheliazko Hristov told The Standart reporter. http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/police-officers-protest-again-in-sofia/id_33724/catid_66 Police officers protest again in Sofia Sun, Dec 21 2008 13:10 CET byAlex Bivol Bulgarian police officers protested again, if in fewer numbers, on December 21. The "cold drink of water" gathering did not come close to the 2000 police officers that spent hours in front of the Interior Ministry "for a smoke" on December 13, when one of the main demands was Christmas bonuses. In the following week, the ministry decided to spend about 25 million leva on Christmas bonuses for all employees of the ministry, but that has not prevented hundreds of police officers from protesting for a second straight weekend, this time against the low wages in law enforcement and the poor equipment of the police forces. By law, Bulgarian police officers are not allowed to carry out effective strikes, which is why the protesters in front of the ministry building referred to their gathering using innocuous phrases - "having a smoke" and "having a drink of cold water". The first protest was backed by the national police labour union, but not the second one, with labour union chief Emil Rashev saying a day before the protest that the ministry's decision to pay Christmas bonuses assuaged most of the discontent. Not all of it, judging by the hundreds of protesters, who asked in a declaration not for "Christmas bonuses, but for a honorouble salary and a honest attitude from the Interior Ministry to its employees," as reported by Dnevnik daily. The same declaration said that "the national police labour union and its head Emil Rashev do not represent police officers and does not have their trust". Protesters accused Interior Minister Mihail Mikov of lying when he said earlier this month that the average wage in law enforcement was 960 leva, but none would go on record for fears of being sacked, which could easily follow under the pretext of "systemic reforms". The protest was snubbed by the ministry, which sent no officials to talk to the gathered police officers. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10546476&ref=rss Residents march to protest violence 4:00AM Thursday Dec 04, 2008 By Juliet Rowan Opotiki residents will march today to protest against violent crime and the murder of retired schoolteacher John Rowe. Police are continuing their hunt for the 78-year-old's killer or killers, and march organisers say they hope the protest will encourage people to come forward with information. Mayor John Forbes, who will speak at the march, says it is also a chance for locals to vent their feelings about the murder. He said Opotiki had been dealing with Mr Rowe's death "in its own way", but locals felt "frustrated and angry" and were struggling to comprehend the crime. The Bay of Plenty town faced the same issues with violence as other communities, but the brutal bashing of the frail 78-year-old in his bed was on "a whole new level". Mr Forbes said showing sympathy for Mr Rowe's family was an important purpose of the march, as was finding answers for tackling violent crime. Mr Rowe died of extensive head injuries after being bashed with a blunt instrument in his Windsor St home nine days ago. Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the brother of murdered Tokoroa schoolteacher Lois Dear voiced concern about a lack of outrage at Mr Rowe's murder, saying a rally and marches had been held following his sister's death. But today's march organiser, Whakatohea Iwi Social and Health Services, said it had wanted to give the Rowe family time to grieve before taking any action. The iwi trust board chairman Robert Edwards, and representatives of family violence groups and other social agencies would also speak at the march. Detective Inspector Rob Jones, who is heading the investigation into Mr Rowe's death, and Mr Rowe's daughter, Wendy, were also expected to attend. The march begins at Whakatohea Iwi Social and Health Services on Opotiki's main street, Church St, at 12.30pm. People are asked to congregate at 12.15pm. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/mexico/stories/DN-protest_13int.ART.State.Edition1.4a81072.html Doctors protest drug crime in Mexico's Ciudad Ju?rez 12:00 AM CST on Saturday, December 13, 2008 By MONICA ORTIZ URIBE / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News CIUDAD JU?REZ, Mexico ? Hundreds of doctors and other medical professionals staged a protest Friday in this border city, denouncing months of robberies, extortions and kidnappings targeting medical personnel and others. The protest, held at Chamizal National Park, attracted more than 300 people. It was part of a 24-hour strike by doctors from private clinics that began at midnight Thursday. "What sparked this movement is the general insecurity in this city," said Dr. Ram?n Murrieta, spokesman for the group Physicians Against Insecurity in Ju?rez. "Co-workers have suffered kidnappings, physical assaults ... extortion threats by telephone." Since the abuses began about six months ago, 17 doctor's offices and six clinics have closed, Dr. Murrieta said. One general practitioner, who declined to give his name for security reasons, said his clinic was robbed by gunmen two months ago and a doctor was later kidnapped. He was released after the family paid a $25,000 ransom. The clinic closed two weeks ago. "We decided to close while the insecurity remains," the doctor said. Mexico has had more than 5,600 killings this year, the result of a turf war waged among rival drug cartels and a crackdown by the federal government. Ju?rez, across from El Paso, has been the most violent city, with about 1,500 killed. Monica Ortiz Uribe is a freelance journalist in El Paso. http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=612911 ________________________________________ European metal workers protest EU`s climate policy Posted: 2008/12/03 From: MNN BRUSSELS, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- About 11,000 workers from the steel industry in European countries gathered on Tuesday in Brussels to protest the European Union's climate change policy which they fear might make them lose their jobs. The European Parliament and the French Presidency of the European Union agreed Monday on details of future targets on emissions from cars, setting the target for 2020 at 95 g CO2 per kilometer. "We don't want to lose our job," one protester said, adding that the new regulations will possibly kill the steel industry in Europe. Several protesters held a coffin to indicate that the European steel industry will die when EU's climate change plan is implemented. Under the new regulations, from 2012 to 2018 manufacturers exceeding the carbon dioxide targets set by the regulation will have to pay fines 5 euros for the first gram of CO2, 15 euros for the second gram of CO2 and 95 euros from the fourth gram of CO2. From 2019, car manufacturers will have to pay 95 euro for each gram exceeding the target. The protesters, most of who come from the car industry giant Germany, marched around the European Parliament building and other EU institutions. The protest was organized by the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF). The federation criticized the EU's plan to cut CO2 emissions, saying it endangers production and jobs in the steel and non-ferrous metal sectors. In a statement, the EMF said that European producers "are confronted with increasing international competition from producers who do not meet European norms." # http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/kolkata-aids-care-centre-project-shelved-after-protests_100126744.html Kolkata AIDS care centre project shelved after protests December 3rd, 2008 - 6:50 pm ICT by IANS - Kolkata, Dec 3 (IANS) A bid to set up a community care centre for HIV-positive people here has been temporarily shelved following objections from nearby residents who wrongly believe that the virus might spread to them also, officials said Wednesday. The West Bengal State AIDS Prevention and Control Society planned to set up the 10-bed community care centre for the HIV-affected at Amherst Street area in north Kolkata. The officials rented a house in October and started furnishing the rooms for the centre when residents began resisting, saying that AIDS is contagious. They contended that if the victims are kept in the locality, the residents living nearby too would get infected. The project was temporarily withdrawn Wednesday following a petition submitted by residents to the local councillor Salil Chakraborty Nov 30. ?The residents are not willing to have this community centre here. They are scared that they too might get infected with HIV/AIDS. I tried to convince them and have failed. So, based on their petition, I have requested the health authorities to withdraw the project for the time being,? Chakraborty told IANS. Residents? views revealed that they still lacked basic awareness about HIV and its spread. ?This is a residential area. It is not right to carry out AIDS and HIV treatment here. The virus may spread to neighbouring houses. As it is, these are contagious diseases,? said Rudranath Bag, who lives in the area. It was decided that patients who come for Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) at the School of Tropical Medicine - a leading facility here for HIV/AIDS treatment - would be kept under observation for a few days at the community centre and also be counselled there. Project developer Sushanta Sen said: ?Doctors of the School of Tropical Medicine and I have met the residents a couple of times and tried to convince them. But they are so superstitious that all our attempts have failed. For the time being, we are stopping our project work. But we hope to restart soon.? According to latest reports of the West Bengal State AIDS Prevention and Control Society, about 9,000 HIV/AIDS cases have been detected across the state till September 2008. http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=613202 Protesters rally at SET; Thai Beverage postpones listing Posted: 2008/12/09 From: MNN The demonstration at the Thai bourse came despite the company decided again to postpone its being listed on the SET. BANGKOK, Dec 8 -- About 300 anti-alcohol activists Monday rallied at the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) opposing the listing of Thai Beverage Pcl, the country's largest brewer and distiller, on the exchange. The demonstration at the Thai bourse came despite the company decided again to postpone its being listed on the SET, causing a traffic jam near its Ratchadapisek Road headquarters adjacent to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. From a mobile platform the activists verbally attacked the brewer and the SET on the plan to list Thai Beverage as they believed the earlier decision suspending the listing was temporary. SET president Patareeya Benjapolchai said she had received a letter from Thai Beverage dated December 8 saying that it wishes to postpone its listing on the market for the time being despite being invited to proceed with the listing in order to end the further disruption which could impact negatively on Thailand's economy and society. While emphasising that the company has filed the required documents and the exchange has done its duty transparently, Mrs. Patareeya said the SET would suspend the listing as requested by the company. Vichet Tantivanich, the SET senior vice president, said the delay of the Thai Beverage listing will affect the planned market caps of the SET which currently has total market capitalisation of about Bt3 trillion. Thai Beverage has a total of market capitalisation of over Bt100 billion. Anti-alcohol group leader Kamron Choodecha said he would inform his members to not go to SET headquarters as the company had withdrawn its planned listing. Thai Beverage was listed on the Singapore stock market in May 2006 after it failed to list on the Thai market in its first attempt in 2005 due to heavy protests in Bangkok. (TNA) # http://www.worldpress.org/feed.cfm?http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/156741 Samarian "Peace House" Protests Reported: 22:33 PM - Dec/01/08 (IsraelNN.com) About 100 Breslav hasidim and other nationalist activists came to the Huwara checkpoint south of Shechem Monday night to protest what is feared to be the imminent eviction by the government of Jewish residents from the Peace House in Hevron. Seven were arrested on suspicion of attacking police. Another 50 Breslavers and pro-Land of Israel activists came to the Yitzhar Junction to protest. Army and police forces were summoned to the scene. Arab sources in Shechem say Yitzhar residents caused damage to houses in the neighboring Arab village of Borin by throwing rocks at them. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120252980300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Eluru Farmers protest against parties? tie-up plans for TRS Staff Reporter Demonstrate before offices of Congress, TDP, Left and PR Photo: AVG Prasad Members of the Andhra Pradesh Rytanga Samakhya presenting a petition to TDP district office in-charge Pali Prasad at Eluru on Monday. ? ELURU: The farmers staged a novel protest under the banner of the Andhra Pradesh Rytanga Samakhya against the reported attempts by various political parties to forge an alliance with the Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) in the coming elections. The samakhya activists went in a procession to the district offices of the Congress, TDP, Praja Rajyam and the Left parties and staged a demonstration at the office of the respective parties, highlighting their demand. Later, they presented a petition to the leaders of the respective parties with a request to safeguard the interests of coastal region with reference to irrigation by isolating the TRS at the hustings. Mr. Sitarama Swamy, president of the samakhya, warned that the farmers from the coastal region would vote against the parties striving for a tie-up with the TRS at the expense of the unity and integrity of the State. He regretted that almost all the major parties were soft towards the TRS, which was out to foment regional conflicts and water wars between one region to the other within the State by raising the bogey of separate Telangana. The demonstrators urged the all parties not to ignore the interests of farmers from the coastal region while forging an alliance with the TRS. Mr. Swamy said the water wars between the Telangana and the coastal Andhra was imminent in the case of formation of Telangana as a separate State as there was no sharing of river waters between the regions within the State as per the Bachawath tribunal. TDP office in-charge Pali Prasad, who received a petition from the samakhya demonstrators, said he would communicate their sentiments to his party higher-ups. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/01/MNL914EPSB.DTL Jews, Indians in S.F. protest terrorism Julian Guthrie, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, December 1, 2008 ________________________________________ (11-30) 18:31 PST -- For hundreds of people who attended a vigil in downtown San Francisco on Sunday, there was a collective sense of sadness and outrage at the three-day terror spree that left scores dead in the Indian city of Mumbai. But for Rabbi Peretz Mochkin, there was something else. Mochkin, 26, was a childhood friend of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, 29, who was killed with his wife, Rivkah, 28, in the Jewish center they operated in Mumbai. Mochkin and Holtzberg lived on the same block in Brooklyn, where the Hasidic Chabad-Lubavitch movement - an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect with some 3,500 centers worldwide - has its American roots. The center in Mumbai, called the Nariman House, was seized by terrorists on Wednesday. On Friday, when Indian commandos stormed the site, six hostages were found dead inside, including the Holtzbergs. Their toddler son, Mosche, had been spirited safely out by a nanny. "When terror touches our lives, we have a mission not to fight back with hatred," Mochkin said, speaking to the crowd gathered at Market and Powell streets. "Our mission is to turn what could be numbness and sadness into goodness and kindness." Noting the barrage of media attention, e-mails and chat room discussions prompted by the young couple's deaths, Mochkin said, "We lost special people, but we see the souls of Rabbi Holtzberg and his wife inspiring people worldwide." Mochkin was one of nearly 30 speakers at the rally, which drew some 300 people - mostly Indians and Jews, who carried signs reading "Democracies against terror" and chanted "Bharat Mata ki jai," an Indian phrase meaning "Long live Mother India." The organizations participating ranged from the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple to the Friends of India Society International. Ashwini Surper, a software developer and one of the event organizers, said she has been glued to the television since Thursday, when news of the siege by terrorists began. "Our message today is that it is not one nation, not one ethnic group, that has to fight terrorism," Surper said. "People have looked at terrorism as a fragmented problem, or as America's problem. But it is a global problem." Surper, who has been a guest at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel, a 105-year-old landmark that was seized by attackers believed to be Muslim extremists, called Mumbai "the pride of India." "I am really angry, and I am not an angry person," she said, shaking her head. "India is a spiritual place. I am spiritual. I am a yoga practitioner who believes in nonviolence and peace. But the world is letting terrorism happen. That's why I'm angry." Madhu Upadhyay, who was born in Ahmadabad, India, and was visiting San Francisco from his home in New York, called last week's attacks "an ominous sign." He said that Ahmadabad was the site of another terrorist attack in late July, in which dozens of people were killed. "The message is, this madness must end," Upadhyay said. "India must tackle this problem with like-minded nations." Khanderao Kand, an architect who was another organizer of the event, said President-elect Barack Obama "must take the lead in ensuring a concerted international action to combat terrorism beyond Iraq and Afghanistan." He said the 30 groups that gathered Sunday also are calling on the United States to "put pressure on Pakistan and Bangladesh to purge extremist elements from government, military and intelligence apparatus." Standing off to the side was Mochkin, with his wife and young son. The past week had been full of emotions for him. He was at home in San Francisco on Wednesday night when he received the first of many e-mails from a Chabad rabbi in New York, urging the faithful to pray an extra psalm for their brothers and sisters whose lives were in peril in Mumbai. That was when Mochkin learned that terrorists had stormed Nariman House and an unknown number of people were being held hostage inside. That was when he learned his friend Holtzberg and his wife were inside. On Friday night, after learning the Holtzbergs were among six killed at the Jewish center, Mochkin convened a group of some 75 people at a San Francisco Chabad house. They gathered to share a meal and pray. Mochkin said that dozens of Bay Area leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch, which was named after the town of Lyubavichi in Russia where the movement started, are expected to meet Tuesday in San Francisco. They plan to again pay tribute to the faithful who lost their lives. E-mail Julian Guthrie at jguthrie at sfchronicle.com. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/07/stories/2008120758540300.htm Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram Protest against Tharoor?s book Special Correspondent Thiruvananthapuram: Some social and cultural workers in the State have objected to the depiction of the meditating Buddha with cellphone and earphone on the cover of a book by Shashi Tharoor. In a statement on Saturday, they said such depiction of the Buddha, who was revered by the whole world, was not right. They would ask the publishers, DC Books, to stop the book?s distribution. They would bring the matter to the attention of the Buddhist centres. They said the author who considered leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru mainstream leaders viewed Ambedkar as the votary of petty nationalism. They also deplored Mr. Tharoor?s stand against the acceptance of the term Dalit instead of ?Harijan.? They pointed out that the Union and the State governments had issued orders forbidding the use of the word ?Harijan.? They also found the definition given by Mr. Tharoor for the real Indian Muslim objectionable. The signatories included Thottam Rajasekharan, K. Ramankutty, M.S. Jayaprakash, Konni P. Gopakumar and R.N. Pillai. http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=33077 Bulgarian students protest against crime Students called on government to show it can impose rule of law and crack down on widespread gang crime in the dozens of bars in Sofia's student district. Friday, 12 December 2008 13:47 Hundreds of young people held a silent rally in Sofia on Friday urging the government to step up the fight against crime after drunk youths beat to death a student. Inspired by protests in neighbouring Greece, students called on the Socialist-led government to show it can impose rule of law and crack down on widespread gang crime in the dozens of bars and night clubs in Sofia's student district. "We stand against what is happening in Bulgaria -- because life here is full of aggression," said student Orlin Viktorov, 25. "But we will not do as in Greece - you cannot fight violence with violence," he said. The killing has touched a raw nerve among young Bulgarians, many of whom say are ashamed to live in the European Union's poorest and most corrupt member state, which Brussels stripped of millions of euros in EU aid over fraud. About 1,000 students, carrying flowers and lit candles, united under the motto: "No to murders! No to corruption!. Today it's Stoyan, tomorrow it could be you and your child" and demanded a just punishment for the murderers of their colleague. Stoyan Baltov was kicked to death last week by a group of drunken youths in front of a disco club in the suburb, where many universities and campuses are situated. Police arrested five people and two young men have been accused of manslaughter. The protest would further hit the plunging ratings of the government, hit by failure to tame chronic corruption or send organised crime bosses behind bars but analysts say the students' anger was unlikely to topple it. Reuters http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=99792 Brutal Student's Murder Triggers Protest Rally in Sofia Society | December 12, 2008, Friday Professors, students and medical officials are to stage Friday a protest rally in Sofia against violence among youngsters, which has recently brought to the brutal murder of the 20-year-old pharmacy student Stoyan Baltov. The demonstration has been organized by the Medical University in Bulgaria's capital where Baltov studied. The rally will be led by the university's President Vanyo Mitev. It is to start from Hristo Botev hall in Sofia's quarter Studentski Grad, then passing through the spot of the tragic incident to stop in front of Studentska Municipality building. Among the students' demands will be tougher security measures across the neighbourhood as well as hiring professional guards to maintain the order in the night clubs there. A lot of officials from the higher education sphere, representatives of the Bulgarian Doctors' Union, the Bulgarian Red Cross and the Pharmacists' Union will also join the rally. The Education Minister Daniel Valchev announced he would skip the rally. The victim Stoyan Baltov was beaten to death in a drunkard's fight in front of a disco club in Studentski Grad, where the lodgings of tens of thousands of students are situated. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2440330,00.html Cosatu to protest Nel's appeal 10/12/2008 21:35 - (SA) Johannesburg - Skierlik killer Johan Nel's legal team will be at the Mmabatho High Court on Friday to hear whether he had been granted leave to appeal his sentence, North West police said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Superintendent Lesego Metsi said Nel would not be at the court but he would be represented by his lawyers. "His lawyers will give their reasons on why he should be granted leave to appeal and thereafter the judge will announce his decision on the matter." Nel received four life sentences for committing murder. He was sentenced to an additional 68 years for attempted murders - seven years on each of eight of the charges and four years on each of the remaining three counts. He also received five years for unlawful possession of a firearm and three years for possession of ammunition. A charge of damage to property was withdrawn. He was convicted of killing Enoch Tshepo Motshelanoka, 10, Anna Moiphitlhi, 31, her-month-old baby Kegitlho Elizabeth Moiphitlhi and Sivuyile Banani, 35, in a racially-motivated shooting spree in the Skierlik informal settlement near Swartruggens on January 14. Another eight people were wounded in the attack, and three others were shot at. The Congress of SA Trade Unions in the North West said it would picket at the court to protest against Nel appealing the sentence. "Our demonstration and picketing on Friday is against any change to the current sentence to Johan Nel," said provincial secretary Solly Phetoe. He said they would call on the court to reject Nel's appeal and to recharge him for an attempted murder case of 2003, where he was alleged to have shot and paralysed a man cutting grass alongside a railway line. Nel was given a suspended sentence after the shooting. Superintendent Metsi confirmed that Cosatu has been granted permission to demonstrate at the court. - SAPA http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,24798552-3102,00.html?from=public_rss Mt Tamborine locals reject Salvation Army drug rehab centre By Greg Stolz December 14, 2008 11:00pm THE Salvation Army does not make enemies easily, but it is under fire over plans for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre at Mt Tamborine. The Salvos want to relocate their Fairhaven detox and rehabilitation facility from the coastal strip to Mt Tamborine in the Gold Coast hinterland. Residents on the mountain, famed for its tourist trail featuring wineries, art galleries and cafes, are furious. About 250 angry locals packed a public meeting last week to fight the proposed 65-bed facility at Eagle Heights, on land bought recently for more than $5 million by Queensland Health. "It's totally inappropriate - people up here are absolutely gobsmacked that they could even consider Mt Tamborine for this," one woman said. But the Salvation Army defended the proposal, saying the tranquil setting is needed to give recovering drug addicts and alcoholics the right "head space". Sixth-generation Mt Tamborine resident Paul Bartle, who lives next to the proposed rehabilitation centre with his young family, said locals feared being robbed and assaulted by addicts and alcoholics. "We've been given no assurances that we'll be safe," he said. "It will change our lifestyle completely - my kids won't be able to play outside for a start. We've been told this will only have a minimal impact. What, does that mean minimal assaults and minimal break and enters?" Mr Bartle said the proposed rehabilitation centre did not fit with the area's zoning and there was inadequate infrastructure, police and medical services. But Fairhaven manager Major Russell Grice said the centre had nowhere else to go after it was forced out of its Parklands facility near Southport to make way for the new Gold Coast Hospital. Maj Grice said he could understand some Mt Tamborine residents were "passionate" but they had nothing to fear. Recovering addicts and alcoholics would be supervised "24/7", he said. "We're managing people who are in recovery and have already committed to abstinence," he said. Residents are lobbying Queensland Health to refuse the centre. http://www.cjonline.com/stories/121108/loc_366168701.shtml Low-income housing development faces protest Neighbors oppose apartments, townhomes By Mike Hall The Capital-Journal Published Thursday, December 11, 2008 Some neighbors of a proposed development of 49 apartments and townhomes southeast of S.E. 21st and Adams have used a legal process to make its approval by the Topeka City Council next week more difficult. The owners of 39 percent of the land within 200 feet of the site have signed protest petitions against it. And that requires the zoning change be approved by a vote of at least seven of the nine council members. Ann Williamson / The Capital-Journal Curtis Moore and Yvonne May are two of the neighbors opposed to the low-income housing being proposed at S.E. 21st and Adams. WHAT'S NEXT? The Topeka City Council will consider this zoning case at its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will be in the city council chamber, 214 S.E. 8th. It also will be carried live on City4, the city's cable television channel. An ordinance to change the zoning of the property to M-2 multiple-family dwelling is to be on next Tuesday's city council agenda for a vote. Zoning of the four-acre site is R-1 single-family residence and C-2 commercial. Councilman Jack Woelfel, whose district includes the development site, said Wednesday he couldn't predict whether the matter would get the required seven votes. In fact, he isn't even sure which way he will vote. He said he sympathized with the concerns of the neighbors, but added, "I'm also concerned with the economy of our city right now." He noted the $6.5 million project would provide construction jobs. It also would produce an estimated $50,000 in property tax, about one-fourth of which would come to city government. The homes will be for people who make $26,000 or less annually. Federal tax credits will help finance construction. The wooded area, choked with undergrowth, has been owned for the past 17 years by the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ, 520 S.E. Norwood, and has been off the tax rolls. Neighbors, fearful they won't be allowed to speak at next week's meeting, showed up this week to address the council during the time allocated for "public comments." Four neighbors spoke against the project. Mike Wilson, an architect representing the developers, explained the steps taken to try to address the neighbors' concerns. The most elaborate presentation Tuesday was by Yvonne May, 2400 S.E. Pennsylvania. She came bearing a large stack of documents, photos of the area and a map containing pins of different colors. The map indicated the locations of federally subsidized housing developments around Topeka. She said it showed a large concentration of those in the Highland Park and East Topeka areas. "This ends up being the 15th one on the east side of town," she said. "Clustering all of these on our side of town isn't fair." She argued that the 49 proposed housing units would contain as many people, probably owning as many cars, as four blocks of single-family housing. Neighbors are concerned about noise, traffic, water runoff and other issues associated with such high-intensity housing areas. Wilson noted the development, to be known as Pioneer Adams II, is being done by the Topeka-based Pioneer Group that developed Pioneer Adams just to the north of S.E. 21st. "We've gotten glowing reviews for what we did over there," Wilson said. "We were being called heroes." "Adams II" will be less densely populated than "Adams I," he said. "Adams I has 47 units in 11 buildings with 137 bedrooms on 3.68 acres," Wilson said. "Adams II is providing 25 percent fewer bedrooms on more property than Adams I occupies." http://www.seattlepi.com/local/391032_capitol08.html?source=mypi Last updated December 7, 2008 10:35 p.m. PT 'Winter solstice' sign brings hundreds of protesters to Capitol Atheist group calls religion 'superstition' THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OLYMPIA -- Several hundred people rallied Sunday at the state Capitol to protest a holiday display inside that provoked a national outcry by disparaging religion and declaring there is no God. The "winter solstice" sign sponsored by the atheistic Freedom from Religion Foundation calls religion "myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." An organizer at Sunday's rally, Steve Wilson, said outrage over the display was growing, and that it was offensive to people of all faiths. "When it comes to disparaging my faith on public property, that's where I draw the line," Wilson said. Three counterprotesters stood at the side of the rally, holding up signs that said, "Get Over It." The sign went up Dec. 1 in the Capitol rotunda, alongside a "holiday" tree and a Nativity scene. It generated national debate after TV talk-show host Bill O'Reilly made it an issue on his program. Gov. Chris Gregoire's office reported receiving hundreds of calls, mostly to protest the state's decision to allow the sign to be displayed. Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna have defended the atheists' right under the law to display their sign in the Capitol. The state began granting broader access to religious displays a few years back, after a Jewish group added a Hanukkah menorah to the long-standing display of a massive evergreen Christmas tree -- these days called a "holiday tree" -- sponsored by the Association of Washington Business. Organizers pleaded with Sunday's crowd to keep messages positive, but there were still signs portraying Gregoire as a Grinch. Even scheduled speakers took political pot shots. "You have led the state of Washington to be the armpit of America. And I'm afraid that our governor is the one adding the offensive odor to the armpit," said the Rev. Ken Hutcherson, a Christian preacher known in the region for his commentary on social issues. Also on hand was a manger scene made from balloons. The wise men were missing, but the scene included an image of O'Reilly slugging Gregoire. The atheist sign was briefly stolen Friday but was returned to the Capitol after somebody dropped it off at a Seattle radio station. It was restored to its display site, along with the added message, "Thou shalt not steal." State Patrol troopers were on duty at the rally site, but no problems were reported. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812081072.html Kickoff (Cape Town) South Africa: FSS Fans Protest At Stadium 7 December 2008 Free State Stars supporters accused the club's players of drinking, and blocked their exit from the stadium on Saturday. Free State Stars supporters say they are sick and tired of their club's poor results of late and they want the management to take action against some of their under-performing players. After drawing 1-1 with Maritzburg United at the weekend, some Stars supporters were fuming about what they termed a "poor performance" by the players. The unhappy supporters blocked the main exit of the stadium to show their dissatisfaction. The players and the technical team were still in the dressing rooms an hour after the game had ended, and the police were called to disperse the protesters from the stadium. "We are unhappy about some of the players who don't show 100 percent commitment on the field of play. So we want to have a few words with them," said one of the protesting supporters. "We should have won today's match but the players failed to take an advantage of a 10-man United. Most of our players spend their time drinking in the township's taverns and this must come to an end. "We don't want to see them drinking in the township again. They should know drinking affects their performances. Otherwise, we will sjambok them if they don't want to listen. We don't blame the coach for poor results, but the players," the fuming supporter added. "I'm disappointed with our supporters. What they did on Saturday was totally wrong and we cannot tolerate such behaviour," Stars' owner Mike Mokoena told KickOff.com . "The supporters were protesting simply because we were held to a draw by Maritzburg United. They were complaining that our players were not showing much commitment. We understand their frustrations but they must follow the right channels if they are not happy. But we have warned those supporters to behave well," he added. "I don't understand what is wrong with the team. We pay these players well, but they keep on missing easy chances," Mokoena said. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081207083130.3w97rkhjp0&show_article=1 Pakistani Islamists burn US and Indian flags during a protest in Lahore Pakistani Islamists burn US and Indian flags during a protest in Lahore on December 5. Former US presidential candidate John McCain has said the devastating attacks in Mumbai must not be allowed to hinder the peace process between India and Pakistan. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081227060745.mglt4tprp0&show_article=1 Pakistani protesters shout anti-Indian slogans Pakistani protesters shout anti-Indian slogans in Karachi on December 26. The United States has urged India and Pakistan to avoid an escalation of tensions after Islamabad redeployed troops to their common border and New Delhi reviewed its security options. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=150670 Students protest against ?blasphemy? Friday, December 05, 2008 by Our correspondent Rawalpindi: Students of the Rawalpindi Medical College staged protest demonstrations here on Thursday against publication of a textbook of medicine with a page of Holy Qur?aan in its binding. Around 800 students of the RMC staged protest demonstrations at the Holy Family Hospital and on Saidpur Road to condemn the act. They urged the concerned authorities to look into the matter. Students were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the publisher and printer of the book. They urged Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif to take serious action against the culprits. The matter came to the fore on Tuesday evening when a copy of the book of a medical student at Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, was torn apart by chance. Later, students of various medical colleges, including RMC, torn apart their books and found that pages of Holy Qur?aan have been used in almost all copies of the book. http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=27913 Protest action against participation of Armenian delegation in TRACECA conference prevented in Baku 04.12.2008 18:31 GMT+04:00 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) made an attempt to foil participation of Armenian delegation including representatives of the RA Transport and Communications Ministry and Foreign Ministry in TRACECA conference in Baku. KLO leader Akif Naghi said that the protesters entered the Gyulistan palace where the meeting was taking place but the police prohibited them from speaking. KLO deputy chairman Ilgar Aliyev waxed indignant over the police?s behavior, Day.az reports. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/25/2455100.htm Nepalese ex-Gurkhas protest over Maoists' plan to stop foreign recruitment Posted Thu Dec 25, 2008 11:18pm AEDT Around 200 ex-Gurkha soldiers and their families have rallied in the Nepalese capital in protest against the Maoist's government's plan to stop the recruitment of Gurkha soldiers into the British and Indian armies, eyewitnesses say. Protesters carrying placards that read "Gurkha recruitment must continue" and "Gurkha recruitment not shameful, it is an honour," marched through the streets Thursday afternoon demanding the government revokes its policy on stopping foreign recruitment, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The Maoists, elected earlier this year to rule the Himalayan nation after fighting a decade-long armed struggle, have threatened to end what they see as the humiliating recruitment of young Nepali men into the British and Indian armed forces. The ultra leftists say prospective Gurkha fighters will be given opportunities at home. "We are protesting against the Maoists to pressurise them to immediately scrap their plans to stop recruitment of Gurkha soldiers in foreign countries," Dhan Bahadur Maskey Rana, a former Gurkha soldier who served in the Indian Army, said at the rally. "There are no employment opportunities here (in Nepal) and the Maoists are trying to snatch away our source of employment," said Mr Rana. "I don't know why Maoists are after recruitment of Gurkha soldiers when hundreds of youth go for jobs abroad," said Leela Rana, another protester. "It's a prestigious job and has made the country proud," she said. Famed for their loyalty, discipline and courage in battle, Nepali Gurkhas have been recruited into the British and Indian army for centuries. The British Army currently has around 3,400 Gurkhas serving in countries including Iraq and Afghanistan, while the Indian Army also has some 40,000 in its ranks. Tens of thousands of family members depend entirely on Gurkha salaries and pensions, providing income that would otherwise be unobtainable in the largely agricultural, impoverished country. - AFP http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45124 PARAGUAY: Rural Associations Protest Land Occupations By Natalia Ruiz D?az ASUNCI?N, Dec 15 (IPS) - Agribusiness and landowners? associations in Paraguay began two days of demonstrations around the country Monday, demanding a stop to invasions of large estates by landless farmers. The measure drew fire from social organisations, especially small farmers? associations. The landowners parked tractors and other agricultural machinery along the sides of roads early Monday morning, mainly in the farming departments (provinces) of San Pedro in central Paraguay and Itap?a and Alto Paran? in the southeast. The call for the demonstration was issued several weeks ago by the Coordinadora Agr?cola del Paraguay (CAP), which was joined by two other rural associations, the Uni?n de Gremios de la Producci?n (UGP) and the Asociaci?n Rural de Paraguay (ARP), as well as the Federaci?n de la Producci?n, la Industria y el Comercio (FEPRINCO), a trade and industrial association. The organisers hope to line at least 1,000 km of roads with their machinery at some 60 spots in the country?s most productive agricultural areas, although the so-called "tractorazo" will not include roadblocks. The leaders of the associations organising the protest are demanding a stop to land occupations by groups of small farmers, who have especially targeted large-scale producers of transgenic soybeans. "Violence is not the route for solving the country?s problems," said UGP president H?ctor Cristaldo, speaking along the highway that runs between the towns of Hernandarias and Salto del Guair?, in Alto Paran?. "What is needed is a huge national demonstration that brings together all the sectors," he added. Alto Paran? in the southeast has the largest number of Brazilian soybean producers, who are opposed by small farmers because of the indiscriminate use of toxic agrochemicals, which have caused death and illness among children and adults, water pollution, destruction of ecosystems and loss of traditional food resources in rural communities, according to the U.N. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva. Cristaldo said the demonstration was not against the administration of Fernando Lugo, but was aimed at drawing the attention of the three branches of the state to the situation of violence and insecurity in the country. "Fights and clashes will only bring mourning to Paraguay," he said. The Convocatoria Ciudadana citizen movement and FEPRINCO will hold their own demonstrations in the capital Tuesday. The Frente Social y Popular (FSP), which groups a variety of social organisations, especially peasant farmers? movements, rejected the landowners? mobilisation as "authoritarian." "This demonstration is cloaking itself in slogans designed to lie to Paraguayan society, like ?work for everyone?, which is ironic given that the soybean growers exploit their workers," FSP leader Marcos Ib??ez told IPS. The highly mechanised soybean industry generates few jobs, and workers on the plantations and cattle ranches are subjected to near-slavery conditions, he said. Several environmental organisations urged people to hold a peaceful parallel demonstration to protest landowners? failure to respect environmental standards, and the wholesale destruction of forests by ranchers to create pasture land. The crisis in the countryside is one of the most pressing problems facing the government of former Catholic bishop Lugo, who took office on Aug. 15. According to a report published this month by the Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos del Paraguay (CODEHUPY) human rights group, this landlocked South American country exported more than 4.3 million tons of soybeans in 2007 and 370 million dollars worth of beef - figures that stand in sharp contrast to another statistic: the country?s 600,000 malnourished children. As causes of the widespread malnutrition, CODEHUPY?s Human Rights in Paraguay 2008 report cites the poor distribution of wealth and the lack of an effective land reform policy. The production of soybeans, the main farm export, grew 26 percent in the 2007-2008 period with respect to the previous harvest. Despite the boom, the government of Lugo?s predecessor, Nicanor Duarte (2003-2008), failed to implement a tax on unprocessed soybeans, and the agribusiness sector is staunchly opposed to paying taxes, which would contribute to redistributing wealth. Paraguay is the Latin American country with the greatest concentration of land ownership. According to the last national agricultural census, a full 77 percent of the country?s fertile land is controlled by just one percent of all landowners. Meanwhile, small farmers, who represent 40 percent of the population, own just five percent of all farmland. "Campesino (small farmer) families cannot possibly compete on the market with the small quantities that they produce," said Diego Segovia of the Base Investigaciones Sociales, the non-governmental research group that produced the article on the agricultural sector contained in the CODEHUPY report. "This system is driving an accelerated rural exodus while generating poverty and hunger, sending small farmers and food producers to the slums surrounding the cities," said Segovia. Lugo, who became well-known in Paraguay for his work on behalf of the landless rural poor in the province of San Pedro, said in his campaign that changes to the country?s economic and social structures were needed, through comprehensive land reform, the growth of employment and the reduction of poverty. (END/2008) http://www.nowpublic.com/world/over-16000-tamils-jaffna-protest-against-ltte-terrorism Over 16000 Tamils in Jaffna protest against LTTE terrorism Share: by chanaka | December 22, 2008 at 01:16 am 255 views | 5 Recommendations | 1 comment Photos Jaffna Civilians Protest on LTTE -Photo-02 see larger image Tamil civilians in Jaffna today (Dec 21) staged a massive protest against atrocities committed against them by the LTTE terrorists. According to the defence.lk special correspondent in Jaffna, over 16000 civilians marched peacefully from Kaithadi to Chawakachcheri this morning displaying banners and placards with slogans against the LTTE. The protectors demanded the LTTE to let them live in peace and to free the Tamils held hostage in Wanni LTTE hiding areas. One participant to the march speaking to defence.lk called the LTTE leader a coward, who is trying to save his life by hiding under shield of innocent civilians. "All the civilians are in the view that the damaged caused to the Sri Lankan Tamils by the LTTE is irrecoverable. They say that the graveyards are the only achievement of the LTTE" said our correspondent. "There were many elderly parents who called LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran, a curse upon Tamils that devoured generations of Tamil children" he added. Meanwhile, the protectors took a special note of the support received by the LTTE from the Tamil Diaspora. "There were many banners requesting the Tamils living aboard to stop funding LTTE and let the Sri Lankan Tamils to live in peace" "'We are not pawns of your game of tribalism' was the message they wanted to convey to those who support the LTTE", said our correspondent citing the organizers of the protest. Also, the organizers told defence.lk that the true voice of Sri Lankan Tamils is barred by LTTE hired hands in the international media. They added the world should recognize that the true aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils have nothing to do with fanatic ambitions of the LTTE leader. "Our protest will continue until the world realizes that Sri Lankan Tamils do not want to be a property of a terrorists outfit" they added. http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20081219/1132447.html Cops protest inside court complex in Pondy Puducherry | Friday, Dec 19 2008 IST A large number of police personnel today held a demonstration inside the court complex here to protest the reported decision of Puducherry Principal District and Sessions Judge D Krishna Raja not to grant bail to a police sub-inspector arrested on charges of accepting as bribe. The CBI had arrested Sridhar of Orleanpet Police Station and one of his friends, an advocate, who was the intermediary in collecting Rs 5,000 as the bribe last night. They were produced in the court this morning when Mr Raja granted bail to the advocate and reportedly said the bail application of Sridhar would be considered at 1700 hrs today. Following this, all police constables from the stations here, except the sentry, were summoned to the court by fellow police personnel and they gathered and staged the agitation inside the court complex. Tension mounted as they continued their agitation and on hearing the news, scribes and photographers rushed to the court and took photographs of the agitating police personnel. Enraged, they allegedly assaulted two cameramen from local cable TV network and the photographer of a Tamil daily causing injuries to him. He was admitted to the government general hospital here. -- (UNI) http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122053610300.htm Other States - Puducherry Police personnel?s protest termed ?a black day? Staff Reporter PUDUCHERRY: The protest by policemen in Puducherry has evoked criticism from several political parties. Terming the incident ?a black day? in the history of the union territory, member of Tamil Nadu State Committee of the CPI (M) T. Murugan said, ?Policemen have no right to indulge in such acts. Even if they felt injustice was done to them, they could have taken it up through a paper channel.? Secretary of the Puducherry unit of the AIADMK A. Anbalagan said, ?The incident has set a bad precedent. They should have respected the court?s decision. If the police were not satisfied with the judgment, they could have moved the higher court.? It was a complete breakdown of law and order, he said, adding that the party would take up the issue with Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Secretary to the Puducherry unit of the CPI N. Kalainathan said that the government should order an inquiry into the incident. The entire police machinery failed to tackle the situation, he said. In press release, the Puducherry Journalist Union condemned police action against cameramen. They also sought action against those responsible for the violence. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/16/stories/2008121652150300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Nellore Mala Mahanadu protest today NELLORE: Following the call given by Mala Mahanadu State committee, leaders of the organisation will lay a seize to District Congress Committee president Y. Gopala Reddy?s residence located in Gudur town in the district on Tuesday protesting the party?s decision to divide Mala and Madiga community. Staff Reporter http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/01/stories/2009010151620300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Kadapa Protest over wine shop location KADAPA: A group of women led by the CPI staged dharna in Porumamilla on Wednesday demanding closure of a wine shop functioning barely within a few yards of Mahatma Gandhi statue. Questioning the Excise and Prohibition officials for giving permission, CPI area secretary Venkatasubbaiah and senior leader Abdul Khader demanded relocation of the statue. Special Correspondent http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_25-injured-in-west-bengal-s-jalpaiguri-clashes_1212980 25 injured in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri clashes IANS Wednesday, December 10, 2008 21:20 IST Siliguri: SILIGURI: At least 25 people, including 10 policemen, were injured Wednesday following clashes between rival Gorkhaland groups at Hamiltonganj in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, an official said. After the disturbances, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which is agitating for a separate Gorkhaland state in the northern part of Bengal, gave a call for a 12-hour shutdown in Darjeeling Hills and the neighbouring Terai and Dooars regions Thursday. The disturbances occurred when GJM activists laid a siege to the Block Development Office and the Gram Panchayat office at Hamiltonganj under Alipurduar sub-division, and met with resistance from workers of the Jana Jagaran Manch, which is opposed to the creation of a Gorkhaland state. The clashing groups used iron rods and stones, and also attacked the police when they tried to step in, said Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) Kundan Lal Tamta. "As the situation seemed to go out of hand, the police made a baton charge," Tamta said. The ten injured police personnel include the Kalchini circle inspector and the officer-in-charge of the Kalchini police station. 15 others belonging to the two clashing groups also sustained injuries. Irate GJM activists later attacked parliament member Joachim Baxla's residence, damaging the window panes, said Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Bandana Yadav. Senior police officials, including special inspector general of police (Jalpaiguri range) Zulfiqar Hassan and superintendent of police Jalpaiguri Manoj Verma, rushed to the spot. Two television channels claimed that security personnel lobbed tear-gas shells and fired two rounds in the air, but the police did not confirm it. Later, the GJM convened an emergency meeting and called a 12-hour shutdown in Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars spread over Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts. Claiming that 27 of their supporters have been injured in attacks by supporters of the Jana Jagaran Manch and state's ruling Left Front partners Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), GJM press and publicity secretary Benoy Tamang demanded the arrests of attackers by Thursday. "Our women activists have been assaulted, and the houses of our supporters burnt down. If the culprits are not put behind bars by Thursday, we will launch an extensive movement from Friday," Tamang said. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Baxla expressed shock and surprise over the attack on his house. "I never thought my house will be attacked. I feel bad. It's true we are opposed to any division of our state, but I have always been with the poor people," said Baxla, who represents the Revolutionary Socialist Party. The GJM has been spearheading a movement in the hills for a separate state. It organised indefinite shutdowns twice in the hills in June and July over its Gorkhaland demand, severely hitting tea and tourism - the bread and butter of the region. A round of tripartite talks held in New Delhi to solve the problem has not broken the deadlock. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1869019,00.html French Protesters Say Non to the New Year By Bruce Crumley / Paris Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008 Fonacon members destroy a grandfather clock in order to halt time and prevent 2009 from arriving Michel Cathelineau In addition to their more admirable accomplishments, the French are generally considered the world champions of public protesting. Whether it's transport workers striking against tightened pension regimes, fishermen outraged by high operating costs, students battling education reform or even lawyers picketing over court closures, it seems scarcely a week goes by without some section of France's population taking to the streets. Given that, it should come as little surprise that one boisterous French group is planning a protest rally on the evening of Dec. 31 ? and demanding that the world refuse to shed 2008 to make way for a troublesome-looking New Year. "We're saying no to the tyranny of time, no to the merciless onslaught of the calendar, and yes to staying put in 2008," says a man who identifies himself as Marie-Gabriel, a militant member of the Fonacon group, which is organizing its fourth annual anti?New Year protest under the slogan "2009 Stays In Its Shell." "Last year we warned a mocking world that 2008 would be horrible compared to 2007, and we were right. This time everyone acknowledges 2009 will be terrible, so now is the moment to unite together and refuse this new, rotten year!" (Read TIME's top 10 oddball news stories of 2008.) As seriously bleak as 2009 is expected to be, a call to mount barricades and bar the New Year's arrival sounds like a gag even in strike-happy France. That's because Fonacon's protest is decidedly tongue in cheek ? though don't expect Marie-Gabriel to admit it. In videos on the group's website, fonacon.net, he dons the signature black balaclava of guerrilla commandos as he calls sympathizers into action. "We're making a mockery of two particularly French traits: a penchant for protesting whatever navel special-interest groups happen to be gazing into, and the glorification of the chic, well-heeled soir?e as an art form," says Marie-Gabriel, who in 2005 co-founded the Opposition Front to the New Year: National Organization Committee, devising the group's name exclusively so that its French acronym, Fonacon, would be homonymous with the phrase "telephone an a__hole." (Its year-end protest slogans are equally risible, including last year's motto, "It Was Better Right Now.") Fonacon and its futile protest are rooted in a bedrock of self-deprecation, echoing France's tradition of iconoclastic comics getting the French to laugh at their more ridiculous characteristics. Notable among those comedians are the late antiestablishment humorist Coluche, the writers of the nightly satirical newscast Les Guignols de l'Info, Jules-Edouard Moustic ? host of the black parody news show Groland Magzine ? and the creators of the smash 1998 film Le D?ner de Cons ("The Dinner Game"), which depicts rich sophisticates falling afoul of their own cruel game of inviting low-brow rubes to swank dinners where they're ridiculed for entertainment. (See pictures of a French photographer's satirical work.) Marie-Gabriel says he saw similar potential in mocking the sparkling, de rigueur New Year's Eve festivities that many French admit to hating. "It started with me and another guy realizing most New Year's Eves in France are just really boring evenings people are forced into with others they neither know nor like," he recalls. "So we started holding anti?New Year protest parties for people wanting an alternative ? and an excuse to demonstrate! Sure, 98% of France thinks we're losers, but the 2% who get it make it worthwhile." Fonacon's initial effort in 2005 drew 300 people to a small village in the coastal Vend?e region, using what has become the group's winning formula: free oysters and drinks for all comers who preregister, and an evening of tearing up agendas, smashing clocks and otherwise attacking symbols of time. Another appeal to restless New Year's Eve souls in 2006 brought more than 1,000 to Nantes. Last year Fonacon attracted more than 10,000 people with its party-cum-protest in Paris. This year Marie-Gabriel jokingly boasts that he expects "between five and 50,000 people, give or take a few," but then confides that Fonacon's rendezvous point on the Vend?en island le Noirmoutier ? chosen because it's a good place to attempt to halt the incoming tide, and thereby stop the earth's rotation, and with it time ? will probably draw far fewer revelers. (See pictures of France celebrating Bastille Day.) "It's going to be so remote, cold and windy that we expect around a thousand or so of the most hard-core enthusiasts," he says. "But we're claiming this is the only spot from France where the Statue of Liberty is visible at low tide ? meaning all eyes in Barack Obama's America will be turned on our protest to deny the New Year. Yes we can!" (See pictures of the world reacting to Obama's win.) Or can't ? as Marie-Gabriel himself hastens to admit. Indeed, anticipating that Fonacon's efforts will yet again fail to prevent the New Year from arriving, Marie-Gabriel and his peers already have plans for Dec. 31, 2009. "We're going to stop messing around and take the fight against 2010 directly to the top," he pledges. "Everyone meet us at United Nations headquarters in New York City." http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123058580300.htm Tamil Nadu They protest ? Photo: M. Balaji In one voice: Dravidar Kazhagam members courting arrest after they blocked the road in front of the railway station in Tirupur on Monday. They urged the Centre to bring a constitutional amendment to remove the creamy layer in OBC quota in education and Central Government jobs to usher in social justice. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00303.htm Silent protest for lives of slain NZ children Sunday, 28 December 2008, 2:12 pm Press Release: Hill Of Crosses NZ PROTEST, PROTEST?Tomorrow, on Sunday 28th December, a group will hold a silent protest on Mt Hobson, VISIBLE from the motorway (SH1) by holding 18, 6ft high crosses to mark the death of the children recently slain in New Zealand homes. Group makes silent protest for lives of slain NZ children. 18 crosses representing the 18 lives of children lost in senseless violence in NZ in recent times, are being held on Mt. Hobson by protestors. These will be visible for all those travelling down SH1 to see. SEARCH NZ JOBS AVIS: Free Day Weekends Are Back! Search New Zealand Business Marking the feast of the 'Holy Innocents', silent protest organiser Don Matheson ? says the 18 crosses also represent the approximate number of the 18,000 lives taken in abortion each year in NZ. "The problem is rooted in the destruction of the family & the drop in value of human life. We are becoming hardened to the cry of the young and until we wake up and take a strong look at ourselves & our values ? we will not make headway." For too long the good & well being of our children have been placed second to various ideologies & political policies. The rights of a child, whether they are 3 years old, 3 months, or 3 weeks old in the womb, should not come second to what the father or mother desires, or a political agenda dictates. Children in New Zealand society ? are now viewed not as a gift, but often as a commodity. This protest also comes in the face of proposed law changes to allow embryonic research. "The child is about to be further demoted to nothing more than a research object." This protest is not about laying blame, it is about challenging the conceptions that have been held too long & have led us to this point. We don't need more hand wringing & we don't need sensationalism. We need to recognise where things are going wrong & we need to start putting things right. An entire generation has lost respect for the child. We cannot carry on with the same set of philosophical ideas & expect things to change. As a culture, we refuse to recognise the value of all children, no matter how they are given life, no matter how old they are, no matter whether they are wanted or not, 'planned 'or not. It's a complex issue. There are no quick easy solutions but we could begin by taking a long look at ourselves and begin to ask the hard question?.Where have we gone wrong!?? The PROTEST will take place between 9am and 12pm tomorrow, Sunday 28th on Mt Hobson. Spokespeople will be on site for comment. Entrance to Mt Hobson is on the corner of Dilworth & Macmurray Rds (off Remuera Rd). http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/29/stories/2008122957200100.htm Front Page Thirumangalam tense as DMK, AIADMK men clash By-election to the constituency is scheduled for January 9 ________________________________________ Both parties prefer police cases Additional police deployed in Thirumangalam ________________________________________ MADURAI: Tension prevailed in a few areas in the Thirumangalam Assembly constituency early on Sunday after the AIADMK and DMK cadres indulged in pitched battles. Six persons were injured and some vehicles stoned. A by-election to the constituency is scheduled for January 9. Police have registered cases following complaints from both the parties. Trouble started after midnight in Thirumangalam, where a group, said to be from the DMK, allegedly ?secured? some persons, who, they said, belonged to the AIADMK. The men had cash packed in hundreds of plain covers. Even as the DMK cadres attempted to take their rivals to the nearby police station, the news spread to other places. The DMK cadres alleged that the AIADMK men were about to offer money to the voters and demanded police action. Meanwhile, AIADMK candidate M. Muthuramalingam, accompanied by his supporters, arrived at the police station and demanded the immediate release of his partymen. The AIADMK cadres claimed that several vehicles belonging to their former Ministers and senior functionaries were stoned at Chekkanoorani, Sindupatti, among other areas. DMK treasurer M.K.Stalin told reporters that the AIADMK indulged in disturbing the smooth process of electioneering and appealed to the electorate to teach them a lesson. Deputy Inspector-General of Police S.S.Krishnamoorthy told The Hindu that additional police strength of about 250 had arrived from a few neighbouring districts. Each of the 11 police stations falling in the constituency would have an officer in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, which is normally manned by an Inspector. ?Deploy CRPF? The AIADMK leaders sought deployment of Central Reserve Police Force for the by-election following the attack on their cadres and their vehicles. ?The district police were mute spectators even when the ruling party cadres attacked the AIADMK cadres with lethal weapons,? MDMK general secretary Vaiko said after lodging a complaint with the Election Observer, Sunil Kumar Kujur. DMK chief power agent K.R. Swaminathan said that he had submitted compact discs containing photographs as evidence of AIADMK cadres distributing money to voters. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=69038 Published On: 2008-12-28 National Election 2008 40 hurt in poll clashes in 3 dists Star Report Forty people were injured, several of them seriously, in clashes between opponent election activists at places in Patuakhali, Magura and Rajshahi districts in two days. In Patuakhal, 15 Awami League supporters including a woman were injured as BNP activists attacked them at Chatia village in Rangabali under Patuakhali-4 (Kalapara) constituency yesterday morning, reports our correspondent. Some 10/12 unidentified BNP cadres attacked them for joining an AL rally at Kalapara upazila town the previous day, police and locals said. At least five BNP men were injured at Daspara village in Baufal uapzila under Patuakhali-2 constituency as AL cadres attacked them at about 9:30pm of Friday. Attackers also set fire to two motorcycles and damaged another. Seven or eight AL cadres led by Jahangir Hossain attacked BNP activists during their meeting at the campaign office at Daspara village, locals and police said. In Magura, 15 people were injured, seven of them seriously, in a clash between the supporters of Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance and BNP-led four-party alliance at village Ramchandrapur in Magura Sadar upazila yesterday morning. At least 22 houses including that of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal district unit Secretary ATM Mohabbat Ali were also damaged during the clash. The clash that followed chanting 'indecent' slogans against the grand alliance candidate and tearing some posters at around 8:00am spread to two nearby villages, police and witnesses said. In Rajshahi, four BNP men were injured as Awami League activists attacked their election campaign procession for four-party alliance candidate Dr Enamul Haque in Rajshahi-1 constituency at Charasadiaha in Godagari upazila in Rajshahi on Friday nigh. The BNP leaders and activists came under the attack after they chanted slogans against AL chief Sheikh Hasina and the grand alliance candidate in the seat, locals said. Later, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. A large number of police were deployed at Charasadiaha as a tense situation is prevailing in the area. BNP activists attacked Bikalpo Dhara election campaign rally at Arani in Charghat upazila in the district, leaving one injured on Friday evening. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=68940 Published On: 2008-12-27 Metropolitan One killed, two injured in Habiganj clash Unb, Habiganj A man was killed and two others were injured in a clash over land dispute at Agua village in Baniachng upazila on Thursday. Local people said there was a longstanding dispute between Ibrahim Mia and Asgar Mia of the village over the ownership of a plot of land. An altercation ensued between them when Asgar along with his men went to capture the land in the morning. At one stage, Asgar and his supporters attacked their rivals with harpoons and sticks that left Hossain Ali dead on the spot. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122754060400.htm Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada Congress-PR clash in Vijayawada Special Correspondent Followers of Radhakrishna and Vishnu indulge in violence at Ranga?s death anniversary . ? PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR Getting physical: A follower of legislator Vangaveeti Radhakrishna tries to slap Congress leader Malladi Vishnu in Vijayawada on Friday VIJAYAWADA: The observance of the 20th death anniversary of former Congress MLA Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao (Ranga) here on Friday witnessed clashes between the followers of his son and Vijayawada East MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna and Congress leader Malladi Vishnu. Thus, the struggle for Ranga?s legacy between his admirers in the Congress and his son who joined the Praja Rajyam recently reached a flashpoint. The problem began when Mr. Vishnu, a loyalist of Ranga and a former chairman of the Vijayawada Guntur Tenali Mangalagiri ? Urban Development Authority (VGTM-UDA), draped a Congress party flag and a tricolour ?kanduva? on Ranga?s statue on Mahatma Gandhi Road, near the spot where Ranga was done to death by his political rivals on this day in 1988. Though Mr. Radhakrishna too garlanded his father?s statue a few minutes earlier, he did not put up any PR flag. Mr. Radhakrishna, on learning of Mr. Vishnu?s ?symbolic gesture?, returned and removed all Congress symbols from the statue. Followers of Mr. Vishnu allegedly attacked the MLA?s car parked in front of his house close by. Provoked by the attack, Mr. Radhakrishna?s followers chased Mr. Vishnu and his associates. They reached the office of Mr. Vishnu on Besant Road and tried to attack it. This led to much tension, resulting in closure of shops. Mr. Radhakrishna claimed that it was wrong on Mr. Vishnu?s part to put a Congress flag on his father?s statue, while Mr. Vishnu countered saying the MLA?s followers did the same when they covered the statue with PR flags on December 21. Mr. Vishnu and his followers were taken into preventive custody by the police when they staged a dharna on Besant Road. Incidentally, Ranga?s statue was installed by Mr. Vishnu and others over ten years ago when Mr. Radhakrishna was still in his teens. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122253580300.htm Tamil Nadu - Salem Congress workers stage demonstrations Staff Reporter SALEM: Cadres of the Congress party staged demonstrations and road blockades in various parts in Salem and Namakkal districts on Sunday condemning the attack on party cadres at the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee headquarters in Chennai and demanding the arrest of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Tirumavalavan for supporting LTTE. A large number of cadres gathered in Namakkal and staged a demonstration demanding the arrest of Tirumavalavan and those who were responsible for the attack in Chennai. They also condemned the burning of effigies of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Chennai by VCK and Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam cadres. Congress MLA A. Jeyakumar led the protest. Police arrested the MLA and the agitating members. At Omalur in Salem district, the cadres blocked the traffic on Dharmapuri road. Salem West district president R.R. Sekaran led the protest. Traffic hit Traffic on the road was affected for about 30 minutes. Members of Moopanar Peravai staged a demonstration in Salem city. Similar protests were held in Vazhapadi and a few other parts in the two districts. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120358680300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada Students hold candlelight demonstration Staff Reporter Pay tributes to martyrs, raise slogans against terrorism Youth Red Cross volunteers of SDM Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala in Vijayawada light up candles before formation of a human chain on Tuesday. VIJAYAWADA: Condemning the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, students of the Youth Red Cross wing of Sri Durga Malleswara Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala staged a candlelight demonstration on Mahatma Gandhi Road here on Tuesday. Over 100 students of the college participated in the rally that began at 9 a.m. Holding placards with slogans against terrorism and saluting the martyrs, the students formed a human chain and lit candles. Passersby waited for a moment to hear the slogans, while some of them complimented the students for staging the demonstration. Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala (junior college) principal T. Asha Rani and coordinator of the Youth Red Cross unit S. Vijayalakshmi and others were present. Silent rally Members of the Krishna urban unit of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) took out a silent rally from Press Club at Gandhi Nagar, which wound through Lenin Centre, Besant Road, MG Road, Buckingham post office and Eluru road before reaching Press Club again. They paid tributes to Sabina Sehgal Saikia, who died in Hotel Taj Mahal in terrorist attacks. Members of Lions Club district 324-C4 took out a padayatra for peace from Benz circle to PWD grounds, condemning the terror attacks in Mumbai. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121553680500.htm Karnataka Demonstration staged KOLAR: A large number of Bajarang Dal activists staged a demonstration in front of a voluntary organisation?s office at Karalli on Bangarpet-Kolar Road in Bangarpet taluk on Sunday in protest against the alleged religious conversion by it. The activists alleged that the organisation was trying to convert poor people into Christianity by offering them gifts. They also destroyed some booklets and pamphlets of the organisation. ? Staff Correspondent http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122659950800.htm Tamil Nadu Over 25 injured in clash Staff Reporter Nagercoil: Over 25 persons were injured in a group clash at Mullurthurai near Pudukadai on Thursday. According to police sources, the groups hurled country bombs at each other. The police recovered five unexploded country bombs from the scene of violence. The clash occurred after newly elected members of a village committee charged the outgoing members with misappropriating villagers? amount. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122453870400.htm Andhra Pradesh - Kadapa Eight injured as Congress members clash KADAPA: Eight persons sustained injuries, one of them severely, when rival groups of Congressmen clashed with hunting sickles, daggers and sticks in Sarvarayapalle village in Mydukur mandal on Tuesday over a row on appointment of an anganwadi teacher. Obul Reddy and Pulla Reddy groups were at loggerheads on grant of welfare schemes to their sympathisers. Obul Reddy group allegedly attacked Pulla Reddy group alleging that the latter is obstructing the appointment of a villager as anganwadi teacher, police said. Pulla Reddy and his followers ? Nagi Reddy, Suryanarayana Reddy, Venkatalakshmamma, Chandra Obul Reddy, Venkatasubba Reddy and N. Chinnasubba Reddy sustained injuries and the condition of Balagangi Reddy is said to be critical. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=RSSFeed-India&id=8b638db3-09ae-4039-a5b4-f12dc1fb0fe8&Headline=CPI-M+worker+killed%2c+15+injured+in+clash+in+Kannur CPI-M worker killed, 15 injured in clash Press Trust Of India Kannur, December 17, 2008 First Published: 11:17 IST(17/12/2008) Last Updated: 11:21 IST(17/12/2008) Tension prevailed in the politically-sensitive belts in Kannur after a CPI-M worker died of stab wounds on Wednesday and 15 others were seriously injured, following a clash involving National Development Front (NDF) workers at Uruvachal near Mattannur in the district. The critically injured CPI-M worker K P Sajeevan (24), who was shifted to Kozhikode Medical college hospital last night, died around 0230 hours this morning. The condition of four others being treated at the hospital are serious, police said. The clash occurred at Uruvachal near Mattannur on Thursday night, following an altercation after NDF supporters reportedly insulted the CPI (M) worker while he was boarding a bus with his neice. This led to attack by workers of rival parties using deadly weapons, police said. Around 200 additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to supervise law and order situation, district superintendent of police S Sreejith said. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121757690300.htm Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur Telugu Desam groups clash Staff Reporter ANANTAPUR: Two groups in Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Kalyanadurg constituency allegedly clashed over the issue of dominance by a particular community at a party meeting on Monday. It was a free for all situation as a large number of party activists exchanged blows after heated arguments over contentious issues. District president of the party V. Hanumantharaya Chowdary, who also hails from the constituency, was a mute spectator as he could not control either side. Earlier in the day, the party changed the president of Chapiri PACS. In place of Thimmappa Yadav, one K. Chandrasekhar was elected by majority directors. At the party meeting, the Thimmappa Yadav group supported by ZPTC member M. Ramanna, alleged that they were being suppressed by the upper castes in the party and demanded that party ticket for Assembly elections be given to backward classes candidate this time. There was also a demand for changing MPP with a BC candidate. http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=440589 Police cane clashing Congressmen, Narayan Rane's supporters ________________________________________ IANS Wednesday 10th December, 2008 The police caned clashing supporters of Mumbai Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) general secretary Nitesh Rane, son of suspended minister Narayan Rane, and some rival Congressmen at the party office here Wednesday evening. According to a party official, the incident occurred after Nitesh Rane held a media conference to announce his resignation along with 172 party workers from the MPYC. During the conference, he criticized former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, State party president Manikrao Thakre, city party chief Kripa Shankar Singh, central party leader Ahmed Patel and others for what he termed 'injustice' meted out to his father. His supporters also raised slogans in favour of Narayan Rane and against the other party leaders outside the party office - located opposite the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus - the target of Nov 26 terror attacks. Taking umbrage at the protests, a group of Congress workers clashed with the Nitesh Rane group, compelling the police to resort to a cane-charge to disperse the rival groups. The agitated groups later dispersed from the scene without further disturbances. Earlier this afternoon, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was accorded a formal felicitation by the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee on his election to the top post. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121060020400.htm Tamil Nadu - Chennai 2 policemen injured in bid to stop clash Special Correspondent CHENNAI: A Sub-Inspector of Police and a head constable were injured when they tried to stop a clash between Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Bahujan Samaj Party cadres here on Monday night. Police said the BSP cadres were writing slogans on a wall near the Koyambedu bus stand when VCK functionaries in objected to it. This led to a wordy altercation and in the melee that followed, BSP office-bearer Athavan was injured. His car was also damaged. On information, the Koyambedu SI Prabhu and head constable Loganathan reached the spot and tried to prevent the clash. VCK cadres, who were armed with deadly weapons, attacked the police . The duo suffered cut injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital. The condition of Athavan was said to be stable at Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital. A special team apprehended VCK functionaries ? Ambedvanan, Kalaivanan, Shankar, Thangadurai, Gunasekharan, Marimuthu and Murugan. A search is on to arrest seven others involved in the incident. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812290080.html Nigeria: Any End to Farmers-Herdsmen Clashes? Danjuma Michael 28 December 2008 Lagos ? A recurring incident that gives several people sleepless nights in Katsina State is the frequent clashes between farmers and Fulani cattle herdsmen. While council chairmen where such incidents occur commit time and resources to quell or check clashes, farmers and herdsmen fear when either of them becomes victim of the other in a clash or reprisal attack. Such was the case of a 70-year-old man, Alhaji Nagangara and four others who were killed in recent clash that erupted in three villages of Gidan Bakori, Barde and Kwantakwaran in Bakori council area of the state. According to reports, the elderly man was killed in a reprisal attack by farmers to avenge earlier killing of four people by Fulani herdsmen. It was learnt that the attackers set the man's house ablaze with eight other neighbouring houses burnt to ashes. Usually human causalities and property running into millions of naira are lost as result of these clashes. THISDAY investigations showed that the Fulani herdsmen and farmer conflicts occur more often than not and atimes unreported, with proliferated cases during harvest seasons, between months of October and December and sometimes beyond. Several of the state's council areas are hosts to these clashes, including Kafur, Bindawa, Faskari, Danmusa, Katsina, and most all the council areas bothering Niger Republic. During the second week of December, barely a week after three people had lost their lives in a farmer-Fulani cattle-herdsmen clash in Katsina, one person was killed in Mairuwa, Faskari council area which left many injured. Last November, in Yashi, Danmusa council area, another clash left four persons dead, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries. Some months ago in Bindawa council area, farmers and Fulani herdsmen conflict left one person dead and several farm produce worth thousands of naira destroyed. Again in December, clash broke out in Dutsen-Bori, Kanya village; Kafur council area, where four people died and property worth several thousands of naira destroyed. The story goes on and on. A recent country report on human rights and labour released by the Bureau of Democracy (USA) on Nigeria says, "Clashes between herdsmen and indigenous farmers were common as they competed for diminishing land resources during the year. Farmers expanded their croplands onto traditional cattle migration routes, while nomadic herdsmen moved herds from overgrazed land onto farm areas." The Fulani herdsmen/farmers conflict is not just limited to the state alone. Nigerians are witnesses to similar clashes that occurred and continue to occur in Kano, Kogi, Benue and Adamawa for example. It is an issue that observers within and outside Katsina State are trying to call attention to for lasting solutions to be proffered to stop the loss of lives and property. To check recurrence of the conflict, Chairman of the state's Standing Committee on Cooperation between Farmers and Fulani Herdsmen, Alhaji Nuhu Abdulkadir recently cautioned farmers encroaching cattle routes to desist from such acts and vacate the areas or face sanctions. Abdulkadir, who gave the warning while addressing village and ward heads in Bakori council area, said the committee received report of unwarranted behaviours by Fulani herdsmen which may cause conflict with farmers in the area. He noted that the encroachment and complete blockage of cattle routes are always responsible for farmers-Fulani herdsmen clashes and called on village and ward heads to desist from conniving with farmers to encroach cattle routes and forest reserves, as traditional rulers found doing so would face the wrath of the law. On its part, the state government recently appealed to farmers and cattle herdsmen alike to shield their swords as the conflicts only result to loss of lives and property. It called on them to live in tolerance and peaceful coexistence which was in the interest of all stakeholders. The state government said both farmers and Fulani cattle herdsmen should see themselves as serious stakeholders who have a lot to offer in the well being and overall development of the state. It also said that while farming and animal rearing form the bulk of economic activities in the state, it is behoves on them to realise that dividends of their investment could only be enjoyed by the state when they resolve to live in peace and harmony. It went on to say that recent clashes which resulted in loss of lives, crops and injuries in some parts of the state would have been avoidable had they resolved to exercise patience and restraint among themselves; that state government would on its part take all necessary measures to avert future clashes in order to prevent human and material lose that often characterise such clashes. Council areas where these conflicts occur apply similar measures of addressing the issue; first, a committee is set up after a clash to determine perpetrators and victims, as well as look into cause of conflict. This is done with the collaboration of relevant security agencies in the area. Then recommendation is given that farmers should avoid encroaching existing forest reserves and cattle routes. Next, that people should report suspicious movement of man and cattle, and farmers should not take laws into their hands by trying to confront herdsmen whose cows wander into farmlands and eat their produce. During this process, relief materials are donated by affected councils to victims, and a district or traditional head is invited to admonish people on the necessity of living in peace and eschewing conflicts. Sometimes, media awareness creation is sponsored by stakeholders, especially government, on how to deal with a situation where herdsmen and cattle wander into farmlands. It could be in form of drama or feature presentations. Some of the council areas buy utility vehicles for the security persons in their areas with sponsoring of vigilante groups to complement efforts at checking spread of conflicts in their areas. Despite state and council's efforts at dealing with the issue, sections of society are yet to be convinced about level of diligence and seriousness being invested on the matter. Observers have given stakeholders a low mark in terms of trying to address recurrence of clashes. They say that more ought to have been done as several people every year get killed, loose limbs or a loved one, have their property looted or burnt, while harvested produce and animals are wasted through violence. They say the State House of Assembly should enact laws that would squarely address the issue, and that stakeholders should not just pay lip service to the matter. An observer, Shaibu Dangere who was at one of the scenes of conflict, made an appeal that a law should be enacted that would deal with anyone found wanting in cattle routes' encroachment while sign posts should be erected to indicate borders of state government forest reserves. http://allafrica.com/stories/200812080883.html Nigeria: Four Die As Farmers, Herdsmen Clash in Katsina Vanguard 8 December 2008 KATSINA-FOUR persons have been confirmed dead while several others sustained injuries following a clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Yashi, Danmusa Local Government of Katsina State.Confirming the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Adamu Yusuf said the incident occurred on Thursday at about 7.30 a.m. He said six persons arrested over the incident were currently receiving treatment at the Danmusa General Hospital following injuries they sustained during the clash. According to him, the bodies of the dead have also been deposited at the same hospital. Yusuf said the police have commenced investigation into the incident. He, however, called on farmers to always report to the police herdsmen who invade their farms. (Vanguard) http://allafrica.com/stories/200812220980.html Nigeria: Two Killed in Farmers/Herdsmen Clash Yusha'u A. Ibrahim and Halima Musa 20 December 2008 No fewer than two people feared dead while four others sustained various degrees of injuries in a clash between farmers and pastoralists in Sindimina village, Birnin-Kudu local government area of Jigawa State. Eyewitness account revealed that the clash erupted between the two clans following an accusation by the farmers that the pastoralists invaded their farms and subsequently destroyed their farm produce. Malam Ibrahim told Weekly Trust that the two clans engaged in the fight as a result of which two people namely Muhammad Inuwa (Hausa) and Malam Ilu Dan-Fulani (Fulani) were killing, while four others sustained various degrees of injuries. Confirming to incident to newsmen, the Deputy Chairman of Birnin-Kudu Local Government, Alhaji Khalid Ibrahim described the conflict as "just mere misunderstanding between the communities", saying they were living peacefully together for the past 30 years. Khalid said preliminary investigation indicated that one of the deceased died on the spot, while the second died in the hospital, adding that out of the four injured persons, two sustained fractures, one on the leg and the other on the hand. The Deputy Chairman, who expressed dismay over the clash said "the most painful thing is that the feuding parties were all residents of the same community and have been known to be peaceful and has not experienced any similar calamity for the past 30 years". He said the council has already taken stringent measures to forestall re-occurrence, adding that police authority and the SSS have been directed to do a thorough investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, the state government has read the riot act to farmers and pastoralists in the state over frequent farmers/pastoralists clashes in the state, the state commissioner of Justice, Alhaji Tijjani Inuwa has disclosed. He told pressmen shortly after an emergency security meeting with the police, the SSS, traditional leaders and other stakeholders, that the decision was taken following the recent clash between farmers and pastoralists in Birnin-Kudu and Garki local government areas. Inuwa maintained that the government would no longer condone any more clashes between the duo which usually result in serious injuries and deaths of innocent lives. Already, he said, government has directed all local government chairmen in the state to ensure peace in their respective areas, while police and other security agents have been to be vigilant. (Daily Trust) http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6558663.html Serbian army veterans clash with police, 9 injured + - 09:07, December 22, 2008 Related News Serbia sees formation of Kosovo security force unacceptable Serbia steps up hunt for fugitive war crimes suspects Serbia's Kosovo Albanians protest against EU mission deployment under UN mandate Serbia demands guarantees before EU mission's deployment in Kosovo Serbian FM expects better relations with new U.S. gov't Some 1,000 protesting Serbian army veterans clashed with the police in southern Serbia on Sunday, leaving nine people injured. Three veterans were lightly injured, while four others were arrested. Six policemen, two of them Gendarmes, were also hurt, the Serbian news network B92 reported. The incident took place on a bridge over the River Toplica as the veterans of the Kosovo war attempted to break through a police cordon at the Merdare border crossing with Kosovo, but were stopped by some 300 Gendarmes and riot police in full riot gear. The veterans from some 20 towns staged the protest on the Nis-Pristina road near Kursumlija, demanding unpaid wages for fighting in Kosovo in 1999. The former Yugoslav Army reserve soldiers, who were called up during the 1999 Kosovo War, planned to continue months of protests and draw the Serbian government's attention to their demands. Dejan Milosevic, who heads one of the veterans' associations, said that they expect the government to adopt an urgent decree that will allow all veterans to receive the same amount of money. "Everyone should get what some individuals have got through courts, and that is from 500,000 to 1 million dinars (8,290 to 16,580 U.S. dollars)," he said. With an ethnic Albanian majority, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in February despite strong opposition from Serbia and Kosovo's ethnic Serbs. Serbia still regards Kosovo as its province, but it has accepted the deployment of an EU mission in December after securing assurance that the mission will be neutral about Kosovo's status. Source:Xinhua http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Pakistan+%26+Sub-Continent&month=December2008&file=World_News2008120291717.xml Karachi clashes claim 32 lives Web posted at: 12/2/2008 9:17:17 Source ::: AGENCIES KARACHI: Thirty-two people have been killed and dozens injured in two days of clashes blamed on activists from rival political parties in Karachi, police said yesterday. ?We have confirmed reports of 32 people killed since Saturday in Karachi,? the city?s police chief Waseem Ahmed said, adding some of the 55 people injured in the violence had been shot. Troops were authorised to use guns to quell the violence, which came as members of the ruling coalition party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) clashed with the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party (ANP). Officials from the MQM and ANP denied their members were involved in the rioting. ?We have deployed the maximum number of paramilitary troops in violence-ridden Orangi town, where the situation is now under control,? Major Mohammad Ali, spokesman of the paramilitary Rangers, said. ?Our troops are patrolling and checking the affected localities and helping the police control the situation,? he said. Despite the patrols by 800 paramilitary troops, sporadic gunfire continued in different parts of Karachi yesterday afternoon. Over the weekend, rioters set shops and houses on fire, witnesses said, while residents in Orangi Town said they stayed at home for their safety. Schools and most petrol stations were shut down across the port city, fearing further damage after mobs set fire to cars. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday directed provincial authorities to take ?strict action?, saying ?no one will be allowed to put at risk the lives and property of the people.? Tension has been rising since leaders of the Urdu-speaking community began saying Taliban militants, most of whom are ethnic Pashtun, were gaining strength in the city. A political party representing Urdu-speakers, who are known as mohajirs, or refugees, has been the dominant political force in the city since the 1980s. A large number of Pashtuns and members of other Pakistani ethnic groups have flocked to Karachi over the years in search of work. Pashtuns dominate the city?s transport network. Taj Haider, a senior member of the ruling Pakistan People?s Party, said trouble had been brewing for some time. ?It is not sudden. It was going on for a while. They were asking people to buy guns because Taliban were coming,? said Haider, referring to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM party which is mostly supported by Urdu-speakers. Faisal Sabzwari, an MQM member of the provincial assembly, said the violence stemmed from frustration over rising crime. ?For a few months criminal activity against innocent people has increased. Incidentally, most of the criminals belonged to a particular ethnicity,? Sabzwari said. ?Taliban people are involved,? he added. Pashtun politicians say the MQM uses fear of the spread of the Taliban as an excuse to treat Pashtuns unfairly http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=67086 Print Friendly Version Published On: 2008-12-14 Metropolitan One killed, 30 injured in Natore clash Unb, Natore A young man was killed and 30 others were injured in a clash at Sarkarpara in Bagatipara upazila yesterday over land dispute. Witnesses said the clash broke out between the supporters of Sattar Sarkar and Dabloo Sarker at about 9:00am over establishing supremacy on a disputed land that left 31 people of both the groups injured. Of the injured, Abdul Latif succumbed to his injuries at Bagatipara Health Complex after admission. Others were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Bagatipara health complex and different hospitals in Natore. Police have been deployed in the area to avoid further violence. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7781017.stm Saturday, 13 December 2008 Thousands flee after Sudan clash By Amber Henshaw BBC News, Khartoum Oil tensions flare in central Sudan Thousands of people have fled the disputed Sudanese oil town of Abyei after fighting which left one person dead, according to a Sudanese official. The shooting between members of the joint north-south army and police units came seven months after clashes risked re-igniting a bloody civil war. The head of the UN Mission in Sudan Ashraf Qazi said he deplored the violent incident. He strongly urged the parties to avoid any further outbreaks of unrest. Abyei's deputy police commissioner said an argument broke out between soldiers and a market trader, adding that shots were fired when the police intervened. He said one northern soldier had been killed. UN officials said nine other people were injured. Gunfire continued to be heard across the town on three occasions since then but there were no reports of any other injuries. A 13-hour overnight curfew has now been imposed. Local officials said up to 10,000 residents had returned to the area to rebuild their homes before Friday's clashes. International sources say 90% of those in the town have fled again. This incident is the first significant outbreak of violence in the disputed central Sudanese town of Abyei since dozens were killed in clashes between northern and southern troops seven months ago. Many fled Abyei during the fighting in May Many feared May's fighting, which left 50,000 homeless, could plunge Sudan back into civil war. Those clashes were sparked by an argument at a checkpoint but quickly escalated because of long-standing unresolved tensions in the area. Those tensions date back to a two-decade civil war between the north and south. A peace deal ended the conflict in 2005 but could not resolve the boundary for the oil-rich area. Both sides claim it as their own and have remained at loggerheads over the demarcation of the region. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/245055,hebron-rioting-a-pogrom-israeli-premier-says.html Hebron rioting a 'pogrom,' Israeli premier says Posted : Sun, 07 Dec 2008 09:48:32 GMT Author : DPA Category : Middle East (World) News Alerts by Email ( click here ) Middle East World News | Home Jerusalem - Violence by Israeli settlers in Hebron against local Palestinians last week and over the weekend was a "pogrom" and had to be stopped, acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday. "I have no other definition for what we saw but a pogrom. We are the sons of a nation which knows what a pogrom is, and I'm saying this after much thought. I have no other way to put it," he was quoted by the Ynet news site as telling his ministers at the start of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. "As a Jew, I'm ashamed of the sights of Jews firing at Arabs in Hebron," he continued. "I have asked the defence minister and other relevant elements to do all it takes, with all the strength needed and in any place controlled by the State of Israel, in order to stop this phenomenon." "I hope there will be no more mercy towards the rioters among the settlers," he added. Hardline Jews in Hebron began rioting Thursday afternoon, violently attacking Palestinians and their property, after police forcibly evacuated scores of settlers from a house they continued to occupy in defiance of a court order. The settlers had occupied the house in the divided southern West Bank city in early 2007, saying they were the tenants of an American Jew who purchased it and that they have documents proving it. Its Palestinian owner however denies this. The Israeli supreme court on November 16 ordered the house to be handed over to the state until a lower court rules on its rightful ownership. But the settlers refused to move, and their numbers were bolstered by right-wing radicals, mostly youth, who flocked to the house in an attempt to prevent its evacuation. Police cleared the house in an hour on Thursday afternoon. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL108411720081201?sp=true Soccer-Police car set alight, referee trapped in Peru riot Mon Dec 1, 2008 7:01pm GMT START News Content Page Tags 'Text' | 'Picture' | 'Slideshow' | 'Video' ie. articleId ie. articleId ie. articleId ie. headline for article ie. headline for article END News Content Page Tags LIMA, Dec 1 (Reuters) - A police car was set alight and the referee trapped in his dressing room for nearly three hours during a riot at a Peruvian second division match. Media reports said around 100 people were injured in Sunday's game between Sport Huamanga and Sport Huancayo in the Andean city of Ayacucho. Television showed dozens of fans breaking down fencing, invading the pitch and overturning a vehicle which appeared to be an ambulance. Pictures also showed a police car in flames while referee Alejandro Villanueva told the El Comercio newspaper he was trapped in the stadium for nearly three hours. Huamanga won the Copa Peru tie 4-1 but were beaten on away goals. The trouble started when Huancayo were awarded a free kick as the hosts pressed for a decisive fifth goal. The referee was surrounded by furious Huamanga players and needed protection from riot police, delaying play for nine minutes. Play resumed but fans started throwing stones on to the field, forcing the game to be abandoned. TEAR GAS Fans then broke down the fencing and an estimated 200 people invaded the pitch while the police, heavily outnumbered according to the reports, used tear gas to try and control the situation. Television showed police protecting the visiting team and a member of the Huancayo coaching staff lying injured on the turf. The Copa Peru involves mainly semi-professional teams and rewards the winners with a place in the top flight the following year. Peruvian soccer is in a chaotic state and riots and fighting are common at matches. Last week Peru were suspended from international competition by ruling body FIFA because of a row between the national soccer federation and the government. (Writing by Brian Homewood in Buenos Aires, editing by Tony Jimenez) http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=155512 NPP youth in protest demonstration Accra, Dec. 31, GNA - A number of New Patriotic Party (NPP) youths on Wednesday afternoon besieged the Electoral Commission (EC) offices in Accra to protest against the holding of the Presidential Election Runoff in the Tain Constituency on Friday. They were shouting and demanding that the votes from the Volta Region should be audited before the holding of the election in Tain. Some of them were holding placards one of which read: "No Volta No Tain". The youths, who were wearing NPP tee-shirts and other NPP paraphernalia, sang and danced behind crowd barriers mounted by the Police on the roads leading to the offices. At a certain stage they surged forward and the Police drove them back by spraying water on them. Sheik I.C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, later invited them to his residence at Ridge. As they moved from the EC offices to the residence of Sheik Quaye, they destroyed a bill board of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Presidential Candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC), mounted along the Liberation Road at the junction to the residence of Former President Jerry John Rawlings at Ridge. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Opong-Boanuh, in charge of the operation; told GNA that everything had been brought under control. He advised that, party leaders should take pre-emptive action by talking to their youths to refrain from acts that undermined the security of the State. The GNA Reporter had a taste of the youths' anger when they seized his pen and notebook from him. One of them asked: "Are you from Radio Gold? Adding, Radio Gold has been inciting the NDC youth." Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), on Tuesday announced that because the results of Tain Constituency could mathematically determine the outcome of the Runoff, he was deferring the declaration of the winner of the 2008 Presidential Election Runoff. He explained that the number of voters in the Tain constituency was more than the difference between Professor Mills and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of New Patriotic Party (NPP). "He announced that the results from 229 out of the 230 constituencies that have been certified by the EC, gave Prof Mills 4,501,466 votes representing 50.13 per cent of the total valid votes cast while Nana Akufo-Addo garnered 4,478,411 votes, representing 49.87 per cent. Thus the difference of 23,055 votes could not give Prof Mills the presidency since the number of voters in the Tain constituency was more than the figure. --------------------------------------------------- HTI rallies for 'khilafah' Jakarta Post - December 22, 2008 Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta -- Thousands of Muslim women from the hardline Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) organization staged a rally Sunday calling for the country to enforce sharia law and establish an Islamic state led by a caliphate. They marched through downtown Jakarta from outside the US Embassy to the nearby State Palace, with some carrying their children. The protesters reject the current system of democracy because it is a Western product and said it failed to bring prosperity to this predominantly Muslim nation. The rally was peaceful amid tight security. Protest leader Febrianti Abassuni said the women's wing of HTI would intensify its campaign for an Islamic state this month to coincide with the commemorations of Mother's Day on Dec. 22, the Islamic New Year on Dec. 29, and in the lead up to the 2009 elections. "This movement offers guidance for the people to contribute to the country's transformation in the upcoming elections," she added. The protesters claimed khilafah, an administrative system based on Islamic ideology and led by caliphate, would be best for Indonesia and should replace Pancasila as the national ideology. Democracy has led Indonesia to capitalism and allows it to be used as a "cash cow by advanced states", leaving its citizens in poverty, they added. "Democracy and capitalism have proven ineffective in bringing about prosperity. Therefore, we are calling on this nation to apply khilafah," Febrianti said. "Islamic sharia is the right way toward an advanced and strong nation." Under the khilafah system, she claimed, citizens would have stricter control over the government to ensure their welfare be a top priority. "In accordance with Islamic values, the society would be sinful if it let the government abuse power; they should even be willing to die for it because it is considered as mati syahid (martyrdom)." She claimed the group's mission of establishing khilafah would be accomplished, saying they had gradually received more support, including from scholars. "It is just a matter of time. The society needs enlightenment to get out of the current political system." Commenting on the rally, constitutional law professor Jimly Asshiddiqie dismissed such a campaign. "There is no need to be concerned about such a movement because it will always exist but will never be accepted by mainstream Islam. What we should do is nurture the principles of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution because Indonesia is a constitutional country," he said. He said movements have survived for many years and continue to spring up during recent years because of the domination of the West over the oppressed Muslim society. He criticized the HTI of misinterpreting the concept of khilafah, which actually meant a governance system applied by caliphate emerging after the Prophet Muhammad. Saldi Isra, also a constitutional law expert, shared the view, saying it would be impossible for the country to shift into khilafah, given the fact that the principles of the Constitution are well established. "The idea (of establishing khilafah) is merely a discourse. There has never been further discussions on this issue because we have committed to enforcing the Constitution," he said. --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Church, homes burned in Masohi blasphemy riot Jakarta Post - December 10, 2008 M. Azis Tunny, Ambon -- What started as a peaceful rally at the Central Maluku Education Agency in Masohi, Maluku, escalated into a major riot between two neighborhoods on Tuesday. The demonstration that took place at 8:30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. Jakarta time) was sparked by a complaint lodged with police, by the local chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), over the alleged blasphemy of a local teacher. Welhelmina Holle, a teacher at SD Masohi elementary school, allegedly insulted Islam while tutoring a sixth grader. After protesting at the education agency office for an hour, the crowd of about 500 marched to the Central Maluku Police headquarters, located around 500 meters away. The protesters, who had demanded the teacher be dismissed and face the law, were disappointed when they could not meet with Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Widodo, who was in the provincial capital, Ambon. The crowd dispersed, but soon after a clash erupted between a smaller group and a number of police personnel; a crowd of people at the nearby Masohi Hospital threw rocks at the officers. Information gathered by The Jakarta Post said that Masohi was tense after the clash. The group then gathered in the subdistrict of Letwaru and began to riot. Dozens of homes were reportedly set ablaze, along with a church and a village hall. Civil servants were sent home early and traders at the Binaya market shut their shops. Two cars and a motorcycle inside the Binaya bus terminal were also set alight. Major thoroughfares were deserted because of the chaos. At around 11:30 a.m. Central Maluku Regent Abdullah Tuasikal, accompanied by a number of police personnel, arrived at the scene to appease the warring groups. But it was to no avail, as people continued to carry sharp weapons. Asked for confirmation, Maluku Provincial Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. J. Huwae told the Post that conditions in Masohi have returned to a semblance of normalcy following the reinforcement of police and soldiers. "The police, assisted by the military, are able to maintain the situation," Huwae said, adding that a large part of the community sought refuge at the barracks of the 731st Kabaressy infantry battalion. A resident in Ampera subdistrict, Benny Urayaan, told the Post that the riot was confined to Letwaru. "The Muslim and Christian communities in Ampera have jointly maintained the security condition in the area," Ronny, a Christian community figure in Ampera, said. "Muslims and Christians were victimized by sectarian conflict in 1999. We don't want the same thing happening again," he added. A Muslim youth figure in Ampera, Hatala, concurred, stating that the local Muslim community did not feel instigated by the situation. "We also feel tense about the situation, but our neighborhood, made up of two different communities, has agreed to guard our area together," Hatala said. The police have yet to issue an official announcement on the cause of the riot, nor the number of casualties. However, information from various sources indicates five people were injured and are currently being treated at the hospital. Police have placed the teacher in their custody. --------------------------------------------------- From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 19:07:48 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:07:48 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] GAZA PROTESTS, Dec 08-Jan 09 - Global Message-ID: <4AECED74.50306@tesco.net> Global roundups of the protests against the Gaza onslaught Also: * Global human rights group condemns Israeli slaughter * Raid Gaza! game satirises Israeli aggression * Protest and dialogue in Second Life Israel * Dozens protest in Second Life * Army, NATO sites hacked http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=29463 First Published 2008-12-31 Paris protests Protesters worldwide express anger at Israel Demonstrations around world denounce Israel's deadly bombardment of Gaza Strip. PARIS - Protesters denouncing Israel's deadly bombardment of the Gaza Strip returned to the streets Tuesday in demonstrations around the world to keep up the pressure for an end to the violence. As Israel, under increasing diplomatic pressure, mulled a proposed 48-hour truce and the death toll from its onslaught rose to at least 373 Palestinians, the protesters made their voices heard again. In France, more than 7,000 protesters marched in a dozen cities across the country to denounce the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which continued for the fourth day running Tuesday. In Paris, around 3,500 people according to police -- 5,000 according to the organisers -- marched towards the French foreign ministry on the Quai D'Orsay by the River Seine, shouting slogans and carrying banners denouncing Israel. Police said another 700 marched in the western city of Nantes, while demonstrations in at least a dozen cities and towns across the country each attracted hundreds of protesters. In London, between 200 and 300 demonstrators protested peacefully outside the Israeli embassy, after the two previous days' rallies had descended into violence. This demonstration was smaller than on Sunday and Monday, when scuffles erupted between police and protestors against Israel's air raids, leading to a total of 17 arrests over the two days. Iranian demonstrators stormed the British diplomatic compound in Tehran Tuesday evening to protest London's stance towards the Israeli onslaught, state news agency IRNA reported. "A large group of people and students entered the Gholhak gardens, which are occupied by the British embassy to protest at Britain's policies in supporting the Zionist regime and put up the Palestinian flag there," IRNA said. A media officer at the British embassy in Tehran confirmed the report. In Washington, around 200 people protested outside the US State Department chanting slogans like "Stop the Killing, Stop the War, Stop the Genocide of Palestinians" and with some carrying banners saying "Stop US Aid to Israel". In Tunis, hundreds of lawyers and trade unionists joined opposition activists to defy a police ban and protest the bombing of Gaza, several sources reported. As some protesters shouted slogans denouncing the lack of response from Arab countries in general and Egypt in particular, police headed off the demonstration as it headed towards the courthouse, said witnesses. Tunisia's government has already condemned the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Saudi Arabia's interior ministry denied a report by Shiite news website Rasid.com that hundreds had demonstrated Monday afternoon in heavily Shiite Al Qatif, just west of Dammam, leading to several arrests. Shiite news website Rasid.com reported that police had fired rubber bullets to break up the demonstrations Monday afternoon, which were attended by hundreds of people. But an interior ministry spokesman said there had been no such demonstration. Demonstrators in the Yemeni port city of Aden briefly broke into the Egyptian consulate to protest Cairo's response to the Israeli offensive, a security official said. The protesters, mostly students from the university of Aden, "vandalised furniture before they were removed peacefully from the building," the official said, asking not to be identified. Egypt has come in for strong criticism from its own population and people around the Muslim world for not fully opening its border with Gaza in the face of Israel's devastating air blitz. In Algeria, about 100 people staged a protest in the capital Algiers after a call from politicians and editors of writers' and artists' magazines. They observed a minute's silence in memory of the dead. In Panama City, around 200 people protested outside the Israeli embassy to condemn Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip. In the Bulgarian capital Sofia, about 200 protesters called on the Bulgarian government to support the peace efforts. Demonstrators carried pro-Palestinian banners and others denouncing Israel. Earlier Tuesday, about 200 people carrying flowers and candles offered a one-minute prayer in front of the Israeli embassy, with a Buddhist monk ringing a bell for the souls of the victims. "This is nothing but a bloodbath," organiser Hiroshi Taniyama told demonstrators. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Global_protests_against_Gaza_attack/rssarticleshow/3915869.cms From Mideast to Europe, protests swell 31 Dec 2008, 0103 hrs IST, AGENCIES BEIRUT: From Mideast countries to European capitals, protesters took to the streets to condemn Israel's assault on Gaza that has so far left more than 364 people dead, wounded hundreds more and reduced dozens of buildings to rubble. By far the largest protest in the Arab world - where outrage over Israel's air strikes continued into a third day - took place in Lebanon, with tens of thousands of Lebanese Hezbollah supporters standing under pouring rain. There were also rallies on Monday in Egypt, Sudan, and Iraq. The street protests have been far stronger in condemnation of Israel than Arab governments, particularly those allied with the United States. Egypt has criticised the attack and called for a cease fire but it and other US allies like Saudi Arabia and Jordan are also weary of Hamas. The Arab nations have long dropped the military option as a means for settling the Arab-Israeli conflict and support the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. They have criticised Hamas's use of rockets and suicide bombings. UN chief Ban-Ki-Moon also criticized the world leaders for not doing enough to stop the situation from deteriorating. Ban expressed alarm over the current escalation and urged the world and regional leaders to take steps to stop the carnage. But beyond issuing statement and talking to leaders, Ban can do little as it is for the Security Council, where the US has veto, to take any action. In Greece, a mixed group of about 300 protesters threw rocks at the Israeli embassy in Athens and scuffled with police during a demonstration organized by the Greek communist party. In London, some 600 protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy waving flags. In Berlin, about 2,000 Palestinians and their supporters formed a protest. They held Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against Israel. http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Egypt/238928 Thousands protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza Posted: 28-12-2008 , 15:48 GMT Crowds of thousands swept into the streets of cities around the Middle East on Sunday to denounce Israel's massive assault on the Gaza Strip. Several of Sunday's protests turned violent. In Lebanon, police fired tear gas to stop dozens of demonstrators from reaching the Egyptian Embassy. Some in the crowd hurled stones at the embassy compound. Hamas representative in Beirut Osama Hamdan told the crowd that his movement had no choice but to fight. "We have one alternative which is to be steadfast and resist and then we will be victorious," Hamdan said. In the capital of Syria, more than 5,000 people marched toward the central Youssef al-Azmeh square, where they burned an Israeli and an American flag. In Amman, Jordan, about 5,000 lawyers marched toward parliament to demand the Israeli ambassador's expulsion and the closure of the embassy. "No for peace, yes to the rifle," they chanted. The U.S. Embassy in Jordan warned Americans to avoid areas of demonstrations. In Dubai, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Palestinian consulate. In Egypt, more than 50,000 people took to the streets of a number of cities. The largest protest saw some 8,000 people demonstrate on the streets of Assiut, a city in southern Egypt, a security official said, with another 3,000 gathering in Minya, south of Cairo. According to AFP, a security official said 4,000 people took part in another anti-Israel and pro-Gaza demonstration in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, the security official said. Another 4,000 people rallied outside the Doctors' Syndicate in the capital against the Israeli onslaught. Eight thousand people demonstrated at Cairo University, with another 5,000 involved in another demonstration at Ein Shams University, outside the capital. A security official said that many of the demonstrations were started by members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. ? 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com) http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/12/29/world.protests.gaza/index.html December 29, 2008 -- Updated 2345 GMT (0745 HKT) World rallies around Palestinians amid Gaza offensive ? Story Highlights ? Protests reported in Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, Britain and Venezuela ? In Iraq, demonstrators set fire to Israeli flag, photo of President Bush ? Hezbollah leader speaks via satellite to protesters in Beirut, Lebanon ? Greek protesters hurl stones outside Israeli Embassy; police fire tear gas LONDON, England (CNN) -- Israeli attacks on suspected Hamas strongholds in Gaza have triggered protests in more than a dozen countries. A girl in Caracas, Venezuela, holds a sign reading, "No more massacre in Gaza" at Israel's embassy Monday. The attacks entered their third day Monday, with more than 300 people in Gaza reported killed and hundreds more wounded. Israel says the military assault is in response to ongoing rocket strikes on Israel, which have killed two Israelis. In London, England, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy, waving flags and trying to push their way closer to the building, as police tried to hold them back and erect a barricade. Police in Germany said about 2,000 protesters marched peacefully down Berlin's Kurfuerstendamm Boulevard and dispersed after about three hours. Watch protesters push toward embassy ? Protesters also have taken to the streets in Denmark, France, Italy and Spain, according to news reports. There also were reports of demonstrations in Caracas, Venezuela. Iranian media reported that thousands took part in anti-Israel demonstrations in Tehran on Monday, which the government declared a day of mourning for the Palestinians in Gaza. Photographs of the rallies posted by Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency showed black-shrouded women and men holding shoes in the air -- widely considered an insult in the Middle East -- while others held Palestinian flags and signs that said "Down with U.S.A." in English and Farsi. Greek riot police clashed with protesters in Athens during a demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy, according to police and images broadcast on state television. Protesters hurled stones in an attempt to break through the police cordon around the heavily secured embassy. Police responded with tear gas. In Iraq, hundreds of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demonstrated in al-Mustansiriya Square in eastern Baghdad. The demonstrators carried Iraqi and Palestinian flags, banners and pictures of al-Sadr and his father. The demonstrators threw an Israeli flag on the ground, put President Bush's picture on top of it and set both on fire. In the Muslim world, demonstrations also were held in Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Libya and Bahrain, the BBC and other news outlets reported. See world leaders' reactions to offensive ? Also, thousands of Lebanese demonstrators packed the streets of Beirut as part of a rally called by the militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah addressed the crowd via satellite from an undisclosed location. Protests were also held in Israel, where students at universities in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem demonstrated against the Israeli military operation, ynetnews.com reported. http://www.workers.org/2009/world/gaza_0115/ Worldwide movement protests U.S.-Israeli massacre in Gaza By John Catalinotto Published Dec 31, 2008 8:16 PM Bulletin: Next U.S. protests: Jan 3 in New York and Boston Dec. 31?The genocidal U.S.-backed Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip has had at least one unintended consequence. It has mobilized the anti-imperialist movement and other anti-war forces around the world. New York City, Dec. 28. WW photo: John Catalinotto The Washington-Tel-Aviv axis might not yet see this as an obstacle to their war crimes. But it is a work in progress, coming as the workers? movements are beginning to get in motion to fight the repercussions of the capitalist economic collapse. Now they are fighting to prevent the massacre associated with what appears to be a planned ground assault into Gaza. In 2006, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon had other unintended consequences. Even in parts of the world where winter holidays often drain the strength of a social movement, people reacted quickly, angrily and in some places massively to oppose the new Israeli assault. Groups all over the world made strikingly similar calls for action. There was complete solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza, a besieged and occupied population that has every right to resist. Most saw the Israeli state as the direct criminal, the local gendarme acting as an appendage of world imperialism?particularly U.S. imperialism but also that of the European Union. The immediate demands were to stop the Israeli attacks; lift the blockade of Gaza; and for the government involved to break relations with or stop aiding the Zionist state. Protests in some mostly Arab countries?Egypt, for example?also targeted the country?s regime for collaborating with the U.S. and Israel. Disrupting the stability of the collaborating Arab regimes could be another unwanted consequence of the U.S.-Israeli assault. People began to hit the streets and squares in protest the day of the first Israeli bombing, Dec. 27. Demonstrations spread through the world in the next few days. There are still some important gaps in our reports. We will list times and places for those protests that we know of that are planned for Jan. 1 or later so that people can use this information to attend. Some protests defy geographic categories. A group of 16 crew and progressives, including some European doctors and former U.S. Congressperson and Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, attempted to deliver medical and humanitarian aid to Gaza on the yacht, Dignity, from the Free Gaza Movement. Israeli gunships not only stopped the delivery in seas off Gaza, but one deliberately rammed the Dignity in international waters, damaging it and nearly forcing its evacuation. After the Dignity landed safely in South Lebanon, McKinney told the media that while the experience was harrowing, it ?pales in comparison with what the people of Gaza are experiencing right now.? McKinney appealed to the U.S. Congress and to incoming President-elect Barack Obama to speak out against the Israeli attack. North Africa and Asia Tens of thousands of Lebanese, many supporters of Hezbollah, protested in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, Lebanon, on Dec. 29 in the pouring rain. In Damascus, Syria, people held Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian flags aloft at an anti-Israeli rally. Protesters burned Israeli and U.S. flags in many Arab cities and demanded their governments react to Israeli aggression. More than 50,000 demonstrated in Egyptian cities on Dec. 28 according to the AFP news agency. The biggest protest was in the southern city of Asyut, led by the Islamist opposition. Some 15,000 also attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the Jordanian capital Amman, and there were rallies in many of Jordan?s refugee camps that house thousands of displaced Palestinians. There were demonstrations throughout the West Bank and in Haifa, Jaffa and other towns within the 1967 Israeli borders, and also a protest of 1,000 anti-war people in Tel Aviv. There were also anti-Israeli protests in Sudan and Yemen, where tens of thousands marched in Sanaa. In Iraq, there were demonstrations in Baghdad, Mosul, Najaf and Kufa. In Tehran, Iran, thousands of Iranians rallied Dec. 29. There have been protests in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey. In India, there were demonstrations in Kolkata (Calcutta) and a number of other Indian cities. There was a protest of more than 1,000 people waving Palestinian and Indonesian flags in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Dec. 30, and in Tokyo, Japan, that same day at the Israeli Embassy. In South Africa a protest of the Gaza massacre is set for Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Consulate in Killarney, Johannesburg. Latin America In Argentina, a vigil of hundreds was held at the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires after a march on Dec. 29, called by different Argentine-Arab organizations to show solidarity with Palestine. In Puerto Rico, the Socialist Front held a mobilization in solidarity with the Palestinian people and to reject and condemn the crimes of the Israeli state, gathering at the Federal building in San Juan. Starting at 10 in the morning on Dec. 29, some 200 people protested in front of the Israeli Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, in the second day of protests there. The Communist Party of Venezuela and other social organizations were present. On Dec. 30 people protested before the Israeli Embassy in Mexico City, D.F. There was also a protest in Col?n, Costa Rica, on Dec. 30 at the Israeli Embassy. In addition to these popular actions, statements from the governments of Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia condemned the Israeli killing of Palestinians. Europe In Belgium, there have been local protest rallies in Ghent, Louvain, Brussels and Antwerp in the days following the first attack, with a national protest rally on Dec. 31 from the Place de la Monnaie to the Place des Martyrs. It is a joint effort of solidarity committees, non-governmental organizations, the Workers Party of Belgium and Arab organizations. In Greece, where there have been youth protests against a police killing since early December, more than 3,000 demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israeli and anti-U.S. slogans marched on the Israeli Embassy in Athens. Greek left-wing parties and Arab groups participated. Another demonstration of 1,000 took place in Thessalonika. In England, Scotland and Wales, as reported by the Stop the War Committee, 700 people scuffled with police in demonstrations Dec. 28 at the Israeli Embassy in London. Some protesters were seen attempting to climb the gate towards the embassy and throwing red liquid, to symbolize blood, towards the gate. Respect Member of Parliament George Galloway and former Labor Member of Parliament Tony Benn were among those who addressed the crowd. Afterwards Galloway said: ?We should treat Israel as we treated South Africa during apartheid. They should be shunned.? Daily demonstrations are continuing in London from 2 to 4 p.m. outside the Israeli Embassy, and on Jan. 2 will move to the Egyptian Embassy at 26 South Street, London, W1K 1DW, from 2 to 4 p.m. to call for Egypt to open the border immediately. On Jan. 3, protests will also be held in Bristol, opposite the Hippodrome, from 3 to 4 p.m.; in Portsmouth, at Guildhall Square, at 11 a.m.; and in Hull, at Queen Victoria Square, at 11 a.m. Protests are set for Glasgow, Scotland, on Jan. 3 at 12 noon outside Lloyds TSB on St Vincent Street, with a demonstration at Blytheswood Square at 2 p.m. In Edinburgh, a protest will be held at the same time at Foot of the Mound on Princes Street. There were actions in Cardiff, Wales, in Nottingham and Southampton. In Lisbon, Portugal, various organizations concerned about the massacre in Gaza, including mass unions and women?s and anti-war organizations met Dec. 30 and decided to call a unified demonstration for Jan. 8, with the place and time to be announced later. In the Spanish state on Dec. 28, 1,000 demonstrated before the Israeli Embassy in Madrid; also demonstrations were reported from Barcelona, Bilbao, Coruna and Seville. Further actions are planned in Madrid on Jan. 3 at 12 noon at the Foreign Affairs Ministry at Plaza de Sta. Cruz, and on Jan. 11 at 12 noon at Puerta del Sol. If there is an Israeli land invasion of Gaza, there will be a protest the next day at 8 p.m. at Puerta del Sol. A march is also planned between the squares of Cibeles and Sol on Jan. 17. In Madrid people have initiated a campaign of international solidarity with the Palestinian people by hanging Palestinian flags and scarves from windows and balconies. In France, demonstrations were called by a broad coalition of forces Dec. 29 and 30 in Paris, where 1,300 marched, and in Angers, Annecy, Besan?on, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, N?mes, Quimper, Rennes, Roubaix, Rouen, St. Etienne, St. Girons, Thionville and Toulouse. In Netherlands, a demonstration is planned for 1 p.m. on Jan. 3 in Amsterdam, at Museumplein. In Italy, Red Link reports demonstrations at least in Rome and Pisa on Dec. 28 and in Naples and Bologna on Dec. 29. Soccorso Populare in Veneto reports a protest on Dec. 28 of 100 in Padua, on Dec. 31 in Venice Mestre, on Jan. 2 in Treviso and on Jan. 3 in Vicenza at 2 p.m. before the Central Train Station. There were also protests in Florence and Genoa and in Cagliari in Sardinia. A broad national demonstration has been called for Rome on Jan. 3 at 4:30 p.m. at Piazza della Repubblica, marching to Piazza Barberini. In Germany, on Dec. 28 some 50 people gathered downtown spontaneously near the big cathedral in Cologne to demand an immediate end to the massacre. The next day there were actions in Berlin and Dusseldorf. In Austria there were vigils and protests in Vienna on Dec. 30, when 2,000 people marched through the downtown area. On Jan. 3 at 3 p.m., there will be a demonstration, ?Stop the Massacre in Gaza!? at the Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Vienna. The Gaza Must Live group called further protests for Jan. 2 at 2:30 p.m. at Karlsplatz and on Jan. 9. In Switzerland there were protests in Basel and Geneva. In Denmark, there were solidarity demonstrations in Copenhagen and Aarhus on Dec. 28, with 1,500 people in Copenhagen at the Israeli Embassy; in Odense on Dec. 29; and again in Copenhagen and other cities on Dec. 30. In Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the group Tadamon (Solidarity in Arabic) plans a protest for Jan. 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the corner of St. Catherine and Atwater (metro Atwater). Other protests have been held across Canada. United States From inside the U.S., International Action Center activists and others have continued to send detailed reports. In general, most demonstrators at first have come from the Palestinian and Arab/Muslim community. The IAC has helped with organizational and logistical support and outreach to other North Americans in the labor, anti-war and anti-racist movements. The largest demonstrations reported so far have been in Dearborn, Mich.; New York; San Francisco; and Anaheim, Calif.; all numbering in the thousands. In Dearborn, near Detroit, on Dec. 30, some 5,000 people formed a human chain stretching for blocks in this city that probably is home to the largest Arab community in the U.S. Some of the many youth stood on snow banks and waved Palestinian flags, of which there were hundreds of all sizes, and chanted, ?1,2,3,4?stop the killing, stop the war; 5,6,7,8: Israel is a terrorist state.? Passersby in cars?some also draped with Palestinian flags?honked loudly and repeatedly for the hour-plus-long action in cold windy weather. A follow-up action, a candlelight vigil, will be held Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. at the City Hall in Dearborn. In New York, some 5,000 people gathered in front of Rockefeller Center on 5th Avenue on a very busy shopping day Dec. 28. The demonstration was largely Palestinian, young and very militant, chanting, ?From the river to the sea: Palestine will be free.? It marched a mile to the Israeli Consulate. Mosques in New Jersey towns sent five busloads of people on 24-hours? notice. There were other protests on Dec. 29 and 30. A major unified demonstration is planned for Jan. 3 to start at Times Square at 2 p.m. More than 1,500 people participated on Dec. 29 in Anaheim, just south of Los Angeles. A coalition made up of Al Awda, Muslim student organizations and many others, including the IAC, called the action. The next event was on Dec. 30 in front of the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles. On Dec. 30, several thousand Palestinians and supporters held a loud and militant march through downtown San Francisco. In Washington, D.C., on Dec. 30, ANSWER held a demonstration at the State Department. In San Diego, on Dec. 30, about 500 people, including large numbers of Arab youth, gathered at the downtown Federal Building. All four corners of the intersection were occupied by spirited protesters, with youth chanting nonstop and frequently leading charges from one corner to another. Further protests were announced for the afternoon of Jan. 1 in Balboa Park and the afternoon of Jan. 2 at the Federal Building. Some 100 demonstrators gathered in Tucson, Ariz., on Dec. 30. In Boston, there was a march of 120 people on Dec. 28 from Park Street to Copley Square with strong Palestinian participation, rush hour distributions on Dec. 29 and a demonstration Dec. 30 at the Israeli Consulate. The next action in solidarity with Palestine will be on Jan. 3 at 12 noon at Copley Square, and will march through downtown Boston past the Israeli Consulate in Park Square, Downtown Crossing, the military recruiters on Tremont Street and back to Copley Square for a concluding rally. It is being organized by a broad ad hoc coalition. Some 80 mostly young people attended an emergency demonstration in Baltimore on Dec. 30 at the War Memorial Plaza. More than 100 people came out for a protest outside the Israeli consulate in Philadelphia Dec. 28, called with less than 24-hours? notice. In Buffalo, N.Y., some 200 mostly Palestinian, Yemeni and other Arab youth demonstrated on Dec. 30. The Palestinian community in Houston had a huge demonstration Dec. 28 on all four corners of the busiest intersection in town, maybe 750 people. From infants to elders, Palestinians came out with their families, lots of students, and a number of elderly women in traditional Palestinian clothing. In typical Texas style, pickup trucks filled with Palestinian youth waving giant Palestinian flags drove up and down the streets honking and yelling. There were other protests during the week, with the next action on Jan. 2 at the Israeli consulate. In Atlanta, Emory Advocates for Justice in Palestine and Athens for Justice in Palestine, with help from the IAC, pulled together an action in less than 18 hours for Dec. 28. More than 100 people came; mostly Palestinian, many college and high school age youth as well as children brought by their parents, with good representation of the anti-war movement. Another 350 people protested and took over some intersections on Dec. 30. The next action is on Jan. 3 at CNN at 2 p.m. With help from Hana al-Bayaty for the Middle East; Paola Manduca for Europe; Berta Joubert-Ceci for Latin America; and with reports from Angeles Maestro, Klaus Riis, Bert de Belder, Fausto Schiavetto,Willi Langthaler, Guido Mandari and Wil van der Klift in Europe; Manik Mukherjee in India and Keiku Yasahara in Japan; also Joe Piette, Paul Teitelbaum, Bob McCubbin, John Parker, Dianne Mathiowetz, Ellie Dorritie, Frank Neisser, Sara Flounders, Joan Marquardt and Steve Ceci in the U.S. ________________________________________ Articles copyright 1995-2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. http://www.worldpress.org/feed.cfm?http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1228/breaking30.htm Sunday, December 28, 2008, 16:11 Arab protesters demand response to Gaza attacks Protesters burn an Israeli flag outside the Egyptian embassy in Amman today. Related ? ? UN Security Council urges end to Gaza violence | 28/12/2008 ? Israel renews Gaza air strikes, 290 reported dead | 28/12/2008 Protesters burned Israeli and American flags this afternoon in a string of Arab countries and demanded a stronger response from their leaders to Israel's attack on Gaza. "Arab silence is behind the bombings," read a banner held by one of several thousand people who turned out in the Sunni Arab city of Samarra north of Baghdad. The Israeli raids, some of the worst in 60 years of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, incensed many in the Arab world, where many governments are seen by popular Islamist movements as collaborators with the United States or Israel. "America and the Zionists are the leaders of world terrorism," read a placard held by protesters at the UN headquarters in the Lebanese capital Beirut. They demanded UN intervention to end the Israeli onslaught. Similar protests were held in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, home to some 400,000 refugees displaced when Israel was established in 1948. In the centre of the Syrian capital Damascus, thousands of people carrying Palestinian and Syrian flags filled streets around a popular square, chanted anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans and burned an American flag. "Victory belongs to heroic Gaza," one banner said. "Until when will the Arab silence continue?" read another. In Baladiyat, a Baghdad district inhabited by many Palestinians given refuge in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, men waved banners and condemned Arab nations for not doing enough to support Palestinians. "We have been waiting for action from Arab leaders for almost 60 years," Jaleel al-Qasus, the Palestinian envoy to Iraq, said during the protest by several hundred people. "Our efforts have been in vain." Scores of protesters tried to approach the Egyptian embassy in Beirut to demand Egypt open up its borders to Gaza, where 1.5 million Palestinians live under Israeli and Egyptian blockade. Police used tear gas to stop the demonstrators approaching. In Egypt itself, protesters gathered in Cairo and five other towns, security sources said. They burned Israeli flags and carried placards denouncing Israel. Scuffles broke out outside the Israeli embassy in London on after more than 700 demonstrators gathered to protest. Police said two or three people had been arrested but the Israeli embassy denied protesters had got into the embassy itself. In Madrid, hundreds of Palestinians, Muslims and anti-war activists rallied outside the Israeli Embassy. Protesters waved placards that read "Israel Genocide". A teenage boy was killed in one protest in the volatile northern Iraqi city of Mosul when a suicide bomber on a bicycle detonated explosives in a crowd of around 300 protesters. It was not clear why the bomber would have targeted an anti-Israeli rally. Police said 17 people were wounded in the attack in Mosul. Several thousand people protested in the Iraqi city of Samarra and a few hundred took to the streets in Falluja. Iraq hosted 30,000 Palestinian refugees before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Many found themselves victim of attacks or threats once the war began, partly because they were seen as clients of the deposed leader Saddam. The office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the reclusive cleric who has peerless influence among Shias in Iraq, issued a statement condemning what he called a 'savage' operation. "The Arab and Muslim world demand, more than ever, a practical stance to stop this never-ending offensive," it said. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious decree ordering Muslims around the world to defend Palestinians in Gaza against Israeli attacks "in any way possible". Reuters http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28410813/ Thousands protest Israeli assault on Gaza Crowds around the Middle East and in Paris denounce the airstrikes Iraqi demonstrators burn the Israeli flag during a protest against the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Baghdad's Mustansiriya square on Monday . Ahmad Al-Rubaye / Getty Images updated 5:35 p.m. ET Dec. 28, 2008 BEIRUT, Lebanon - Crowds of thousands swept into the streets of cities around the Middle East on Sunday to denounce Israel's air assault on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. From Lebanon to Iran, Israel's adversaries used the weekend assault to marshal crowds into the streets for noisy demonstrations. Angry protesters carried images of the dead and the destruction in demonstrations from Cairo to Istanbul. And among regional allies there was also discontent: The prime minister of Turkey, one of the few Muslim countries to have relations with Israel, called the air assault a "crime against humanity." The Syrian government, meanwhile, announced the suspension of its indirect peace talks with Israel because the attacks. Israel and Syria held four rounds of indirect negotiations in Turkey after the peace talks were launched in May. Fighters on alert Hezbollah's leader in Lebanon told thousands of Beirut residents that his group will not abandon Gaza and asked his fighters to be alert in case Israel decides to attack his group. A radical Saudi cleric used the assault on Gaza to incite believers to target Israeli interests "everywhere," to avenge the attacks on the Gaza strip. Several of Sunday's protests turned violent. A crowd of anti-Israel protesters in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul became a target for a suicide bomber on a bicycle. In Lebanon, police fired tear gas to stop dozens of demonstrators from reaching the Egyptian Embassy. Some in the crowd hurled stones at the embassy compound. Security officials said two policemen were wounded and taken to hospital and several demonstrators were lightly injured. Egypt, which has served as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians as well as between Hamas and its rival Fatah, has been criticized for joining Israel in closing its borders with Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit called on Hamas to renew its truce with Israel. Egypt also again summoned the Israeli ambassador to express its rejection of Israeli government comments about expanding the assault on Gaza. Calls for truce to be renewed France also called for the truce to be renewed and rallied European nations to use "all their weight" to stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Hussein Malla / AP A Palestinian protester in Beirut on Sunday throws stones at Lebanese policemen during a demonstration to protest Israel's attacks against the Gaza Strip. ________________________________________ Across Europe, demonstrations took place Sunday. About 700 protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in London. In Paris, about 1,000 demonstrators gathered near the Arc de Triomphe. Britain's foreign secretary David Miliband is calling for an immediate cease-fire by Israel and by Hamas, which controls Gaza. He's calling this a "dangerous moment." France's foreign minister says the EU is ready to increase its humanitarian support for Gaza, and resume its monitoring role at Gaza border crossings. Pope Benedict, who is expected to visit the region in May, is calling on the international community "not to leave anything untried" to help Israel and the Palestinians get away from what he called "this dead end" of violence. In Beirut, the leader of Lebanese militant Hezbollah Sheik Hassan Nasrallah also took a stab at the Egyptian role. He said if it does not open its Rafah border crossing with Gaza then "you are taking part in the crime" against Palestinians. "I have asked the brothers in the resistance, especially in the south, to be present and cautious because we are facing a treacherous and criminal enemy," Nasrallah said, warning of possible Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Hamas: Fighting the only option Hamas representative Osama Hamdan told another rally in Beirut that the militant group had no choice but to fight. Gaza militants have been lobbing dozens of rockets and mortars into southern Israel since a six-month truce expired over a week ago, prompting Israel's fierce retaliation. "We have one alternative which is to be steadfast and resist and then we will be victorious," Hamdan said. In the capital of neighboring Syria, more than 5,000 people marched toward the central Youssef al-Azmeh square, where they burned an Israeli and an American flag. One demonstrator carried a banner reading, "The aggression against Gaza is an aggression against the whole Arab nation." In Amman, Jordan, about 5,000 lawyers marched toward parliament to demand the Israeli ambassador's expulsion and the closure of the embassy. "No for peace, yes to the rifle," they chanted. There also demonstrations in nearby Palestinian refugee camps. A small group of Jordanian lawmakers ? who petitioned to expel the Israeli ambassador from Amman ? burned the Israeli flag in parliament and trampled on it while clapping, despite objections from parliament's speaker and other lawmakers. The U.S. Embassy in Jordan warned Americans to avoid areas of demonstrations. Complaints from Egyptians Thousands of Egyptians ? many of them students ? demonstrated at campuses in Cairo, Alexandria and elsewhere and accused President Hosni Mubarak and other Arab leaders of not doing enough to support the Palestinians. Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has said Israel should be "wiped off the map," denounced the Israeli strikes. His country's Red Crescent said it is sending relief to Gaza through Egypt. Protests extend to Dubai, And in the normally politically placid streets of glitzy Dubai and Kuwait, hundreds of demonstrators ? some draped in Palestinian flags ? protested at the Palestinian consulate in Dubai and outside the Kuwaiti parliament. "This is a time for the Palestinians and Arabs to unite to fight against a common enemy," said Majdei Mansour, a 30-year-old Palestinian resident of In Iraq, where the government has also condemned the Gaza airstrikes, a suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up amid a crowd of about 1,300 demonstrators in Mosul who were protesting against Israel, killing one demonstrator and wounding 16, Iraqi police said. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack on the demonstration, which was organized by a Sunni party in sympathy for Palestinians in Gaza, who are largely fellow Sunnis. And feeding on the Muslim anger, Saudi radical cleric Sheik Awadh al-Garni has issued a religious edict urging Muslims to target "interests and anything that has a link to Israel," calling it "a legitimate target for Muslims everywhere." The fatwas are not legally binding, and it is up to the individual Muslim to follow them. http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/World-News/2-26152-Protestors-all-around-the-world-decry-Israeli-war-against-Gaza.html Protestors all around the world decry Israeli war against Gaza Tuesday, December 30, 2008 08:57 GMT Demonstrations filled the streets in many capitals decrying the Israeli war against Gaza Strip that doesn?t save neither people nor houses. The demonstrations weren?t restricted to the Arab world but also many western cities witnessed demonstrations condemning the Israeli war against Gaza. Demonstrators went out to the streets of Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Jordan, Greece, Britain and Sweden. Protestors called the international community to hold Israel accountable for the crimes it commits in Gaza and to support Palestinians in their ordeal with all the possible means. http://www.theledger.com/article/20090102/news/901020324 Muslims Around the World Protest Israel's Assault in Gaza Bombing campaign launched Dec. 27 has killed about 400 Palestinians. By REBECCA SANTANA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: Friday, January 2, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, January 2, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. CAIRO, Egypt | Thousands protested Friday against Israel's air offensive targeting Hamas at demonstrations in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Similar protests have been held daily across the Middle East since Israel launched the bombing campaign last Saturday. But these gatherings held mostly after Friday prayers were larger - mainly because Friday prayers are a traditional gathering opportunity for Muslims - and seemed to be more far-reaching in the number of countries where protests occurred. The Israeli offensive has killed more than 400 Palestinians and sparked outrage among the Arab public. Israel says its offensive is aimed at silencing Hamas rockets. In Tehran, a crowd of about 6,000 stretching for a half-mile marched from prayers at Tehran University to Palestine Square, chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" and burning Israeli flags. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Israel that entering Gaza "by land will be the biggest mistake of the Zionist regime." Iran is a major backer of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, giving it millions of dollars. The U.S. and Israel accuse Iran of giving weapons and rockets to Hamas, though Tehran denies arming Hamas. In Egypt, authorities clamped down hard to prevent protests Friday. Hundreds of riot police surrounded Cairo's main Al-Azhar Mosque, where a rally had been called, and scuffled with would-be protesters, keeping most from approaching. Police also arrested 40 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood that called for protests. More than 3,000 people marched in the northern Sinai city of el-Arish. Many governments in the Arab world such as Egypt have been wary about protests at home over Israel's Gaza assault lest the protests spiral out of control. In Jordan, police fired volleys of tear gas and scuffled with protesters who tried to reach the Israeli Embassy in Amman. A few of the protesters threw stones at police, but the security forces dispersed the group, arresting several. More than 10,000 Muslims marched through Indonesia's capital Jakarta to protest the ongoing bombing raids. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090102.wgaza0102/BNStory/International/home Muslims around the world protest Gaza assault NASSER KARIMI Associated Press January 2, 2009 at 11:43 AM EDT TEHRAN ? Thousands of people Friday demonstrated against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip in widespread protests stretching across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and even some scattered protests in Europe. Similar protests have been held daily across the Middle East since Israel launched the bombing campaign last Saturday. But these gatherings held mostly after Friday prayers were larger ? mainly because Friday prayers are a traditional gathering opportunity for Muslims ? and seemed to be more far-reaching in the number of countries where protests occurred. The Israeli offensive has killed more than 400 Palestinians and sparked outrage among the Arab public. Israel says its offensive is aimed at silencing Hamas rockets. In Tehran, a crowd of about 6,000 stretching for a half-kilometre marched from prayers at Tehran University to Palestine Square, chanting ?Death to Israel? and ?Death to America? and burning Israeli flags. Enlarge Image Lebanese protesters, carry black mock coffins with Arabic words reads:'We are all Gaza,' as they walk behind an Arbic banner read:'Open Rafah crossing,' during a demonstration held by leftist groups to protest Israel's attacks against the Gaza Strip, in Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday. (Hussein Malla/AP) Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Israel that entering Gaza ?by land will be the biggest mistake of the Zionist regime.? He vowed Israel would be ?defeated? in a ground attack. Iran is a major backer of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, giving it millions of dollars ? and weapons and rockets, according to the U.S. and Israel, though Tehran denies arming Hamas. In Egypt, authorities clamped down hard to prevent protests Friday. Hundreds of riot police surrounded Cairo's main Al-Azhar Mosque, where a rally had been called, and scuffled with would-be protesters, keeping most from approaching. Police also arrested 40 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, an opposition group that had called for pro-Gaza rallies. More than 3,000 people marched in solidarity with Gaza in the northern Sinai city of el-Arish, Egypt's closest city to Gaza. Many governments in the Arab world such as Egypt have been wary about protests at home over Israel's Gaza assault lest the protests spiral out of control. In Jordan, police fired volleys of tear gas and scuffled with dozens of protesters who tried to push through barriers to reach the Israeli Embassy in Amman. A few of the protesters threw stones at police, but the security forces dispersed the group, arresting several. About 30,000 Jordanians gathered at a stadium in Amman shouting their support for Gaza and calling for the abolition of the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty signed in 1994. More than 10,000 Muslims marched through Indonesia's capital Jakarta to protest the ongoing bombing raids in Gaza, aiming fake missiles labelled ?Target: Tel Aviv, Israel? at the U.S. Embassy. Protests were also held after Friday prayers in other cities in the world's most populous Muslim country, in what was the largest turnout since Israel began the operation. In the Afghan capital of Kabul, about 3,000 people gathered outside a prominent mosque, according to police estimates. Men in the crowd threw stones and shoes at an effigy of President George W. Bush. Dozens of demonstrators gathered in the Philippines capital Manila, carrying placards saying Israel is a ?butcher of children? and accusing it of war crimes. In Turkey, Israel's closest ally in the region, some 5,000 people denounced the Israeli raids outside a mosque in Istanbul, burning Israeli and U.S. flags and reciting funeral prayers for the victims. The state-run Anatolia news agency says similar protests were held in several other Turkish cities. In Syria, some 2,000 marched in a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting ?jihad will unite us,? and later burned an Israeli flag. In Sudan, thousands marched in downtown Khartoum from mosques to the main Martyrs Square, urging Muslims to jihad and denouncing Israel and America. Small protests erupted as well in the Palestinian territories. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, thousands demonstrated in solidarity with Gazans, calling for Palestinian unity and accusing Arab leaders of silence over Israel's bombardment. Ex-Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox and other celebrities, including activist Bianca Jagger, comedian Alexei Sayle and politicians including former London mayor Ken Livingstone, held a press conference in London demanding Israel halt the onslaught. In Bern, Switzerland, hundreds of people marched, calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and demanding that the international community impose sanctions against Israel. Russian authorities detained about 37 people after a small protest outside the Israeli Embassy in Moscow demanding an end to attacks on the Gaza Strip. The protests included members of Russia's many Muslim minorities. Hundreds of Muslims held a rally at the main mosque in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi after prayers, hoisting banners that said ?Palestinian Blood Is Human Blood? and shouting for Kenya to sever ties with Israel. http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=70896 2009-01-12 International European protesters call for halt to Gaza carnage Afp, London Anti-Israeli protesters march on the street during a demonstration in front of the Federal Building in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday. Thousands of protesters took to the streets in US and European cities on Saturday as Israel vowed to escalate its war in Gaza that has left nearly 900 Palestinians dead so far. Photo: AFP Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied across Europe on Saturday to call for an end to Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The two biggest protests took place in London and Paris, with largely peaceful demonstrations in both capitals turning violent as the day wore on. In London, angry demonstrators hurled sticks and stones at police outside the Israeli embassy as officers in riot gear and on horseback charged the crowd to keep them away from the building in the upmarket Kensington district. Police made 24 arrests. Veteran left-wing campaigner Tariq Ali, who had led the march, said: "The most appalling violence is happening in Gaza -- a few punch-ups outside the Israeli embassy is neither here nor there." Organisers hoped 100,000 people would attend the London rally, which began in Hyde Park before progressing to the Israeli embassy. Police estimated the crowd at 12,000. About 30,000 people marched through Paris, the interior ministry said, and more than 90,000 joined protests in more than 120 towns and cities elsewhere in France. In the capital, thousands of French men and women of Arab origin carrying Palestinian banners joined forces with left-wing militants amid cries of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greater) and "Israel murderer." Protesters smashed a bus shelter and a telephone box in central Paris, and bottles were later thrown at riot police and shop windows smashed. Police fired teargas after mobs overturned motor scooters and set them on fire. A march in the southern city of Nice descended into violence. Seven police were hurt and 11 rioters arrested as youths broke off from a 2,500-strong crowd of protesters and smashed shop windows. Demonstrations took place on the streets of other European cities including Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Oslo, Sarajevo and Stockholm. Israel's offensive on Gaza went into a third week on Saturday as planes carried out more air strikes, while troops clashed with Hamas fighters despite international calls for a ceasefire as the death toll rose above 800. Meanwhile, Hamas and other armed groups fired at least 13 rockets into Israel, wounding four people, the Israeli army said. In Sarajevo, peace activist Svetlana Broz told a 1,000-strong pro-Palestinian demonstration that the city knew better than others "what happens when the world remains silent at a time when innocent civilians suffer", referring to the bloody siege of the city in the 1992-95 war in the former Yugoslavia. Police in Oslo fired teargas after a small group among a crowd of 2,000 pelted them with stones, and up to 5,000 demonstrators gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Stockholm to call for an end to the military campaign. More than 6,000 people gathered for a peaceful rally in Berlin, with similar shows of support for the Palestinians in Munich and Cologne. In western Germany, some 10,000 people, largely from the ethnic Turkish community, protested in Duisburg. Police briefly intervened when demonstrators threw snowballs at a window bearing two Israeli flags. Innsbruck in western Austria staged a peaceful protest of 3,500 people waving banners saying "Stop Israeli terror" and 7,000 protestors turned out in Bern, Switzerland. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008614524_gazaprotest10.html?syndication=rss Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 12:00 AM Comments (15) E-mail article Print view Fiery protests against Israeli offensive erupt in Europe, Lebanon Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across Europe and in Lebanon on Saturday, shouting protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza. By DAVID RISING RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP/GETTY IMAGES A protester throws a shoe against the U.S. embassy in Mexico City on Saturday during a demonstration against the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza. BERLIN ? Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across Europe and in Lebanon on Saturday, shouting protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Protesters burned Israeli flags in Sweden and threw shoes at the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland. In central London, three officers were hurt when demonstrators hurled shoes and placards at police outside the Israeli Embassy. One officer was knocked unconscious. But in Innsbruck, Austria, volunteer security personnel arranged by the Islamic organizers of a demonstration moved quickly to surround and protect an elderly man after he suddenly unrolled an Israeli flag in the middle of the protest. Israel says its 2-week-old offensive is intended to stop Palestinian Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel. Palestinian medical officials say more than 800 people have been killed. A crowd of 12,000 gathered in London's Hyde Park carrying placards reading "Gaza: Stop the massacre" and chanting "free, free Palestine." Police said 15 people were arrested after a group of about 2,000 demonstrators clashed with police guarding the Israeli embassy. Two were detained on suspicion of assaulting police officers. Scores of marches were held across France, the biggest of them in the capital, where police estimated 30,000 people took part. Paris police scuffled with a small group toward the end. Police estimated that 30,000 people protested in the northern Spanish city of Barcelona, some carrying bloodstained blankets and mock dead bodies of children. The demonstration had been called by around 300 Catalan groups that have asked the Spanish government to back cease-fire initiatives and to stop all trade, especially arms, with Israel. In Italy, several thousand people carrying Palestinian flags marched in Milan, Florence and Venice to protest the Israeli offensive. In Milan, protesters burned a white sheet with the Star of David on it, and some participants carried posters with the Israeli flag and a swastika on them, the ANSA news agency reported. In Germany, some 8,500 people rallied in Berlin's Alexanderplatz and then marched to the city's main train station. Hundreds of police were deployed along the route, and several Hamas flags were confiscated from the protesters. No serious incidents were reported, however, police said. In the western German city of Duisburg, 10,000 people marched. "We want to show our solidarity with the victims in the Gaza Strip and signal our opposition to the oppression and violence in Gaza," said organizer Engin Karahan. Nearly 20,000 people marched through the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh in a protest organized by the militant Hezbollah group, a strong ally of Hamas that fought its own war with Israel in the summer of 2006. They waved Lebanese and Palestinian flags and some carried posters of bloody Palestinian children. "Gaza is the nation's battle," read a banner carried by several of the protesters. In Norway, police used tear gas to try to disperse at least 1,000 protesters after some hurled bottles, rocks and fired fireworks at officers. Two people were injured and two were taken into custody, said Oslo police spokeswoman Unni Groendal. Protesters in Sweden tried to break through sealed-off areas at Israel's embassy in Stockholm after a march through the city by 3,000 to 5,000 people. Thousands of demonstrators in Edinburgh, Scotland, threw shoes at the American consulate ? a gesture evoking an Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush during a recent Baghdad visit. Organizer Ian Hood said the group was angry with the United States for failing to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Athens were joined by several Greek leftist groups to form a crowd of about 2,000 who marched to the Israeli Embassy. On Friday, more than 60 people were injured during a large demonstration in Algeria's capital, many by stone throwing, the Interior Ministry said. One journalist was left in a coma. The Interior Ministry said the demonstration was "infiltrated by troublemakers" who looted some shops, damaged cars and destroyed bus stops and other public facilities. Associated Press reporter Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Lebanon, and reporters across Europe contributed to this report. http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Protests-held-around-the-world.4840219.jp Protests held around the world over Israel's bombardment of Gaza Members of the South African Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) set a poster of US President George W. Bush on fire during a protest. Picture: Getty Published Date: 02 January 2009 Thousands demonstrated against Israel's attacks on Gaza across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe. Similar protests have been held daily across the Middle East since Israel launched the bombing campaign last Saturday. But today's gatherings were larger ? mainly because Friday prayers are a traditional gathering opportunity for Muslims ? and seemed to be more far-reaching in the number of countries where protests occurred. In Tehran, a crowd of about 6,000 stretching for a half-mile marched from prayers at Tehran University to Palestine Square, chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" and burning Israeli flags. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Israel that entering Gaza "by land will be the biggest mistake of the Zionist regime." He vowed Israel would be "defeated" in a ground attack. Iran is a major backer of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, giving it millions of dollars and weapons and rockets, according to the US and Israel. In Egypt authorities clamped down hard to prevent protests. Hundreds of riot police surrounded Cairo's main Al-Azhar Mosque, where a rally had been called, and scuffled with would-be protesters, keeping most from approaching. Police also arrested 40 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, an opposition group that had called for pro-Gaza rallies. More than 3,000 people marched in solidarity with Gaza in the northern Sinai city of el-Arish, Egypt's closest city to Gaza. Many governments in the Arab world such as Egypt have been wary about protests at home over Israel's Gaza assault lest they spiral out of control. In Jordan police fired volleys of tear gas and scuffled with dozens of protesters who tried to push through barriers to reach the Israeli Embassy in Amman. A few of the protesters threw stones at police, but the security forces dispersed the group, arresting several. About 30,000 Jordanians gathered at a stadium in Amman shouting their support for Gaza and calling for the abolition of the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty signed in 1994. More than 10,000 Muslims marched through Indonesia's capital Jakarta aiming fake missiles labelled "Target: Tel Aviv, Israel" at the US Embassy. Protests were also held after prayers in other cities in the world's most populous Muslim country, in what was the largest turnout since Israel began the operation. In the Afghan capital of Kabul about 3,000 people gathered outside a prominent mosque, according to police estimates. Men in the crowd threw stones and shoes at an effigy of President George Bush. Dozens of demonstrators gathered in the Philippines capital Manila, carrying placards saying Israel is a "butcher of children" and accusing it of war crimes. In Turkey, Israel's closest ally in the region, 5,000 people denounced the Israeli raids outside a mosque in Istanbul, burning Israeli and US flags and reciting funeral prayers for the victims. In Syria 2,000 marched in a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting "jihad will unite us," and later burned an Israeli flag. In Sudan thousands marched in Khartoum from mosques to the main Martyrs Square, urging Muslims to jihad and denouncing Israel and America. Small protests erupted as well in the Palestinian territories. In the West Bank city of Ramallah thousands demonstrated in solidarity with Gazans, calling for Palestinian unity and accusing Arab leaders of silence over Israel's bombardment. In Bern, Switzerland, hundreds of people marched, calling for an immediate cease-fire, demanding that the international community impose sanctions against Israel. Russian authorities detained about 37 people after a small protest outside the Israeli Embassy in Moscow demanding an end to attacks on the Gaza Strip. The protests included members of Russia's many Muslim minorities. Hundreds of Muslims held a rally at the main mosque in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi after prayers, hoisting banners that said "Palestinian Blood Is Human Blood" and shouting for Kenya to sever ties with Israel. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-01/2009-01-10-voa1.cfm?CFID=165982093&CFTOKEN=94136251&jsessionid=8430f0f7b1ea3be3eeec65783d726c472742 Worldwide Protests Against Gaza Operation By VOA News 10 January 2009 Demonstrators protest over Gaza in Alexandria, Egypt, 9 Dec 2009 Tens of thousands of Muslims took to the streets Friday from Amman to Jakarta to protest the Israeli action in Gaza. An estimated 50,000 people rallied in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria after Friday prayers. The demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and shouted slogans against Israel, and in support of Hamas. In Amman, Jordan, police fired teargas on a crowd of some two-thousand people to prevent them from marching to the Israeli embassy. In Israel's occupied West Bank, police in Ramallah and Hebron also used teargas to disperse Palestinian protesters. Other demonstrations were reported in Turkey, Algeria, Kenya, Indonesia and Malaysia. Some of the demonstrators expressed anger at Arab leaders for failing to ease the plight of people in Gaza. Egypt has kept its border with Gaza largely closed. The European Jewish Congress said earlier this week it was planning pro-Israel rallies in London, Rome, Berlin, Vienna, and other locations. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/02/world/main4695928.shtml Global Protests Condemn Gaza Attacks Demonstrators Decry Israeli Bombardment Of Gaza Strip As Radical Muslims Call For Holy War; Arrests In India, Russia, Egypt Comments 1324 Jan. 2, 2009 Kashmiri Muslim protesters throw stones at Indian paramilitary soldiers during a protest against the ongoing bombing raids in Gaza, in Srinagar, India, Jan. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) (CBS/AP) Protests against the Israeli bombardment of the Hamas-run Palestinian territory, now in its seventh day, have swept several Mideast capitals and other major cities worldwide as demonstrator condemn Israel's air strikes which have killed more than 400 and wounded about 1,700 others. More than 10,000 Muslims marched through Indonesia's capital on Friday to protest the ongoing bombing raids in Gaza, aiming fake missiles labeled "Target: Tel Aviv, Israel" at the U.S. Embassy. Men, women and children attending the rally in Jakarta organized by the Islamic-based Justice and Prosperity Party waved Indonesian and Palestinian flags and shouted "Allahu akbar," Arabic for "God is great." Many wore traditional white robes and held banners that read: "Save Palestine from Israel, the terrorist." They marched to the U.S. Embassy, which was guarded by hundreds of police. "President-elect (Barack) Obama, we're watching you," party leader Tifatul Sembiring told the crowd. "If you want peace in the world, change the U.S. attitude toward Israel, don't support Israel." Police estimated that at least 10,000 people were at the demonstration in Jakarta, but Associated Press reporters at the scene said the numbers were much higher. Protests were also held after Friday prayers in other Indonesian cities, in what was the largest turnout since Israel began the operation last Saturday, intended to end weeks of intensifying rocket fire from Gaza. The vast majority of Indonesian Muslims practice a moderate form of Islam. Although they support the creation of a Palestinian state, most oppose violence against Israel. Iranian Protestors Label Gaza Bombardment A "Real Holocaust" Emotions in Mideast capitals, where demonstrations began shortly after Friday prayers, were hotter. Similar protests have been held daily in Tehran, Cairo, Amman and Damascus since Israel launched its bombing campaign last Saturday, but these gatherings were larger - mainly because Friday prayers are a traditional opportunity for Muslims to assemble in great numbers. In Tehran, a crowd of about 6,000 stretching for a half-mile marched from prayers at Tehran University to Palestine Square, chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" and burning Israeli flags They also carried banners reading: "Don't kill Children" and "Real Holocaust is happening in Gaza," while some vowed to "fight and defend Gaza." Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of Iran's most powerful politician-clerics, said in a sermon to several thousand worshippers that an Israeli military defeat in Gaza would be a "scandal" for its government and that, even if the Hamas government there collapses, Palestinian "resistance" will only expand. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Israel that entering Gaza "by land will be the biggest mistake of the Zionist regime." He vowed Israel would be "defeated" in a ground attack. Iran is a major backer of Hamas, giving it millions of dollars. Israel and the U.S. accuse Iran of providing the Palestinian militant group with newer, more sophisticated rockets, but Tehran denies arming the group. In his prayer sermon, Rafsanjani said Hamas had a new anti-tank weapon that it had not used before but would unleash if Israel ground troops move in, but he did not elaborate. In Srinagar, capital of Indian Kashmir, hundreds of protesters fought pitched battles with security forces on Friday while protesting against the continuing Israeli raids on Gaza. The protesters gathered outside the Jamia mosque after Friday prayers and burnt Israeli and American flags while shouting anti-Israel slogans. Protesters pelted stones at the security forces who charged at them with batons and tear gas. U.S.-allied Arab governments like Egypt fear that Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are giving a foothold for Iran. They have been critical of Hamas - which took over Gaza in 2007 in battles with loyalists of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - and of Syria for backing its allies Iran and Hamas. Pro-U.S. governments have been wary about protests at home over Israel's Gaza assault, which Israel says is aimed at silencing Hamas rockets. In Jordan, police fired volleys of tear gas and scuffled with dozens of protesters who tried to push through a barrier to reach the Israeli Embassy in Amman. A few of the protesters threw stones at police, but the security forces dispersed the group, arresting several. Hundreds more protesters marched peacefully nearby the embassy, calling for its closure and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. Jordan and Egypt are the only two Arab countries with peace agreements and diplomatic relations with Israel. Egypt clamped down hard to prevent protests Friday. Hundreds of riot police surrounded Cairo's main Al-Azhar Mosque, where a rally had been called, and scuffled with would-be protesters, keeping most from approaching. At another Cairo mosque dominated by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, police set up security checkpoints and inspected worshippers' ID cards. Around the capital, police arrested 40 members of the Brotherhood, which had called for pro-Gaza rallies. In the southern Cairo suburb of Maadi, one mosque preacher called for holy war for Gaza and several protesters marched nearby, shouting: "Let us go to jihad," or holy war. More than 3,000 people marched in solidarity with Gaza in the northern Sinai city of el-Arish, Egypt's closest city to Gaza. On the border, dozens of Sinai Bedouins raced around in cars in the town of Rafah, firing their guns into the air. In Syria, some 2,000 marched in Damascus' Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting "Jihad will unite us," and later burned an Israeli flag. In Sudan, thousands marched in downtown Khartoum from mosques to the main Martyrs Square, urging Muslims to jihad and denouncing Israel and America. Small protests erupted as well in the Palestinian territories. In an Arab neighborhood of east Jerusalem, a group of youths threw stones and smashed large blocks while Israeli anti-riot police on horseback dispersed them. Three dozen Palestinian women marched out of Jerusalem's Damascus Gate chanting, calling for revenge and urging Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to hit Tel Aviv with missiles. Police dispersed the crowd. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, thousands demonstrated in solidarity with Gazans, calling for Palestinian unity and accusing Arab leaders of silence over Israel's bombardment. Effigies Burned In Afghanistan In the Afghan capital of Kabul, about 3,000 people gathered outside a prominent mosque after Friday prayers, according to police estimates. Men in the crowd threw stones and shoes at an effigy of President George W. Bush. Kabul Police Chief Ayoub Salangi said some 250 Afghan police monitored the gathering to make sure it remained peaceful. No violence was reported. A cleric who spoke to the crowd said Afghans supported a "holy war" against Israel, in support of the Palestinian people. The cleric condemned America's support of Israel and led the crowd in chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." Leaders at the Afghan protest asked the crowd for volunteers to help in a Palestinian fight against Israel. Asadullah Shahid, a protestor, said he had gathered to condemn the Israeli attacks and "announce our support to innocent Palestinians." Another, Sayed Mushtaba, said that all "Afghan youths will stand against Israel, America and Jews till the last drop of their blood and we will defend Palestine." Meanwhile, in Moscow, protesters marched on Friday outside the Israeli Embassy in Russia. Clutching Palestinian and Azerbaijan flags, the protesters chanted "God is great," as well as anti-Israel and anti-American slogans. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Russian police arrested some protesters, dragging them into police vans, before herding the rest of the protesters away. Rashit, a Muslim from Moscow, said that children, women and old men were being killed in Palestine, and that while people around the world were protesting "we are banned from telling the truth." In the Philippines, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Manila, carrying placards saying Israel is a "butcher of children" and accusing it of war crimes. Organizer Reihana Melencio accused Israel of genocide. "This is one of the strongest militaries on earth and attacking a people who can only shoot back some old rockets, sticks and stones," she said. Preparations For Demonstrations In London, Los Angeles In London, celebrities and politicians lent their voice on Friday ahead of a planned demonstration on Saturday, to condemn Israel's actions as well as Hamas' rocket-fire response. The high-profile campaigners called for an immediate end to the Israeli operation in Gaza. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) Former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox, former London mayor Ken Livingstone, comedian and writer Alexei Sayle, and human rights advocate Bianca Jagger were among the speakers. The demonstration on Saturday, which is expected to draw thousands of people, will march on Whitehall to call for an immediate end to the violence. Lennox said the issue went beyond religion, Jewish or Muslim. "There has to be a place, ultimately, where people come to the table," she said. "How many more people will be slaughtered before we get there, and is this the way to go about it? I, absolutely, don't think so." In Los Angeles, Palestinian demonstrators plan to rally today, as pro-Israel supporters hold their own protests. The demonstrations come after hundreds from both sides protested in front of L.A.'s Israeli Consulate on Tuesday. Pro-Israel demonstrators say they plan to rally today outside of the Federal Building starting at 11 a.m. PST. Pro-Palestinian supporters have announced an emergency demonstration set for 4:30 p.m. outside of the Israeli Consulate. Supporters of Israel have also planned a counter protest at the location. http://www.indymedia.org/or/2009/01/918835.shtml Worldwide Protests Escalate in Response to Israel's Ground War on Gaza 08 Jan 2009 11:26 GMT On Saturday January 3rd, Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip with the stated goal of destroying the elected government in Gaza, Hamas, and the suspected goal of helping two senior Israeli politicians in upcoming elections (see [1] | [2] | [3]). The ground assault came after eight days of air strikes, which were launched in response to small scale rockets that killed four Israelis. At writing, at least 660 Palestinians have been killed and 3000 injured, an estimated 50 percent of which are civilians. Reports: IMEMC.org | Cyprus Indymedia | Indybay Resistance and solidarity continues to grow in Israel and the West Bank ([1] | [2]), despite serious repression. Three demonstrators in the West Bank have been killed and hundreds in Israel have been jailed for protesting the killing spree. In Gaza, seven medics killed by Israeli forces, five since the ground invasion began. As the troops were amassing, protests were taking place in hundreds of cities across the globe calling for Israel to cease aggressions, and have continued to grow since. At least 700,000 people have rallied and marched on embassies and politicians' offices around the world, calling for international intervention and decrying silence as complicity. In Norway, over 7,000 people have joined Socialist Left Party's Facebook call for expelling the Israeli ambassador. On Wednesday in Toronto, a group of Jewish women occupied the Israeli Consulate until police removed them by force (Audio Report Here). In the United States, a nation-wide demonstration has been called for Saturday, January 10. Internationally, a growing network of organizations is calling for coordinated boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel and Israeli corporations ([1] | [2]). Roundups of Protest Coverage: Aotearoa: Jan4 and Dec30 | Australia: Jan4 and Dec29-31 | Ireland | United Kingdom | United States: Dec31 and Jan4 | | | IMEMC.org | endtheoccupation.org | tadamon.ca http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054524.html 11/01/2009 Anti-Israel protesters try to attack U.S. consulate in Karachi By The Associated Press Tags: Gaza, Pakistan, Israel, Hamas Security forces used tear gas and batons to repel anti-Israel protesters who tried to attack a U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan on Sunday, as tens of thousands of people demonstrated worldwide against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of angry demonstrators protested Sunday across the Arab world, in Europe and Asia. "Some 2,000 protesters in the Pakistani port city of Karachi burned U.S. flags and chanted anti-Israel slogans, and several hundred of them marched on the U.S. Consulate," senior police official Ameer Sheikh said. "They were in a mood to attack," Sheikh said. "They were carrying bricks, stones and clubs." A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Islamabad, Lou Fintor, said the protesters did not get close to the consulate, which was closed Sunday. Washington provides a large amount of foreign aid to Jerusalem as well as military and weapons assistance. Israeli aggression is often perceived in the Muslim world as being financed and supported by the U.S. While Pakistan's government is a U.S. ally, anti-American sentiment is pervasive in the Muslim majority country. In Spain, as many as 100,000 people attended rallies in Madrid and the southwestern city of Seville, urging Israel to Stop the massacre in Gaza and calling for peace initiatives. Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos will tour the Middle East starting Monday to promote solutions to the conflict. An estimated 2,500 Lebanese and Palestinians meanwhile protested peacefully in downtown Beirut, waving Palestinian flags and calling on the international community to intervene in the Israeli attack. A convoy of some 15 ambulances from an Islamic medical society sounded their sirens for 20 seconds in solidarity with Gaza medics. Leftist participants set fire to a large Israeli flag, while children taking part in the protest held bloody dolls representing Palestinian children killed in Gaza. The death of children in the Gaza assault has become an enduring theme at protests. Children carrying effigies of bloody babies headed a march attended by thousands in Brussels, Belgium. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, demonstrators held up dolls wrapped in red-stained shrouds and photographs of bloodied children. Jewish communities appeared divided on the Israeli operations. In London, thousands of people gathered at Trafalgar Square to support the action in Gaza, while anti-Israeli protesters held a counter-demonstration nearby. In a letter published in Britain's Observer newspaper Sunday, 11 leading British Jews urged Israel to end its Gaza campaign and negotiate a settlement for security reasons. We are concerned that rather than bringing security to Israel, a continued military offensive could strengthen extremists, destabilize the region and exacerbate tensions inside Israel with its one million Arab citizens, the letter said. In Syria, as revolutionary songs blared from loudspeakers, demonstrators accused Arab leaders of being complicit in the Gaza assault. "Down, down with the Arab rulers, the collaborators," the crowd in Damascus shouted. Separately, activists protesting the Israeli campaign were driving from Turkey to Syria in a convoy of 200 cars, and participants hoped Syrian protesters would join them at the border Monday, according to Nezir Dinler, an activist with the Istanbul-based Solidarity Foundation. A few thousand people marched in largely peaceful pro-Palestinian rallies in the Italian cities of Rome, Naples and Verona. In Rome, municipal authorities were dispatched to erase graffiti - including Stars of David and swastikas - that had been scrawled on Jewish-owned stores and restaurants overnight. Philippine policeman used shields to disperse Filipino student activists outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila to condemn the Israeli assault in Gaza. They held signs reading, Stop U.S.-Israel Aggression against Palestine. About 100 members of a leftist students' organization marched in Tokyo against the Israeli military action. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/01/2009110134856498809.html Mass protests held against Gaza war Protesters in Germany demand and end to the Israeli bombardment and the Gaza blockade [AFP] Protesters have staged rallies around the world to voice their anger as the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip entered a third week. Thousands of protesters marched on the Israeli embassy in Britain, while others took to the streets of Germany, France, Lebanon, Australia and the West Bank. Al Jazeera's Jonah Hull, reporting from London, said that the number of protesters in London was far bigger than at previous demonstrations in the UK capital. "That is an indication of how far things have moved on in the last week, deteriorating quite rapidly in the Gaza Strip with the Israeli ground offensive," he said. "That has filtered through to public opinion with far more people coming out onto the streets in London and capital cities across Europe. "There have been calls for the Israeli embassy to be closed down, for diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and Israel to be broken." Palestinian cause One of the protesters told Al Jazeera that she had not been able to contact her family in the Gaza Strip for five days. "I don't what has happened to them, are they alive, are they not alive?" she said. "That crowd of 100,000 people, probably more, has come out today to show their support to the Palestinian people despite the fact that all the leaders are not supporting the Palestinian cause and are supporting Israel. "We will outnumber the leaders ... and we will do whatever we can. We will boycott Israeli goods, we will demand, we will protest and protest and protest as much as we can until we free the Palestinian people." The rally was backed by Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London, who has called on European nations to withdraw their ambassadors from Israel and suspend trade agreements with the Jewish state. Tens of thousands of people chanting "We are all Palestinians" joined a protest in the French capital Paris. "We want to point to the hypocrisy of an international community which votes for tons of resolutions that it never enforces," Olivier Besancenot, leader of France's Revolutionary Communist League, said. Elsewhere in France, pro-Palestinian rallies were held in Lille, Grenoble, Nice and Toulouse. Engin Karahan, one of the organisers of a march in the German city of Duisburg, said the protesters wanted to show "our solidarity with the victims in the Gaza Strip, and signal our opposition to the oppression and violence in Gaza". The demonstrators, many from the large ethnic Turkish community, called for an immediate end to the violence and a lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. More than 6,000 demonstrators gathered in the German capital Berlin, and other rallies were held in Munich and Cologne. Protests in Americas Later, at least 10,000 people gathered in a park in Washington DC to voice their solidarity for the Palestinian people. At least 10,000 people gathered in Washington to voice their solidarity with Gaza [Gallo/Getty] "The United States has a role to play because US weapons are being used ... so we need a drastic policy change," Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party nominee in the recent presidential contest, said. The protesters descended on the White House, chanting "free Palestine" as protest leaders and activists spoke from a podium. "There are many young people. We feel it's one of the most important demonstrations for Palestine ever in the US," said Eugene Puryear, a coordinator of the Washington protest, which was organised by the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) coalition. Protesters waived Palestinian flags, wore keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian headdress, and waived signs, some of which read "Stop the Gaza holocaust" and "Free Palestine, let Gaza live." They then led a march passing in front of the headquarters of The Washington Post newspaper to protest "its hard pro-Israeli line," Puryear said, before heading to the offices of construction equipment giant Caterpillar and military contractor Lockheed Martin. A dozen buses filled with protesters came from New Jersey and another seven buses drove in from New York. Thousands more protested across several Canadian cities, calling for an "immediate ceasefire" and especially targeting conservative Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, for his support of Israel. In Montreal, some 2,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanted "Israel the assassin" and called for a ceasefire in the impoverished Gaza Strip. Some brandished dolls spattered with red paint that they said represented children killed by the Israeli army. Several hundred protesters also gathered in front of the US embassy in Mexico City in opposition to what they called the "criminal aggression" in Gaza. Some protesters set shoes ablaze and hurled them against the embassy gates. 'Nation's battle' Almost 20,000 demonstrators carrying Lebanese and Palestinian flags marched through the streets of the Lebanese market town of Nabatiyeh in a rally organised by the Hezbollah group, which fought a 34-day war with Israeli in 2006. Protesters in London burned placards outside the Israeli embassy [Reuters] "Gaza is the nation's battle," read one banner carried by the demonstrators. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in protests that have been staged every day since Israel began to bombard the Gaza Strip 15 days ago. In the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, hundreds of Palestinian children took to the streets calling for an end to the war. Palestinian youths also gathered in East Jerusalem. "It is to [express] our anger about the massacre in Gaza, this voice ... [says] Jerusalem is part of the Palestinian territories [and] that Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state," Hatem Abdel Al-Qader, an adviser to the Palestinian prime minister, said. "It is a big voice ... that supports our citizens in Gaza against the Israeli massacre." Several hundred people rallied outside the Israeli embassy in the Australian capital of Canberra, throwing shoes at the building and chanting "Free Palestine". http://www.necn.com/Boston/World/2009/01/10/Global-antiIsrael-protests/1231622345.html WORLD: Global anti-Israel protests continue TOP VIDEOS (NECN) - Demonstrations continued across the world on Saturday to protest against Israel's ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip. Similar protests have occurred almost daily in the Middle East and elsewhere since Israel launched its operation on December 27, in an attempt to stop rocket fire from Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. The demonstrations have been fueled by the rising death toll in Gaza, which currently stands at over 800 Palestinians -- roughly half of them civilians, according to Palestinian medical officials. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, have been killed. In London, England, about 12,000 demonstrators rallied in Hyde Park in support of the Palestinian cause, carrying placards marked "Gaza: Stop the massacre" and chanting "free, free Palestine". A police officer in London was knocked unconscious as some protesters turned violent, with some throwing sticks and missiles at riot police. In Edinburgh, Scotland, thousands of demonstrators in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh gathered in front of the American consulate to toss shoes at the 19th century town house. In the Lebanese capital Beirut, a large group gathered outside the Egyptian embassy to express anger towards the Egyptian authorities for closing the Rafah border crossing with Gaza. In Beirut protesters hung posters of injured and dead Palestinians on barbed wire around the Israeli embassy. In Nabatiyeh, Southern Lebanon, nearly 20,000 people gathered for a march organized by the militant Hezbollah group, a strong ally of Hamas that fought its own war with Israel in the summer of 2006. The thousands of demonstrators who marched through the streets waved Lebanese and Palestinian flags and some carried posters of bloody Palestinian children. In Athens, Greece, more than 2,000 mostly Arab demonstrators, joined by several Greek leftist groups, marched to the Israeli embassy in protest. And In Paris, France, thousands of protesters marched to show solidarity with Gaza's Palestinians, a week after 21,000 marched in the French capital for the same cause. Demonstrators in Paris chanted: "We are all the children of Gaza" and waved Palestinian flags to protest Israel's deadly offensive. Last week's march degenerated into violence in a main shopping district with cars burned and windows broken. In Sanaa, Yemen, hundreds of thousands of Yemenis were demonstrating in the capital Sanaa and other Yemeni cities in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza. Video courtesy of APTV and Yemen TV. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052263.html Last update - 05:03 03/01/2009 Thousands protested Friday against Israel's air offensive targeting Hamas at demonstrations in the Middle East and several continents. Similar protests have been held daily across the Middle East since Israel launched the bombing campaign last Saturday. But these gatherings held mostly after Friday prayers were larger - mainly because Friday prayers are a traditional gathering opportunity for Muslims - and seemed to be more far-reaching in the number of countries where protests occurred. The Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 400 Palestinians and sparked outrage among the Arab public. Israel says its offensive is aimed at silencing Hamas rockets. In Tehran, a crowd of about 6,000 stretching for a half-mile (kilometer) marched from prayers at Tehran University to Palestine Square, chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" and burning Israeli flags. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Israel that entering Gaza "by land will be the biggest mistake of the Zionist regime." Iran is a major backer of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, giving it millions of dollars. The U.S. and Israel accuse Iran of giving weapons and rockets to Hamas, though Tehran denies arming Hamas. In Egypt, authorities clamped down hard to prevent protests Friday. Hundreds of riot police surrounded Cairo's main Al-Azhar Mosque, where a rally had been called, and scuffled with would-be protesters, keeping most from approaching. Police also arrested 40 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood that called for protests. More than 3,000 people marched in the northern Sinai city of el-Arish. Many governments in the Arab world such as Egypt have been wary about protests at home over Israel's Gaza assault lest the protests spiral out of control. In Jordan, police fired volleys of tear gas and scuffled with protesters who tried to reach the Israeli Embassy in Amman. A few of the protesters threw stones at police, but the security forces dispersed the group, arresting several. About 30,000 Jordanians gathered at a stadium in Amman shouting their support for Gaza and calling for the abolition of the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty signed in 1994. More than 10,000 Muslims marched through Indonesia's capital Jakarta to protest the ongoing bombing raids in Gaza, aiming fake missiles labeled "Target: Tel Aviv, Israel" at the U.S. Embassy. Protests were also held after Friday prayers in other cities in the world's most populous Muslim country, in what was the largest turnout since Israel began the operation. In the Afghan capital of Kabul, about 3,000 people gathered outside a prominent mosque, according to police estimates. Men in the crowd threw stones and shoes at an effigy of President George W. Bush. Dozens of demonstrators gathered in the Philippines capital Manila, carrying placards saying Israel is a "butcher of children." In Turkey, Israel's closest ally in the region, some 5,000 people denounced the Israeli raids outside a mosque in Istanbul, burning Israeli and U.S. flags and reciting funeral prayers for the victims. In Syria, some 2,000 marched in a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting "jihad will unite us." Syrian President Bashar Assad talked with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday and called on the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution forcing Israel to immediately halt its Gaza offensive, Syria's official news agency SANA reported. In Sudan, thousands marched in downtown Khartoum, urging Muslims to jihad and denouncing Israel and America. Protests erupted as well in the Palestinian territories. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, thousands demonstrated in solidarity with Gazans, calling for Palestinian unity and accusing Arab leaders of silence over Israel's bombardment. There were also protests in the United States. Thousands gathered in Washington to express outrage over Israel's attacks, marching from the Israeli embassy Friday to the Egyptian embassy to criticize Egypt's handling of the attacks. In Los Angeles, about 350 protesters and counter-protesters demonstrated. The pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the Israeli Consulate, while supporters of Israel lined the opposite side of the street. No incidents were immediately reported. Ex-Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox and other celebrities, including activist Bianca Jagger, comedian Alexei Sayle and former London mayor Ken Livingstone, held a news conference in London demanding Israel halt the onslaught. In Sao Paulo, Brazil almost 200 people led by local Muslim leaders gathered outside the Sao Paulo Art Museum to protest the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Several demonstrators carried Palestinian flags, and banners reading "End the Genocide in Gaza." In Bern, Switzerland, hundreds of people marched, calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and demanding the international community impose sanctions against Israel. Russian authorities detained about 37 people after a small protest outside the Israeli Embassy in Moscow demanding an end to attacks on the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of Muslims held a rally at the main mosque in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, hoisting banners that said "Palestinian Blood Is Human Blood" and shouting for Kenya to sever ties with Israel. Meanwhile, Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, the leader of al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa, an offshoot of Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, has issued a message urging Muslims to attack Jews everywhere, according to the SITE Intelligence, a group which monitors extremist Web sites. The message was issued on jihadist forums on Thursday, SITE said. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1111203/Cities-world-platform-hundreds-thousands-protesters-Gaza-fighting.html Cities across the world become platform for hundreds of thousands of protesters against Gaza fighting By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 8:07 PM on 11th January 2009 Cities across the world became the platform for protest on Israel's military action in Gaza today. Organisers said more than 250,000 people marched through Spain's capital of Madrid, with other European cities including Athens, Brussels, Rome, Naples Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin also the focal points of protesters. The protest in Madrid was the largest of demonstrations across Europe, although there were expressions of both support and opposition for the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Enlarge Thousands of protesters take part in demonstrations in downtown Madrid on Sunday One protester makes his feelings known at the Madrid rally on Sunday Madrid protesters filled downtown boulevards carrying banners saying 'Peace' and 'SOS Gaza' placards above pictures of a red-stained hand and mock blood-spattered bodies of children. Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem's mother Pilar, addressed a crowd estimated by organisers to number 250,000. She said: 'The Spanish government has to do something. The Gaza Strip is now practically a concentration camp.' 'It is my duty to call on Israel to implement an immediate cease-fire,' Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told the protest in Ourense. Thousands of supporters of the 'Imamia Students Organization' participate in a rally in Islamabad, Pakistan Protesters in Jakarta take to the streets In Brussels, children carrying effigies of dead and bloodied babies were at the head of a march through the Belgian capital as demonstrators there also demanded a halt to Israel's military campaign. Protesters burned an Israeli flag during the demonstration. In London's Trafalgar Square, up to 15,000 demonstrators called for an end to Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and voiced support for Israeli attempts to protect the country's citizens. 'The basic, simple goal of the people of Israel is to be allowed to live in peace, without violence, without fear, and without terror,' Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor told crowds gathered in the British capital. 'We tell the terrorists, "enough is enough." They, and not us, will be defeated.' A Philippine policeman scuffle with a student activist during a rally in front of the U.S. embassy in Manila But in a letter published in Britain's The Observer newspaper, 11 leading British Jews said Sunday that Israel's government must end its military action to achieve security. 'We are concerned that rather than bringing security to Israel, a continued military offensive could strengthen extremists, destabilize the region and exacerbate tensions inside Israel with its 1million Arab citizens,' their letter said. Signatories included Baroness Julia Neuberger and Rabbi Tony Bayfield, the head of Britain's Movement for Reform Judaism. A few thousand people in Italy marched in pro-Palestinian rallies in Rome, Naples and Verona. In Rome, municipal authorities erased graffiti - including Stars of David and swastikas - that were scrawled on Jewish-owned stores and restaurants overnight. A total of more than 3,000 people joined protests in support of Israel in the German cities of Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin. In Athens, dozens of children, and their parents, carrying effigies and photos of bloodied children marched in the Greek capital to protest at continued Israeli operations in Gaza. Other demonstrations were held in the Phillipines and Jakarta and other cities across the world. Thousands turned up for protests in Trafalgar Square on Sunday The demonstrations passed off peacefully compared to violence seen in London on Saturday. Violent clashes occurred between police and around 20,000 protesters outside the Israeli Embassy - with an estimated 100,000 protesters airing their views around the city. Windows were smashed and policemen were injured - with one officer knocked unconscious in the running battles and two requiring treatment for facial injuries. A Starbucks coffee shop was completely wrecked as protesters went on the rampage in Kensington. It is hoped a further demonstration today in London's Trafalgar Square will be more peaceful as thousands of pro-Israeli demonstrators "reclaim the public space" from their political opponents. Yesterday's protesters - mainly young men - knocked down barriers threw missiles including eggs, red paint, sticks and shoes as 300 officers in full riot gear tried to maintain the peace. Police try and hold back the protesters outside the Israeli embassy, Kensington, as thousands show their anger at the worsening situation in Gaza Barriers are broken down as the protest turns ugly, with at least one police officer hospitalised by the riots Clean-up in Kensington: Demonstrations and vigils have been held all week, reaching a crescendo of 100,000 on Saturday There were reports that some protesters had tried to set fire to police vans. The violence, which broke out in front of the Israeli Embassy, appeared to be led by a hard-core of masked and hooded youths. A national demonstration against Israel's attack marched from Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park today to the Israeli embassy in High Street Kensington. It was estimated there were around 100,000 protesters in total across London, including the Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and Kensington protests. During today's demo, protesters waved Israeli flags and placards bearing the slogan "End Hamas Terror!" and cheered speakers who defended Israel's actions in Gaza. A small group of counter-demonstrators gathered on one side of the Square chanting anti-Israeli slogans under the watchful eyes of police, attracting some retaliatory chanting from the pro-Israeli demonstrators. Attacked: Protestors go for horse-backed officers in Kensington A protester pushes down barriers as police try to maintain calm amid missile-throwing and window-smashing Demonstrators let off fireworks outside the Israeli Embassy in London as they call for the fighting in the Gaza region to stop Blood can be seen on the outside of Starbucks, with windows were smashed, and the inside was extensively damaged Henry Grunwald, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews told the crowd: "The atmosphere on the streets of London has been very unpleasant in the last two days, we felt it important to reclaim the public space and make our voices heard. "Why have we turned up in such large numbers? We are here because we believe in peace, because we believe in life, and because we want peace in life. "We want the people of Israel to have peace, and the people of Gaza to have peace." On Saturday there was a heavy police presence lining the route taken by the protesters. Chanting 'free, free Palestine', the crowd was led through the streets of London by a vocal group of largely young men. A Starbucks coffee shop in the area was stripped of chairs and had its front windows smashed, and protestors also removed fittings from the shop. Residents living in flats above watched the scenes from their windows, and many people pleaded with police to let them out of the cordon. At one point, the protesters were seen to throw shoes at mounted police posted in the Notting Hill area. The march ground to a halt outside the Israeli embassy as tens of thousands of people surged past carrying placards. At a number of points, officers asked some of the noisier and more enthusiastic protesters to 'calm down'. There was pushing and shoving between protesters and police in riot gear outside the embassy building. Demonstrators chanted noisily and tossed shoes over the heads of the police ranks towards the embassy. Demonstrators inside the Starbucks branch near the Israeli embassy in London Demonstrators and the media scramble around each other soon after fireworks were let off in a packed High Street Kensington Burning bush: A placard bearing a portrait of U.S. President George Bush is set alight. There were reports of rioters trying to set police vans alight A series of heavily policed demonstrations with up to 2,000 pro-Palestinian supporters have already been held outside the Israeli embassy in London. Commander Bob Broadhurst said: 'A group of people on this demonstration have set out to deliberately confront and antagonise police officers trying to protect the Embassy of Israel. 'We are very disappointed by the irresponsible and criminal actions of those who have challenged police by ripping apart security barriers and throwing objects at them.' Protestors burn placards in High Street Kensington Flags are burnt as the protesters make their feelings known during the riots He added: 'A hard core of demonstrators are undermining the cause of the vast majority of people on this demonstration, who are law abiding citizens wishing to protest peacefully.' Of the three arrests, one man was held on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and another man was in custody on suspicion of aggravated trespass. The spokesman said they were awaiting details of the third arrest. Thousands of mostly young male protesters marched from Hyde Park to High Street Kensington Hyde Park was also the center of protests, with thousands calling for an end to conflict in Gaza In Edinburgh, protesters hurled about 300 shoes and red paint at the U.S. consulate in the Scottish capital. At least three officers were injured after being attacked by a group of 60 protesters. Pete Cannell, secretary of the Scottish Stop the War Coalition, said 10,000 attended the event. 'If we'd had a few more days it would've been twice the size,' he said. 'The response we got when we were handing out leaflets was overwhelming.' A Thai Muslim steps on burning Israeli flags during a protest in Muslim province of Yala, in southern Thailand Event organiser Nick Napier said the action was taken as a result of the 'rage and anger' over the death toll in Gaza over the past two weeks. 'People are here because they know the trail of blood leads from Gaza back to Britain and that Gordon Brown, while publicly calling for a ceasefire, we know has instructed his diplomats in New York to support the Americans,' he told Sky News. A spokesman for the American Consulate declined to comment. A South Korean protester shouts a slogan during a rally in Seoul, South Korea Across the Irish Sea, a 5,000-strong crowd gathered in the centre of Belfast, in a pro-Palestinian protest event organised by the Irish Congress of Trades Unions. Belfast Lord Mayor Tom Hartley of Sinn Fein said: 'The full-scale military assault on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people including the slaughter of women and children. 'Our demands today are simple: The war in Gaza must end now.' Protesters push and shove during demonstrations outside Parliament in Oslo, Norway Elsewhere in the world, some 20,000 people took to the streets in Berlin and other German cities. Protesters threw snowballs at two Israeli flags that hung from the windows of a house along the demonstration route, but otherwise no incidents were reported. In Amman, Jordan, more than 2,000 took to the streets and in Syria, another 2,000 marched in a Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus shouting anti-Israeli slogans. There were also demonstrations in the U.S., France, Norway, Greece, Malaysia, Sweden, Bosnia, Lebanon, Thailand, South Korea and India. Today, a 'rally to call for peace' was held in Trafalgar Square by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2009/01/12/2003433497 Protests erupt over violence in Gaza OFFENSIVE: Thousands of demonstrators in Edinburgh, Scotland, threw shoes at the US consulate, evoking an Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at the US President AP, BERLIN Monday, Jan 12, 2009, Page 6 A wounded demonstrator with a blood-stained face is arrested by police during clashes at a rally in Paris on Saturday. PHOTO: EPA Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in cities across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East on Saturday, shouting protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Protesters burned Israeli flags in Sweden and threw shoes at the US consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland. In central London, three officers were hurt when demonstrators hurled shoes and placards at police outside the Israeli Embassy. One officer was knocked unconscious. Some 180 people were arrested in Paris. But in Innsbruck, Austria, volunteer security personnel arranged by the Islamic organizers of a demonstration moved quickly to surround and protect an elderly man after he suddenly unrolled an Israeli flag in the middle of the protest. The 3,500 Innsbruck marchers carried banners calling for ?Freedom for Palestine? and saying ?Stop the Israeli Terror.? Israel says its 2-week-old offensive is intended to stop Palestinian Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel. Palestinian medical officials say more than 800 people have been killed. A crowd of 12,000 gathered in London?s Hyde Park carrying placards marked ?Gaza: Stop the massacre? and chanting ?free, free Palestine.? Police said 15 people were arrested after a group of around 2,000 demonstrators clashed with police guarding the Israeli embassy. Two were detained on suspicion of assaulting police officers. Scores of marches were held across France, the biggest of them in the capital, where police estimated 30,000 people took part. Paris police scuffled with a small group toward the end. Police said they made 180 arrests and a dozen police officers were injured. Police said a crowd of 5,000 to 10,000 demonstrated in Lyon, up to 4,500 in Marseille and 3,500 in Grenoble at the foot of the Alps. Police estimated that 30,000 people protested in the northern Spanish city of Barcelona, some carrying bloodstained blankets and mock dead bodies of children. The demonstration had been called by around 300 Catalan groups who have asked the Spanish government to back cease-fire initiatives and to stop all trade, especially arms, with Israel. In Italy, several thousand people carrying Palestinian flags marched in Milan, Florence and Venice to protest the Israeli offensive. In Milan, protesters burned a white sheet with the Star of David on it, and some participants carried posters with the Israeli flag and a swastika on them, the ANSA news agency reported. In Germany, some 8,500 people rallied in Berlin?s Alexanderplatz and then marched to the city?s main train station yelling slogans including ?Israel and USA: the Intifada is back? and ?Israel lets blood flow, Israel shoots innocents.? Hundreds of police were deployed along the Berlin demonstration route, and several Hamas flags were confiscated from the protesters. No serious incidents were reported, however, police said. In the western German city of Duisburg, 10,000 people marched. ?We want to show our solidarity with the victims in the Gaza Strip, and signal our opposition to the oppression and violence in Gaza,? said organizer Engin Karahan. Protesters threw snowballs at two Israeli flags that hung from the windows of a house along the demonstration route, but otherwise no incidents were reported. In Norway, police used tear gas to try to disperse at least 1,000 protesters after some hurled bottles, rocks and fired fireworks at officers during a pro-Palestinian rally in the capital. Two people were injured during the rally, and two were taken into custody, said Oslo police spokeswoman Unni Groendal. Protesters in Sweden tried to break through sealed-off areas at Israel?s embassy in Stockholm after a march through the city by 3,000 to 5,000 people. The crowd was dispersed after about an hour. Thousands of demonstrators in Edinburgh, Scotland, threw shoes at the American consulate ? a gesture evoking an Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W. Bush during a recent Baghdad visit. Organizer Ian Hood said the group was angry with the US for failing to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. Smaller protests also took place in the northern English city of Newcastle and in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Athens were joined by several Greek leftist groups to form a crowd of about 2,000 who marched to the Israeli embassy. Children wore T-shirts sprayed with fake blood and the crowd burned Israeli and American flags but no major incidents were reported. http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010356131500.htm International Global protests against Gaza attacks Atul Aneja ? Photo: Xinhua Devastating attacks: A doctor inspects the damage in a children?s hospital in Gaza City after an Israeli airstrike, on Thursday. DUBAI: Israeli warplanes have bombed homes of top Hamas leaders amid a spate of demonstrations against the attacks held across several continents on Friday. As the conflict in Gaza entered its seventh day, Israeli warplanes bombed 15 homes belonging to Hamas activists before dawn on Friday. The Gaza death toll has now risen to 427. Gaza is facing the threat of an imminent ground offensive with Israeli troops and equipment amassed along its border. On Friday, the Israeli government allowed around 300 Palestinians having foreign passports to exit from Gaza. There has been an outpouring of pro-Gaza demonstrations across several continents after prayers on Friday afternoon. In the West Bank, thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in Ramallah, shouting slogans in support of Gaza residents. Some exhorted fighters to ?hit Tel Aviv? with their rockets. The Hamas had earlier issued a call for observing Friday as ?the day of wrath.? Defying the cold weather and the savagery of the Israeli attacks, thousands took to the streets in war-ravaged Gaza. The demonstrators also participated in the funeral of Hamas field commander Nizar Rayan, who was assassinated during an air strike on his home on Thursday. Egyptian police arrested at least 40 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood on Friday to prevent large-scale demonstrations in support of Gaza. At Cairo?s Al-Azhar mosque, around 100 demonstrators shouted slogans against Israel and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. There was a huge turnout of people in Tehran after prayers. Iran?s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told demonstrators that Gaza residents were justified in their belief that some Arab countries had betrayed them. ?We are calling for an immediate ceasefire, a halt to the attack and aid for the population of Gaza as well as an end to the blockade of the Palestinian territory and the opening up of all crossings,? he said. In Afghanistan, demonstrations were held in Kabul and Herat, where protesters burnt the effigy of Israeli President Shimon Peres. The Gaza fall-out was also prominently felt in South Asia. In Srinagar, hundreds burnt Israeli flags and raised slogans against Israel and the U.S. Many held aloft banners and portraits of Lebanese Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. A large demonstration was also held in Dhaka. The impact of the Gaza bloodbath was felt in Indonesia, Philippines and Australia where a large number of people stepped out to protest. Meanwhile, British telecommunications firm FreedomCall has snapped its tie up with Israel?s MobileMax on account of Israel?s military operation in Gaza. http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090102/FOREIGN/352763171/1002/rss Gaza protests held around the world ? Last Updated: January 02. 2009 3:28PM UAE / January 2. 2009 11:28AM GMT In Indian Kashmir, protesters burned Israeli flags and chanted anti-Israel and anti-US slogans. Dar Yasin / AP Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Indonesia, Australia and India to rally against Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The demonstrations were held against the offensive, launched in response to a wave of Palestinian rocket attacks, that is believed to have killed more than 400 people so far. Tens of thousands of Indonesian Muslims carrying banners and Palestinian flags staged a peaceful protest in the capital Jakarta, police said. The demonstrators gathered in the city centre to pray for the safety of Palestinians before marching to the US embassy. The Prosperous Justice Party, which organised the protest, had said it hoped to attract 200,000 people. The party?s deputy head Hilman Rosyad Syihab said: ?This is to show the world that Indonesians possess solidarity and understand the sufferings of the Palestinians.? The group hoped to raise US$200,000 (Dh735,000) for the Palestinians from the rally, he added. ?They want to protest against the Israeli airstrikes. We can handle the large number as long as they don?t become aggressive and throw stones or bottles,? the national police spokesman Abubakar Nataprawira said. There was heavy security for the rally, with about 500 police officers deployed, most of them outside the US embassy, local news website Detikcom reported. Two armoured police vehicles equipped with water cannons also stood by. In Australia, more than 4,000 Muslims gathered in Sydney to demonstrate against the attacks. In Indian Kashmir, hundreds burnt Israeli flags and chanted anti-Israel and anti-US slogans. Carrying pro-Palestinian banners and portraits of Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, hundreds of Kashmiri Muslims marched through the streets of the summer capital Srinagar chanting, ?death to Israel? and ?death to US?. *AFP http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article5433528.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093 January 2, 2009 Protests against Gaza attack sweep across the world (Adek Berry/AFP/Getty) The streets in Jakarta were filled with protesters today Image :1 of 4 Nico Hines From Jakarta to London, a wave of protest erupted across the world today against Israel?s assault on Gaza. More than 10,000 marched through the Indonesian capital and Israeli flags were burnt and trampled upon in Asia as the Palestinian death toll in the offensive rose above 430, including three young brothers killed this morning. Thirty new Israeli raids struck the Gaza Strip today as thousands of Hamas supporters attended the funeral of Nizar Rayan, the most senior Hamas victim of the offensive. He was killed with his four wives and 11 of his children in another Israeli raid yesterday. Hamas leaders responded by calling for a ?Day of Wrath? to avenge the deaths as the party warned that it may resume suicide attacks against Israel for the first time since January 2005. Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, accused Hamas of holding the people of Gaza hostage. She said Washington was working to secure a ceasefire but reiterated the Bush Administration?s argument that any end to the conflict would hinge on the willingness of Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel. ?Hamas has held the people of Gaza hostage ever since their illegal coup against the forces of President Mahmoud Abbas [leader of the rival Fatah party],? she said. ?We are working toward a ceasefire that would not allow a re-establishment of the status quo ante, where Hamas could launch rockets,? Dr Rice said. ?It?s obvious that a ceasefire should take place as soon as possible but we want a ceasefire that is durable and sustainable.? In Egypt, which shares a border with Israel and Gaza, thousands of riot police have been deployed in a bid to calm growing anger. Around 5,000 people gathered to protest in the city of Ismailia. ?We demand the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador,? read one banner. Egyptian police detained 40 members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo as protests turned violent, witnesses claimed that at least one demonstrator was beaten with truncheons. Thousands of protesters who gathered in Istanbul burnt Israeli flags. They marched through the Turkish city waving Palestinian flags and chanting ?Israeli murderers, get out of Palestine? and ?Muslims, don?t sleep, defend Palestine?. Bulent Gedikli, a senior official from Turkey?s ruling party, did little to soothe the frustration by condemning the Israeli aerial bombardment as ?a crime against humanity?. In reference to the attack on President Bush last month, he claimed that Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, ?deserved a pair of shoes to be thrown at him". Around 3,000 Afghans held a similar demonstration in Kabul, burning Israeli flags and chanting anti-American slogans. A smaller protest was also held in the Philippines where demonstrators carried placards saying Israel is a ?butcher of children? and accusing it of war crimes. Reihana Melencio, who organised the protest, accused Israel of genocide. ?This is one of the strongest militaries on earth and attacking a people who can only shoot back some old rockets, sticks and stones,? she said. In Jakarta, men, women and children attending the Indonesian rally organised by the Islamic based Justice and Prosperity Party waved Indonesian and Palestinian flags and shouted ?Allahu akbar,? Arabic for ?God is great?. Many wore traditional white robes and held banners that read: ?Save Palestine from Israel, the terrorist.? They marched to the US Embassy, which was guarded by hundreds of police. In London, a group of politicians and celebrities held a press conference to condemn the attacks ahead of a major rally to be held in the city tomorrow. Smaller protests have been held outside the Israeli embassy throughout the week. Alexei Sayle, an actor and comedian, said he was speaking out because it was important for Jewish voices to be heard. He said: ?I want to feel proud of Israel, I want to be proud of my people but I am ashamed.? Despite worldwide condemnation, the population of Israel appear to be strongly in favour of the bombing campaign targeting Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza. A poll today suggested that some 95 per cent of Israel?s Jewish population supports the bombardment of Hamas. Eighty per cent of the poll of 800 people backed the operation ?without reservation,? according to the survey published in the Maariv newspaper. Even the leftwing Meretz party, which normally opposes such operations, gave its blessing to the offensive. http://www.nowpublic.com/world/israel-continues-assault-despite-worldwide-protests Israel Continues Assault, Despite Worldwide Protests Share: by Blue Crush | January 3, 2009 at 12:11 am 88 views | 12 Recommendations | 3 comments A series of worldwide protests and continued calls from international leaders for a ceasefire were not enough to stop the conflict in Gaza, as Israel continued its week-long assault on Hamas targets throughout Friday. There were also indications Friday that Israel could soon expand its military operation with a ground invasion on Gaza. Tens of thousands of people held anti-conflict protests across the globe on Friday, calling for their local governments to bring sanctions against Israel and for the fighting to come to an end. In London, several celebrities -- including former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox and Bianca Jagger -- voiced their opposition to the conflict and called for Israel to halt its assault on Gaza. A large protest in Bern, Switzerland, saw hundreds of marchers calling for both a ceasefire and sanctions to be brought against Israel. Thirty-seven people were detained in Moscow after protesting the conflict outside the city's Israeli Embassy. About 6,000 people chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" in Tehran, Iran. Egyptian officials sent hundreds of riot police to a Cairo mosque to keep protesters away and police arrested 40 members of the Muslim Brotherhood opposition group. Another 3,000 pro-Gaza supporters marched in the northern Sinai city of el-Arish. Some 30,000 Jordanians made their support for Gaza known at a stadium in Amman, and 10,000-plus Muslims marched through Jakarta, Indonesia aiming fake missiles at the city's U.S. Embassy that were labeled "Target: Tel Aviv, Israel." Similar anti-Israel protests took place in the capital cities of Afghanistan and the Philippines, as well as in several Turkish cities and in Damascus, Syria. Syrian President Bashar Assad reportedly spoke with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday and asked for the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution to force Israel to immediate stop its military actions in Gaza. In Nairobi, Kenya, hundreds of Muslims held a rally at a central mosque. Many chanted for their government to cut off its ties with Israel. In Sudan, thousands of protesters marched through Khartoum making anti-Israeli and anti-U.S. statements. http://www.workers.org/2009/world/protests_0122/ World protests grow Movement targets Israel for boycott, divestment, sanctions By John Catalinotto Published Jan 14, 2009 4:31 PM In the age of the Internet, sometimes it takes only two minutes to set an example for the world?s workers. That?s just what the Norwegian Locomotive Union did when they stopped all trains, trams and subways in Norway for 120 seconds on Jan. 8, telling passengers that they were staying in the station for that extra time in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Within days, the members of the COSATU trade union federation in South Africa were discussing in Cape Town how to bring that tactic into their country. The idea is to add two minutes each day the invasion and blockade continues. U.S. Labor Against the War posted this on its site. As the railway workers? action begins to gather steam, another struggle idea has spread from country to country. This is the call for ?boycott, divestment and sanctions? targeting the Israeli state and its economy. Again in Cape Town at a march of 15,000 on Jan. 8, the South African Communist Party?s Richard Mamobolo put his party behind the call COSATU had made at a Johannesburg protest earlier for the South African government to expel the Israeli ambassador and implement sanctions against Israel. The week of activities in South Africa supported the right of the Palestinians to resist. There were also protests in Nairobi, where police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse hundreds of Muslims who had gathered after Friday prayers, and in other cities in Kenya on Jan. 9. This call for boycott, divestment and sanctions, or BDS, was common to many of the protests the weekend of Jan. 9-11. More millions of people took to the streets around the world to demand the U.S.-backed Israeli war machine stop killing and pull back out of Gaza. Acting as though they could completely ignore the cry of these millions without consequence, the Israelis continued to rain death on Gaza. While in the first week almost all protests were at Israeli consulates and embassies, the second week an official U.S. building was likely to be the target. Thousands more protested in Tshwane, Durban and Port Elizabeth in South Africa on Jan. 9, where they chanted support for Hugo Ch?vez, president of Venezuela. People all over the world were inspired when Ch?vez expelled the Israeli ambassador and broke relations with Israel over the bloody assault in Gaza. In Brussels, Belgium, where 70,000 mostly Arab people marched on Jan. 11, their main message was for the European Union to suspend the Association Agreement it currently has with Israel, as long as its massacres and blockade of Gaza continue. One group held a banner with the slogan ?Hugo Ch?vez, friend of the Palestinian people,? in Spanish and Arabic. Ch?vez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a phone conversation called for organizing a global summit to find a resolution to end the Gaza catastrophe. ?Boycott Israel? A protest of 25,000 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Jan. 6 was the largest in Latin America. Another 1,000 people protested in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 8, and demanded that Brazil break diplomatic relations with the terrorist state of Israel, cancel the commercial treaty between Brazil and Israel, and begin an international campaign of boycotting the products of Zionist corporations. In Barcelona, Spain, where organizers say 200,000 marched, and in Madrid, where 250,000 gathered, it was obvious that demonstrations were so huge that many non-Arabs and non-Muslims were joining in a show of solidarity. The main slogan of the Barcelona march was ?Stop the massacre in Gaza: Boycott Israel!? Throughout the rest of the Spanish state, there were smaller but significant marches in Burgos, Avila, Valencia, Oviedo, Malaga and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. In France, too, the protests grew larger, with more than 100,000 in Paris and about the same total in many cities in the rest of the country on Jan. 10. In Germany the major actions were 10,000 in Duisberg and 8,500 in Berlin on Jan. 10. There was another strong protest of tens of thousands in downtown London, England, that ended with clashes between demonstrators and the police. There were also protests of 10,000 in Edinburgh, Scotland, where demonstrators dumped red paint and 300 pairs of shoes at the U.S. Consulate. There were smaller protests in Sweden and Norway, and one for the first time in Warsaw, Poland. In Italy there were demonstrations in Rome, Milan, Vicenza, Verona, Venezia and other cities, totaling in the tens of thousands. Some 7,000 demonstrated in Bern, Switzerland, and 2,000 in Athens, Greece. In South Korea on Jan. 10, some 300 people demonstrated to stop Israel?s killing of the people of Gaza, called out by 75 civil society organizations, unions and progressive parties. Anger grows In the Arab and Muslim world, the demonstrations took a sharper edge. Some 2,000 protesters in the Pakistani port city of Karachi burned U.S. flags and chanted anti-Israel slogans. Then several hundred of them marched on the U.S. Consulate. Senior police official Ameer Sheikh claimed the protesters were carrying bricks, stones and clubs. In Malaysia, the police arrested 21 people, including Klang MP Charles Santiago and several top leaders of the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM), at an anti-war vigil at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. In Turkey some of the strongest actions have taken place. Anti-war and anti-racist movement activists, social organizations, nongovernmental organizations, solidarity committees, trade unions and parties took to the streets. They have been organizing daily protests since Dec. 28 in almost every Turkish city, including Istanbul, Ankara, ?znir and Adana. There were protests at the Israeli Embassy and consulates, plus marches on the main streets of big cities. Demonstrators in Turkey showed their solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza and expressed the besieged and occupied population?s right to resist. They recognized the Israeli state as the direct criminal, the local gendarme acting as an appendage of world imperialism?particularly U.S. imperialism but also that of the European Union. (Global Peace and Justice Coalition of Turkey) Turkish fans even ran an Israeli basketball team off the court. An estimated 2,500 Lebanese and Palestinians meanwhile protested peacefully in downtown Beirut, waving Palestinian flags and calling on the international community to intervene in the Israeli attack. Leftist participants set fire to a large Israeli flag, while children taking part in the protest held bloody dolls representing Palestinian children killed in Gaza. In Syria, demonstrators accused Arab leaders of being complicit in the Gaza assault. Jewish opposition to Gaza assault More open Jewish opposition worldwide to Israeli policies has surfaced following the assault on Gaza than during any earlier U.S.-backed Israeli war or incursion. A Jewish women?s group in Toronto, Canada, occupied the Israeli Consulate on Jan. 8 ?in solidarity with the 1.5 million people of Gaza and to ensure that Jewish voices against the massacre in Gaza are being heard,? according to their statement. The French Jewish Union for Peace spoke up early against the assault on Gaza. In Britain, a group of Jewish intellectuals started a petition against the ongoing assault, and in the United States, Jewish activists held a news conference Jan. 6 at Union Square Park in New York. On Jan. 12 the group Jews Against the Occupation held a protest of 150 people before the Israeli Consulate in New York. Paloma Valverde, Dirk Adriaensens, Bert de Belder, Fausto Schiavetto, Paola Manduca, Jorge Figueiredo, Manuel Raposo, Jay Hauben, Berta Joubert-Ceci, David Karvala and others contributed to this report. ________________________________________ Articles copyright 1995-2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-01/2009-01-12-voa1.cfm?CFID=175085161&CFTOKEN=18098142&jsessionid=de303f56e90eb76f788d1e45797059736f2b Gaza Protests Held in Many Countries By VOA News 12 January 2009 Protesters shout slogans against the Israeli offensive in Gaza during a demonstration in Madrid, 11 Jan 2009 Thousands of people in London's Trafalgar Square protested Israel's actions, while counter-protesters stationed themselves nearby to call out support for Israel. Thousands also marched in Brussels, Belgium, and in Madrid, Spain. The rallies were a continuation of the protests that took place a day earlier in cities worldwide. Saturday, several thousand demonstrators in Washington gathered in a park across the street from the White House to protest Israel's offensive against Gaza. The protesters carried Palestinian flags and shouted slogans in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. In France, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Paris. Protests were also held in smaller cities around the country. Gaza Protests Held in Many Countries By VOA News 12 January 2009 Protesters shout slogans against the Israeli offensive in Gaza during a demonstration in Madrid, 11 Jan 2009 Thousands of people in London's Trafalgar Square protested Israel's actions, while counter-protesters stationed themselves nearby to call out support for Israel. Thousands also marched in Brussels, Belgium, and in Madrid, Spain. The rallies were a continuation of the protests that took place a day earlier in cities worldwide. Saturday, several thousand demonstrators in Washington gathered in a park across the street from the White House to protest Israel's offensive against Gaza. The protesters carried Palestinian flags and shouted slogans in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. In France, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Paris. Protests were also held in smaller cities around the country. http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=19566 Massive global protests for peace in Gaza Monday, January 12, 2009 MADRID: Cities around the world were braced Sunday for fresh rallies against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip as the bombing campaign entered its third week. More than 100,000 people marched through Spain?s capital and other cities Sunday calling for Israel to announce an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The protest in Madrid was the largest of demonstrations across Europe. Protesters filled downtown boulevards carrying banners saying ?Peace?, ?SOS Gaza?, placards with the word ?Gaza? above a red-stained hand and mock blood-spattered bodies of children. Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem?s mother Pilar, also an actress, was among speakers who addressed the crowd. ?The Spanish government has to do something. The Gaza Strip is now practically a concentration camp,? she said. The organizers, which included the Socialist Party and trade unions, estimated turnout at 250,000. But police declined to give a figure. Rallies were held elsewhere in Spain, including Seville in the southwest and Ourense in the northwest. ?It is my duty to call on Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire,? Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told the protest in Ourense. In Brussels, children carrying effigies of dead and bloodied babies were at the head of a march through the Belgian capital as demonstrators there also demanded a halt to Israel?s military campaign. Protesters burned an Israeli flag during the demonstration. A few thousand people in Italy marched in pro-Palestinian rallies in Rome, Naples and Verona. In Rome, municipal authorities erased graffiti _ including Stars of David and swastikas _ that were scrawled on Jewish-owned stores and restaurants overnight. An estimated 2,500 Lebanese and Palestinians also protested peacefully in downtown Beirut on Sunday, while hundreds of demonstrators in neighbouring Syria shouted insults at the both the Jewish state and Arab leaders. Many of the protesters in Lebanon held Palestinian flags and banners calling on the international community to stop the Israeli attack as they marched near a building that houses United Nations offices. In Syria, demonstrators took their anger out on Arab leaders they blame for alleged complicity in Israeli attacks on Gaza, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. AFP adds: More than 1,000 students and ethnic minorities took to the streets of Hong Kong in a protest organised on social networking website Facebook. The group, holding placards and banners, marched from Victoria Park to the US consulate general demanding the United States stop supporting Israel?s deadliest assault yet on impoverished Gaza. Besides, 20,000 Indonesian Muslims staged a peaceful rally Sunday in the capital of Jakarta. Protesters from the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party gathered at the national monument in Jakarta and marched through the streets. http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Protester_killed_in_West_Bank;_world_reacts_to_Gaza_conflict?curid=118900 Protester killed in West Bank; world reacts to Gaza conflict From Wikinews, the free news source you can write! Jump to: navigation, search Monday, January 5, 2009 Israel Other stories from Israel ? 3 April 2009: Mushroom corals change from male to female and back again ? 24 March 2009: IDF soldiers' account of Gaza incursion sparks new war crimes investigations ? 6 March 2009: Mauritania cuts ties with Israel, expels Israeli diplomats ? 20 February 2009: Israeli President chooses Likud leader to form the 18th Knesset government ? 20 February 2009: Israel seizes West Bank land Qalqilyah is north west of Jerusalem, close to the 1967 boundary with Israel. During a Palestinian rally in Qalqilyah in the West Bank against Israeli attacks on Gaza, Mufid Saleh Walweel, 22, was shot and killed Sunday by Israeli forces, according to Palestinian medical officials. Meanwhile protests around the world took place in response to Israel's latest attacks and ground assault on Gaza. On Friday in Chicago, 4,000 people marched from Tribune Plaza to the Israeli Consulate demanding an end to the occupation of Palestine, and to the raids on Gaza. Another 40,000 people gathered in Morocco to protest what they saw as the complicity of the Arab regimes in the attack. On Saturday, thousands of protesters in Indonesia asked the Indonesian government to send troops to Gaza to fight against the Israelis who they called a ?terrorist? force. On the same day in Toronto, Canada, 1,000 people gathered in the business district to protest Israeli actions. In addition 10,000 people marched past United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown's residence in London, hurling hundreds of shoes at his home. International outcry was not limited to civilian action. Louis Michel, the European Union's humanitarian aid commissioner said in a statement on Sunday that ?blocking access to people who are suffering and dying is also a breach of humanitarian law.? The statement promised 3 million euros of emergency EU aid to the people of Gaza. Al Jazeera says that 507 Palestinians have been killed and 2,700 wounded since Israeli bombardments on the Gaza Strip began in late December. Four Israelis were killed in that same time by Hamas rockets fired out of Gaza. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Gaza-Tens-Of-Thousands-Of-People-Protest-Against-Middle-East-Violence-In-Britain/Article/200901215200749?f=rss Cop Knocked Out At Gaza Protest 8:19pm UK, Saturday January 10, 2009 A policeman has been knocked unconscious and two others have been injured during a protest in London against the fighting in Gaza. Protesters let off fireworks outside the Israeli embassy An initially peaceful demonstration ended with a group of protesters throwing missiles at police and smashing windows on Kensington High Street near the Israeli Embassy. Riot officers from the Metropolitan Police force charged at the group of mainly young men. Sticks and barriers were hurled at the officers by the group, many of whom were masked. Three hundred police in full riot gear surrounded a similar-sized group of protesters pushing them up the street. Twenty thousand people joined the procession from Hyde Park to the Israeli Embassy. Three people have been arrested. In Edinburgh, where thousands more gathered, demonstrators threw shoes at the US Consulate. Actress Lauren Booth, who took part in the London demonstration, criticised her brother-in-law Tony Blair, saying that his suggestions for a ceasefire in Gaza would condemn Palestinians "to a slow agonising death". Protesters Throw Shoes In Edinburgh Cherie Blair's half-sister said: "Tony Blair's only comment regarding the ceasefire has been to say that it can only take place after the tunnels in Gaza are destroyed. "What he is suggesting means that after the massacre people will have no access to food, kerosene and medicines that came through those tunnels. That is not a ceasefire that is a slow agonising death." Another group of protesters occupied an Israeli cosmetics shop in central London. In Belfast 5,000 demonstrators marched through the city centre and in Newcastle 100 people gathered to call for an end to the fighting. On Sunday, the Board of Deputies of British Jews will hold a rally calling for peace in Israel and Gaza in Trafalgar Square in central London. And in Manchester, 3,000 people are expected to gather for a pro-Israel demonstration. Protests against the ongoing fighting have been taking place around the world. Thirty thousand people marched through Paris shouting "We are all the children of Gaza" and in Lille, northern France, 10,000 gathered to protest. In Algiers, 63 people were injured after police clashed with demonstrators. Recent Protests Against Gaza Violence More than 50,000 people rallied in Egypt after Friday prayers; In Amman, Jordan, police fired tear gas at protesters; In Baghdad, people set fire to US and Israeli flags; Police in Nairobi, Kenya, fired tear gas and water at protestors. In Germany, 10,000 people are marching through the western German city of Duisburg. Protesters threw snowballs at two Israeli flags that hang from the windows of a house along the demonstration route. Nearly 20,000 demonstrators have marched through the streets of the Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh in a rally organized by Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to Venezuela has left the country, expelled by President Hugo Chavez. http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=265662&version=1&template_id=37 50,000 Egyptians stage protest amid worldwide fury over Gaza Protesters burn an Israeli flag and hit it with shoes during a demonstration in Kuwait City yesterday Elsewhere yesterday: In Europe, more than 2,000 demonstrated in Athens and Thessaloniki at the behest of the Greek communist party, setting fire to US and EU flags outside the US embassy and the Israeli flag outside the Israeli mission. Smaller protests, varying from several dozen to several hundred people, took place in Bucharest, Vienna, Prague, and The Hague where the Dutch parliament?s foreign affairs committee debated the Gaza conflict. In Italy, a small group representing merchants in Rome, Flaica-Uniti-Cub, called on its website for a boycott of Jewish businesses ?as a sign of protest? ? an idea swiftly denounced as incitement to racial hatred. Riccardo Pacifici, leader of the Jewish community in Rome, said he will take legal action against the group, while Mayor Gianni Alemanno branded the initiative ?mad and criminal.? In Belgium, the francophone FGTB labour federation threatened its Israeli counterpart Histadrut with expulsion from the International Trade Union Confederation if it fails to call for ?peace without conditions.? In Norway, six people were injured and 31 arrested when 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters attacked a pro-Israeli demonstration in Oslo on Thursday, in the worst such violence in the capital since the 1980s. In Asia, about 200 women protested outside the Egyptian embassy in Jakarta, brandishing posters of dead and wounded Palestinian children and urging Egypt to open its border with Gaza. ?As mothers, we feel sad for the women who lost their children in Palestine,? said Nani Handayani, of women?s welfare group Salimah or Muslim Sisterhood. ?They are in our prayers.? In Malaysia, Islamic groups urged a boycott of US brands such as Coca-Cola ? and a former prime minister told Malaysians working for Starbucks or McDonald?s to quit ? during a protest by around 300 people outside the National Mosque in the capital Kuala Lumpur. - AFP http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&BA008B9A60D6D45BC2257539004F40A2 Egyptians Spearhead Gaza Protests More than 50,000 Egyptians rallied after Friday prayers to condemn Israel's ongoing assault against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in the biggest such protest of the day worldwide. Legislators affiliated with the opposition Muslim Brotherhood led the protest in the ancient Mediterranean port city that echoed to such slogans as "Down with Israel and with every collaborator." The anger was directed not only at the Jewish state, but at Arab regimes deemed to be complicit in the ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza that has stopped refugees from getting out and humanitarian aid from getting in. "Gaza, excuse us -- opening Rafah is not in our hands," went another slogan, referring to the Gaza-Egyptian border crossing that President Hosni Mubarak's government in Cairo is refusing to keep open permanently. A security official put the turnout at 50,000. Riot police were seen by an Agence France Presse (AFP) correspondent in Alexandria trying to prevent the demonstration from taking place -- only to give up because of the sheer numbers of protesters. In the Egyptian capital, riot police foiled demonstrations outside a number of mosques after the ministry of religious affairs instructed imams not to refer to Gaza in their sermons. "They were warned to stay away from the Hamas topic and not to incite the masses," the security official said, adding that 35 opposition activists had been arrested in the morning. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, fistfights broke out between supporters of Hamas and the rival Fatah faction during a "day of wrath" protest, prompting police to intervene with tear gas and baton charges. Thirteen people were taken to hospital, and several others detained. Some 3,000 demonstrated at the behest of Hamas in Hebron, throwing stones at Israeli soldiers who responded with rubber bullets. Several thousand meanwhile shouted "Death to Israel" in Nablus, while young Palestinians clashed with police in Jerusalem. In Kuwait, around 3,000 gathered outside parliament and the seat of government, shouting "shame, shame" against Arab inaction vis-a-vis Gaza. In Jordan, police stopped more than 2,000 demonstrators from reaching the Israeli embassy in the capital Amman. The crowd had set off from Friday prayers at the Kaloti mosque, about a kilometer (half-mile) away. The protesters -- wearing checkered Palestinian keffiyehs (scarves), and carrying Palestinian and Jordanian flags -- chanted "No Israeli embassy on Arab territory" and "Arab rulers are cowards." Unable to reach the embassy, protesters instead set up a symbolic cemetery in memory of the nearly 800 killed so far in Gaza, with the word "Gazan" scrawled on each mock grave. Elsewhere on Friday: -- In Europe, more than 2,000 demonstrated in Athens and Thessaloniki at the behest of the Greek communist party, setting fire to U.S. and EU flags outside the U.S. embassy and the Israeli flag outside the Israeli mission. Smaller protests, varying from several dozen to several hundred people, took place in Bucharest, Vienna, Prague, and The Hague where the Dutch parliament's foreign affairs committee debated the Gaza conflict. In Italy, a small group representing merchants in Rome, Flaica-Uniti-Cub, called on its website for a boycott of Jewish businesses "as a sign of protest" -- an idea swiftly denounced as incitement to racial hatred. Riccardo Pacifici, leader of the Jewish community in Rome, said he would take legal action against the group, while Mayor Gianni Alemanno branded the initiative "mad and criminal." In Belgium, the francophone FGTB labor federation threatened its Israeli counterpart Histadrut with expulsion from the International Trade Union Confederation if it fails to call for "peace without conditions." In Norway, six people were injured and 31 arrested when 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters attacked a pro-Israeli demonstration in Oslo on Thursday, in the worst such violence in the capital since the 1980s. -- In Asia, about 200 women protested outside the Egyptian embassy in Jakarta, brandishing posters of dead and wounded Palestinian children and urging Egypt to open its border with Gaza. "As mothers, we feel sad for the women who lost their children in Palestine," said Nani Handayani, of women's welfare group Salimah or Muslim Sisterhood. "They are in our prayers." In Malaysia, Islamic groups urged a boycott of U.S. brands such as Coca-Cola -- and a former prime minister told Malaysians working for Starbucks or McDonald's to quit -- during a protest by around 300 people outside the National Mosque in the capital Kuala Lumpur.(AFP) http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=615242 Global protests condemn Israeli atrocities in Gaza Posted: 2009/01/09 From: Source People across the world take to the streets to condemn the criminal nation violating international law on its 14th day assault on Gaza. (Aljazeera) More than 50,000 Egyptian have protested in the city of Alexandria against Israel's assault on Gaza, one of many held across the world as the conflict enters its 14th consecutive day. Demonstrators in Egypt, led by parliamentarians allied to the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, chanted slogans condemning the war and the failure of Arab nations to tackle the crisis. "Down with Israel, and with it every collaborator," protesters chanted after Friday prayers. Others shouted: "Gaza excuse us: opening Rafah is not in our hands," referring to the border crossing between the strip and Egypt which Cairo has refused to open despite the deaths of more than 780 Palestinians. An AFP news agency reporter said riot police had tried to prevent the protest going ahead but gave up because of the number of demonstrators. In the Jordanian capital Amman, security forces stopped protesters carrying Palestinian and Jordanian flags from marching to the Israeli embassy. The protesters chanted "no Israel embassy on Arab territory" and "Arab rulers are cowards". No clashes were reported although objects were thrown at riot police. Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab nations with diplomatic relations with Israel. Both Sunni and Shia Muslim worshippers in Baghdad staged rallies condemning the offensive following Friday prayer services. West bank clashes Angry Palestinian protesters have also clashed with Israeli police in the occupied West Bank. Israel had placed the West Bank on a 48-hour lockdown, prohibiting movement into and out of the Palestinian territory until Saturday except in emergency cases. In Kenya, police used water cannons and tear gas in an attempt to disperse hundreds of people who had gathered outside Nairobi's Jamea mosque to express their soldarity with the Palestinians of Gaza. "No to shedding innocent blood," "End the massacre in Gaza," and "Israel, stop killing innocent people," read some of the placards. The protestors tried to march towards the Israeli embassy in the centre of the Kenyan capital, but were stopped by a heavy security deployment. Six people were injured and 31 were arrested when 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters attacked a pro-Israeli demonstration in Oslo, police said on Friday. During the clashes, considered to be the worst in more than two decades in the Norwegian capital, anti-Israel protesters threw Molotov cocktails, rocks and eggs and burned Israeli flags, Johan Fredriksen of the Oslo police said. Police were also on high alert in Greece, where protests against the Israeli offensive have been planned. Boycott call In Malaysia and Italy, critics of Israel's Gaza assault have called for a boycott of Israeli and US goods. "We cannot remain silent about what is happening in Gaza. We had thought of drawing up a list of businessmen who have links with Tel Aviv because people do not know who they are," Giancarlo Desiderati, a member of a small group of Italian traders who called for the boycott on its website, said. At least 5,000 people protested outside the US embassy in Malaysia on Friday, and around 300 held a noisy protest outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur to urge Arab countries to cut off oil supplies to the US and boycott goods from Coca-Cola, Colgate and Starbucks. Addressing the crowd, Mahathir Mohamed, a former prime minister, told Malaysians that they "will not die if they do not use the US goods" and urged those working for US companies such as fast-food giant McDonalds to quit their jobs. "I hope Starbucks and McDonald's employees will stop working there," he said. Coca-Cola officials said any boycott would only hurt the local economy and its citizens. # http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230456520786 Dec 29, 2008 20:13 | Updated Dec 29, 2008 21:02 200 protest Gaza op at Israeli Embassy in London By JPOST.COM STAFF Some 200 people gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in West London Monday to protest the IDF counter-terror operation in Gaza, the Metropolitan Police said. A protester demonstrates against the Gaza operation near the Israeli Embassy in London. [file] Photo: AP SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World The demonstration followed a 700-strong demonstration at the embassy in Kensington on Sunday yesterday that saw nine people arrested for public order offenses, including one for assaulting a police officer, a police spokesman said in a telephone interview. There were also a protest in Berlin, where about 2,000 marched through a central shopping district carrying Palestinian flags and banners saying Israel must end the Gaza blockade. Meanwhile, protesters throwing rocks at the Israeli Embassy in Athens clashed with riot police firing tear gas during a rally to protest the IAF assault. The scuffles broke out as about 300 Greek and Arab protesters waving Palestinian flags gathered outside the embassy for one of several rallies or demonstrations planned outside the building Monday. One of the demonstrations, organized by a Greek communist party, was also to pass the US Embassy later in the evening. Police blocked off major avenues and side streets near the Israeli Embassy north of the city center, while a police helicopter circled overhead. No injuries or arrests were reported in the initial scuffles. "Hands off Gaza," the protesters chanted, while about 100 demonstrators briefly stopped to pray, dropping to their knees in the street and facing east. Also Monday, tens of thousands of Lebanese Hizbullah supporters stood under pouring rain to protest the Gaza operation. The protesters thronged a huge square and nearby streets in the group's stronghold south of Beirut, carrying Palestinian, Lebanese and yellow Hizbullah flags and banners supporting the Palestinian people. The rally was by far the largest protest in the Arab world, where outrage over Israel's air strikes continued into a third day. The massive rally was called for by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah who in a speech on Sunday urged crowds in the Arab and Islamic world to rise up in support of Gaza and declared Monday a day of mourning and solidarity with Gaza. Addressing the crowds on Monday through a large screen from an unknown location, Nasrallah urged Palestinians to unite and sought to boost morale. "Israel's air force will fail to destroy the will of the (Palestinian) fighters firing rockets ... and the residents of (Israeli) settlements 20 and 40 kilometers away from Gaza will remain either outside their settlements or in shelters," he said. "Death to Israel," and "At your service, Gaza!" many in the crowd shouted. Nasrallah warned Israel that any ground offensive will result in many losses for the Israelis and said Israel will fail as it did when it fought Hezbollah guerrillas in a month long air and ground offensive in 2006. The overwhelming Israeli bombing campaign, the deadliest against Palestinians in decades, had killed 315 people by Monday morning. In the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon, around 3,000 people also staged a demonstration, many of them chanting slogans in which they insulted the rulers of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia for perceived complicity with Israel. In Egypt, which has been particularly criticized for joining Israel in closing its borders with Gaza, thousands of people rallied, calling for the active intervention of Arab armies to protect the Palestinians. Demonstrations were held near the parliament building and in downtown Cairo amid a massive security presence of black-clad riot police. Demonstrations in the tourist destination of Luxor, however, were prevented. The largest protest, a crowd of up to 3,000 people outside the Journalists' Union, was organized by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, and in an unusual move, the Islamist organization's Supreme Guide Mohammed Mahdi Akef took part, urging the crowd to make "their declaration of anger through peaceful means." In the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, thousands rallied for a second day over the Gaza operation. The protesters marched to the Egyptian embassy calling for an opening of the Egyptian-Gaza border for supplies and aid to the Palestinians. They also marched to the UN headquarters where they handed over a protest note. In Iraq, about 1,000 backers of anti-American Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr staged a protest in eastern Baghdad. "No, no to Israel," they shouted as they burned Israeli and American flags. Separately, the political party of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a statement condemning the attacks and calling on Islamic countries to cut relations with Israel and end all "secret and public talks" with it. Jordan's King Abdullah II donated blood to Gaza victims, telling reporters he was "upset" by the scale of the Israeli offensive in the coastal strip. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20090106&articleId=11635 Gaza: Protest movements around the world Global Research, January 6, 2009 IAC Largest protest in support of Palestinians ever in NYC (January 4, 2009) Saturday saw sizable protests throughout the world against the bombing and invasion of Gaza. As the Israeli military began a massive ground invasion of Gaza, including infantry, tanks, and artillery, hundreds of thousands of people were in the streets around the world chanting "Free, Free Palestine!" Possibly the largest protest took place in New York City where a huge rally in Times Square stretched from 42nd Street south to 36th Street, along 7th Ave. Buses came from throughout the region. Crowd estimates ranged from 25,000 and 30,000. Just before the demonstration started the announcement of the Israeli invasion came over the news wires. An angry march through midtown Manhattan, shut down 42nd St, stalled mid-town traffic and ended at the Israeli Mission to the U.N. At the closing rally, the crowd stretched from 48th to 42nd Street, along 2nd Ave. Many of the organizers of today's rally, including Al-Awda: Palestine Right to Return Coalition-NY; the Arab Muslim American Federation; MAS- Muslim American Society NY (Youth Center), National, Queens, NJ, Yonkers; GUPS - The General Union of Palestine Students; BAYAN-USA; Islamic Society of Bay Ridge; International Action Center; December 12 URGENT! The International Action Center is mobilizing for demonstrations across the U.S. to stop the attack on Gaza, and we are networking with activists across the globe who are taking to the streets against U.S./Israeli war crimes. Please consider making an emergency donation at http://www.iacenter.org/donate to help with the costs of organizing and mobilizing. Movement; New York City Labor Against the War; Troops Out Now Coalition; Pakistan USA Freedom Forum; International League of Peoples Struggle; F.I.S.T.; and others, announced plans for a rally again next Sunday, January 11 in New York City's Times Square, beginning at 1 pm. While much of the U.S. national media limited their coverage of world wide protests to Europe and the Middle East, the size of the New York protest clearly equaled or surpassed other protests. Ty Chandler, reporting at the scene of the protest for New York 1 TV, stated on camera near the Israeli Consulate "This massive crowd is still making its way up 2nd Ave., and you can see the anger and frustration on their face, this crowd is huge, it goes for blocks." In Boston, about 1500 people took to the streets to protest the US/Israeli Genocide in Gaza. Chanting "Free, Free Palestine", "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will Free", "We Support the Resistance" the demonstrators marched through main shopping area of downtown Boston, stopping at the US Military Recruiters and the Israeli Consulate for mini rallies. The demonstration, called by an ad-hoc coalition formed to protest the US/Israeli massacres in Gaza, was led by a militant contingent of Palestinian youth. In Atlanta, hundreds turned out for a protest in front of CNN, with 2 black caskets draped with Palestinian flags, and more than 100 signs with the names of people who have died in the assault. More than 500 marched in Charlotte, North Carolina, where protesters, with Palestinian & Muslim youth at the forefront, took over downtown Charlotte with a sea of Palestinian flags & energetic chants. Around 1,000 people stretched across the steps in front of Philadelphia's City Hall for a rally targeting U.S. funding for the Israeli war against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The crowd predominantly Palestinians, youthful, and militant. Chants targeted the terrorist nature of Israel's bombing in Gaza. Speakers linked budget cuts in Philadelphia that will close 11 libraries to U.S. funding of Israeli bombs being dropped on elementary schools. Passing motorists honked in support. Behind a lead banner that read "War is Terrorism with a Bigger Budget - Stop U.S.-Israeli War on Palestinians" demonstrators marched through the Center City shopping area to the Federal Building and FOX News, stopping for occasional mini-rallies to explain what the protest was about to people who gathered to listen along the way. At least 10,000 people gathered at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square to protest against Israel's recent assault on Gaza. Protesters then marched through the streets of Toronto to the Israeli Consulate and the United States Embassy. Thousands took to the streets in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Athens and several Asian cities, following similar events in parts of the Muslim world on Friday. In London, protesters, including former mayor Ken Livingstone, marched to Trafalgar Square, chanting, "Free, free Palestine" and "Israel terrorists!" Many stopped at Downing Street, the Prime Minister's residence, to throw shoes at the gates, following the example of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush last month. As these marches were taking place, the media announced that the Israeli military had begun a massive ground invasion of Gaza. This invasion follows a week of continuous bombing that has killed at least 453 Palestinians and wounded more than 2,000. According to the U.N., at more than one quarter of those killed in the current conflict have been civilians. The situation of the 1.5 million Palestinians crammed into the Gaza Strip - one of the most densely populated areas on the planet - grows more desperate. Humanitarian agencies warned that water, food and medical supplies were running short. And now the people of Gaza are facing a brutal and merciless attack by infantry, artillery, and tanks. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/04/2458664.htm Protests around the world over Gaza attacks Posted Sun Jan 4, 2009 8:13am AEDT Updated Sun Jan 4, 2009 9:57am AEDT Slideshow: Photo 1 of 2 In Paris, more than 20,000 people marched in protest at Israel's Gaza offensive. (AFP: Olivier Laban-Mattei) ? Related Story: Israeli ground forces enter Gaza Strip Thousands of demonstrators have marched in cities across Europe to demand a halt to Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip. Protests were held in Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey as the Israeli offensive entered its second week, and before Israel confirmed ground forces had entered Gaza. Israeli Arabs held a protest march, Kuwaitis also took to the streets, a day after bigger Middle East rallies, and peaceful pro- and anti-Israel protests were held in New York. In Paris, police said more than 21,000 demonstrators, many wearing Palestinian keffiyeh headscarves, marched through the city centre chanting slogans such as "Israel murderer" and waving banners demanding an end to the air attacks. Groups of protesters clashed with police. At least three cars were set alight and about 20 overturned by demonstrators as the march ended near some of the biggest department stores in the French capital. In London, police said more than 10,000 people staged a march and rally to urge an end to the Israeli offensive against Hamas militants that is estimated to have killed more than 400 Palestinians. Similar protests were planned in some 30 other towns. In many cities people waved shoes - recalling the action of an Iraqi journalist who hurled footwear at US President George W Bush in Baghdad last month in a symbolic insult. British demonstrators threw dozens of shoes into the street as they passed the gated entrance to Downing Street, where Prime Minister Gordon Brown lives, and shouted angrily at a line of 40 police officers on guard there. "Come to get your shoes Gordon," one woman shouted as other marchers directed chants of "Shame on you" at Mr Brown. A spokesman said Mr Brown had spoken again to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday and was pressing hard for an immediate ceasefire. Leading the march were singer Annie Lennox, politicians Tony Benn and George Galloway and comic Alexei Sayle. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and placards with slogans such as "End the siege on Gaza" and "Stop the massacre". Israel says rocket attacks from Gaza by Hamas Islamists must stop before it halts operations, but the attacks continued overnight. Four Israelis have been killed by Hamas rockets since the offensive began. -Reuters http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20090105&articleId=11626 Protests condemn Israel offensive Global Research, January 5, 2009 AlJazeera Demonstrators rallied in Istanbul to protest against Israel's offensive [AFP] As international protests against the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip continue, Israel is facing a fresh round of condemnation from around the world. The protests followed on the heels of the UN Security Council's failure to issue a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire despite hours of closed-door talks. On Sunday the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union pledged an additional $4.2 million in emergency aid for Gaza and called on Israel to respect international law. "Blocking access to people who are suffering and dying is also a breach of humanitarian law," Louis Michel, EU's humanitarian aid commissioner, said in a statement. "I call on the Israeli authorities to respect their international obligations and ensure a 'humanitarian space' for the delivery of vital relief," he said. IN DEPTH In the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians rallied for a third day of protests, Israeli soldiers shot and killed a man, Palestinian medical sources said. Mufid Saleh Walweel, 22, was shot in the head in the West Bank city of Qalqilya during a protest against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, they said. There were also protests in Turkey, where organisers claimed 700,000 people had turned out for an anti-Israeli demonstration. Protesters called on Turkey, Israel's only Muslim ally, to re-evaluate ties with the Jewish state if it does not halt its incursion in the Gaza Strip. In Greece, demonstrators set fire to banks, threw rocks and fired flares at police in the capital Athens. In Morocco, a crowd of 40,000 gathered in Rabat to condemn "the silence of Arab regimes". Mustapha Ramid of the Islamist Party of Justice and Development, said "the blood of Gazan martyrs has mobilised the masses in Morocco and throughout the rest of the Arab world". Several countries have called on Israel to exercise restraint as the civilian death toll continues to rise. Russia on Sunday said it was "extremely concerned" by Israel's land operation in Gaza and said it was sending a special envoy to the region to help bring about a ceasefire by both sides. Thousands of demonstrators in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, denounced Israel as a "terrorist" force and called on the government to send troops to fight Israeli forces. "Indonesia's military must go to war against Israel, not just as peacekeepers. We ask the government to send troops there, not just medicine," Farid Wadjdi, the local head of the Hizbut Tahrir movement, was quoted as saying by news website Detikcom. Iranian warning Iran, which has seen angry protests since the Israeli raids began last week, also added its voice. Ali Larijani, the parliament speaker, praised Palestinian resistance against the ground invasion. "Zionists should know that Gaza will become their cemetery," he said on Sunday. Even Egypt, which has faced criticism from the Arab and Muslim world, condemned the Israeli incursion, and called on the UN to work to end the violence. In Britain, where one of the world's largest demonstrations against the Israeli incursion took place on Saturday, Gordon Brown, the prime minister, took a more measured approach, saying that Israel's ground offensive had created a "very dangerous moment" before calling for increased efforts on both sides to secure a ceasefire. "First we need an immediate ceasefire, and that includes a stopping of the rockets into Israel. Secondly, we need some resolution of the problem over arms trafficking into Gaza and, thirdly, we need the borders and the crossings open and that will need some international solution." For its part, the US state department said it told the Israeli government that any military action should be "mindful of the potential consequences to civilians". It also condemned Hamas, saying the group was holding the people of Gaza "hostage" and contributing to a "very bad daily life" for the coastal territory's residents. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/706475/world-protests-mount-over-gaza-fighting/?rss=yes World protests mount over Gaza fighting 09:43 AEST Mon Jan 5 2009 102 days 8 hours 48 minutes ago A demonstration in Paris backing Israel in the Gaza conflict attracted several thousand supporters. Demonstrations in Israel's main regional ally Turkey led swelling Muslim protests on Sunday over the ground offensive in Gaza, as a Palestinian demonstrator was shot dead by Israeli troops in the West Bank. But a demonstration in Paris backing Israel attracted several thousand supporters. In Istanbul, organisers claimed 700,000 people had turned out for their protest. Police in Turkey refused to give numbers, but central Istanbul's sprawling Caglayan square was packed with a sea of protesters. "The bastards of the devil, go away from Palestine and the Middle East," said one banner in English. Predominantly Muslim, non-Arab Turkey signed a military co-operation accord with Israel in 1996, but Ankara also has close ties with the Palestinians, whose cause enjoys widespread support, particularly among Islamist circles. Thousands of Moroccans rallied in the capital Rabat, accusing Arab leaders of having failed the Palestinian people. The demonstrators, about 40,000 according to police estimates, chanted expressions of anger over "the silence of Arab regimes". Protesters also accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of having "sold Gaza for (US) dollars". Some in the Arab world have accused Egypt, which with Jordan is one of only two Arab nations to have signed peace treaties with the Jewish state, of complicity with the Israeli offensive on its doorstep. Some of the Moroccan demonstrators trampled on a giant Israeli flag, while others brandished shoes in an allusion to the Iraqi journalist who threw his brogues at outgoing US President George W Bush last month. In Lebanon, thousands demonstrated outside the UN headquarters in Beirut. The UN Security Council met late on Saturday to discuss the crisis but failed to agree a resolution. Lebanese riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at some 100 protesters near the US embassy compound in Awkar, north of Beirut, an AFP photographer said. But in Paris, several thousand demonstrators waved Israeli flags and sang Hebrew hymns to show support for Israel in its military offensive in Gaza, a day after a huge pro-Palestinian rally. About 12,000 demonstrators gathered on a street not far from the Israeli embassy, according to organisers, the CRIF, an umbrella group of French Jewish organisations. Police put the figure at 4,000. On Saturday, more than 20,000 people marched in Paris to show support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and to condemn Israel's offensive, aimed at halting rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled territory. In Greece, thousands of people marched for the second day running to protest the Israeli action. More than 4,000 people joined protests outside the US embassy and the Israeli embassy in Athens, burning effigies of Bush and president-elect Barack Obama and both the Israeli and US flags. Earlier on Sunday hundreds of protesters marched in the northern city of Thessaloniki, burning US and Israeli flags in front of the US consulate. Thousands of people had already marched in both cities on Saturday. Norwegian police said they had used tear gas to break up a demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in Oslo after the protesters started throwing rocks and eggs at them. Several hundred people took part in the demonstration, according to Norwegian media reports. Earlier on Sunday, thousands also marched through central Sydney and the southern city of Melbourne in Australia. In the Canadian city of Montreal, some 5,000 people according to media estimates, braved the bitter cold to march on the Israeli consulate to demand a halt to Israel's offensive. This demonstration followed several marches on Saturday in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, which also demanded an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza. In Iraq, some 200 protesters staged a protest in the southern Shi'ite shrine city of Karbala to condemn Israel and express support for embattled Palestinians. http://english.sina.com/world/2009/0102/208833.html Thousands in Chicago protest against Israel's military actions in Gaza 2009-01-03 02:04:37 GMT2009-01-03 10:04:37 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English CHICAGO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people gathered Friday afternoon in Chicago's downtown, protesting against Israel's recent military actions in the Gaza Strip. About 4,000 people gathered around 3:00 pm in the Pioneer Plaza in downtown Chicago, chanting slogans, waving Palestinian flags and carrying signs that read: "Stop U.S. Aid to Israel Now", "stop the siege of Gaza now" and so on. Protesters later spilled across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to East Wacker Drive in front of the building that houses the Consulate General of Israel. Police there closed off a block-long stretch to vehicle traffic. The protest was one of many recent demonstrations around the world in response to Israel's week-long air strikes on the Gaza Strip, a series of assaults Israel says are meant to deter rocket attacks into southern Israel by Hamas. A smaller group of Israel supporters counter protested outside the consulate. The protest was largely done by about 6:00 p.m. Police said no arrests were reported. Organizers are planning another protest on Saturday in Chicago's Hyde Park. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The future of the Middle East peace process, the stability of the region and the safety of ordinary people in the Gaza Strip have been seriously jeopardized by Hamas rocket attacks and the "excessiveness of Israel's response," a senior United Nations envoy warned Friday. "Much of Gaza's infrastructure has now been destroyed. The death and injury toll in Gaza continues to mount. Hamas rockets are now reaching 40 kilometers into Israel," Robert Serry, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told a press conference here via video-link from Jerusalem. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations does have contacts with Hamas and has warned the Hamas militants against firing rockets into southern Israel, a senior UN official said on Friday. Robert Serry, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, made the statement while briefing reporters here on the situation in Gaza at a press conference via video link from Jerusalem. RAMALLAH, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would leave later on Friday with other Arab leaders for New York to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip. "President Abbas will head to News York with other Arab leaders to achieve an Arab consensus to oblige Israel to achieve an unconditioned immediate stop of the offensive on Gaza," Erekat told reporters in Ramallah. GAZA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli war planes carried out four airstrikes on targets south of the Gaza City on Friday evening, killing two Palestinian civilians, doctors and witnesses said. Previously, eight Palestinians were killed, including five children, in the ongoing Israeli intensive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. TEHRAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Iran's influential cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here on Friday that Gaza needs political, weaponry and propagandistic support today, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. Addressing the crowd at the Friday prayer, he said that "There is no shortage of soldiers there in Gaza today but Muslim Ummah (community) must provide political, weaponry and propagandistic support for Gazans." http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/prot-j07.shtml Worldwide protest against Israeli violence in Gaza By David Walsh 7 January 2009 Widespread revulsion against the murderous Israeli assault on the population of the Gaza Strip has sparked protest on every continent. Hundreds of demonstrations have taken place in cities large and small, from Bogota to Manila, Sofia to Ottawa, Dublin to New Delhi, in addition to dozens of cities in the US and major urban centers in Israel itself. It would be impossible to provide details on every protest, but the following is intended to convey the depth and global character of the response. Following the mass demonstrations held January 3 (see ?Ground assault sparks worldwide protests?Civilian casualties mount as Israeli army slices through Gaza?), including in every major European and North American city, protests have continued in all parts of the globe. Thousands, for example, demonstrated in Beirut Sunday outside the United Nations building while others marched on the US embassy. Lebanese police used water hoses to keep the protesters away from the embassy. Hundreds marched in Amman, Jordan, on Sunday in two separate marches. More than 5,000 marched in Istanbul Sunday, waving Palestinian flags and burning effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President George W. Bush. Protesters also threw eggs at the Israeli consulate in the Turkish city. According to the Associated Press, tens of thousands rallied in Rabat, the Moroccan capital, for a protest against the Israeli offensive in Gaza. ?Police estimated the turnout at 50,000.? Organizers said the number was bigger, but did not give a precise figure.? Thousands of Afghans rallied against Israel?s offensive last Friday in Kabul. More than 1,000 protesters rallied outside a mosque, waving Hamas flags and chanting, ?Death to America, Israel and Britain!? About 1,000 people demonstrated in the Afghan city of Herat on Friday as well, shouting, ?Down with Israel!? Demonstrations have taken place across Egypt, in defiance of the Mubarak regime, since the Israeli attack began December 27. Protesters have been met with clubs and beatings from police. Hundreds of arrests have been made. Despite this, some 3,500 Muslim Brotherhood members took to the streets Monday in Assiut, some 200 miles south of Cairo. In Kashmir, Indian police used tear gas and batons to disperse hundreds of protesters in Srinagar, Indian Kashmir?s major city. The crowd chanted, ?We?re with the Palestinians? and ?Down with Israel!? Thirty people were injured in the police crackdown and 50 detained. Some 70 students from universities in New Delhi threw shoes at the Israeli embassy on Monday. A student leader explained, ?We are protesting against the terror attack of Israel on the citizens of Palestine. First it was Bush who got the shoes and now it is the time for Israel.? The protesters threw some 200 shoes at the embassy before police arrested them. One hundred members of the left-nationalist Bayan Muna in Manila staged a rally at the Israeli embassy Monday. The group condemned the Israeli attacks that have left hundreds dead. Rep. Satur Ocampo told the media, ?We add our voices to the growing international condemnation of Israel?s invasion of Gaza. As a former colony, we Filipinos should sympathize with the Palestinian people who are the aggrieved party in this war.? Saudi police arrested two activists attempting to stage a demonstration in Riyadh last Thursday. The AFP reports, ?The arrests came a day after the interior ministry denied organizers permission to hold the rally on the grounds that demonstrations are banned in Saudi Arabia.? Earlier, police fired rubber bullets to break up ?rare protests involving hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Qatif and Safwa in the eastern part of the country.? Hundreds of people from the Palestinian community in Bogota, the Colombian capital, protested outside the Israeli embassy last Friday. The protesters marched from Bolivar Square to the embassy, demanding peace for the Palestinian people. In Sao Paulo, Brazil, several hundred people gathered outside the Sao Paulo Art Museum to protest the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Several demonstrators carried Palestinian flags, according to news reports, and banners reading, ?End the Genocide in Gaza.? Demonstrations have also been held in Buenos Aires. In addition to the large protests held in various Australian cities (see ?Australian demonstrations show solidarity with Palestinian people?), sizable rallies have also been organized in New Zealand against the Israeli incursion in Gaza. Approximately 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in central Wellington Tuesday. They delivered a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attacking the Israeli offensive and denouncing the New Zealand government?s ?neutral stance.? Father Gerald Burns, a Catholic priest, sprinkled red paint, mixed with his own blood, on a memorial to former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, ?to mark the killing of hundreds of Palestinians and the seizure of their land.? Palestinian Ihab Almawajah, 19, told a reporter that ?his cousin was killed in the first of the Israeli strikes in Gaza. ?It?s not fair on innocent people.... We hope the world understands that all Palestine wants is peace? ? (Xinhua). Large demonstrations took place in London, Paris, Rome, Athens and other European cities last weekend. Demonstrations continued in London on Sunday and Monday, with police making 10 arrests on Sunday. Many other British cities witnessed protests, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. Several hundred protesters assembled in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire Monday night calling for an end to violence in the Middle East. Local councillor Mehboob Kahn commented: ?I was in Gaza two years ago to monitor the first ever local elections that the Palestinians had in Gaza and at the time there was a ceasefire and the elections were an important part of the peace. ?The Israelis broke the ceasefire in Gaza and the team were bombed from the air by Israeli airplanes?it was horrific for that to happen and to witness it first hand.? Safiya Abdullah, 22, according to the local press, has taken the lead in organizing a protest scheduled for next weekend in Gloucester in southwest England. She commented: ?A group of us decided to hold the march after seeing the news reports?we couldn?t stand seeing so many people killed. We thought somebody should do something about it. It is an atrocity and a massacre. ?In my opinion it has gone beyond religion and beyond nationality. It is human suffering. We just want to express how we feel.? In response to the news of the bombing of two UN schools in Gaza, several hundred rallied in Dublin Tuesday at the Israeli embassy. Politicians, academics, union leaders and members of the Palestinian-Irish and Lebanese-Irish communities addressed the gathering, which also marched on the US and Egyptian embassies. On Saturday, police used teargas to disperse a protest outside the Israeli embassy in Oslo. Several hundred protesters took part. They threw fireworks, eggs and stones at the police and the embassy building. ?Shoes were also thrown at police officers,? Norwegian television reported. The Associated Press reported that some 800 marchers ?in the Swiss capital Bern carried banners accusing Israel of terrorism Friday [January 3] as demonstrators demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.? ?Several held signs equating the Jewish state with Nazi Germany, while others accused Israel and its ally, the United States, of being ?terrorists.? ? Further rallies were planned in major Swiss cities for Sunday. Wire services reported that protests were staged in several Balkan countries January 2 and 3 to protest the violence in Gaza. Several hundred people demonstrated in Belgrade?s main Republic Square on Monday against the military assault. The Sofia Echo reports that in the Bulgarian mining town of Madan, with a predominantly Muslim community of 7,000, some 1,000 marched in a peaceful protest January 2 against the developments in Gaza. Shefket Hadji, ?a spiritual guide at the local mosque,? told the media that the protest was ?provoked by the inhumane way in which people treated one another in that part of the world.? Hadji ?underlined the fact that people in Madan expressed their feelings as citizens and human beings, and not only as Muslims.? Protesters from several nearby villages participated in the protest. A largely peaceful protest in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia on Saturday turned violent, according to press accounts, when some protesters tried to break through police lines blocking the road to the Israeli embassy. And on Monday, the Muslim community and supporters on the island of Malta held a protest against Israeli aggression. The protest took place in Valletta, Malta?s capital, in Freedom Square. Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Ottawa have all witnessed protests against the Israeli military attacks. Some 5,000 people marched through downtown Montreal Sunday in a three-hour rally. The Ottawa Citizen reported that the size of the crowd made Ahmed Benhamade ?very, very happy.? Benhamade was ?accompanied by his wife, Halima Salahiddin, their 18-month-old daughter, Safina, tightly bundled in winter gear and seated wide-eyed in a stroller. ?It shows that this cause is just,? Benhamade declared. ?We are here for justice and we are here for peace.? ? Five thousand people attended a rally in downtown Toronto on Saturday as well. Protests have been organized in many US cities. There have been demonstrations, of course, in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco, but many smaller communities have also hosted rallies against Israeli aggression. In Greenville, South Carolina, for example, 150 Arab-Americans and others marched through the streets Sunday. The Greenville News reports: ?Several carried Palestinian flags and pictures of bloodied children while the crowd chanted ?stop the occupation? and ?free, free Palestine.? They said the incursion was killing women, children and the elderly and that the United States should end its aid to Israel. ? ?We feel like our brothers and sisters are being killed,? said one of the protesters, Haroon Raja, 22, of Greenville.? Several hundred people rallied in downtown Atlanta Monday evening outside the building that houses the Israeli consulate. One protester held a homemade sign that read, ?Who killed us? Israel did.? Another 250 people gathered in Portland, Oregon, Sunday in a protest. The demonstrators chanted, ?Occupation is a crime, from Iraq to Palestine? and ?Stop killing the children!? Arab-American youth chanted slogans in Arabic and English. One homemade sign read, ?Massacre in Gaza: Made in USA!? Hundreds of demonstrators in Minneapolis and Muslims living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, marched last Friday to protest the Israeli offensive. In Sioux Falls, protester John Koch told the local media, ?We want to get the message out that a lot of Americans disagree with our government?s unquestioning support of the state of Israel?s actions.? Some 200 people protested outside the Oklahoma state capitol in Oklahoma City on Monday, chanting, ?Stop the killing, free, free Gaza!? Jillian Holzbauer of Stillwater, Oklahoma, a student at Oklahoma State University, carried a sign saying, ?This Jew supports peace in Palestine.? Holzbauer spent the past three summers working for a Palestinian nonprofit group in the West Bank. She told a local newspaper, ?I saw that this isn?t really a religious issue, this is an issue about people who are living under military occupation for 40 years and they?re in a very desperate situation.? Approximately 2,000 people rallied in San Jose, California, January 4 in a protest against the Israeli attack on Gaza. According to one participant, posting on the Indybay.org web site, ?At one point during the protest, a Valley Transportation Authority bus stopped at the light and the driver yelled out, ?Free Palestine.? Many passing motorists honked in support of the protest.? Hundreds rallied in Toledo, Dayton and Cleveland last Friday against the Zionist onslaught. Protests were held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Tucson, Arizona. Opponents of the Israeli action protested in Binghamton, New York, Raleigh, North Carolina, Des Moines, Iowa, Bloomington, Indiana, and various towns in South Florida and Michigan. Israel itself has been the scene of numerous protests, the largest by Israeli Arabs in the town of Sakhnin, where up to 150,000 people rallied. Tel Aviv and Haifa have also witnessed sizable protests. Ynetnews reported Tuesday that ?Hundreds of Jews and Arabs protested against the Israeli operation in Gaza? in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem, 150 Arab students protested the attack on Gaza near Hebrew University. Also on Tuesday, Israeli police arrested 10 students, out of some 500 protesting the military?s actions at the University of Haifa. Ynet reports, ?Wael Soued, one of the protesting students, claimed that the demonstration started as a quiet protest until provocations came from the Jewish students. ? ?The objective was to have a quiet protest with signs and posters. They started making derogatory statements towards us, and we answered back. Within a few minutes, a big tumult broke out. The police got involved with batons and people got hurt,? Soued recounted.? http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/world/01/04/09/muslim-protests-swell-following-israeli-gaza-push Muslim protests swell following Israeli Gaza push ________________________________________ Agence France-Presse | 01/05/2009 12:29 AM Printer-friendly version | Send to friend ISTANBUL - Demonstrations in Israel's main regional ally Turkey led swelling Muslim protests Sunday over the ground offensive in Gaza, as a Palestinian demonstrator was shot dead by Israeli troops in the West Bank. Organisers claimed hundreds of thousands turned out in central Istanbul, while Moroccan demonstrators -- numbering 40,000, according to police -- accused Arab leaders of failing the Palestinian people. After protests spread to Australia following more arrests in London, Mufid al-Walwil, 21, was killed in the northern West Bank during a demonstration there, when Israeli troops opened fire on youths throwing stones. Lebanon anti-riot police also fired teargas and water cannon at protesters near the US embassy compound in Awkar, north of Beirut, an AFP photographer said. Thousands also demonstrated outside the UN headquarters in Beirut. Further protests were expected, as anger grew over the Israeli military push -- and diplomatic reaction, including UN failure to agree on a common resolution, and the European Union's Czech-led delegation initially categorizing Israel's action as "defensive" prior to a Sunday apology. Police in Turkey refused to give numbers, but central Istanbul's sprawling Caglayan square was packed with a sea of protesters -- organizers claiming a turnout as high as 700,000. "The bastards of the devil, go away from Palestine and the Middle East," said one banner in English. Ibrahim Ozturk, a 25-year-old sailor, said Ankara should re-evaluate its ties with Israel if the Jewish state does not stop its offensive in Gaza. "It is not that Turkey should become an enemy of Israel, but it should warn Israel when it is doing wrong. If Israel does not change its attitude, then it should become an enemy," he said. Predominantly Muslim, non-Arab Turkey signed a military cooperation accord with Israel in 1996, but Ankara also has close ties with the Palestinians, whose cause enjoys widespread support, particularly among Islamist circles. In Morocco, the 40,000-strong crowd in the capital Rabat chanted expressions of anger over "the silence of Arab regimes." Demonstrators accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of having "sold Gaza for (US) dollars." Some trampled on a giant Israeli flag, while others brandished shoes in an allusion to the Iraqi journalist who threw his brogues at outgoing US President George W. Bush before the holidays. Islamist Party of Justice and Development lawmaker Mustapha Ramid said "the blood of Gazan martyrs has mobilized the masses in Morocco and throughout the rest of the Arab world." Thousands also marched through central Sydney and the southern city of Melbourne in Australia. http://news.scotsman.com/world/World-unites-in-protests.4841673.jp World unites in protests Published Date: 04 January 2009 Tens of thousands took to the streets across the world yesterday to protest against Israel's bombing of Gaza, writes David Leask. More than 5,000 demonstrators, including singer Annie Lennox, former model Bianca Jagger and comedian Alexei Sayle, marched on Trafalgar Square in London. Hundreds threw shoes at Downing Street, inspired by the Iraqi journalist who showed the same traditional Muslim sign of disrespect to US President George Bush last month. More protested in cities across Britain, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, all demanding an immediate halt to Israeli air attacks on the Palestinian enclave and Hamas, the radical group that runs the territory. Mass demonstrations took place in other major western capitals and across the Muslim nations of the Middle East. There was violence in Amman, Jordan; Nicosia, Cyprus; and Athens, Greece. And in Tehran, in Iran, more than 6,000 people gathered in a procession half a mile long, most chanting "Death to Israel". In the Israeli town of Sakhnin as many as 10,000 people, mostly Arabs, protested against the action, which has claimed at least 430 lives. In Britain campaigners said they were particularly angry at the loss of civilian life in Gaza, where the United Nations reckons bombing has killed 34 children. In Glasgow, Barrie Levine, from Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, said: "In common with a growing number of Jews in Israel and internationally, we condemn the air strikes by Israel on Gaza and the likelihood of a land assault. "This level of military action is utterly disproportionate and will lead to ever-mounting numbers of civilian casualties." Levine was one of up to 500 people who gathered in Glasgow's Blythswood Square to protest. Protests also took place in Bristol, Liverpool, Exeter, Norwich, Hull, Turnbridge Wells, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Swansea, York, Caernarfon, Bradford and Sheffield. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200913101117511814.html Worldwide protests denounce Israel Demonstrators in Srinagar continue to rally against Israeli air strikes in Gaza [AFP] Angry protests against Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip are continuing throughout the world, with large demonstrations in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir. Rallies in other countries are set to take place later on Saturday, with a protest in the United Kingdom expected to be attended by thousands of people. Protesters in Kabul pumped their fists into the air and shouted slogans against Israel and the United States, while in Srinagar activists burned an effigy of Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister. In Ramallah in the West Bank, Palestinians seeking national unity marched through streets and there were clashes with riot police. 'Killer Israel' In Ankara, Turkey's capital, about 5,000 people shouted "killer Israel" during an anti-Israeli rally as anger mounted in a country traditionally considered an ally of Israel. The demonstration is the second largest in Turkey in as many days. The protesters, who turned out in freezing weather, shouted "resist and win freedom" in support of Hamas. Many waved Palestinian flags and wore headbands with Arabic scripts. The fighting has troubled Turkey's efforts to help broker peace between Israel and its Arab opponents, forcing Turkey to suspend its mediation between Israel and Syria and leading to resignations by some of Turkey's politicians from a Turkish-Israeli friendship group. In Britain, about 18 protests across the country, the largest being held in London, are expected to draw up to 20,000 during the day. Nadim Baba, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the British capital, said protest organisers were expecting a big turnout. Global outrage On Friday, riot police clashed with protesters in Jerusalem and in the Jordanian capital Amman, firing teargas to push back hundreds of demonstrators marching towards the Israeli embassy. Several protesters were beaten and arrested by police. More than 10,000 people marched through Indonesia's capital carrying banners and Palestinian flags. The demonstrators gathered in the city centre to pray for the safety of Palestinians before marching to the US embassy, which was guarded by hundreds of police. Protests were also held in other Indonesian cities after Friday prayers. People shouted anti-Israel slogans during a rally in Moscow [EPA] In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood called for marches nationwide. Hundreds of riot police were deployed around key mosques in Cairo in anticipation of the protests. Egyptian police also detained 40 members of the Muslim Brotherhood, security officials said. Thousands of people were out in Istanbul to support the Palestinians and show their outrage at Israel. In Australia, more than 4,000 people gathered in the Parry Park in Sydney. Five local mosques had closed, asking worshippers to attend the vigil instead of the traditional Friday prayers. Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, a local imam, led the service, urging Israel to recognise a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and agree to a ceasefire. "Israel is committing an act of terrorism. It's the duty of all the free people in the world to stand against it and stop this evil," he said. Hundreds took to the streets of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka after the Friday prayers and in the Philippines, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Manila, accusing Israel of war crimes. In the Pakistani capital Islamabad, demonstrators called on the Arab and Muslim world to stop what they called the massacre committed against the population of Gaza. http://palestinechronicle.com/news.php?id=90e853763843737524e4932a0e6dfb71&mode=details Global Protests Slam Silence on Gaza 'Genocide' Angry people holding banners condemning the 'genocide' in Gaza and chanting anti-Israeli slogans were witnessed across the world as people continued to protest Sunday against Israel's nine-day assault on the impoverished strip. Clashes between angry protestors and police have marred most global demonstrations but the only reported death was in the West Bank as Israeli troops shot dead 21-year-old Palestinian Mufid al-Walwil. Further protests were expected, as anger grew over the Israeli military push -- and diplomatic reaction, including U.N. failure to agree on a common resolution, and the European Union's Czech-led delegation initially categorizing Israel's action as "defensive" prior to a Sunday apology. Arab World Lebanon anti-riot police also fired teargas and water cannon at protesters near the U.S. embassy compound in Awkar, north of Beirut, an AFP photographer said. Thousands also demonstrated outside the UN headquarters in Beirut. Students from Mauritania's Nouakchott University clashed with police when they tried to surround the Israeli embassy calling for it to be closed down because "it brings shame to our country." Around 200 Iraqis staged a protest in the southern Shiite shrine city of Karbala to condemn Israel's deadly attacks on the Gaza Strip and to voice support for embattled Palestinians. The crowd chanted "No, no, to imperialism," "No, no, to Israel," and "No, no to Zionism," as they marched to the shrine of Imam Hussein, Shiites' third imam. Police in Turkey refused to give numbers, but central Istanbul's sprawling Caglayan square was packed with a sea of protesters -- organizers claiming a turnout as high as 700,000. "The bastards of the devil, go away from Palestine and the Middle East," said one banner in English. In Morocco, the 40,000-strong crowd in the capital Rabat chanted expressions of anger over "the silence of Arab regimes." Demonstrators accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak of having "sold Gaza for (U.S.) dollars." Islamist Party of Justice and Development lawmaker Mustapha Ramid said "the blood of Gazan martyrs has mobilized the masses in Morocco and throughout the rest of the Arab world." Europe Thousands of people across Europe voiced their opposition to Israel's military action in rallies in Paris, London, Madrid, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Athens along with other European cities. In London, some 10,000 demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and chanted "Free, free Palestine" and "Israel terrorists" as they filed along the River Thames before gathering in Trafalgar Square, an AFP reporter saw. Some protesters threw their shoes at the iron gates of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Downing Street residence to express their anger at his refusal to condemn Israeli airstrikes, which Palestinian medics say have killed more than 450 people in a week. The London march, which organizers Stop the War Coalition claimed had attracted 50,000 people, was led by singer Annie Lennox and veteran left-wing politician Tony Benn. Alexei Sayle, an actor and comedian well known to British TV audiences, also took part. He said: "As a Jew it's very moving to see so many people who are so outraged at Israel's actions. "Israel is a democratic country that is behaving like a terrorist organization," he said. In Paris the crowd of 25,000 chanted "We are all Palestinians" and "Israel killers." Many sported traditional Palestinian scarves. Several cars were also torched or overturned and windows smashed in the city's midtown shopping district, but calm appeared to return as of early evening. In neighboring Spain, more than 2,000 people rallied outside the foreign ministry in Madrid, burning several Israeli flags. Police detained a man who tried to break through a police barrier and injured three police officers. Hundreds of the demonstrators then marched through the streets of Madrid brandishing signs such as "This is not a war but a genocide." Protests were also staged rallies in Greek and Italian cities, with the largest turnout reported in Milan -- an estimated 5,000 people, most of them immigrants. Meanwhile, scuffles took place in front of the Israeli embassy in Athens at the end of a rally that drew about 3,000, pitting stone-throwing demonstrators against police who responded with teargas. Two people were arrested as more than 1,000 marched through Amsterdam condemning the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and calling for a boycott of Israeli goods, police said. More than 2,300 people also demonstrated in the Austrian city of Salzburg, police said. (News Agencies and Alarabiya.net) http://www.agnetwork.com/content.asp?contentid=282020 1/9/2009 7:39:00 AM Anti-Israel Protests Target US Firms, Jewish Businesses PARIS (AFP)--Protests against Israel's offensive in Gaza were held Friday across a vast swathe from Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim nation, to Italy where a call to boycott Jewish traders drew wide condemnation. Some 200 women protested outside the Egyptian Embassy in Jakarta, brandishing posters of dead and wounded Palestinian children, and urging Egypt to open its border with Gaza to ensure the passage of humanitarian aid. Israel's bombardment of Gaza has sparked claims by Indonesian Islamists that they are recruiting "holy warriors" to help stop the onslaught. In nearby Malaysia, which is also predominantly Muslim, Islamic groups Friday urged a boycott of U.S. goods and firms such as Coca-Cola Co. (KO), and an influential former premier said people working for Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) or McDonald's Corp. (MCD) should quit. The salvos against the U.S., Israel's staunch ally, were fired outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur after Friday prayers by some 300 protestors. The boycott is spearheaded by the Malaysian Islamic Consumers' Association and the Muslim Restaurant Operators' Association, which has removed Coca-Cola from the menu at thousands of restaurants. In Italy, a minor traders' body sparked uproar by calling for a boycott of Jewish-run businesses in Rome, drawing immediate condemnation. The head of the Jewish community in Rome, Riccardo Pacifici, said he would file a suit against the organization for "inciting racial hatred." The move has been condemned by the center-right president of the Italian enate, Renato Schifani, and Rome's far-right mayor Gianni Alemanno, who branded it "mad and criminal." In Norway, six people were injured and 31 were arrested when around 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters attacked a pro-Israeli demonstration in Oslo, police said Friday. Meanwhile, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has urged Arabs to volunteer to fight alongside Palestinians, state media reported Friday. "I appeal to Arabs to volunteer to fight (against Israel) with the Palestinians," the veteran leader said in brief comments carried by the official Jana news agency. Source: Dow Jones Newswires http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99175043&ft=1&f=1001 Protests Against Gaza Operations Grow by Peter Kenyon Listen Now [2 min 59 sec] add to playlist All Things Considered, January 9, 2009 ? Across the Arab and Muslim worlds, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets today in anger at Israel, the United States and pro-American Arab governments. Record crowds turned out in countries like Egypt and Libya, but there were also protests in Europe. All Things Considered: January 9, 2009 MICHELE NORRIS, host: Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest the Israeli attacks in Gaza. Demonstrations were staged across the Arab and Muslim world, revealing what appear to be new levels of anger at Israel, America and pro-U.S. Arab states such as Egypt. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports from Cairo. PETER KENYON: Residents of the wealthy and tightly controlled Gulf state of Qatar have rarely seen passionate political protest in their own streets. But when Sheikh Youssef Alkaradawi called for a day of rage against Israel's continued pounding of Hamas targets in Gaza, a huge rally developed. Local journalists called it an unprecedented display of public animosity toward the Jewish state. (Soundbite of protests) Unidentified Speaker: (Arabic spoken). KENYON: Stop supporting the Jews, says this speaker, who added, quote, "stop giving them weapons so we can fight the Jews." This is a war from the days of our grandfathers, he said, that will never end because it knows no boundaries. Analysts said it was shocking to hear such sentiments in a normally quiet Gulf state that has had trade relations with Israel since 1996. Themes of violence and revenge were woven through a number of today's rallies. Despite the desperate situations in Afghanistan and Iraq, there were large anti-Israeli demonstrations in both of those countries today. Tens of thousands of people rallied in Iraq, and they heard a statement from Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, calling for revenge attacks against the United States, which Sadr described as the biggest partner of the Zionist enemy. In Turkey, tens of thousands gathered at Istanbul's majestic blue mosque. (Soundbite of protests) Unidentified Speaker: (Turkish spoken). KENYON: Some carried signs equating the Israeli Star of David with the Nazi swastika, a particularly hateful insult to many Israelis. The anger was not aimed solely at Israel. In Jakarta, Indonesia, some 200 protesters were arrested trying to reach the Egyptian embassy. Egypt has faced scathing criticism for refusing to open its border with Gaza except to certain medical and humanitarian aid. That sentiment was echoed here in Egypt in a surprisingly large protest in the port city of Alexandria. Demonstrators apologized to Gazans for their government's inaction, saying the decision to open the border was not in their hands. (Soundbite of protests) KENYON: In Amman, Jordan, riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse stone-throwing protesters marching on the Israeli embassy. Clashes with security forces also occurred in the Palestinian West Bank, in addition to fights between Hamas supporters and backers of the secular Fatah movement. Police also quelled protest in Cairo. Even as Egypt finally relented on one front, journalists at the Egypt Gaza border reported that more than two dozen doctors, many of them Egyptian, were finally allowed to cross into Gaza to provide a bit relief to their exhausted and overwhelmed Palestinian colleagues. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Cairo. (Soundbite of music) MELISSA BLOCK, host: This is NPR, National Public Radio. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200919123947912684.html Global protests condemn Gaza war Police blocked protesters in Nairobi from reaching the Israeli embassy [Reuters] More than 50,000 Egyptian have protested in the city of Alexandria against Israel's assault on Gaza, one of many held across the world as the conflict enters its 14th consecutive day. Protesters in Egypt, led by parliamentarians allied to the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, chanted slogans condemning the war and the failure of Arab nations to tackle the crisis. "Down with Israel, and with it every collaborator," protesters chanted after Friday prayers. Others shouted: "Gaza excuse us: opening Rafah is not in our hands," referring to the border crossing between the strip and Egypt which Cairo has refused to open despite the deaths of more than 780 Palestinians. An AFP news agency reporter said riot police had tried to prevent the protest going ahead but gave up because of the number of demonstrators. Also in the Egyptian coastal town of al-Arish, demonstrators pelted police with stones when they tried dispersing the crowd. In the Jordanian capital Amman, security forces stopped protesters carrying Palestinian and Jordanian flags from marching to the Israeli embassy. The protesters chanted "no Israel embassy on Arab territory" and "Arab rulers are cowards". No clashes were reported although objects were thrown at riot police. Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab nations with diplomatic relations with Israel. Both Sunni and Shia Muslim worshippers in Baghdad staged rallies condemning the offensive following Friday prayer services. The Israeli ambassador to Venezuela was expelled after Hugo Chavez, the president of the Latin American nation, set a deadline for Shlomo Cohen and some embassy personnel to leave. West Bank clashes Angry Palestinian protesters have clashed with Israeli police in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Fist fights also broke out between Hamas supporters and members of the rival Fatah party of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in Ramallah. The Israeli security forces used teargas and batons to disperse the demonstrators. Israel had placed the West Bank on a 48-hour lockdown, prohibiting movement into and out of the Palestinian territory until Saturday except in emergency cases. In Kenya, police used water cannons and tear gas in an attempt to disperse hundreds of people who had gathered outside Nairobi's Jamea mosque to express their soldarity with the Palestinians of Gaza. "No to shedding innocent blood," "End the massacre in Gaza," and "Israel, stop killing innocent people," read some of the placards. The protestors tried to march towards the Israeli embassy in the centre of the Kenyan capital, but were stopped by a heavy security deployment. Six people were injured and 31 were arrested when 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters attacked a pro-Israeli demonstration in Oslo, police said on Friday. During the clashes, considered to be the worst in more than two decades in the Norwegian capital, anti-Israel protesters threw Molotov cocktails, rocks and eggs and burned Israeli flags, Johan Fredriksen of the Oslo police said. Police were also on high alert in Greece, where protests against the Israeli offensive have been planned. Boycott call In Malaysia and Italy, critics of Israel's Gaza assault have called for a boycott of Israeli and US goods. "We cannot remain silent about what is happening in Gaza. We had thought of drawing up a list of businessmen who have links with Tel Aviv because people do not know who they are," Giancarlo Desiderati, a member of a small group of Italian traders who called for the boycott on its website, said. At least 5,000 people protested outside the US embassy in Malaysia on Friday, and around 300 held a noisy protest outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur to urge Arab countries to cut off oil supplies to the US and boycott goods from Coca-Cola, Colgate and Starbucks. Addressing the crowd, Mahathir Mohamed, a former prime minister, told Malaysians that they "will not die if they do not use the US goods" and urged those working for US companies such as fast-food giant McDonalds to quit their jobs. "I hope Starbucks and McDonald's employees will stop working there," he said. Coca-Cola officials said any boycott would only hurt the local economy and its citizens. http://www.rferl.org/Content/Egypt_Jordan_Crack_Down_On_AntiIsrael_Protests/1365933.html Egypt, Jordan Crack Down On Anti-Israel Protests Demonstrators at the Egyptian Embassy in Damascus demand Egypt change its Israel policy January 02, 2009 LONDON (Reuters) -- Jordanian and Egyptian riot police have cracked down on protesters demanding an end to Israel's attacks on Gaza and to ties with the Jewish state. Israel's week-old offensive has sparked daily protests around the world. On January 2, the Muslim day of prayer, angry demonstrations took place in Indian Kashmir, Turkey, and Iraq. Jordanian police fired tear gas to push back hundreds of people marching on the Israeli Embassy in the capital Amman. Chanting "No Jewish embassy on Arab land," worshippers set off from a mosque to the nearby Israeli Embassy. Police fired tear gas at around 1,500 demonstrators, forcing them to retreat, and beat and arrested several of them. Protesters chanted slogans backing the Islamic militant group Hamas that controls Gaza. "Revenge...revenge.... Hamas, bomb Tel Aviv," they shouted. Watched by riot police, at least 60,000 people headed later to Amman sports stadium for the largest rally in decades by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood. Its leader told a cheering crowd that Palestinians should intensify an uprising against Israel. In Cairo, police beat opposition Islamists with batons when they tried to stage a rally downtown, witnesses said. A rally in the coastal town of El-Arish in North Sinai turned violent when protesters tried to force their way through a police cordon. "People charged at the police and pelted them with rocks," a Reuters witness said. "Police started rounding people up and beating them." Egypt's protests were called by the Muslim Brotherhood, the main opposition group which has historical and ideological ties to Hamas. "This will not prevent us from declaring our anger and expressing our solidarity with the Palestinian people," Mohamed Habib, the Brotherhood deputy leader, told Reuters. He said Egypt should break off diplomatic and economic ties with Israel. Egypt and Jordan both have peace treaties with Israel, and their diplomatic ties with it often prompt accusations of a sell-out from other Muslims and Arabs. Protesters in countries such as Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran accuse Egypt of cooperating with Israel by refusing to open its border crossing with the Palestinian coastal strip. Israel's offensive, one of the worst in 60 years of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has killed more than 420 people. Israel says the attacks aim to stop Hamas firing rockets on towns in southern Israel, where four Israelis have died. It sealed off the West Bank to deny entry to most Palestinians and beefed up security at checkpoints as people renewed protests across the occupied territory. In Ramallah, Hamas supporters scuffled with the Fatah faction of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, taunting them as "collaborators." Elsewhere, protesters stoned soldiers at checkpoints and some were wounded by rubber bullets. Protests In India, Turkey, Europe In Indian Kashmir at least 50 people were injured when baton-wielding police fired tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of Muslim protesters, police and witnesses said. Angry demonstrators in the summer capital Srinagar shouted "Down with Zionist terrorism, down with Israel" and burned American and Israeli flags near Kashmir's grand mosque Jamia Masjid. There were also demonstrations in New Delhi, Hyderabad, and other Indian cities. In mainly Muslim Turkey, thousands gathered outside an Istanbul mosque to condemn the attacks, which have prompted harsh government criticism against its close ally Israel. Chanting "Damn Israel, damn Zionism," up to 5,000 worshippers held a peaceful protest after prayers in Turkey's largest city. About 200 Iraqi men and boys gathered for an indoor demonstration inside a Baghdad mosque, many wearing white headbands bearing the words "Victory for Gaza." Banners read: "Gaza is in the hearts and minds of all Arabs." Several thousand demonstrators gathered in the central square of the Austrian capital Vienna, freeing black and white balloons and holding pro-Palestinian signs. Bigger protests are expected in London, Dublin, and elsewhere in Europe on January 3. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/01/03/gaza-protests.html?ref=rss Worldwide protests urge end to attacks on Gaza Last Updated: Saturday, January 3, 2009 | 7:04 PM ET Comments277Recommend61 CBC News Protesters toting Palestinian flags gathered in Toronto on Saturday. (Colin McConnell/Canadian Press) Demonstrations were held in cities around the world to protest Israel's military offensive against Hamas as Israeli ground troops entered the territory on Saturday. In Canada, rallies were scheduled in Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. At least 1,000 people gathered in Dundas Square, in Toronto's central downtown business district. Officers on foot, bicycle and horseback patrolled the area as demonstrators for and against Israel gathered on either side of Yonge Street. The rally was passionate but peaceful as people shouted at each other from across the street. In London, at least 10,000 people, many carrying Palestinian flags, marched past British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Downing Street residence to a rally in Trafalgar Square. Once marchers stopped outside Brown's residence, hundreds of them hurled shoes at the tall iron gates that block entry to the narrow road. Shoe-throwing has become a popular gesture of protest and contempt since an Iraqi journalist tossed a pair at U.S. President George W. Bush in Baghdad last month. Rallies also were held in other British cities ? including Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow ? and across Europe. Protests in Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Berlin all drew thousands of people. In Paris, police said 21,000 marched through the streets, shouting "We are all Palestinians" and "Israel assassin." Later, about 500 of the protesters turned violent, throwing objects at police, burning Israeli flags, overturning and torching cars, and vandalizing several shops, police said. Ten police officers were injured in the clashes and 20 protesters arrested, a Paris police spokeswoman said. Angry protests continued for a second day in Turkey, where about 5,000 demonstrators shouted "killer Israel" in downtown Ankara. Thousands of people marched through Amsterdam, criticizing both the Israeli attacks and the Dutch government's failure to condemn them. One banner declared: "Anne Frank is turning in her grave. Oh Israel!" More than 4,000 people demonstrated in Duesseldorf, Germany, and about 5,000 in Frankfurt. Similar rallies were held In Berlin, Salzburg, Madrid, Oslo and Athens. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=LEN20090105&articleId=11616 Global Human Rights Groups Protest Slaughter in Gaza by Stephen Lendman Global Research, January 5, 2009 On June 16, 2008, noted Israeli historian Ilan Pappe explained "The Israeli Recipe for 2008: Genocide in Gaza, Ethnic Cleaning in the West Bank." He wrote: "Not long ago, I claimed that Israel is employing genocidal policies in the Gaza Strip." After re-thinking this highly-charged term, he "concluded with even stronger conviction: it is the only appropriate way to describe what the Israeli army is doing in Gaza" because of its repeated atrocities now greater than ever. In his January 3 "Israel's Righteous Fury and Its Victims in Gaza" article, Pappe updates his outrage: Once again, "Israel is engulfed....with righteous fury that translates into destructive policy in the Gaza Strip. This appalling self-justification for the inhumanity and impunity....is based first and foremost on sheer lies transmitted with a newspeak reminiscent of (Nazi Germany). Every half an hour," radio and TV bulletins call Gaza victims "terrorists and Israel's massive (slaughter) self-defense." Israel is the righteous victim. Gazan men, women, and children "a great evil....There are no boundaries to the hypocrisy....It seems that even the most horrendous crimes, such as the genocide in Gaza, are treated as discrete events, unconnected to anything (from the past) and not associated with any ideology or system." Today, as Israel slaughters Gazans, "world outrage continues to resonate - on city streets, by solidarity activists, and by human rights groups globally....By connecting Zionist ideology and the policies of the past with the present atrocities, we will be able to provide a clear and logical explanation (to galvanize) public opinion not only against the present genocidal policies in Gaza, but hopefully (to) prevent future atrocities." Most important is to "puncture the balloon of self-righteous fury that suffocates the Palestinians every time it inflates (and) end Western immunity to Israel's impunity." Without it, "more people in Israel (America and everywhere) will see the real nature of (these) crimes" so their fury will be directed where it belongs. The Global BDS Movement The BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions for Palestine) Movement demands: "Stop the Massacre in Gaza - Boycott Israel Now." From Occupied Ramallah, it reported on the bloodbath, "far more ruthless than all its predecessors," the slaughter of innocent civilians, young children going to and from school, "an act of genocide against the 1.5 million Palestinians in the occupied coastal strip. Israel seems intent to mark the end of its 60th (anniversary year) the same way it established itself - perpetuating massacres against the Palestinian people." More than ever, the BDS Movement calls on international civil society to condemn the massacre, join its efforts to end Israel's impunity, and hold it accountable for its persistent crimes of war and against humanity. UN General Assembly President, Miguel D'Escoto Brockman agrees, and in a recent address before the Assembly said: "More than twenty years ago we in the United Nations took the lead from civil society when we agreed that sanctions were required to provide a nonviolent means of pressuring South Africa to end its violations. Today, perhaps we....should consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society, who are calling for a similar campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations." Israeli writer/activist Uri Avnery founded Gush Shalom ("The Peace Bloc") in 1993 "to influence Israeli public opinion and lead it towards peace and conciliation with the Palestinian people." He calls the killing and destruction in Gaza "a vicious folly of a bankrupt government (that) let itself be dragged by adventurous officers and cheap nationalist demagoguery (into a futile conflict that) will bring no solution to any problem" - either to Israel or "besieged Gaza." He says Israel, not Hamas, broke the truce, and the IDF followed up with "calculated raids and killings....The war in Gaza is (Ehud) Barak's elections campaign, a cynical attempt to buy votes with the blood and suffering" of Gazans. Israeli Student Protests The Israeli news web site Ynetnews.com highlighted student and lecturer protests over Gaza on Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem campuses. They want an end to "Operation Cast Lead," called Ehud Barak a "child killer, a murderer, (and) Barak, Barak, how many children have you murdered today?" under the slogan of "Diplomatic Terror." At times heated, they waved PLO and red flags denouncing the operation, and some shouted "In spirit and in blood we will save Palestine....Fascism lives on." Others held signs saying: "The war belongs to Olmert, the victims belong to us." In Jerusalem, at Hebrew University's Mount Scopus, around 200 Arab Israelis and Jews shouted: "Gaza, Gaza, don't despair, we will put an end to the occupation." At Tel Aviv University, 200 students gathered outside the campus in Ramat Aviv. Police arrested three demonstrators. Haaretz reported that they forcefully arrested six protesters in Tel Aviv at an "unauthorized demonstration" outside the Egyptian embassy. They waved PLO flags and condemned Israel. One said police attacked them with clubs, kicked them, and dragged one young woman by her head and shoulders into a patrol car. Israeli police launched operation "Daylight" using 12,000 officers and 2400 volunteers "aimed at keeping all roads clear." They're to stifle protests and let Israel's slaughter continue unimpeded. Gaza Professor Said Abdelwahed explains "What Gaza is like in the middle of the night:" "It's totally dark. More than 80% of Gaza City is covered by utter darkness. One cannot see his finger in the dark! Meantime, outside, there are drones buzzing overhead, choppers roaming in the sky (looking for movement, targets, people or vehicles on streets, civilians to fire at). Inside, children won't go to bed. They fear nightmares, bad dreams, bombing, explosions, and what not! The routine sounds of aircraft have been going on for more than seven days and nights....Bang, continuous bangs, explosions, other horrible explosions, blasts, flames in the distance. Kids jump up from beds scared, anxious....they don't know what to do! They want to hide anywhere, but there's nowhere to go. It sounds like the bang was under their mattresses. What to do again? Nothing but wait! How can you convince your child to wait? For what? Next, one hears ambulance sirens and fire brigades. Thus, one realizes he is in Gaza and operating a small generator to send messages to the world in the new year 2009. I'm okay so far. There were nine air raids in my area in the last 10 minutes, and we expect the worst to come. In the morning between 3:00 - 4:00AM they raided 10 times on targets in Gaza City. Plus the shelling from Israeli navy vessels. They also burnt more than 10 local fishing boats on the spot! They attacked a bridge connecting north and south and the airport in Rafah. It's getting worse and worse. It seems that a ground offensive is imminent. I have no electricity or water. I'm nearly out of diesel. There is no way to go out. We've been inside eight straight days. I have minutes to write. Nine F-16s raided Gaza. Artillery shelled a 30 kilometer strip of cultivated land. More air raids against mosques, homes, al-Resala newspaper offices. Minutes ago, 11 men praying were killed in a mosque. No electricity; no water; no life in the city. Officially (as of Saturday) about 460 killed and over 2300 injured. Mobil phone is out of order; landlines hardly work. Gaza is a city of ghosts. Ground offensive is on the move (with pre-announcment reports) of tanks and bulldozers." Israeli Human Rights Groups Protest On January 1, B'Tselem announced that Israeli human rights groups launched a blog to provide updates on the Gaza fighting, especially the targeting of civilians. A statement read: "B'Tselem reiterates its demand that all parties to the hostilities prevent harm to civilians. The rules of war (under international law) obligate all parties to a conflict to do their utmost to defend the civilian population. Deliberate targeting of civilians is expressly prohibited." Since attacks began on December 27, Israeli forces unleashed terror bombings deliberately targeting civilians, including young children going to and from school. Support from Washington was one-sided with House Speaker Pelosi saying: "When Israel is attacked, the United States must continue to stand strongly with its friend and democratic ally." Not said is when Palestinians are attacked, America "stands strongly" with the aggressor. B'Tselem protested in web site comments to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. It denounced the bombing of dozens of houses, public buildings unrelated to military forces, and other civilian structures. International law requires that combatants distinguish between military and civilian targets, and attacking latter ones is a war crime. The First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions defines a legitimate military target: -- it must effectively contribute to military action, and -- destroying or neutralizing it must achieve a military advantage. Attacking police stations, universities, mosques, factories, power sources, residential neighborhoods, homes, medical storage sites, a TV station, fishing boats, civilian vehicles and more complies neither with the above two conditions. They're war crimes under international law. Washington knows it. So does Israel and does it anyway - willfully to achieve maximum intimidation and weaken support for Hamas. B'Tselem replies: "....statements by Israeli officials raise the suspicion that the army" isn't distinguishing between civilian and military targets. Olmert said: "Israel is not at war with the Palestinian people but with Hamas....the objects (Israel attacks are) selected with the emphasis on the imperative to prevent harm to innocent persons." In a December 30 Washington Post article, IDF spokesperson Major Avital Liebowitz said: "There are many aspects to Hamas, and we are trying to hit the whole spectrum, because everything is connected and everything supports terrorism against Israel." She added that the IDF widened its target list because Hamas civilian and military activities are linked. "Anything affiliated with Hamas is a legitimate target," she said. In other words, 1.5 million Gazans - every man, woman and child even if they're not militarily engaged. A police graduation ceremony was attacked when 42 recruits were in formation and vulnerable. Course participants were instructed in first-aid, handling public disturbances, human rights, public safety, and other procedures for maintaining public order. Israel calls them "terrorists." Civilian government offices also were bombed, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labor, Construction and Housing. In response, the IDF announced that "Hamas governmental infrastructure and members active in the organization" are considered legitimate targets and were struck. These are clear civilian targets unrelated to military ones, and bombing them violates international law. Israel claims striking them is permissible and consistent with international humanitarian law. That's untrue. Israel knows it, intentionally does it anyway, and by so doing commits war crimes. International law obligates combatants to protect civilian populations. Targeting them is expressly prohibited. Israel does it anyway. It conducts terror bombings to weaken popular will and the ability of Hamas to resist, so far without success. Indications are that Hamas' popularity has grown since December 27, and many hundreds of Gazans have volunteered to become fighters. Kill one. Five others join up. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) on Attacking Medical Infrastructure and Personnel PHR-Israel received six reports of the Israeli Air Force bombing these sites and personnel working to evacuate the wounded, including: -- the Ambulance Management and Red Crescent offices in Gaza City; -- the Surani Clinic in Shaja'iah; -- a Palestinian Ministry of Health storage facility containing medications and medical supplies in the Mal'ab Filasteen district; -- the Gaza Center for Mental Health's main building in Gaza City; all psychiatric and psychological services have ceased as a result; -- attacks on medical personnel and ambulances; deaths resulted; Israel falsely claims that Hamas uses Shifaa Hospital medical equipment for attacks; and -- residential areas are continually attacked by air and artillery barrages killing civilians. PHR-Israel also reports that hospitals aren't able to cope. They're overwhelmed with the injured, have run out of beds, are way short of supplies, only get 6 - 8 hours of electricity a day at most, and overusing generators breaks them down at a time no spare parts are available because of the siege. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHR) Its weekly report ending December 31 called the scale of Israel's Gaza attack "unprecedented" and proceeded to list the known toll in lives and property destruction. It also referred to IDF phone calls and leaflet drops ordering people from homes prior to bombings, claiming they're legitimate military targets. Given the population density, this caused great panic and uncertainty because where can these people go. They're in the street, on rooftops, and in UNRWA schools set up as temporary shelters, but even they're not safe. As a result, OCHR said their humanitarian operations were severely disrupted. One incident involved an IAF missile killing eight UNRWA students and wounding 19 others in front of its Gaza City Training Centre. Other strikes damaged 13 UNRWA schools and UNSCO, OCHA and FAO offices plus a WFP flour storage warehouse. OCHR reported a lack of cash and shortages of everything it needs to function - food, fuel, electricity, medical supplies, water disinfectant materials, as well as working under fear of being targeted. Ten Israeli Human Rights Groups on the Dire Conditions in Gaza On January 1, they issued an urgent appeal and reported that: -- Gaza's electrical system is on the verge of collapse; -- hospitals, water wells and homes are experiencing long power outages; for up to 20 hours a day or longer because Gaza's power plant can't get industrial diesel to operate; and -- the availability of essential-to-life supplies is denied in violation of an Israeli Supreme Court order. "This shortage was well known to Israeli security officials because (they) caused (it) deliberately, beginning October 28, 2007, and we (the human rights organizations) repeatedly warned them of it." The current conflict exacerbates conditions that continue to deteriorate by design. Nonetheless, the group sent an urgent appeal to Israel's Defense Minister "demanding that (the military) stop draining Gaza of fuel and electricity - and restore fuel supplies to hospitals, water wells, and other vital humanitarian institutions fully and immediately." No response was received. The Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel on Human Rights Violations and War Crimes in Gaza It urged the UN Human Rights Council to press the General Assembly to act under its Resolution 377 ("Uniting for Peace") authority "with a view towards the imposition of collective measures against the Israeli government," halt the escalation of deaths, and take effective steps to restore peace. Along with other Israeli human rights organizations, it also demanded the emergency evacuation of wounded Palestinians so they can receive vital lifesaving treatment in Israel. Advanced medical care there "is the only way to save lives" that otherwise will be lost. With rare exceptions, Israel is unresponsive. As a result, large numbers of "clinically" wounded have little chance to survive. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) Demands An Immediate End to Civilian Attacks "In light of reports on the heavy toll taken on (Gazan) civilians who were not involved in the conflict, including children and women, the IDF's statement that 'the civilian population is not the target' is not sufficient." It's also untrue. "The ongoing, unlawful attacks on the civilian population" have no legal or moral justification and must stop. Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) On A "Not So Happy Hanukah" Instead of joy at this time of year, RHR reflects on a "dark world. Today, the world feels dark with hundreds of people dying and many more being injured in Gaza." RHR calls for an end to the fighting and for both sides to stop harming civilians at a time of "The madness of dreaming for a better world" and so few prospects of it in sight. RHR's statement is welcome, but it's far too weak to be effective. The Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA) Condemnation of Israel's Lawless Bombardment of Civilians "The large number of dead and wounded and the timing of the bombardment clearly indicate that civilians (including police sites) were targeted with the aim of inflicting the largest number of casualties; this is a grave breach of (Article 147) of the Fourth Geneva and therefore a War Crime." The ongoing siege, collective punishment, and destruction of civilian facilities (including mosques, educational and medical sites) "constitutes another crime against" 1.5 million Gazans "who are living in an atmosphere of continued terror and intimidation." HRA also condemns world silence in spite of repeated calls for help. "This silence was tantamount to a green light for Israel to escalate its siege, topped with the barbaric bombardment of the Gaza Strip and its people," including willfully against civilians. Amnesty International USA (AI) Often reluctant to confront the powerful, AI this time is outspoken, if imperfect, in these comments: "The US government cannot continue this lop-sided blame on Hamas for the crisis. Ask Secretary Rice to urgently express deep concern about Israel's disproportional response and its policies which have brought the Gaza Strip to the brink of humanitarian disaster. Civilians in Gaza, already trapped in disgraceful humanitarian conditions, are victims of Israeli air strikes and attacks. Israeli blockades of humanitarian supplies continue to deny Palestinians the food and medical supplies they desperately need." Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East Their January 2 email announced weekend protests across Canada - in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor, Winnepeg and Vancouver, and very likely other cities will have their own. Israel ignited the world with virtually every corner resonating fury. James Petras on Gaza In his latest article, "The Politics of An Israeli Extermination Campaign," Petras explains that Israel "sealed off all access to Gaza and declared it a military, free fire zone, (targeting) the entire population" in gross violation of international laws it disdains and repeatedly violates. Petras quotes Israeli military officials saying "...we are trying to hit the whole spectrum (Hamas' 'vast support network'), because everything is connected and everything supports terrorism against Israel." A top secret police official said: "Hamas civilian infrastructure is a very sensitive target," and as Petras explains: What Israeli officials and IDF call Hamas "is the entire social service network, the entire government and the vast majority of economic activity, embracing almost the entire 1.5 million imprisoned residents of Gaza,(everyone)" now more than ever united under Hamas against Israel, the West, America, and complicit Arab leaders who abandoned them for their own political self interest. All the more reason for Petras to quote an IDF spokesman saying: "Hamas has used ostensibly civilian operations as a cover for military activities. Anything affiliated with Hamas is a legitimate target," including women, men in mosques praying, and young children going and coming from school. Michel Chossudovsky on "Operation Cast Lead" Chossudovsky calls it "part of a broader military-intelligence agenda first formulated by the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2001." It aims to produce a "planned humanitarian disaster." Military targets are secondary. The main goal is inflicting mass civilian casualties and terror - to weaken resistance, increase control, and encourage emigration. "Key events" preceded the Gaza attack: -- assassinating Yasser Arafat in November 2004 (see January 3, 2007 article - http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=4309 -- "disengaging" from Gaza; resettling Jews in the West Bank under the pretense of Washington's "Road Map" and turning Gaza into a "concentration camp;" -- building the Separation Wall that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled illegal in July 2004 and called for its dismantling; it's now nearly completed on seized Palestinian land; and -- the preordained 2006 Hamas election made possible by Arafat's death; in January 1995, the State Department declared it a Foreign Terrorist Organization; with that for cover, Israel planned West Bank "cantonization." The January 3 ground attack aims to implement the 2001 "Operation Justified Vengeance" known as the(Meir) "Dagan Plan" after retired general and current Mossad head; its goal is "destroying the infrastructure of the Palestinian leadership and collecting weaponry (of) various Palestinian forces and expelling or killing its military leadership" - in other words, rendering all Gaza opposition impotent, maintaining a docile Fatah in the West Bank, and possibly in collaboration with Washington "triggering a wider war." Protests by US Human Rights Groups and Activists Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights lists upcoming protests and events about Gaza on its web site - in America and globally along with reports on and opinions about the ongoing conflict. Currently it features "Obama's deadly silence, The real goal of the slaughter in Gaza, Is the UN complicit in Israel's massacre in Gaza?" (by its false civilian casualty reports and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's failure to denounce Israel's war crimes), and much more. United for Peace and Justice demands "Action to Protest Israeli Attack on Gaza." It urges people to get engaged, join with others, protest to the White House, the State Department, members of Congress, the local media, and organize or join local protests. The greater the national groundswell the stronger the message to Tel Aviv and Washington that world opinion condemns them. But it's not enough to stop them. The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is on this as well. It's unequivocal in saying: "Make no mistake about it - Israel's war and siege on the Gaza Strip would not be possible without the jets, helicopters, ships, missiles, and fuel provided by the United States" plus billions of dollars in annual aid and whatever else Israel requests for war, occupation and expanding its illegal settlements. The Campaign maintains a list of US protests nationwide (under "Emergency Gaza Protest/Vigil/March). So far over 100 have been held in about 65 cities in at least 30 states and more are being planned. It urges everyone "to continue to organize protests in your community" and spread the word to others. American Zionist Collaborators with Israeli Aggression and War Crimes The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (PMAJO) is "the central coordinating body for American Jewry, representing 50 national Jewish (organizations, including AIPAC) across" the country. Its purpose is to: -- "strengthen and foster the special US - Israeli relationship; -- ensure that Israel's interests (come first for) policy makers" and US public opinion;" and -- "address critical foreign policy issues that impact (Israel and) the American Jewish community." On December 27, it voiced strong support for Israel "and its decision to defend its people against terrorism through the" terror bombing of Gaza. "The government and people of Israel have shown unprecedented restraint in the face of unyielding attacks with missiles and mortars fired on civilian targets by Hamas and other terrorist organizations" whose clear goal "is the destruction of Israel....We hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal of violence." PMAJO urges Israel and America to take all measures against Hamas - regardless of the human toll, the rule of law, world public opinion, and other quaint and old-fashioned ways of thinking. The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA - founded in 1897) "is the only organization that documents and exposes Palestinian Arab violations of the Road Map plan (and) leads efforts on behalf of American victims of Palestinian Arab terrorism." It says it's "Always on the front lines of pro-Israeli activism" even at the expense of human rights and equal justice for Arabs as well as peace and conciliation in the Middle East. On December 31, it, too, voiced strong support for Israel's military attack and for the Bush administration's support. As expected, it cited "Hamas' culpability as an aggressor and terrorist organization" and for ending the ceasefire in November. It falsely accused it of firing rockets throughout the truce period and now "has shown its true colors" by stepping up violence and "refus(ing) to recognize Israel's right to exist." It supports Israel's right "to make a sustained assault on the Hamas infrastructure and reoccupy at least certain parts of Gaza, at least in the short to medium term." It "trust(s) the Administration will" continue to support Israel in its effort, regardless of the cost in human lives that, of course, means Arab ones. Before the January 3 invasion, only four Jewish ones were lost. Fighting on the ground will likely produce many more on both sides, mostly affecting Gazans. "Israel's Policy Is Perfectly Proportionate" - Alan Dershowitz Harvard Law professor Dershowitz defends the indefensible as a notorious pro-Israeli flack. He contends that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) applies to the rest of the world, not Israel. He calls their justices bigots and shameless mouthpieces for their governments. He opposes the death penalty but supports targeted assassinations, mass slaughter of civilians and torture. He twists legal meanings to defend Israel and America's imperial agenda. He teaches this ideology to his students. In a January 2 Wall Street Journal op-ed, Dershowitz is vintage Dershowitz saying "Hamas are the real criminals in this conflict, Israel's actions in Gaza are justified under international law, and Israel should be commended for its self-defense against terrorism." In reinterpreting international law, he cites Article 51 of the UN Charter and justifies it on the grounds of "proportionality." It authorizes self-defense, never preemptive aggression of the kind Israel repeatedly unleashed since its "War of Independence" slaughtered and displaced 800,000 Palestinians from their homes and land and established the Jewish State. Dershowitz accuses Hamas of the usual charges of terrorism, rocket firings, deliberately targeting civilians, using human shields for protection, and seeking Israel's destruction. "Despicable tactics" he says plus "the claim that Israel violated the principle of proportionality - by killing more Hamas terrorists than the number of Israeli civilians by Hamas rockets - is absurd." Then a Dershowitz-style international law lesson - the kind he teaches in class: "First, there is no legal equivalence between the deliberate killing of innocent civilians and the deliberate killing of Hamas combatants (never mind that most so-called "combatants" are civilian men, woman and children unconnected to Hamas resistance fighters). Under the laws of war, any number of combatants can be killed to prevent the killing of even one innocent civilian" - but no civilians called combatants. International laws protect them, and violations are war crimes that Dershowitz calls permissible. "Second, proportionality is not measured by the number of civilians actually killed, but rather by the risk posed. Under international law, Israel is not required to allow Hamas to play Russian roulette with its childrens' lives." As Dershowitz knows, Hamas never preemptively attacks anyone and only responds in self-defense when attacked as international law allows. It's conciliatory, seeks peace, and clearly states its willingness to recognize Israel in return for a Palestinian state inside pre-1967 borders - a mere 22% of its original homeland. Dershowitz won't mention this or admit to 41 years of an oppressive occupation, Israel's disdain for international law, its Basic Law protections for Jews only, its Arab citizens treated like criminals, a fifth column, and that torture is official policy. Instead he says "Israel is acting in self-defense and out of military necessity - the conflict will continue." So will the slaughter of civilian men, woman, and children Dershowitz calls "terrorists." Finkelstein on Dershowitz Norman Finkelstein nailed him in the title of his 2005 book, "Beyond Chutzpah," in which he deconstructs his mendacity and plagiarism in his 2003 book, "The Case for Israel." He's also an apologist for its most outrageous crimes, and "in recent years has used the 'war on terrorism' as a springboard for a full frontal assault on" international law. According to Dershowitz, "international law, and those who administer it, must understand that the old rules" no longer apply against a ruthless and fanatical foe, and that "the laws of war and the rules of morality must adapt to these (new) realities." That includes preemptive war, torture, targeted killings, and all else in the name of national security. For Finkelstein, Dershowitz invokes the notion that "no one law governs all things. (Thus) preventive war might be illegitimate for all other States (but) it remains a legitimate option for Israel" - because the UN is biased against it. "Accordingly, unlike all other States, Israel cannot be held accountable to international law or, put otherwise, international law might apply to everyone else but (not) to Israel." Presumably not to America either as Dershowitz supported the Iraq and Afghan wars, a preemptive one on Iran if planned, the use of torture, targeted assassinations, and Washington's "war on terror." Finkelstein sums him up this way: "After all the hard-won gains of civilization, who would want to live in a world that once again legally sanctioned torture, collective punishment, assassinations and mass murder? As Dershowitz descends into barbarism, (it's to be hoped) that few seem inclined to join him." Francis Boyle on Dershowitz and Like-Minded Law Professors at "Harvard's Gitmo Kangaroo Law School - The School for Torturers" University of Illinois law professor and international law expert Francis Boyle holds five Harvard Law professors culpable. He names them, and Dershowitz makes the list. He calls him "infamous (and) a self-incriminating war criminal." Dershowitz "publicly acknowledged being a member of a Mossad Committee for approving the murder and assassination of Palestinians, which violates the Geneva Conventions and is thus a grave war crime." It's also in violation of the US War Crimes Act that defines these crimes as "grave breach(es) of the Geneva Conventions" subject to life imprisonment or death in cases of multiple killings. In addition, Dershowitz supports Guantanamo's "Kangaroo (Military Commission) Court System despite it having been denounced by every human rights organization, official and leader "in the entire world as well as by the United States Supreme Court in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (2006)." He and others of the "Harvard Five" demean the rule of law, and as Boyle puts it: "The Harvard Law School Faculty and Deans are no longer fit to educate lawyers, Members of the Bar, and Officers of the Court. They are a sick joke and a demented fraud....Harvard is to Law School as Torture is to Law." Its Faculty and Deans "torture the law. Do not send your children or students to Harvard Law School (or allow them in Dershowitz's classes) where they will grow up to become racist war criminals. Harvard Law School is a Neo-Con cesspool....for the most part its Faculty and Deans have always been viscerally bigoted and racist against Muslims/Arabs/Asians and other People of Color since at least" 1971 when Boyle was there. Boyle on the Gaza Attack He once represented Palestinians as their legal advisor. On January 4, he called for "A World Court lawsuit against Israel for genocide; reconvening the Emergency Special Session for Palestine by the UN General Assembly under the Uniting for Peace Resolution (377); comprehensive economic and other sanctions against Israel; and the suspension of Israel from all UN General Assembly activities" as it's empowered to do. The Emergency Special Session for Palestine was first convened in 1997 and officially remains 'adjourned.' " Haaretz, January 3: Israel's Ground Operation Begins IDF Major Avital Leibovitch announced it. Israeli television showed columns of tanks on the move. Heavy artillery shelling preceded them, and reports are that the cabinet authorized an emergency call-up of thousands of reservists - mostly combat units but also the Home Front Command. Defense officials said 10,000 troops were massed on Gaza's border, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery, bulldozers, and special operations units, but left unclear how many entered the Territory. Meanwhile, terror-bombings continue, including on the main road connecting one side of Gaza to the other, and Palestinian eyewitnesses said large force contingents have invaded. News reports confirm it and fighting on the ground. US Again Blocks Security Council Action for An Immediate Halt to Israel's Aggression For decades, America used its Security Council veto to block resolutions against Israel from passing. On December 28, it vetoed one to end IDF attacks, and on January 3, the pattern repeated. Closed-door consultations failed to draft a statement (not a resolution) calling for an immediate ceasefire. US deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff called it "inappropriate" at this time so Israeli terror bombing and ground operations can continue. Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum accused Washington and the Security Council of complicity with Israel's aggression. It continues unabated. Israel Bars the ICRC and Foreign Journalists from Gaza The ICRC medical team notified Israel in advance of its arrival and issued a statement saying: "It is absolutely essential that this team get into Gaza now, as this is when they are most needed." So far, Israel bars it from entering. It also defies its own Supreme Court ruling to let a limited number of reporters into the Territory. The ban has been in place since November 5 but was tightened ahead of the December 27 attack. The Foreign Press Association called on Israel "to immediately honor the will of the court and allow foreign journalists access to Gaza." The IDF refuses to comply. A Final Comment Terror bombings persist - over 700 sorties plus artillery and tank fire as well as naval vessels shelling the coastline. Confirmed deaths exceed 500 with well over 2500 injured. A ground invasion is underway. Casualties continue to mount. Partial occupation as well. Gazan society has collapsed. The Health Ministry has "zero medical supplies," according to Dr. Mo'oawiah Hassunin, Head of the Palestinian Ambulance and Emergency Services. What arrived earlier was used in a matter of hours. Streets are empty. Most shops and businesses are closed. Only a few food stores are open. Fear grips everyone. Most government buildings have been destroyed. Few essential-to-life supplies are available, and only the bravest venture out to find them. In his weekly radio address, George Bush blamed the victims, not the aggressor. Obama was conspicuously silent on vacation in Hawaii. UN reports are that Gaza is in significant deterioration with 80% or more of the population unable to cope. The Al Astal family buried its three children, killed on January 2. Other families grieve for their own. On January 3, the American International School, north of Gaza City, was shelled. Docked fishing boats as well and neighborhoods throughout the Strip. Israeli soldiers attacked Nil'in village West Bank protesters, firing tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds. Other clashes continue between youths and the IDF. No end of fighting is in sight as Washington blocked diplomatic efforts to end it much as it did during Israel's 33-day summer 2006 Lebanon assault that killed around 1300, injured many more, and caused vast destruction in Beirut, the country's south, and other chosen sites. Palestinians bury their dead. Parents mourn for their children, husbands for their wives, wives for their husbands, and even AP admitted that with a million and a half tightly packed Gazans in 140 square miles "most shelling is occurring in residential areas" meaning most deaths are civilians. For Amir Oren, in a January 3 Haaretz op-ed, "Israel must prepare to turn its military might from Gaza to Iran." The IDF "must move quickly (after Gaza to direct) its attention for the paramount task of preparing a military blow to Iran, if diplomacy and deterrence fail." Hamas in strength or weakness "is still easier to digest than enriched uranium." Perhaps Oren is of the Benny Morris school advocating nuclear genocide as he did in a July New York Times op-ed. Lebanon 2006, the West Bank under military occupation, Gaza under terror bombings, Iran maybe next, and what further to prove Israel the toughest bully in the neighborhood. In partnership with Washington under Democrats and Republicans, who can dispute it? Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen at sbcglobal.net. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Raid-Gaza-Protests-Israeli-Assault-Against-Palestinian-Civilians-101484.shtml Raid Gaza! Protests Israeli Assault Against Palestinian Civilians Can gaming be political? By Andrei Dumitrescu, Games Editor 8th of January 2009, 21:46 GMT Adjust text size: An anonymous user has created a game called Raid Gaza!, playable on the Newsgrounds portal, that acts as a commentary on the situation in the Middle East - the conflict between the Palestinian Hamas terrorist organization and the Israeli Defense Forces. The 12 day offensive has until now resulted in significant victims amongst the civilian population and cease fire efforts are now being made to stop the fighting. Raid Gaza! is pretty simplistic as far as videogames go. But the fact that it was released on December 30, 2008 means that it was very quickly developed and opens the possibility that videogaming can be used as a powerful tool to make clear political statements. After playing no more than ten minutes of Raid Gaza!, any player can see that there's a clear political view point behind the action. The game presents itself as a real time strategy where the task is to kill as many Palestinians in a three minute period and is illustrated by a comment by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert regarding ?reducing? the number of residents in the Gaza strip. The player can build a variety of military hardware and some buildings, like headquarters, that can be used to assault Gaza. There's a lot of irony in the fact that hitting civilian targets brings players extra points and in the fact that any request of aid from the Israeli side is immediately granted. Unfortunately, the game fails as a statement because it is completely one sided. It can fuel the anger of those who already believe that the Palestinian side is right and the Israelis are wrong for attacking them. But it does not inform or teach about the situation, presenting the history of the area and that of the conflict. After all, even those so called mindless first person shooters like Gears of War 2 or Resistance 2 provide the player with a history of the in game universe. If Raid Gaza! manages to do this, it could be a little more than a simple political statement. http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2009/01/israel-attack-o.html January 07, 2009 Disputed Territory: War in Gaza Provokes Protest (And Conversation) In Second Life Israel Protesters continue convening in SL Israel today In Second Life there is a new Israel, appropriately called SL Israel, which recreates in virtual form aspects of the country, from religious landmarks of Jerusalem such as the Temple Mount, to tourist sites of Tel Aviv. Last week when Israel began launching guided missiles at Hamas targets in Palestine, however, SL Israel became a flashpoint of another kind. As the airstrikes pounded Gaza, so did protesters, teleporting into SL Israel, waving flags. "Lots of people yelling," Beth Odets tells me. "They were going on and on with slurring obscenities about murderous Israeli forces, etc." She gives me a screenshot taken during the incursion, festooned with anti-war or pro-Palestinian signs, some depicting dead Arab children. Ms. Odets helped create SL Israel, so she maintains land permissions to the region. She began ejecting the most obstreperous protesters. "I had to be careful not to boot people who didn't actually do anything wrong," as she puts it. But the protesters kept coming, and eventually she felt forced to close all of SL Israel to outsiders. "Just shut it down for a little while. Just to make it stop. 'Cause people weren't wanting to be logical, or talk." The protesters keep arriving, however. On a brief visit to SL Israel late last night, for example, I found a half-dozen members of something called "Second Life International Socialists", brandishing placards and chattering in front of a lone avatar wearing a yarmaluke. In SL Israel, this was not the full extent of the reaction to the ongoing war in Gaza, however. "Later came people who were wanting to really talk," Beth adds, "like the ones here." She teleports me over, so I can see for myself. Which is how I found myself on the shoreline of SL Israel, amid an impromptu colloquium between a pro-Palestinian Muslim in a kaffiyeh, and avatar dressed as an IDF soldier, three Jewish women, and, of course, a talking rabbit. Along with the Arab headscarf, Clip Chau wears a "Free Palestine" T-Shirt, and when I arrive, he is talking on the boardwalk with a brunette named TamaraEden Zinnemann. "... and I was the only Muslim in the class and she was the only Jew so whenever Israel and Palestine came up, you know what happened," Chau tells her. "She was a great teacher. Never biased, and she understood Palestinian pain. I think she was a huge reason behind me starting to even consider talking to Jewish people. Before that it was a no go area for me, it was a birth hatred, I guess." As it turns out, Ms. Zinnemann is also a teacher in real life: "I am very cautious when my kids ask me 'Jewish' or Political questions," she tells Chau. "I like to tell them when they want my opinion that my job, as their teacher, is to help them make up their own minds." I mostly listen from the sidelines, but TamaraEden Zinnemann looks up. "Hamlet, please write that I'm an American Jew. Clip is a Canadian Muslim, and we are having a great time sharing our commonalities. I'm serious." I tell her that I will. Someone small at our feet pipes up. "Write that I'm a bunny, OK?" Shmoo Snook demands. I assent to that as well. "And cute, too!" he adds. That duly noted, the bunny proceeds to talk about the photos he saw of IDF rescuing Palestinians from a collapsed tunnel, and complain about the Bush Adminstration. http://eurekadejavu.blogspot.com/2008/12/dozens-gather-in-second-life-to-protest.html Monday, December 29, 2008 Dozens Gather in Second Life to Protest Gaza Attacks Dozens of people have been gathering since Saturday in Second Life at a protest of the recent attacks in the Gaza Strip. The Egypt and Qatar-based news site, IslamOnline.net, has built a Palestine Holocaust Memorial Museum with scores of pictures of the attacks and people wounded in the attacks drawn news sources around the world. The museum was previously named the Gaza Holocaust Museum, about which we blogged in March 2008. Those who identified themselves who attended the gathering were mostly in Egypt, but also included people in Morocco, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, France and the United States. The gathering is an example of the rich, textured opportunity that 3D immersive spaces like Second Life offer for people to express their concerns about present day issues. Breathe Swindlehurst from IslamOnline.net offered these words to the attendees: This is a statement for all the children who died in Palestine. Regardless of our political opinions, I'm sure we all agree that we don't want those children dying. There is no place here for arguments on which country is helping or which country is harming. Lets just agree that we want to send out a unified message to the whole world through SL that we are against what is happening here, and lets show them the pics of everything happening so the world knows the disaster from our side. http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/884?ref=rss Army, NATO sites defaced by Mideast protesters Published: 2009-01-09 Two high-profile Web sites ? the U.S. Army's public-facing site for the Military District of Washington and the NATO Parliament's site ? joined on Thursday the hundreds of online targets defaced by vandals protesting Israel's military action in Gaza. The defacements contain messages in Turkish supporting the intifada, typically translated as the uprising against the Israeli government by the Palestinians, and critical of Israel, the United States, and Britain, according to defacement follower Zone-H. The attack is the latest defacement since the end of December, when Israel began attacking sites in Gaza following rocket launches from the territory. While some evidence of network attacks have been detected, there are no widespread denial-of-service attacks similar to the online conflict between Palestinian and Israeli hackers in 2000 or the more recent attacks on Georgia and Estonia by Russian patriots, said Jose Nazario, security-research manager at Arbor Networks. "This is nothing on the scale of Georgia or even more recently with the (online) attacks on Kasparov," Nazario said. "These efforts appear to be loosely coordinated, but not on the scale that we have seen before." The defacements came two weeks into the war between Israel and militants in Gaza. Israeli military forces bombed targets in the territory after rockets were fired into Israel from the Palestinian holding. The death toll neared 800 on Friday, but both sides dismissed calls from the United Nations to halt operations, according to the New York Times. Last week, several sources reported that thousands of Web sites may have been defaced by Palestinian sympathizers. In addition, a group of Israeli students had urged the nation's supporters to download software to turn their computer into a botnet node which could be then used to attack Palestinian sites, but security experts questioned whether the software is actually a Trojan horse. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416253.html redhack team attacks 16 israeli websites in protest at israeli war crimes rednblack unity | 29.12.2008 00:18 | Palestine a group of turkish militant hackers known as the red hack team have launched a cyber attack on israeli sites as a protest against the israeli attacks against the people of gaza. the sites have been hacked with a militant anti-israel, anti-U$ slogan in english and in turkish as well as militant images and a video. the message on the targetted sites read as follows : ISRAEL, now you are doing the same genocide to palestine that Hitler has done to you.You killed the 230 innocent civil people. Do you think that you won't pay for this? One day all peoples of world will wake up and when they wake up they will destroy your state and the USA ,you trusted, on your heads which you built upon blood and betrayal . you, the zionist state, will pay for this sooner or later ! People of israel, stop your states fascism ! do something about your Palestinians brothers Israelis and Palestinians are brothers, The murderer is zionist Israel and the USA, Down with fascism, down with zionism Long live peoples of world resistance Long live communism Long live RED HACK Real hack is the hack which is for the world's people We are disaster for the rich here are links to the sites hacked so you can see for yourself what occurred, followed a mirror of the site targeteted should it be repaired. http://cpm-israel.com/ mirror : http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462482/ http://israel.elisegal.co.il/ mirror : http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462529/ http://guetta.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462437/ http://news.z10.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462552/ http://israel.z10.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462552/ http://salom.elisegal.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462531/ http://roymusic.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462508/ http://z10.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462503/ http://bromide.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462492/ http://nevehagar.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462485/ http://kmisgav.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462462/ http://orit-signon.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462453/ http://ninnun.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462454/ http://food4pets.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462435/ http://artzieli.co.il/ http://zone-h.org/component/option,com_mirrorwrp/Itemid,160/id,8462436/ rednblack unity From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 19:53:03 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:53:03 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] GAZA PROTESTS - the Muslim world Message-ID: <4AECF80F.2050604@tesco.net> * Roundups of protests throughout the Muslim world * IRAN: Protesters storm British embassy * IRAN: Benetton store torched in Gaza protest * PAKISTAN: Karachi - US consulate attacked * YEMEN: Egyptian consulate stormed by protesters * YEMEN: Tens of thousands in mass protests * EGYPT: Protesters battle police near summit * EGYPT: As crisis escalates, protest and civil disobedience spread * EGYPT: Rallies for Gaza; repression by police * TURKEY: Protests shut down Israel basketball game * TURKEY: Thousands join nationwide protests * INDONESIA: Protesters storm KFC over Gaza * LEBANON: Protesters march on US embassy * LEBANON: Protesters burn tyres, target Egyptian embassy * IRAN: Gaza protesters fight police at Jordanian embassy * IRAN: Strikes, rallies against Gaza onslaught; students, Iranian Jews protest * IRAQ: Sunni party, Sadrists, workers stage protests * SOMALIA: Thousands march in Mogadishu * BANGLADESH: Islamist groups, university students lead protests * UAE: Protests in Dubai, Abu Dhabi * SAUDI ARABIA: Police attack hundreds-strong protest in Eastern Province * SAUDI ARABIA: Two arrested for attempting protest in Riyadh * SUDAN: Tens of thousands march for Gaza * AFGHANISTAN: Hundreds in Kandahar protest target Israel, NATO * SYRIA: Hundreds of thousands rally * LEBANON: Protest at UN building * ALGERIA: Dozens injured as police attack Gaza protest * KUWAIT: Anti-Israel protest * BAHRAIN: Angry protest, clashes * MOROCCO: Tens of thousands march * JORDAN: More than 600 protests organised * JORDAN: Thousands march, some fight police near Israeli embassy * JORDAN: Protesters urge boycott of Israeli, US goods * PAKISTAN: Nationwide protests reach Islamabad, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore; Karachi protesters teargassed * MALAYSIA: Youth group launches petition * MALAYSIA: Thousands march to US embassy, hundreds rally throughout capital * MALAYSIA: Police arrest protesters at candlelit vigil * MALAYSIA: Protest in Penang * MALAYSIA: Ministry plans huge schools protest * TUNISIA: Thousands protest * INDONESIA: Tens of thousands protest * INDONESIA: Protests in Jakarta, Banteng, Bali, Malang, Bandung, Medan * INDONESIA: Surabaya synagogue sealed off due to protests * INDONESIA: Women rally at Egyptian embassy http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/28/arab.reaction.gaza/index.html December 28, 2008 -- Updated 0200 GMT (1000 HKT) Arabs protest their governments' reaction to Gaza attacks ? Story Highlights ? In Yemen, thousands of people demonstrate in capital city of Sanaa ? Citizens of Sudan also protest Israeli airstrikes in Gaza ? Students at University of Qatar boycott their classes in support of Gaza ? Some Arabs blame Egypt, saying it's too cozy with Israel and the United States (CNN) -- The dramatic developments in Gaza over the past three days have driven Arab citizens to the streets, where they have displayed anger directed first and foremost at their own governments. A Yemeni protester rips through an Israeli flag in the capital, Sanaa, on Sunday, December 28 In Yemen, thousands of demonstrators gathered in the capital, Sanaa, shouting slogans in support of Gaza and its residents and burning Israeli and U.S. flags. They cried out against the League of Arab States, which delayed discussion on the crisis. One demonstrator told the Al-Jazeera network, "The Arab League is worthless. ... They're all worthless leaders, and they should all go home." Al-Jazeera is based in Doha, Qatar. Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Gaza for three days, in what they say is retaliation for repeated rocket attacks into southern Israel by Hamas. Hundreds of people have died, mostly Hamas militants, according to Palestinian security forces. In Sudan, the scene was similar. A woman wearing a Hamas banner around her forehead told Al-Manar TV, "Where are the Arab leaders? Where are their actions? Enough condemnation and finger-pointing. Show Gaza your support." Students at the University of Qatar boycotted their classes and demonstrated their support for Gaza. Watch a report from CNN's Octavia Nasr ? One student spoke about what he saw as his moral responsibility: "Our ancestors claimed that the news about the Palestinian disaster reached them late in 1948. We have a responsibility to our children and the future generations. We can't tell them we heard about the Gaza disaster of 2008 but didn't do anything." Don't Miss ? Airstrikes continue to hit Gaza ? Humanitarian plight 'disastrous,' U.N. official says ? Calls grow around the world for calm Jordan's parliament held a special session in solidarity with Gaza. But one parliamentarian defied the speaker's orders and burned the Israeli flag before stepping on it in the middle of applause from some of his colleagues. The images played repeatedly on Arab media. Egypt has been the recipient of much criticism in this crisis. Hamas supporters say Egypt has sold the Palestinians out by being too close and friendly with Israel and the United States. From Egypt, political analysts retaliated, blaming Hamas for ending the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, thus inviting the Israeli airstrikes. One expert speaking to the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya blamed Hamas for "presenting Gazans on a silver plate to the Israeli monster." He then blamed Syria and Iran for not taking military action to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/mhsncwkfqlsn/rss2/ Arab world protests over Gaza attacks 28/12/2008 - 12:04:20 Crowds of thousands swept into the streets of cities around the Middle East today to protest against Israel?s air assault on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. From Lebanon to Iran, Israel?s adversaries used the weekend assault to marshal crowds out onto the streets for noisy demonstrations. The protests were free of violence except for one in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul that became a target for a suicide bomber on a bicycle. In Lebanon, a Hamas official roused a crowd of about 1,000 people topped by fluttering Lebanese and Palestinian flags, promising victory, resistance and ruling out surrender. His speech was met with cries of ?death to Israel? from the crowd. The demonstrators gathered outside the United Nations office in central Beirut. After an all-night emergency session in New York, the UN?s Security Council expressed serious concern at the escalating situation in Gaza and called on Israel and the Palestinians to immediately halt all violence. The world body?s Beirut offices were guarded by dozens of Lebanese troops, but there was no violence. Hamas representative Osama Hamdan told the crowd that the militant group had no choice but to fight. Gaza militants have been lobbing dozens of rockets and mortars into southern Israel since a six-month truce expired over a week ago, prompting Israel?s fierce retaliation. ?We in the Hamas group and other resistance factions in Gaza know that we don?t have many alternatives. We have one alternative which is to be steadfast and resist and then we will be victorious,? Mr Hamdan said. Mr Hamdan, who was surrounded by several bodyguards, added, ?We are not people who surrender. ... When this aggression ends, the victory will be ours.? In the capital of neighbouring Syria, more than 5,000 people marched toward the central Youssef al-Azmeh square, where they burned an Israeli and an American flag. One demonstrator carried a banner reading, ?The aggression against Gaza is an aggression against the whole Arab nation.? ?Down with America, the mother of terrorism,? read another. In Jordan, where crowds took to the streets on Saturday, the US Embassy issued an advisory warning Americans to avoid areas of demonstrations. Iran?s president, who has blasted Israel in speeches and said it should be ?wiped off the map,? joined those condemning the Israeli strikes, calling them ?criminal?. A state TV report late on Saturday quoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying Iran will stand by the Palestinians. Iran?s Foreign Ministry called the attack ?genocide? and asked international bodies to defend the Palestinians. Several hundred Iranian students and MPs held separate protests today at a Tehran square and outside the UN building in the capital. Iran?s Red Crescent Society is also planning to send a ship loaded with medicine, food and clothing to Gaza. In the normally politically placid streets of glitzy Dubai, hundreds of demonstrators ? some draped in Palestinian flags ? gathered at the Palestinian consulate. Police prevented several attempts by protesters to move their demonstration from inside the consulate perimeter to the streets outside. Majdei Mansour, 30, said he came to show support for his fellow countrymen. The Dubai resident has family still living in Gaza but said he?s been unable to contact them since the latest fighting. ?These protests all over the world will call international attention to the cause of Gaza,? Mr Mansour said. ?This is a time for the Palestinians and Arabs to unite to fight against a common enemy.? Demonstrations are rare in Dubai, one of seven states that make up the United Arab Emirates. The country does not have official diplomatic relations with Israel. In Iraq, a suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up amid a crowd of about 1,300 demonstrators in Mosul who were protesting against Israel?s airstrikes on Gaza, killing one demonstrator and wounding 16 others, Iraqi police said. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack. Iraq?s government also condemned the airstrikes on Gaza. Iraq?s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, said condemnation didn?t go far enough. ?Expressing condemnation and denunciation for what is going on against our brothers in Gaza and expressing solidarity with them by words only doesn?t mean anything in the face of the big tragedy they are facing,? he said in a statement released by office in Najaf. ?Now more than at any other time, both Arab and Islamic nations are required to take a practical stance for the sake of stopping this repeated aggression and to break the unfair besieging of these brave people,? the statement said, without giving details of the proposed stance. About 100 people took to the streets in Baghdad?s largest Palestinian neighbourhood to protest the attacks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/29/israel-attacks-middle-reaction Thousands of protesters in streets ? John Jordan, Associated Press ? The Guardian, Monday 29 December 2008 Thousands swept into the streets of cities throughout the Middle East yesterday to denounce Israel's air strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Several of the protests turned violent. A crowd of anti-Israel protesters in Mosul, Iraq, became the target of a suicide bomber. In Lebanon, police fired tear gas to stop dozens of demonstrators from reaching the Egyptian embassy. Egypt - which has served as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians as well as between Hamas and its rival, Fatah - has been criticised for closing its borders with Gaza. Egypt's foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, called on Hamas to renew its truce with Israel: "There has been a calm and we should work to restore it." In Amman, Jordan, about 5,000 lawyers marched toward parliament to demand the Israeli ambassador's expulsion. Israel was also criticised by its regional allies. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister of Turkey, one of the few countries in the region to have relations with Israel, called the Gaza bombardment a "crime against humanity". Syria yesterday announced the suspension of its indirect peace talks with Israel after the attacks. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that "Israel's aggression closes all the doors" to a peace deal in the region. Israel and Syria held four rounds of indirect negotiations in Turkey after the peace talks were launched in May. The talks have not been convened since the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, announced he would step down earlier this year. France also called for the truce to be renewed and called on other European countries to use "all their weight" to stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas. "The truce must be restored," France's foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, told a French newspaper. He added that the attacks come "in a context of vacancy of power in Israel and the US", as both countries were undergoing leadership transitions. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123051201513538497.html?mod=fox_australian ? DECEMBER 29, 2008 Attacks on Gaza Spur Anti-Israel Protests Across Region By FARNAZ FASSIHI BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Widespread demonstrations erupted across the Middle East, from Tehran to Beirut, in response to Israel's second day of bombing against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparking worry over wider regional unrest. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious directive, or fatwa, calling on Muslims to stand up and defend Palestinians against Israel. Though Mr. Khamenei didn't spell out exactly what he intended, his comments were seized upon in Iran as the latest rallying cry against Israel. Getty Images A Jordanian student shouts anti-Israel slogans during a demonstration in Amman on Sunday against Israel's deadly raids on the Gaza Strip. An Iranian lawmaker, Ali Motahari, told Iran's state news agency IRNA that it was time for Iran and other Arab nations to go to war with Israel. Over the weekend, images of bloody and maimed victims of the attacks plastered front pages of newspapers and played across Arab satellite channels. Demonstrations against the attacks were staged in Arab capitals, including Beirut and Amman, Jordan. Protests turned violent in the Palestinian enclave of the West Bank. "I am very upset with what is happening in Gaza. The Israelis have no justification to kill people," said Aziza Sakr, a Lebanese lawyer. In Damascus, Syria, more than 5,000 people took to the streets burning Israeli and American flags. In Jordan, protesters called for the deportation of Israel's ambassador. In Iran, students staged protests at universities. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood accused Arab leaders, particularly those with close ties to the U.S., of being culpable in Israel's attacks on Gaza. A crowd of 1,000 protesters gathered outside the office of the United Nations in downtown Beirut, chanting "Death to Israel" and waving Palestinian flags. Tensions were especially high in Lebanon, where the Shiite political and militant group Hezbollah fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006. Rocket Attacks Plague Gaza Strip 1:47 More than 300 people have been killed in three days of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip. Israel declared areas around the Gaza strip a "closed military zone," citing the risk from retaliatory Palestinian rocket fire. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah criticized other Arab leaders for failing to show solidarity with Palestinians and warned that Israel may use the standoff with Hamas as an excuse to attack Lebanon. "We are not afraid. We are ready to face any aggression against our territory and dignity," Mr. Nasrallah said. He called for protests Monday in Beirut's Shiite suburb of Dahiyeh and across the Arab world. Lebanon canceled leave for its troops. The state news agency reported that at least five Israeli warplanes flew low over south Lebanon on Sunday. Analysts in Beirut said Hezbollah is unlikely to initiate an attack on Israel and drag Lebanon into another war, but they say that rogue militant groups, some from among extremists in the Palestinian camps in the country, might try to launch an attack from Lebanese territories into northern Israel. ?Nada Raad contributed to this article. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,474204,00.html Pro-Gaza Protestors Charge Egypt With Collaborating in Israeli Assault Tuesday, December 30, 2008 | FoxNews.com AP Dec. 30: Seen through a shooting hole of an Israeli army post, Palestinian youths hurl stones at Israeli soldiers. The Israeli bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip has unleashed outrage across the Middle East ? but the anger is being vented as much against Egypt as it is at Israel. Protesters have attacked Egyptian embassies, accusing Cairo of helping Israel's longtime blockade of the territory and even giving a green light for the offensive ? a sign of the gulf between an Arab public and some U.S.-allied governments that dislike Gaza's Hamas rulers. Demonstrators broke into the Egyptian consulate in the Yemeni city of Aden on Tuesday, trashing the interior, throwing computers out windows and burning the Egyptian flag on the roof. More than 500 protesters massed outside Egypt's embassy in Syria, as others did days earlier in Lebanon. During a demonstration in the Lebanese city of Sidon this week, people chanted slogans denouncing Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as "a pig" and a "collaborator" with Israel. Click to view photos. Mubarak, whose nation is one of only two Arab states to have peace treaties with Israel, on Tuesday accused his critics of seeking "political profit" from the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. His government vehemently denied backing Israel's attack. And the foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, announced that Egypt was working with Turkey, which has strong ties with Israel, on an initiative to stop the offensive, restore a truce and open Gaza's borders under international supervision. Egypt already had angered many Arabs by largely closing its Rafah border crossing into Gaza since the Islamic militants of Hamas violently took over the territory in 2007. Rafah is the sole access to Gaza that does not go through Israel, which has imposed a suffocating economic blockade on the coastal strip. Embarrassing for Egyptian officials, Mubarak met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni only a day before Israel launched its assault, and the foreign minister ? though he urged Israel to show restraint ? was photographed smiling and shaking hands with her at a news conference. Now, with television across the region showing the destruction and death in Gaza, Hamas and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah ? both allies of Syria and Iran ? are stoking the anger against Egypt by accusing it of giving an OK to Israel to end Hamas rule in Gaza. "We do not accept that the attack on Gaza be announced from the heart of Cairo," Mohammed Nazzal, a Hamas senior leader, shouted on Al-Arabiya television Sunday, referring to the Livni visit. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah charged that Egypt's government was "taking part in the crime" against Palestinians and called on Egyptians to rise up and force the Rafah crossing open. The anger could severely damage the key role Egypt has played as a mediator between Hamas on one side and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel on the other. Egypt has been in a tough position because of Hamas's control of Gaza. It worries Hamas rule is boosting Iran's influence in the region and could fuel Islamic militancy on its own soil. And it is under pressure from Israel, Abbas and the U.S. not to make any concessions that would bolster Hamas. Yet, Egypt's leaders don't want to be seen as fueling a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Egyptian television gave heavy coverage to several truckloads of medical and other supplies that Egypt sent in through Rafah and 36 wounded Palestinians who were brought out to Egyptian hospitals. But on Tuesday, Mubarak insisted Egypt would not fully open Rafah unless Abbas' Palestinian Authority controls the crossing and European monitors required under a 2005 agreement are present. Otherwise, he said, opening the crossing would "deepen the breach" between Hamas and Abbas, who Egypt's government calls the legitimate leader of the Palestinians. Aboul Gheit, the foreign minister, initially seemed to blame Hamas for provoking the Israeli offensive, saying soon after it began Saturday that "those who didn't listen" to warnings carry the responsibility. Such talk put Egypt in the uncomfortable position of echoing the arguments of Israel, which says it acted to halt Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israeli towns. Since then, Egypt has been more vocal in its calls for Israel to stop the bombardment without conditions. On Tuesday, Aboul Gheit denied that Egypt did not do enough to prevent the Israeli offensive, saying Mubarak warned Livni not to attack Gaza "because it will have repercussions on the region." But the clamor over Gaza has underlined an increasing divide in the Middle East that pits pro-Western countries like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia against Syria and Iran and their allied militant groups, Hamas and Hezbollah. In an unusually vocal criticism for an Egyptian politician, Abdullah Kamal, a member of Egypt's ruling party, denounced Hamas on Monday as a pawn of Iran, saying Iran and Syria are trying to make "Iran as the leader of the region through its militias, whether Hezbollah or Hamas." http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4775575 Thousands protest against Israel across the Middle East December 29, 2008 Edition 2 BASSEM MROUE BEIRUT: Crowds of thousands swept into the streets of cities around the Middle East yesterday to protest against Israel's air assault on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. From Lebanon to Iran, Israel's adversaries used the weekend assault to marshal crowds out on to the streets for noisy demonstrations. And among regional allies there was also discontent: Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called the air assault a "crime against humanity". Two days of protests have been free of violence except for one in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul yesterday that became a target for a suicide bomber on a bicycle. In Lebanon, a Hamas official roused a crowd of about 1 000 people topped by fluttering Lebanese and Palestinian flags, promising victory, resistance and ruling out surrender. His speech was met with cries of "death to Israel" from the crowd. The demonstrators gathered outside the United Nations office in Beirut. After an all-night emergency session in New York, the UN's Security Council expressed serious concern at the escalating situation in Gaza and called on Israel and the Palestinians to immediately halt all violence. Hamas representative Osama Hamdan told the crowd that the militant group had no choice but to fight. Gaza militants have been lobbing dozens of rockets and mortars into southern Israel since a six-month truce expired more than a week ago, prompting Israel's fierce retaliation. In Damascus, capital of neighbouring Syria, more than 5 000 people marched toward the central Youssef al-Azmeh square, where they burnt an Israeli and an American flag. One demonstrator carried a banner reading, "The aggression against Gaza is an aggression against the whole Arab nation." A group of 30 lawmakers in Jordan were preparing a petition to press the government to expel Israel's ambassador. About 5 000 lawyers marched toward parliament to demand the ambassador's expulsion and the closure of the embassy. Iran's president, who has blasted Israel in speeches and said it should be "wiped off the map", joined those condemning the Israeli strikes, calling them "criminal". In the normally politically-placid Dubai, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Palestinian consulate. In Iraq, a suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up amid a crowd of demonstrators in Mosul who were protesting against the strikes on Gaza, killing one demonstrator and wounding 16 others, Iraqi police said. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/thousands-in-middle-east-protest-israeli-attack-on-gaza_100135969.html Thousands in Middle East protest Israeli attack on Gaza December 28th, 2008 - 11:40 pm ICT by IANS - Amman, Dec 28 (DPA) Thousands of people participated in rallies across the Middle East Sunday to protest Israel?s airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and to show support for Palestinians caught in the attacks.Some of the larger protests were in the capitals of Yemen and Jordan. Hundreds of protesters also clashed with policemen in Lebanon while smaller demonstrations were staged in Iran. Arab League leaders agreed to meet Wednesday to discuss a reaction to the Israeli airstrikes, which were prompted by missile and mortar attacks out of the Gaza Strip after a ceasefire expired Dec 19. Since the Israeli attacks started Saturday, 283 Palestinians, many of them militants, were reported dead. More than 900 have reportedly been wounded. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of several Yemeni cities. The largest, by far, was in the capital, Sana?a, where around 80,000 people rallied in the city?s main football stadium, police officials said. Thousands of protesters also took part in anti-Israeli demonstrations in the cities of Aden, Dhalea, Taiz, Houdieda, Dhamar, Abyan and Lahj, the police reported. In Sana?a, protesters held up pictures of the leaders of the Hamas movement, which has de facto control of the Gaza Strip. They also lofted the Palestinian flag alongside banners denouncing the Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, thousands of Jordanians demonstrated outside the Egyptian embassy in Amman Sunday to press Egyptian authorities to re- open the Rafah crossing point with the Gaza Strip. ?Our sit-in before the Egyptian embassy today has the primary aim of telling the Egyptian regime ? that the Rafah crossing point should be re-opened,? said Zaki Bani Ershaid, secretary general of the Islamic Action Front (IAF). Palestinian supporters argue that the crossing must be reopened to allow civilians and wounded to escape. Egypt has reported that it has opened its border, but that Hamas officials are blocking people from leaving the Gaza Strip. Other demonstrators urged the governments of Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab countries to have concluded peace treaties with Israel, to ?sever ties? with the Jewish state. Lebanese anti-riot police used force to disperse a demonstration in front of the Egyptian embassy in Beirut, firing tear gas and using water after protesters got close to a barbed wire barricade and started throwing stones at police officers. The protesters, who numbered in the hundreds, were mostly of Sunni background. Before the confrontation, men riding motorbikes and carrying black flags, wearing the traditional Palestinian headdress had chanted ?God help our people in Gaza,? were among the protesters. One of the protesters told DPA, ?We are here to show our solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza and ask the world community to intervene to stop the bloodshed.? Coinciding with the protests, five Israeli warplanes flew over south Lebanon in a violation of Lebanese airspace, prompting the Lebanese army to go on full alert. The Iranian parliament interrupted its normal session Sunday as members spent several minutes shouting ?death to Israel,? while Speaker Ali Larijani warned that Israel would soon face a third wave of intifada or Palestinian uprising. A demonstration was held Sunday against Israel in front of the United Nations headquarters in northern Tehran. There was also a solidarity protest in front of the Palestinian embassy in the capital. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-12-29-israel-palestine-monday_N.htm?csp=34 Gaza air strikes prompt mixed response abroad Updated 12/29/2008 8:42 AM The Associated Press The response to the overwhelming Israeli assault against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that killed more than 300 people since Saturday has been mixed. In Iraq, about 1,000 backers of the country's anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are holding a protest against Israel's airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. An influential Iranian group of conservative clerics began registering volunteers to fight against Israel. Egypt is allowing trucks loaded with humanitarian aid to enter its border crossing with the Gaza Strip. Trucks filled with food and medical supplies have been lining up outside the Egypt-Gaza border since early morning. Border guards opened the Rafah terminal Monday afternoon and started allowing several trucks to enter. Mustafa Ismail, an organizer with a Cairo-based charity, says the trucks are allowed to drop off the supplies in the border terminal but may not enter Gaza. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/2008123011438386992.html Violence at Gaza protest in Yemen Protests have been held across the Middle East against the four-day-Israeli air attack on Gaza [AFP] Demonstrators in the Yemeni port city of Aden have broken into the Egyptian consulate in a protest against Cairo's response to Israel's offensive against Gaza, a security official has said. The protesters, who were mostly students from the University of Aden, "vandalised furniture before they were removed peacefully from the building", the official said on Tuesday, asking not to be identified. Another security official said three staff members were inside the building at the time but they were unhurt. The official said one protester was wounded when a consular guard opened fire and that the protesters retaliated by setting fire to two consular vehicles. More than 20 demonstrators were arrested. Protests have been held across the Middle East against the four-day-Israeli air attack on Gaza, which has killed at least 360 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,600. Many Arabs have accused Cairo of giving the green light to Israel's assault after Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's president, hosted Tzipi Livni, Israel's foreign minister, for talks just two days before the launch of the onslaught. Rafah closure In the absence of Israeli embassies in most Arab capitals, Egyptian diplomatic missions have been a particular focus of the demonstrations. Demonstrators in Beirut, Lebanon - angry over Egypt's response to Israel's raids on Gaza - attacked the Egyptian embassy, throwing stones before police used tear gas to disperse them. Protests have also been held outside the Egyptian embassy in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Egypt has come under heavy criticism from Arab and Muslim countries over its refusal to re-open its border crossing with the Gaza Strip at Rafah over the past year, thereby aiding Israel's blockade of the territory. Mubarak announced on Egyptian television on Tuesday that the Rafah crossing will not be fully re-opened until Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, regains authority in the territory. "We will not deepen the division and that breach [among the Palestinians] by opening Rafah border crossing in the absence of the Palestinian Authority and the European Union monitors," he said, making reference to a 2005 agreement over the border. Jakarta rally Thousands have also rallied in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, to voice their opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza. Demonstrators waved Palestinian and Indonesian flags while some carried banners with slogans such as "Move Israel outside Palestine land". Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation and many Indonesians have been staunch supporters of the Palestinian cause. The protest coincided with a condemnation of the raids by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia's president. "I have sent a letter to the secretary-general of United Nations as well as to the UN security council condemning the Israeli military attacks and urging swift action to resolve the conflict," Yudhoyono said. "The security council must formally meet and issue a resolution to force Israel to end all attacks, so that Israeli and Palestinian can continue the peace process." Jakarta has no diplomatic relations with Israel. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-12/2008-12-28-voa18.cfm?CFID=171581086&CFTOKEN=63459905&jsessionid=6630521841432268fdbf457de3f277673613 Arab World Reacts in Anger at Gaza Strike By Aya Batrawy Cairo 28 December 2008 Egyptian protesters burn an Israeli flag, during a demonstration outside Cairo university Sunday, 28 Dec. 2008, against the Israeli attacks against Gaza Protesters throughout the Middle East held angry demonstrations Sunday, condemning not only Israel's deadly airstrikes in Gaza but also their own governments for not doing more to prevent the violence. Despite restrictions on public protests in a number of Arab countries, demonstrators reacted to the unfolding events in Gaza with an outpouring of anger and emotion. Cairo saw some of the most emotional protests. At Cairo University, hundreds of students prayed and wept, holding posters with images of injured and dead Palestinian children. Others held up the Quran, while one student burnt an Israeli flag to the chants and cheers of the crowd. Although the Egyptian government has condemned Israel's military action against Hamas militants who control Gaza, protesters in Cairo voiced anger at Egypt and other Arab governments' for thier limited response to the attacks. Ahmed Sayyid, a pharmacy major at Cairo University, said Egypt's government should do more to protest the Israeli actions. He says the Israelis are lucky to have what he calls such a complacent government in Cairo, and he said there are thousands of youths, girls and boys, that if they were allowed to fight, or trained to fight, would go now to defend the Palestinians. Elsewhere in the region, police in Beirut used tear gas to control crowds that were throwing rocks at the Egyptian embassy. In Jordan, lawmakers demanded the expulsion of Israel's ambassador. Jordan is the only other Arab country besides Egypt to have an official peace treaty with Israel. Protesters in Cairo also called on the government to recall its ambassador, kick Israel's ambassador out, halt the export of Egyptian gas to Israel and allow medical supplies to reach Gaza. Anger throughout the Arab was accompanied by grim images on pan-Arab satellite channels that broadcast pictures of bloodied Palestinian bodies, rows of men with limbs blown off and children being carried screaming through the streets. Amidst the backlash against Israel, the United States and Egypt, some demonstrators also protested the Fatah-backed government of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who was in Egypt Sunday meeting with the Egyptian president. In an effort to help the injured in Gaza, Egypt announced it would open the Rafah crossing along Egypt's border with Gaza to allow wounded to get medical care. Egypt also accused Hamas of not allowing wounded Palestinians to cross the border. Throughout Cairo, Ministry of Health vehicles where stationed where people could donate blood. One woman who lined up to give blood said she was moved by the desire to help injured Palestinian children. She says she came to donate blood because she says it's the first time she understands the kind of suffering Palestinians undergo. She said she came to help the children who were wounded. The United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate end to all military actions in the Gaza Strip. Israel has blamed Hamas for triggering the assault by breaking a six month old ceasefire and launching a new round of rocket attacks against Israel. The United States has also blamed Hamas for triggering the crisis. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98772093&ft=1&f=1004 Protests Over Gaza Strikes Erupt In Muslim World by Peter Kenyon Aamir Qureshi Pakistani Muslims shout anti-Israel slogans during a protest in Islamabad on Sunday against airstrikes in Gaza. AFP/Getty Images Jaafar Ashtiyeh A Palestinian hurls a stone with a slingshot toward Israeli soldiers in the West Bank village of Azzun on Sunday during a protest against Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. AFP/Getty Images All Things Considered, December 28, 2008 ? Angry protests erupted around the Arab and Muslim world and beyond, as the death toll in Gaza mounted Sunday. Demonstrators vented their fury at both Israel and the Arab leaders who in their eyes have put their own political concerns ahead of the Palestinian cause. From Turkey to Indonesia, the calls of outrage rang out. After seeing hourly images of bleeding Palestinians, demonstrators took to the streets in Damascus, Amman and Cairo. In Beirut, police had to use tear gas to get demonstrators to stop stoning the Egyptian embassy. Egypt has been sharply criticized for agreeing to keep its border with Gaza closed, thus in the eyes of critics aiding and abetting the Israeli blockade. As Gaza hospitals were quickly overrun, Egypt ordered the crossing opened, but later blamed Hamas for failing to let wounded Palestinians out to receive treatment in Egypt. Finally on Sunday, the border was briefly opened, and ambulances and trucks filled with medical and humanitarian supplies rolled into southern Gaza. The shock of the large-scale military operation has thrown into sharp relief Arab divisions that have been partially submerged under diplomatic rhetoric until now. One of the first to feel the glare was Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who came to Cairo and dismayed his Arab audience by blaming Hamas for the bloodshed in Gaza. "Let me say this clearly. We contacted Hamas and spoke to them bluntly. We spoke to them on the phone and pleaded, 'Please do not end the cease-fire. Let it continue, so we can avert what has now happened.' And how I wish we had," Abbas said. Abbas has always been a pragmatic politician, more interested in securing real achievements for his people than in being their hero. But today's comments prompted many Arabs to see him as siding with the Israeli-U.S. camp, alongside an uneasy Egypt. In Iran, which has financed and supported Hamas for years, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa, or religious decree, ordering Muslims everywhere to defend Gazans "in any way possible." Hamas' leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal was more specific. In an interview with the Al-Jazeera satellite channel, Meshaal sought to make this weekend the birth date of a third Palestinian intefadeh against Israel, to follow the uprisings of 1987 and 2000. "There is no path except that of martyrdom ? armed resistance and martyrdom operations. This is what will support Gaza. This is what will lift the oppression from you. We do not take up arms except in the face of the Zionist enemy. I call upon you to uprise. This is the time for the third intefadeh," Meshaal said. Some analysts doubt the Palestinians are ready for another mass uprising, given the divisions between the secular Fatah movement and the Islamists of Hamas. But others wonder if the bloody events now unfolding in Gaza will inspire more violence, not less. http://www.watoday.com.au/world/global-protests-against-israel-20081229-76ht.html?page=2 Global protests against Israel ? December 29, 2008 Demonstrators in cities around the world on Sunday marched in protest against the Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip that have killed nearly 300 people in the Palestinian territory. British police made 10 arrests as a demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in London turned violent. Riot police moved in after people tore down the barriers keeping them back from the embassy. [?] Recognising the special relationship between the United States and Israel, Obama will work closely with the Israelis, David Axelrod said in an interview on CBS television. "But he will do so in a way that will promote the cause of peace, and work closely with the Israelis and the Palestinians on that - toward that objective," said Axelrod. Around European capitals, Danish police arrested a man on the fringes of a protest march in Copenhagen after he threw a petrol bomb at officers. Police said the rally drew about 700 people, though organisers put the number closer to 2,000. In Paris, about 200 people gathered on the Champs Elysees, while across the city in the northern district of Barbes, an area with a high concentration of north Africans, police said 1,300 others had joined an anti-Israel protest. In Madrid, hundreds of people demonstrated outside the Israeli embassy, brandishing placards reading "Israel terrorist", "Stop state terrorism" and "No to the Palestinian holocaust". The largest single protest of about 8,000 people took place in Egypt on the streets of the southern city of Assiut. Some 4,000 protesters rallied in the capital Cairo, while a demonstration in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria drew a similar number, a security official said. Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah urged Egyptians in their "millions" to take to the streets to force their government to open the country's border with Gaza, to help save Palestinians from the Israeli bombardments. Another major showing of anti-Israeli sentiment was seen in Turkey where thousands of people joined demonstrations in about a dozen Turkish cities. In Syria, protesters burned Israeli and American flags as thousands demonstrated in central Damascus. Security was tight around the US embassy, which lies some two kilometres from the scene of the protest in the Syrian capital. Demonstrators also burned Israeli flags in the Jordanian capital Amman, where hundreds of people led by Islamist lawmakers gathered to demand the closure of the Israeli embassy. With Egypt, Jordan is one of only two Arab governments to have signed peace treaties with Israel. The Israeli bombardment of Hamas targets in Gaza has killed more than 280 people since Saturday, the Jewish state's biggest offensive against the Palestinian territory since its capture in the 1967 Middle East war. British aid agency Oxfam warned of a looming humanitarian crisis in Gaza if the Israeli bombardments do not cease. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement: "The influx of war wounded has put a tremendous strain on Gaza's already overburdened hospitals, which are in dire need of medical equipment." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7803569.stm Monday, 29 December 2008 Renewed protests at Israeli raids Protests in the US, Indonesia, Iraq, Venezuela, Lebanon, Jordan and Argentina Protests against the Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip have again been taking place, with rallies in several cities across the region. For a second day in Jordan, several thousand protesters gathered in Amman and burned Israeli and American flags. There were similar rallies in Egypt, Syria, Libya and Iraq with many calling for a firm response from their leaders. One of the largest gatherings was in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, organised by the Hezbollah movement. Tens of thousands of people poured on to the streets of southern Beirut, many carrying Palestinian, Lebanese and Hezbollah flags and banners supporting the Palestinian people, the Associated Press news agency reported. Many held banners - one read "We are ready to die". One Palestinian woman was brandishing a Jambiyya Mohammed al-Qiri, Yemen The rally was called for by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who in a speech on Sunday urged crowds in the Arab and Islamic world to rise up in support of Gaza. He also urged his fighters in southern Lebanon, who fought a brief war with Israel in 2006, to be on alert in case of Israeli attacks. In Amman demonstrators, responding to a call by Islamist-led trades unionists, marched to the office of Prime Minister Nader Dahabi and delivered a letter demanding Jordan scrap its 1994 peace treaty with Israel and close its embassy, the AFP news agency reported. Egyptians staged their largest yet demonstration against Israel's offensive against the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, with thousands taking to the streets of central Cairo. The rally was once again organised by the Islamist opposition in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which Hamas first emerged. Elsewhere in the Islamic world, there were anti-Israeli protests in Bangladesh and Pakistan. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/0,5143,705273663,00.html W e620e460ea471d3ab8ee38cfb76da694 Mon Apr 13 21:53:36 2009 Thousands protest Israeli air assault By Bassem Mroue Associated Press Published: Monday, Dec. 29, 2008 12:16 a.m. MST 1 comments SHARE | E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - Facebook Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon BEIRUT, Lebanon ? Crowds of thousands swept into the streets of cities around the Middle East on Sunday to denounce Israel's air assault on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. From Lebanon to Iran, Israel's adversaries used the weekend assault to marshal crowds into the streets for noisy demonstrations. Angry protesters carried images of the dead and the destruction in demonstrations from Cairo to Istanbul. And among regional allies there was also discontent: The prime minister of Turkey, one of the few Muslim countries to have relations with Israel, called the air assault a "crime against humanity." The Syrian government, meanwhile, announced the suspension of its indirect peace talks with Israel because the attacks. Israel and Syria held four rounds of indirect negotiations in Turkey after the peace talks were launched in May. Hezbollah's leader in Lebanon told thousands of Beirut residents that his group will not abandon Gaza and asked his fighters to be alert in case Israel decides to attack his group. A radical Saudi cleric used the assault on Gaza to incite believers to target Israeli interests "everywhere," to avenge the attacks on the Gaza strip. Story continues below Several of Sunday's protests turned violent. In Lebanon, police fired tear gas to stop dozens of demonstrators from reaching the Egyptian Embassy. Some in the crowd hurled stones at the embassy compound. Security officials said two policemen were wounded and taken to a hospital and several demonstrators were lightly injured. Egypt, which has served as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians as well as between Hamas and its rival Fatah, has been criticized for joining Israel in closing its borders with Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit called on Hamas to renew its truce with Israel. Egypt also again summoned the Israeli ambassador to express its rejection of Israeli government comments about expanding the assault on Gaza. France also called for the truce to be renewed and rallied European nations to use "all their weight" to stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas. In Beirut, the leader of Lebanese militant Hezbollah Sheik Hassan Nasrallah also took a stab at the Egyptian role. He said if it does not open its Rafah border crossing with Gaza then "you are taking part in the crime" against Palestinians. Hamas representative Osama Hamdan told another rally in Beirut that the militant group had no choice but to fight. Gaza militants have been lobbing dozens of rockets and mortars into southern Israel since a six-month truce expired over a week ago, prompting Israel's fierce retaliation. "We have one alternative which is to be steadfast and resist and then we will be victorious," Hamdan said. In Amman, Jordan, about 5,000 lawyers marched toward parliament to demand the Israeli ambassador's expulsion and the closure of the embassy. "No for peace, yes to the rifle," they chanted. There were also demonstrations in nearby Palestinian refugee camps. The U.S. Embassy in Jordan warned Americans to avoid areas of demonstrations. ________________________________________ Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran; Jamal Halaby in Amman, Jordan; and Hamid Ahmed in Baghdad contributed to this report. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2008/12/mil-081230-voa01.htm Protests Against Israel's Assault on Gaza Continue in Middle East By Catherine Cannon Washington 30 December 2008 Anti-Israel protests erupted throughout the Middle East again on Monday, as Israeli forces continued air strikes against Hamas targets on the Gaza Strip. More than 300 people, including many civilians, have been killed in the assault, which Israel launched in response to a series of rocket attacks launched from Gaza. In Lebanon, tens-of-thousands of Hezbollah supporters gathered in the streets of Beirut carrying Palestinian and Hezbollah flags. Hezbollah leaders declared Monday a day of mourning and solidarity with Gaza, and urged crowds in the Arab world to rise up and support Gaza. Street protests were also held in Egypt, where demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and pro-Gaza banners. In Iran, a spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli air raids. He called Israel's actions a "war crime" that could be considered genocide. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28421640/ Gaza protests extend from Mideast to Europe Hezbollah rally is largest; others march in Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Greece Mahmoud Tawil / AP A Palestinian flag flutters in the wind as thousands of Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon on Monday protest the Israeli attack on Gaza. Violence denounced Dec. 29: Thousands across the Arab world have taken to the streets in growing protests against Israel's actions. NBC's Richard Engel reports. updated 7:16 p.m. ET Dec. 29, 2008 BEIRUT, Lebanon - From Mideast countries to European capitals, protesters took to the streets Monday to condemn Israel's assault on Gaza that has so far left at least 350 people dead, wounded hundreds more and reduced dozens of buildings to rubble. By far the largest protest in the Arab world ? where outrage over Israel's air strikes continued into a third day ? took place in Lebanon, with tens of thousands of Lebanese Hezbollah supporters standing under pouring rain. The protesters thronged a huge square and nearby streets in the militant group's stronghold south of Beirut, carrying Palestinian, Lebanese and yellow Hezbollah flags and banners supporting the Palestinian people. There were also rallies Monday in Egypt, Sudan, and Iraq. Regional concern over Hamas The street protests have been far stronger in condemnation of Israel than Arab governments, particularly those allied with the United States. Egypt has criticized the attack and called for a cease fire but it and other U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia and Jordan are also weary of Hamas. The Arab nations have long dropped the military option as a means for settling the Arab-Israeli conflict and support the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. They have criticized Hamas' use of rockets and suicide bombings. Those governments are also concerned about the rise of Islamic militancy and have viewed with alarm Hamas' 2007 capture of power in Gaza, fearing that it could inspire militants in their respective nations to follow suit. The massive Lebanese rally was called for by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah who in a speech on Sunday urged crowds in the Arab and Islamic world to rise up in support of Gaza and declared Monday a day of mourning and solidarity with Gaza. Addressing the crowds Monday through a large screen from an unknown location, Nasrallah urged Palestinians to unite and sought to boost morale. "Israel's air force will fail to destroy the will of the (Palestinian) fighters firing rockets," he said. "Death to Israel," and "At your service, Gaza!" many in the crowd shouted. Nasrallah warned Israel that any ground offensive will result in many losses for the Israelis and said Israel will fail as it did when it fought Hezbollah guerrillas in a monthlong air and ground offensive in 2006. Slogans and insults in Sidon In the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon, around 3,000 people also staged a demonstration, many of them chanting slogans in which they insulted the rulers of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia for perceived complicity with Israel. In Egypt, which has been particularly criticized for joining Israel in closing its borders with Gaza, thousands of people rallied, calling for the active intervention of Arab armies to protect the Palestinians. Demonstrations were held near the parliament building and in downtown Cairo amid a massive security presence of black-clad riot police. Demonstrations in the tourist destination of Luxor, however, were prevented. Registering volunteers to fight Israel The largest protest, a crowd of up to 3,000 people outside the Journalists' Union, was organized by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, and in an unusual move, the Islamist organization's Supreme Guide Mohammed Mahdi Akef took part, urging the crowd to make "their declaration of anger through peaceful means." In Hamas-ally Iran, a prominent conservative political party announced it is registering volunteers to fight against Israel in response to the attacks on Gaza. The party, the Combatant Clergy Society, has provided three options for the volunteers on its Web site to fight Israel, including in the military, financial and propaganda fields ? most signing up opted for the military option. The group said Monday it decided to sign up volunteers after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious decree to world Muslims Sunday, saying anybody getting killed while defending Palestinians in Gaza would be considered a martyr. http://www.nowpublic.com/world/thousands-world-wide-protest-gaza-air-raids Thousands World-Wide Protest Gaza Air Raids Share: by Rob Walker | December 29, 2008 at 10:55 am Large protests in response to the recent Gaza air strikes, some numbering in the thousands, are occurring throughout the world. One of the largest is in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, where tens of thousands took to the streets. For a second day in Jordan, several thousand protesters gathered in Amman and burned Israeli and American flags. There were similar rallies in Egypt, Syria, Libya and Iraq with many calling for a firm response from their leaders. One of the largest gatherings was in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, organised by the Hezbollah movement. Source: news.bbc.co.uk Witnesses said Saudi police fired rubber bullets to break up a pro-Palestinian protest on Monday, injuring up to eight people, but a government official denied the report. Residents said between 200 and 300 people took part in the march in Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province. Source: javno.com http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/12/30/news0484.htm Israel air strikes spark worldwide protests AFP, United Nations Demonstrators in cities around the world marched Sunday in protest against the air strikes, which have wounded more than 600 people. The largest single protest of about 8,000 people took place in Egypt in the southern city of Assiut, while rallies in the capital Cairo and the port city of Alexandria drew around 4,000 each, a security official said. Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah urged Egyptians to take to the streets in their "millions" to force their government to open the country's border with Gaza and help save Palestinians from the bombardments. In Turkey, thousands of people joined demonstrations in about a dozen cities, while in Syria, protesters burned Israeli and American flags as thousands demonstrated in central Damascus. There were similar scenes in the Jordanian capital Amman, where hundreds of people led by Islamist lawmakers gathered to demand the closure of the Israeli embassy. http://www.roguegovernment.com/index.php?news_id=13552 Thousands Protest Gaza Raids In Middle East Published on 01-04-2009 Email To Friend Print Version Source: AP Thousands protesting Israel's ground offensive on Gaza converged Sunday in Beirut and Istanbul as the leaders of the only two Mideast Arab nations to sign peace treaties with Israel demanded an end to the attack. In Yemen, security officials said anti-Israel protesters attacked several Jewish homes in the northern province of Omran, smashing windows and pelting them with rocks. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, said at least one Jewish resident was injured among the tiny minority community. Lebanese police used water hoses to try to push about 250 demonstrators away from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon's capital. When that failed, they fired tear gas, Lebanese security officials said. A second Beirut protest ? a sit-in outside the U.N. building ? drew thousands of supporters of Hamas and Lebanon's Islamic Group. In Turkey, more than 5,000 people held an anti-Israel rally in Istanbul, waving Palestinian flags and burning effigies of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President George W. Bush. Also in Istanbul, club-wielding police broke up a small demonstration by protesters who hurled eggs at the Israeli Consulate, the private Dogan news agency reported. There were no reports of arrests or injuries. In Morocco, tens of thousands gathered in the capital Rabat for a peaceful march to protest the Gaza offensive. Police estimated the turnout at 50,000, according to the official MAP news agency. Organizers said the number was bigger, but did not give a precise figure. Israel's weeklong aerial bombardment of Gaza and the start of the ground offensive Saturday against Hamas have drawn condemnation across the Muslim and Arab world and news coverage of the invasion has dominated Arab satellite television stations. Thousands in cities from Tehran to Damascus have also taken to the streets to protest the attacks, which have killed about 500 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,600, according to Gaza officials. In some cases, the protests of the past week were as directed against Arab governments as much as Israel, with many criticizing their perceived inaction or lack of sufficient support of the Palestinians. On Sunday, the leaders of Egypt and Jordan ? the only two Mideast Arab countries to sign a peace agreement with Israel and maintain diplomatic ties ? condemned the ground offensive and called for an end to Israel's onslaught in Gaza. Several hundred Jordanians shouting "death to Israel" protested against the Gaza offensive Sunday in two separate demonstrations in central Amman, the Jordanian capital. The protests were peaceful and police made no arrests. In parliament, the Jordanian government came under criticism from Islamic opposition lawmakers demanding that it suspend relations with Israel. "All options are available to assess the relationship with every side, especially Israel," Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi told parliament during a heated debate. "We will reconsider relations according to our higher national interests," he said. "We will not remain silent about the situation and the serious deterioration in Gaza and neither about the threat which risks the security of the whole area and its stability." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who runs his own Palestinian administration from the West Bank, also denounced Israel's ground offensive as "brutal aggression" in his harshest words yet in describing Israel's assault on his Hamas rivals. Israel says the aim of the operation is to stop the Palestinian militant Hamas group from firing rockets at southern Israeli towns. Hamas is opposed to any peace settlement with Israel and calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. "This battle will end a (peace) settlement forever," Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, told the protesters at the sit-in. "This battle will show who are the men." Five civilians and one policeman were lightly injured in the clash outside the U.S. Embassy earlier in the day, according to the Lebanese officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Meanwhile, the leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, discussed the situation in Gaza with visiting chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, the group's Al-Manar TV said. Al-Manar did not give further details but said Nasrallah and Jalili, who arrived here Saturday from neighboring Syria, discussed "ways of ending this aggression." Hezbollah, which is a strong ally of Hamas, possesses a formidable arsenal of rockets and missiles that bloodied Israel during a monthlong war in 2006. Hezbollah has not threatened to join Hamas in its current battle with Israel, but Nasrallah said last week that his men are on alert in case Israel attacks Lebanon. http://english.sina.com/world/p/2009/0117/212330.html Mideast countries protest Israel's Gaza attacks 2009-01-17 07:27:22 GMT2009-01-17 15:27:22 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English CAIRO, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Residents of the Mideast on Friday continued angry protests against the Israeli military offensive that has killed more than 1,100 people in the Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of people joined demonstrations across Egypt, where authorities were forced to deploy police reinforcements in Cairo and elsewhere, local media reported. Hundreds of people gathered in the Bassatin district of Cairo before being dispersed by police. The largest protest was in the northeast town of Mansura where more than 6,000 people showed up in parades pressing for an end to the Israeli onslaught. People in Baghdad, suffering from turbulence since the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein began, donated money, food and other items to help the Palestinians. In Syria, one of the staunchest opponents of the Israeli onslaught, more than 2,000 people in the Palestinian Yarmouk camp, urged the Israelis to pull out of Gaza and end the violence. Meanwhile, Amman protesters demanded the expulsion of Israel's ambassador and the abolishment of Jordan's 1994 peace treaty with Israel. More than 1,000 Lebanese and Palestinian women, including widows whose husbands died in armed conflicts, staged a sit-in outside the UN relief agency building in Beirut. Rallies against Israel have been staged throughout the Mideast since the Jewish state began unprecedented air strikes on Hamas targets on Dec. 27. Qatar, the only Gulf Arab state with ties to Israel, said it would suspend diplomatic relations with the country over its three-week offensive. Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said Qatar also would ask the Jewish state to close its trade office in Doha and remove its staff until the situation improved. Qatar hosted an emergency summit on Friday in its capital Doha to address the Gaza offensive. About a dozen Arab leaders attended the meeting. A joint communique issued at the end of the summit meeting called on all Arab countries to stop all peace negotiations and cut ties with Israel in response to its ongoing offensive. "We called on all Arab countries to stop the Arab Peace Initiative (with Israel) launched in 2002," the communique said, adding that the Arabs should freeze ties with the Jewish country. Also Friday, Mauritania announced it has decided to freeze political and economic ties with Israel, but stopped short of a full severing of diplomatic relations. Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Friday called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during his meeting with visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon. Gul said the ongoing tragedy in Gaza damaged the credibility of the United Nations. Turkey has been Israel's main regional ally since the two countries signed a military accord in 1996, but the Gaza onslaught has unleashed anger in predominantly Muslim Turkey. For his part, Ban said he was pleased with the active policy pursued by Turkey in the region. He added that Turkey should maintain its efforts to prevent a likely separation in the Arab world. The Gaza offensive so far has killed more than 1,100 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,000 others, according to Palestinian medical officials. http://arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=118241&d=17&m=1&y=2009&pix=world.jpg&category=World 17 January 2009 (20 Muharram 1430) Protesters demand immediate action AP I FEEL THE PAIN: A Palestinian girl carries a doll to symbolize an injured child during a protest against the Israeli offensive in Beirut on Friday. (EPA) DAMASCUS: Palestinian refugees at a camp near the Syrian capital called for Israel to pull out of Gaza and widows in Beirut protested outside a UN building, while Palestinian police in the West Bank beat up protesters chanting in support of Hamas. In Syria, up to 2,000 people took part in a protest at the Palestinian Yarmouk camp, trampling Israeli flags and shouting anti-Israel slogans. In Jordan, around 1,500 worshippers marched after the noon prayers toward the EU mission in an upscale neighborhood of Amman. The protesters condemned a summit on Gaza under way in Doha, demanding Arabs send armies rather than hold gatherings. Near the Israeli Embassy in Amman, some tried in vain to push riot police away and get to the embassy building, demanding the government to dismiss the Israeli ambassador and abolish Jordan?s 1994 peace treaty with Israel. In Beirut, more than 1,000 Lebanese and Palestinian women ? including widows who had lost husbands to armed conflict, many with children in tow ? staged an hour?s sit-in outside the UN relief agency building in solidarity with Gazans. Some children held dolls stained with red paint, representing Palestinian children killed in Gaza. UN and Gaza health officials say 346 children have died in the three weeks of violence. ?Israel, mother of terrorism,? read a sign in English in the crowd. Some banners in Arabic read: ?Patience Gaza,? ?Where is the humanity?s conscience?? and ?God is with you, Gaza.? In the northern West Bank town of Tul Karem, Palestinian police beat protesters with clubs after some chanted in support of Hamas. The police broke up the 500-strong rally, chasing protesters down streets and arresting at least one man. The West Bank is ruled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. Police have shocked West Bank residents by harshly cracking down on protests in support of Gaza. In Jerusalem, around 30 Palestinian women gathered on the stairs leading to the cobblestone old city, chanting and singing against Israel?s military operation. They were flanked by scores of blue-uniformed policemen with batons and Israeli special forces gathered in black uniforms clutching assault rifles, as khaki-uniformed soldiers stood nearby. ?We kiss the ground under your shoes,? they sung, referring to Gazans. Police arrested at least two men standing nearby. http://www.euronews.net/2009/01/10/arabs-protest-attack-on-gaza-some-violence/ Arabs protest attack on Gaza; some violence 10/01/09 03:36 CET The following article has been retrieved from the archive and no longer contains the original video. The resounding silence from many Arab governments as Israel has pounded Gaza has sparked mass demonstrations across the Middle-East. In Amman, Jordan, the protests turned violent when riot police tried to stop them marching on the Israeli embassy. A television cameraman was hurt and so was a young Spanish protestor. Five people were arrested. In Algeria, a journalist was seriously injured in a protest In Alexandria, in northern Egypt, 50,000 people gathered after Friday prayers. The march was led by members of the Muslim Brotherhood demanding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, and the opening of the Rafah border crossing adjoining Gaza so that people can flee the fighting. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230733147738 Jan 2, 2009 17:12 | Updated Jan 2, 2009 17:51 Protests against Gaza op sweep Mideast By ASSOCIATED PRESS TEHERAN, Iran Iran warned Israel on Friday not to launch a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip as protests against the Israeli bombardment of the Hamas-run Palestinian territory, now in its seventh day, swept several Mideast capitals. Iranian protesters attend an anti-Israel rally, after Friday prayers in Teheran, January 2009. The demonstrations began shortly after Friday prayers in Teheran, Cairo, Amman and Damascus. Similar protests have been held daily across since Israel launched the bombing campaign last Saturday, but these gatherings were larger _ mainly because Friday prayers are a traditional opportunity for Muslims to assemble in great numbers. In Teheran, a crowd of about 6,000 stretching for a half-mile (kilometer) marched from prayers at Teheran University to Palestine Square, chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" and burning Israeli flags They also carried banners reading: "Don't kill Children" and "Real Holocaust is happening in Gaza," while some vowed to "fight and defend Gaza." Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of Iran's most powerful politician-clerics, said in a sermon to several thousand worshipers that an Israeli military defeat in Gaza would be a "scandal" for its government and that, even if the Hamas government there collapses, Palestinian "resistance" will only expand. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Israel that entering Gaza "by land will be the biggest mistake of the Zionist regime." He vowed Israel would be "defeated" in a ground attack. Iran is a major backer of Hamas, giving it millions of dollars. Israel and the US accuse Iran of providing the Palestinian terrorist group with newer, more sophisticated rockets, but Teheran denies arming the group. In his prayer sermon, Rafsanjani said Hamas had a new anti-tank weapon that it had not used before but would unleash if Israel ground troops move in, but he did not elaborate. US-allied Arab governments like Egypt fear that Hamas and Hizbullah are giving a foothold for Iran. They have been critical of Hamas - which took over Gaza in 2007 in battles with loyalists of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - and of Syria for backing its allies Iran and Hamas. Pro-US governments have been wary about protests at home over Israel's Gaza assault, which has killed more than 400 Palestinians and sparked outrage among the Arab public. Israel says its offensive aims at silencing Hamas rockets. In Jordan, police fired volleys of tear gas and scuffled with dozens of protesters who tried to push through barrier to reach the Israeli Embassy in Amman. A few of the protesters threw stones at police, but the security forces dispersed the group, arresting several. Hundreds more protesters marched peacefully nearby the embassy, calling for its closure and the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. Jordan and Egypt are the only two Arab countries with peace agreements and diplomatic relations with Israel. Egypt clamped down hard to prevent protests Friday. Hundreds of riot police surrounded Cairo's main Al-Azhar Mosque, where a rally had been called, and scuffled with would-be protesters, keeping most from approaching. At another Cairo mosque dominated by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, police set up security checkpoints and inspected worshipers' ID cards. Around the capital, police arrested 40 members of the Brotherhood, which had called for pro-Gaza rallies. In the southern Cairo suburb of Maadi, one mosque preacher called for holy war for Gaza and several protesters marched nearby, shouting: "Let us go to jihad," or holy war. More than 3,000 people marched in solidarity with Gaza in the northern Sinai city of el-Arish, Egypt's closest city to Gaza. On the border, dozens of Sinai Beduins raced around in cars in the town of Rafah, firing their guns into the air. In Syria, some 2,000 marched in Damascus' Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting "jihad will unite us," and later burned an Israeli flag. Several hundred Syrians also protested in Damascus' historic Ummayad Mosque, waving green Hamas banners and wearing Hamas headbands. In Sudan, thousands marched in downtown Khartoum from mosques to the main Martyrs Square, urging Muslims to jihad and denouncing Israel and America. Also in Teheran, a small group of students protested late Thursday outside the house of 2003 Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi, accusing her of supporting Israel. They vandalized the house, smashing a sign and spray-painting the walls. Ebadi has been a target of Iranian hard-liners because she accuses the government of human rights violations. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/protesters-storm-british-embassy-in-iran-1219070.html Protesters storm British embassy in Iran By Laura May, PA Wednesday, 31 December 2008 A group of demonstrators stormed the compound of the British Embassy in Iran, the Foreign Office confirmed. A spokesman said: "A group of demonstrators have trespassed in the British Embassy compound in north Tehran. "The situation has been resolved. All of our staff are safe and have been accounted for." He could not confirm reports from the IRNA news agency that the demonstrators were students protesting against what they see as British support for Israel's air strikes on Gaza or that the students tore down the British flag and hoisted a Palestinian standard in its place. The incident happened at 5.20pm GMT (8.50pm local time) and reports claimed that the occupation lasted about an hour. No one at the embassy was available for comment. Foreign Secretary David Miliband was last night in crisis talks with European Union counterparts after a fourth day of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. He has insisted any ceasefire had to ensure Israel's security and reinforce the position of elected Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. http://news.scotsman.com/uk/UK-embassy-staff-39safe39-after.4833535.jp UK embassy staff 'safe' after storming by Iran protesters Published Date: 31 December 2008 By Laura May DEMONSTRATORS last night stormed the compound of the British Embassy in Iran. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "A group of demonstrators have trespassed in the British Embassy compound in north Tehran." However, he added: "The situation has been resolved. All of our staff are safe and have been accounted for." The spokesman could not confirm news reports that the demonstrators were students protesting against what they see as British support for Israel's air strikes on the Gaza Strip or that they tore down the Union flag and hoisted a Palestinian standard in its place. The incident happened at 5:20pm GMT ? 8:50pm local time ? and reports claimed that the occupation lasted about an hour. No-one at the embassy was available for comment. David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, was last night in crisis talks with his European Union counterparts after a fourth day of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Mr Miliband has insisted that any agreed ceasefire must ensure both Israel's security and reinforce the position of the elected Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas. http://www.roguegovernment.com/index2.php?news_id=13463 Iranian Students Raid Israeli Embassy In Gaza Raid Protest Published on 12-31-2008 Email To Friend Print Version Source: London Telegraph "A large group of people and students entered the Gholhak gardens, which are occupied by the British embassy, to protest at Britain's policies in supporting the Zionist regime and put up the Palestinian flag there," state news agency IRNA reported. The students stormed the compound on Tuesday evening and pulled down the British flag, replacing it with a Palestinian flag at compound's entrance before embassy police forced them to leave. "We do confirm the raid on our premises. We are in contact with Islamic republic authorities to resolve the matter," Mitra Behnam, a British embassy spokesman, told AFP. Gholhak gardens, a sprawling compound in north Tehran, provides accommodation for British diplomats and their families. Britain has called for an urgent ceasefire by both sides in Gaza, where Israeli warplanes have launched waves of airstrikes against the Islamist Hamas movement since Saturday, killing at least 360 Palestinians, and Hamas militants have been firing volleys of rockets into Israel. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/protesters-storm-uk-embassy-in-iran-14124008.html?r=RSS Protesters storm UK embassy in Iran Wednesday, 31 December 2008 A group of demonstrators have stormed the compound of the British Embassy in Iran, the Foreign Office confirmed. A spokesman said: "A group of demonstrators have trespassed in the British Embassy compound in north Tehran. "The situation has been resolved. All of our staff are safe and have been accounted for." He could not confirm reports from the IRNA news agency that the demonstrators were students protesting against what they see as British support for Israel's air strikes on Gaza or that the students tore down the British flag and hoisted a Palestinian standard in its place. The incident happened at 8.50pm local time and reports claimed that the occupation lasted about an hour. No one at the embassy was available for comment. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has been in crisis talks with European Union counterparts after a fourth day of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. He has insisted any ceasefire had to ensure Israel's security and reinforce the position of elected Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1103343/Protesters-storm-British-Embassy-Iran-protest-Gaza-strikes.html?ITO=1490 Protesters storm British Embassy in Iran to protest Gaza strikes By Ryan Kisiel Last updated at 11:05 AM on 31st December 2008 ? Comments (3) ? Add to My Stories A group of militant protesters stormed the compound of the British Embassy in Iran last night. Dozens of radical students who were angered at Israel's air strikes on Gaza, broke into the housing complex and tore down the Union flag. The mob then set fire to it along with an American and Israeli flags in Gholhak gardens. Storming the embassy: Iranian anti-riot police stop protestors demonstrating against the Israeli attacks on Gaza Protesters then hoisted a Palestinian flag in its place at the site's entrance before chanting for an hour at 8.45pm. The compound is the main housing area for British diplomats and their families. Iranian police officials were called and eventually removed them from the grounds in northern Tehran. It is believed that the fanatical university students believe that Britain backs Israel's air strikes in Gaza. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'A group of demonstrators have trespassed in the British Embassy compound in north Tehran. 'The situation has been resolved. All of our staff are safe and have been accounted for.' It is thought there are more than 20 British diplomats plus dozens of other officials including Iranian employees at the British embassy, headed by ambassador Geoffrey Adams. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has been in crisis talks with his European Union counterparts after a fourth day of Israeli missile attacks in Gaza. He has insisted any ceasefire had to ensure Israel's security and reinforce the position of elected Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. http://www.postchronicle.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=111&num=196663 Published: Dec 31, 2008 Share This Article | Send Us A Tip | Site Search Iran Protesters Breach British Embassy by Staff British authorities say everyone at the country's embassy in Tehran is safe after hundreds of Iranian radicals stormed and briefly entered the compound. The British Foreign Office said the "security breach" was contained quickly by Iranian police after hard-line Iranian students, who often stage noisy protests outside the British Embassy in Tehran, breached diplomatic territory and entered the compound Tuesday night, The Times of London reported. Protesting the Israeli military assault on Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of Iranian radicals stormed the compound, replacing the British flag with a Palestinian one, witnesses said. British officials said it was the first time in decades Iranian protesters have breached diplomatic territory. The Times said a hard-line Iranian news agency has indicated the protests against Britain and Egypt, whose embassy was also targeted Tuesday, would continue. http://www.agi.it/world/news/200812311154-cro-ren0019-art.html GAZA: BENETTON STORE BURNED IN TEHRAN IN PROTEST Print Send this article (AGI) - Tehran, 31 Dec. - A store from the Italian Benetton chain was burned in the early hours of the morning in Tehran as a sign of protest against the Israeli offensive in Gaza, reported 'Straits Times' in Singapore, quoting the Iranian 'Jomhuri Eslami'. According to the Iranian newspaper the gesture was meant to hit Benetton because it is connected to ''the Zionist network'', adding that the opening of the stores in Treviso ''caused numerous protests over the last two years''. The boutique is located in Dowlat Street, in the rich northern area of the Iranian capital. The Tehran fire brigade has opened an investigation. http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=615253 Anti-Israel protest targets US consulate in Pakistan Posted: 2009/01/11 From: Source Tens of thousands in cities across Europe, the Middle East and Asia demonstrated against Israel`s offensive in the Gaza Strip. by Ashraf Khan (AP) KARACHI, Pakistan ? Security forces used tear gas and batons to repel anti-Israel protesters who tried to attack a U.S. consulate in Pakistan on Sunday, as tens of thousands in cities across Europe, the Middle East and Asia demonstrated against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. A protest in the Belgian capital that drew 30,000 turned violent as well, with demonstrators overturning cars and smashing shop windows. And in Manila, Philippines, policemen used shields to disperse students protesting outside the U.S. Embassy. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza on Dec. 27 to stop rocket fire from the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Gaza health officials say nearly 870 Palestinians have been killed, roughly half of them civilians. Thirteen Israelis have also died. Some 2,000 protesters in the Pakistani port city of Karachi burned U.S. flags and chanted anti-Israel slogans, and several hundred of them marched on the U.S. Consulate, senior police official Ameer Sheikh said. "They were in a mood to attack," Sheikh said. "They were carrying bricks, stones and clubs." A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Islamabad, Lou Fintor, said the protesters did not get close to the consulate, which was closed Sunday. Washington provides a large amount of foreign aid to Israel as well as military and weapons assistance. Israeli military action is often perceived in the Muslim world as being financed and supported by the U.S. While Pakistan's government is a U.S. ally, anti-American sentiment is pervasive in the Muslim majority country. In Spain, as many as 100,000 people attended rallies in Madrid and the southwestern city of Seville, urging Israel to "Stop the massacre in Gaza" and calling for peace initiatives. Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos will tour the Middle East starting Monday to promote solutions to the conflict. An estimated 2,500 Lebanese and Palestinians meanwhile protested peacefully in downtown Beirut, waving Palestinian flags and calling on the international community to intervene in the Israeli attack. A convoy of some 15 ambulances from an Islamic medical society sounded their sirens for 20 seconds in solidarity with Gaza medics. Leftist participants set fire to a large Israeli flag, while children taking part in the protest held bloody dolls representing Palestinian children killed in Gaza. The death of children in the Gaza assault has become an enduring theme at protests. Children carrying effigies of bloody babies headed the march attended by thousands in Brussels, which later turned violent before police intervened with water cannons and arrested 10 protesters. Belgian lawmaker Richard Miller told Le Soir newspaper that he was hit in the face by a stone thrown by a demonstrator. Jewish communities appeared divided on the Israeli operations. In London, thousands of people gathered at Trafalgar Square to support the action in Gaza, while anti-Israeli protesters held a counter-demonstration nearby. In Antwerp, Belgium, home to a large Hassidic Jewish community, some 800 people took part in a peaceful pro-Israel demonstration. In a letter published in Britain's Observer newspaper Sunday, 11 leading British Jews urged Israel to end its Gaza campaign and negotiate a settlement for security reasons. "We are concerned that rather than bringing security to Israel, a continued military offensive could strengthen extremists, destabilize the region and exacerbate tensions inside Israel with its one million Arab citizens," the letter said. In Syria, as revolutionary songs blared from loudspeakers, demonstrators accused Arab leaders of being complicit in the Gaza assault. "Down, down with the Arab rulers, the collaborators," the crowd in Damascus shouted. Separately, activists protesting the Israeli campaign were driving from Turkey to Syria in a convoy of 200 cars, and participants hoped Syrian protesters would join them at the border Monday, according to Nezir Dinler, an activist with the Istanbul-based Solidarity Foundation. A few thousand people marched in largely peaceful pro-Palestinian rallies in the Italian cities of Rome, Naples and Verona. In Rome, municipal authorities were dispatched to erase graffiti ? including Stars of David and swastikas ? that had been scrawled on Jewish-owned stores and restaurants overnight. Associated Press Writers Zeina Karam in Beirut, Lebanon, Aoife White in Brussels, Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, Harold Heckle in Madrid, and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report. # http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/pakistan/2009/01/12/191596/Protesters-try.htm January 12, 2009 9:55 am TWN, AP Protesters try to attack the U.S. Consulate in Karachi KARACHI, Pakistan -- Police say a crowd tried to attack the U.S. Consulate building in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi during an anti-Israel protest, but security forces managed to repel them. Police say they fired tear gas shells and baton charged the crowd, forcing it to disperse. Pakistan has witnessed several protests against Israel due to its strikes on the Gaza Strip. Police official Ameer Sheikh says that during Sunday's protest, hundreds began marching toward the consulate. He says some were carrying bricks and sticks. Roads to the consulate building were blocked off. But the crowd managed to shove aside some metal barriers several hundred meters away. U.S. officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/1231/1230581503969.html Egyptian consulate stormed by protesters over Gaza blockade ADEN ? Yemeni protesters angered by Cairo?s co-operation with Israel in imposing a blockade on Gaza stormed the Egyptian consulate in the southern city of Aden yesterday, witnesses said. The protest comes after about 350 Palestinians were killed and more than 800 were wounded in three days of Israeli air strikes on the enclave, of which Egypt is the only other neighbour. Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said the incident at the consulate lasted 15 minutes. One witness said the protesters burned the Egyptian flag and hoisted a Palestinian banner on the building. ?Some of the protesters were able to enter the consulate and destroyed some property and papers,? another witness said, adding some of the protesters were Egyptian. The Egyptian government has been under attack for the past three days for helping Israel in the blockade on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for the past six months. The official Yemeni news agency said 20 Arabs, including some Sudanese, Iraqis and Palestinians, were arrested ?for attempting to enter the consulate?. Meanwhile, Gulf Arab leaders called yesterday for an end to Israel?s ?massacres? of Palestinians in Gaza but did not unite behind a Qatari call for an emergency Arab summit. A communique issued after a Gulf summit suggested that the US-allied rulers partly blamed Hamas for the violence, which Israel says the militant faction provoked by firing rockets at southern Israeli towns. ? (Reuters) This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200812300437DOWJONESDJONLINE000105_univ.xml Protesters Break Into Egypt Consulate In Yemen12-30-08 4:37 AM EST | E-mail Article | Print Article ADEN, Yemen (AFP)--Demonstrators in the Yemeni port city of Aden briefly broke into the Egyptian consulate Tuesday in a protest against Egypt's response to Israel's offensive against Gaza, a security official said. The protesters, who were mostly students from the university of Aden, " vandalized furniture before they were removed peacefully from the building," the official said. It wasn't clear if consular staff were in the building at the time of the protest but there were no reports of casualties. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051238.html Yemenites storm Egyptian consulate to protest Cairo's Gaza policy Yemeni protesters angered by Cairo's cooperation with Israel in imposing a blockade on Gaza stormed the Egyptian consulate in the southern city of Aden on Tuesday, witnesses said. The protest comes after about 350 Palestinians were killed and more than 800 were wounded in three days of Israeli air strikes on the enclave, of which Egypt is the only other neighbour. Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said the incident at the consulate was over and lasted 15 minutes. One witness said the protesters burned the Egyptian flag and hoisted a Palestinian banner on top of building. "Some of the protesters were able to enter the consulate and destroyed some property and papers," another witness said, adding that some of the protestors were Egyptian. The Egyptian government has been under attack for the past three days for helping Israel in the blockade on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for the past six months. The official Yemeni news agency said 20 Arabs, including some Sudanese, Iraqis and Palestinians, were arrested "for attempting to enter the consulate." It did not give details. The crisis over Gaza is the most serious foreign policy challenge the Egyptian government has faced for years because it is the only Arab country that borders Gaza. http://newsblaze.com/story/20081230092226zzzz.nb/topstory.html December 30,2008 Send to a friend Protesters in Yemen Storm Egyptian Consulate By The Media Line news agency Demonstrators against the Egyptian stand on Gaza turned violent as protesters in Yemen's second largest city 'Aden on Tuesday managed to storm the consulate, Zawya news agency reported. Other news agencies reported that hundreds of protesters, mainly students from the University of 'Aden, stormed the main gate of the building and climbed on the roof, setting the Egyptian flag on fire and replacing it with a Palestinian flag. There are no reports of casualties among the staff of the consulate. The incident was over in 15 minutes and afterwards the building was surrounded by Yemeni security forces. Among the people arrested were locals, as well as Iraqis, Sudanese, Palestinians and Egyptians. Egypt, which is the only Arab county that borders Gaza, has been fiercely criticized by both public figures such as Hizbullah leader Hasan Na'srallah and the "man on the street" for what they perceive as Egypt's green light for Israel's current military operations in Gaza. (c) 2008. The Media Line Ltd. All Rights Reserved. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/30/content_10581914.htm Angry Yemeni protesters storm Egyptian consulate for Cairo's role in Israeli offensive on Gaza Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts   SANAA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of angry protesters stormed the Egyptian consulate in southern Yemeni city Aden to protest against Cairo's role in the ongoing Israeli military offensive on Gaza. The protesters stormed the two-story consulate's front gate and threw computers from windows while setting fire to the Egyptian flag, said media reports reaching here from Aden. A Yemeni security official was quoted as saying that most of the protesters were local university students who were later removed peacefully from the building surrounded by heavy security forces. The incident caused no casualties, according to the reports. The Gaza Strip was under intensive Israeli air strikes for the four successive day on Tuesday, during which some 360 Palestinians have so far been killed in the powerful offensive which Israel said was aimed at halting nearly daily cross-border rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. However, many Arabs and Muslims are accusing Egypt of giving the green light to the Israeli assault on Gaza. http://yementimes.com/article.shtml?i=1220&p=front&a=1 Tens of thousands of Yemenis protest in solidarity with the people of Gaza ________________________________________ Salma Ismail Photos by Amira Al-Sharif SANA?A Dec. 28 ? The wave of anger that continues to sweep across the Arab and Muslim world was evident on the faces of the tens of thousands of Yemeni demonstrators that stood under the blazing sun in protest of the ongoing Israeli massacre of the Palestinians in Gaza which has so far killed almost 300 people and injured over 700. A number of Arab leaders have denounced and condemned the Israeli attack, which started on Saturday, with President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen among the first. Not only did he condemn the aggression, he also called for an urgent Arab Summit in effort to develop a unified stance against the siege and subsequent attacks. Saleh discussed the matter with a number of his Arab leaders including the Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the President of Syria Bashar Al-Assad, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, and President Omar Al-Beshir of Sudan. Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with air raids following the decision by Israel to increase retaliation for cross-border rocket attacks against Israel, and the breakdown of a six-month-old Israel-Hamas truce, brokered in Egypt, earlier this month. The ceasefire expired on December 19, with Hamas arguing that Israel had violated the truce by preventing vital food and medical supplies into the Strip. Massacre in Gaza According to medical resources in Gaza, the continuing Israeli bombardment of the impoverished Gaza Strip, has left no space left in the morgues and bodies were piled up in the emergency rooms and in the corridors, as many of the wounded screamed in pain. More than 230 targets have been hit with missiles fired from helicopter gunships and fighter jets since Israel launched Operation Cast Lead on Saturday. Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Brarak warned that the air raids could be followed by a major ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. Reaction in Yemen The demonstration in Yemen, which is so far the largest in the region and beyond, were backed by the ruling party, opposition groups and other organizations. In Yemen, banners and slogans that read; ?Where is humanity?s conscience? and ?We will not forget Gaza? amid photographs of past and present Palestinian leaders including Ismail Haniyeh, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Ismail Mughniyeh. In addition to photographs of women and children injured in the attacks. The grief was evident in the eyes of the Palestinian women from Saleh Sakan Foundation, Takaful Foundation, and Palestine Female Youth Association, Al-Quds foundation. As they called for Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas to take revenge and on Palestinian leaders to reply. They chanted, ?Hamas is our base and the crowns on our heads? Dr. Zienab, an Egyptian protester from Sana?a University dismissed the Egyptian stance and questioned the Arab, Islamic and the international communities? stance, ?We are an Islamic nation and the Sharia of Islam should guide us,? she said. Nada, a university student looking dazed asked, ?What can we do?? Yemen has called on the UN Security Council to intervene in order to prevent similar attacks in the future. Palestinian reaction In Damascus, top Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal called for a new Palestinian uprising, a third intifada, against Israel. He also said he was open to reconciliation with Abbas, but demanded that the Palestinian president cease negotiations with Israel. ?We will not leave our land, we will not raise white flags and we will not kneel except before God,? said Ismail Haniyeh. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and leader of the rival Fatah group, blamed the democratically- elected Hamas for the violence and traveled to Egypt to discuss the situation with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak. Hospitals, already suffering from shortages due to an 18-month blockade on the Gaza Strip, said they were struggling to cope with the number of injured, which included women and children. Director-general of ambulance and emergency service in Gaza Moaweya Hasanain said that hospitals of the Strip are suffering from a severe lack of medicines due to the Israeli siege on Gaza as they try to cope with this new catastrophe. Reaction elsewhere The presidents of Qatar, Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iran condemned the attacks. The Arab League will not meet to discuss a common response to the Israeli massacre until a summit in Doha, Qatar scheduled to take place on January 2. Foreign Ministers of Arab countries were also due to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday but the meeting was postponed until Wednesday. Arab League secretary-general, Amr Moussa said the delay was because many ministers were busy in separate meetings of two Arab regional groups - the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and the Maghreb Union. A non-binding statement on behalf of the 15-member United Nations Security Council called for an ?immediate halt to all violence? and on the parties involved in the conflict ?to stop immediately all military activities?. The statement also called for a re-opening of border crossings to allow humanitarian supplies to reach Palestinians in Gaza. The head of the GCC, which groups Washington?s regional allies, on Saturday, described the Israeli attacks as ?barbaric? and ?ugly?, and Saudi Arabia urged the United States to intervene to end the strikes. In Amman, 30 Jordanian lawmakers demanded the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. In London, protesters attacked the Israeli embassy. Demonstrations also took place across Iraq and Egypt. In Egypt, protestors blamed their president, Hosni Mubarak, for not preventing the aggression. The Hezbollah movement, which fought a 33-day war with Israel in 2006, has condemned the attacks as a ?war crime and a genocide that requires immediate action from the international community and its institutions?. European Union foreign policy Chief Javier Solana condemned Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel but also said that the Israeli airstrikes ?are inflicting an unacceptable toll on Palestinian civilians.? Leader of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, called the Israeli offensive a ?war crime.? A history of violations Israel responded to Hamas? win in the elections with sanctions, and almost completely blockaded the impoverished coastal strip after Hamas seized power in 2007, although a ?lighter? siege had already existed before. Human rights groups, both international and Israeli, slammed Israel?s siege of Gaza, branding it ?collective punishment.? A group of international lawyers and human rights activists had also accused Israel of committing ?genocide? through its crippling blockade of the Strip. Gaza remains under Israeli occupation as Israel controls air, sea and land access to the Strip. The Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gaza?s sole border crossing that bypasses Israel, rarely opens as Egypt is under immense US and Israeli pressure to keep the crossing shut. Fatah has little administrative say in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and has no power in Arab east Jerusalem, both of which were illegally occupied by Israel in 1967. Israel also currently occupies the Lebanese Shebaa Farms and the Syrian Golan Heights. http://www2.canada.com/cityguides/toronto/info/story.html?id=1130529 Protesters, police clash near Arab meeting in Cairo ?O Mubarak, how many dollars did you sell Gaza for?? protesters shout at Egyptian president Aziz El-Kaissouni, Reuters Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 CAIRO - Thousands of protesters shouting slogans in support of Hamas and Gaza Palestinians clashed with riot police in Cairo on Wednesday, and the opposition Muslim Brotherhood said several hundred of its members were detained. "They took between 500 and 600. They were detained as they arrived at the protest area," said Brotherhood member of parliament Mohamed El-Beltagui, who was present at the protests. Security sources gave the number detained as between 37 and 50. Egyptian riot police beat the protesters with batons after losing control of sections of the crowd, and the protesters, mostly Islamists, managed to push through parts of the police cordon to join others. Some of the protesters threw objects at the police outside the Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate, which along with the nearby Journalists Syndicate is one of the few places where the Egyptian authorities regularly allow demonstrations. Many of the protesters held up copies of the Koran and shouted: "On Gaza we will march, martyrs by the millions," and "We are all Hamas." Others chanted demanding the opening of the Rafah crossing, or against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "O Mubarak, how many dollars did you sell Gaza for?" they chanted, and "O Mubarak, are you with us or against us?" Mubarak has been under pressure for helping enforce Israel's blockade of Gaza, one of the main grievances cited by Hamas when it chose not to renew a ceasefire with Israel. Arab ministers were meeting at the Arab League headquarters one kilometre away from the protest to seek a common position on Israeli attacks which have killed more than 385 people in Gaza since they started on Saturday. Many Arabs have been looking for Egypt, the most populous Arab country and the first to sign a peace treaty with the Jewish state, to do more to end the assault on Gaza or alleviate the effects of the blockade. Mubarak has explicitly ruled out opening the Rafah crossing in the absence of the Palestinian Authority and European Union observers, saying that to do so would entrench the de facto separation between the West Bank and Gaza, and allow Israel to relinquish its legal responsibilities as an occupying power. Smaller protests were held in at least two Egyptian provinces, with police using force in one demonstration to disperse a group of women protesters from the Brotherhood. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BU2TH20081231 Protesters, police clash near Arab meeting in Cairo Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:52am EST CAIRO (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters shouting slogans in support of Hamas and the Gaza Palestinians clashed with riot police in Cairo on Wednesday as Arab foreign ministers held an emergency meeting down the road. Egyptian riot police beat protesters with batons after losing control of sections of a crowd which witnesses estimated at 1,000 people, many of them Islamists. Some of the protesters threw objects at the police outside the Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate and the nearby Journalists Syndicate, two of the few places where the Egyptian authorities regularly allow demonstrations. Some of the protesters held up copies of the Koran and shouted: "On Gaza we will march, martyrs by the millions, we are all Hamas." Others chanted: "Rule by the Koran." The Arab ministers were meeting at the Arab League headquarters one km (half a mile) away to seek a common position on Israeli attacks which have killed more than 385 people in Gaza since they started on Saturday. (Writing by Jonathan Wright; Editing by Katie Nguyen) http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/01/10/egypt-civil-disobedience-and-protests-over-gaza/ Egypt: Civil disobedience and protests over Gaza Saturday, January 10th, 2009 @ 21:42 UTC by Eman AbdElRahman Since the beginning of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on December 27, and Egyptian street has been boiling with angry calls to open up the Gaza border and demanding the government to put more pressure to reach an immediate ceasefire. Few people joined protests, others joined relief convoys or participated in collecting donations and organising campaigns, while others preferred to contributing to the ongoing war online. On one hand, Salma Eldwardany discussed street reactions and protests in Egypt since the beginning of the Israeli attack, where significant clashes between Egyptian security forces and protesters downtown began on December 31: In Cairo, several thousand Egyptians marched through downtown Cairo on December 31, chanting phrases such as, ?Off to Gaza we go, martyrs by the million,? ?Where is the Egyptian army?? and ?Shame on you Mubarak?. [?] Security forces began dispersing the crowds by force, and least 40 demonstrators were detained. Scores of others were beaten. [?] Various sources confirmed that at least 300 activists were detained in Cairo on December 31, with over 160 activists arrested in train stations and cars on their way in to Egypt?s capital. Between detained protesters to being beaten up in the streets, Egyptians didn't give up and joined the largest demonstrations, which prompted a harsher security response. On Friday, January 2, two days after the police crackdown in Cairo, Egyptians took to the streets for the largest demo against the Israeli offensive. The rally, organized by the Muslim Brotherhood, began near the Al Fatah Mosque in Cairo and urged the Egyptian government to open the border between Gaza and Egypt. Special Forces units were mobilized and stationed on the street corners that led to various demonstration sites, and in the early afternoon, Egyptian police moved in to crush the dissent throughout the city. Eyewitnesses said that riot police used sticks to beat protesters in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Egyptian police also seized three of the biggest downtown mosques before Friday prayers: Al-Fatah and Al-Azhar in Islamic Cairo, and Al-Nour Mosque in Elabbassyia district in northern Cairo. Police cordoned the downtown area with more than 200 vehicles. Police also warned religious leaders at the Al-Fatah mosque against talking about Gaza during Friday prayers, witnesses said, also mentioning the spread of the state security laboratory on the roofs of buildings along Ramsis Street. Still, about 5,000 protesters gathered at Al-Azhar mosque after Friday prayers, carrying placards that said, ?Shame upon you, Arabs of silence.? Central Security troops eventually entered the mosque with eyewitness accounts counting some 15-security vehicles surrounding streets around the mosque. Police attacked the demonstrators and dozens of arrests were made including at least 40 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood who prepared for the Friday demonstrations. Protests were not limited only to Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, but erupted throughout Egypt all the way from Alexandria to Minya, Assiut, Sohag Fayoum, Suez, Dakahliya, Qalubia, Port Said, Kafr El-Sheikh, Aswan, Munufeya and al- Arish. Egyptian security forces have also been targeting journalists as protests have continued unabated since Israel began its attack. About 200 journalists and activists have so far been arrested while covering the mass protests. Protests were also not limited to artists or prominent activists or Muslim brotherhood party, but students and professors anger erupted everywhere. Salma continues: Student demonstrations have also been taking place on campuses all over Egypt. Trade unionists, professors and students held mass demonstrations to condemn what they called the ?Israeli war machine? and ?The silence of the Arab states.? A series of demonstrations have been held at Cairo University, but the security presence has been heavy with Egyptian authorities worried the students would take their anger to the nearby Israeli embassy. Some 800 Muslim Brotherhood students at Helwan University have staged a continuous demonstration in solidarity with Gaza, and at Al-Azhar University more then 4,000 students have protested over the last week despite a heavy security presence that has prevented them from hitting the streets. Ain Shams University was also the scene of two rallies this past week, one led by Dr. Ahmed Zaki Badr, President of the University, and the second by the Muslim Brotherhood student association. Then she concludes it all with the a glimpse at the other diverse civic reaction: As with protests throughout the Arab world, the demonstrations in Egypt have been diverse with people from a wide range of backgrounds taking part - secularists, Islamists, leftists, university students, journalists and others Hundreds of artists, actors and writers organized a protest in Elgiza last week condemning the Israeli aggression. Protesters demanded an immediate halt to the export of Egyptian gas to Israel and expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. Khaled Elsawy, writer Fathia Elassal and Professor Ahmed Sakhsookh were some of the artists participating in the protest. The Bar Association and the Medical Association have also organized demonstrations, and the Egyptian Popular Committee for Solidarity signed a petition demanding that Egyptian authorities open the Rafah crossing, the expulsion of the Ambassador of Israel. The group has also called for the cessation of all forms of normalization with Israel, and they announced they would organize a convoy of relief to be sent to Gaza. Meanwhile, Bjorklund, a Scandinavian activist living in Egypt, took part in a solidarity convoy to Rafah along with around 100 Egyptians and foreign activists. It was organized by the Egyptian Popular Committee for Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in order to demand the complete opening of the Egyptian-Gaza border. Though the convey did not reach the borders, however with a clever use of civil disobedience the caravan almost reached el-Arish before being turned back. According to the organizers this is closer to Rafah than any solidarity convoy of this scale has reached since 2004. He started to explain: The group of activists managed to force three checkpoints by staging sit-ins in the street, effectively blocking traffic and causing panic among the police as trailer trucks and minibuses lined up from both directions. At the fourth checkpoint however, about halfway between the Suez canal and el-Arish, state security officers was present. After forcing the reporters of two TV-channels to turn back to Cairo - for reasons that soon became obvious - they allowed the convoy the continue with a police escort. While many of the activists at this point felt they had won the battle and were about to enter el-Arish, this soon turned out to be a trap. 10-20 kilometers before el-Arish, in the middle of the desert, the road was blocked by 4 central security trucks and a small army of police in full riot gear, including some with rifles probably loaded with rubber bullets or tear gas. With no TV cameras or witnesses present, the activists feared (and rightly so) that they would be assaulted as soon as they stepped down from the bus. Some wanted to get out anyway, but the bus driver refused to stop or open the door. Shouting ?I can't, I can't? he turned the bus around, clearly horrified by the scene and knowing he was risking as much as the activists - or more - despite having nothing do to with the convoy. While most of the participants had expected to be turned back by the police and several have plenty of experience of being arrested at demonstrations, many were chocked by this show of force, and terrified by the prospect of being surrounded by riot police and plainclothes officers in the middle of the desert. And even those who would have preferred to try and at least make a symbolic stand in front of the bus feared this would only lead to the loss of all photo and movie material taken on the trip so far. At the end of the trip, contributors had mixed feelings. Bjorklund continues: On the way back to Cairo the mood on the bus consisted of mixed feelings of achievement - for reaching further than previous convoys - and anger and frustration. ?The thing that makes me most angry,? leftist blogger and digital design artist Mohamed Gaber explained, ?is the fact that we celebrate the return of Sinai [after the 1973 October war] as a great victory, but still it doesn't belong to the people.? At last, in her last post another Qualm, Egy Diva sums up her feelings towards the current Egyptian situation saying: And when I read about thousands of demonstrations going on all over Egypt, spreading outside of Cairo, to Domyat to Sohag to Alexandria, I am impressed and I think I am wondering if I am filled with hope. But then I read that the Egyptian police dispersed these demonstrations with tear gas and electric batons, they beat the demonstrations apart, I dont think of Gaza. I think what the f***? and I think did anyone just notice that? And I think it should have its own article, it should be every article in every national newspaper. No, I think, in this convulated debate, Egyptian brutality in repressing demonstrations about Gaza shouldnt be engulfed in a piece about Gaza, and again I am pressed to think: so what about Gaza?..and it keeps. spirals, and spirals away. http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-01/2009-01-03-voa3.cfm?CFID=164157851&CFTOKEN=39653795&jsessionid=8430ab33e5d8b1d542763774572f6f121d13 Hundreds Protest Closed Egypt-Gaza Border By Jessica Desvarieux Cairo 03 January 2009 Egyptian security face protestors, who attempted to take to the streets after Friday prayers in Cairo, 2 Jan. 2009 Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood opposition group called for mass protests against the government's response to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza but police moved to quell street protests over the issue. Fights between police officers and protesters broke out in Cairo, Friday, and dozens of arrests were reported. In Egypt, about 400 people gathered near the Al Fatah Mosque in Cairo to protest the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza and to get the Egyptian government to open the border between Gaza and Egypt. With tears in his eyes, one demonstrator says Egypt should open its border to help its Palestinian brothers, the injured, the sick. He says he cannot watching television reports of the violence and remain calm. He asks to remain anonymous to protect himself from possible Egyptian government reprisal. Security officials say Egyptian police arrested at least 40 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood as they prepared for the demonstrations Friday against Israel's actions in Gaza. So far more, than 400 Palestinians have been killed in the assault, which Israel launched in response to a series of rocket attacks by Hamas militants in Gaza. Jordanian demonstrators hold a Palestinian flag during a protest near the Israeli embassy in Amman, 30 Dec 2008 The demonstrations in Cairo were just one of the many protests in the Muslim world from the Philippines to Jordan. But in Cairo, the government moved in quickly to restrict the demonstrations. Fights erupted between police and protesters, but the security forces quickly prevailed. Officers in civilian clothing loaded protesters on to large police trucks and hauled them away. Police also prevented demonstrations near Cairo's historic Al-Azhar mosque. One Cairo taxi driver says his passengers have been complaining all week about the government's position concerning the Gaza violence. He says the Egyptian government should do more to help the Palestinian struggle. He said if all the Islamic countries united, they would would achieve something. Palestinians should be Palestinians! Not Hamas Palestinians or Fatah Palestinians. With Israel still continuing air strikes into Gaza, and Hamas sending rockets into Israel, the tension in Egypt isn't likely to simmer down any time soon. http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2446429,00.html 20 000 in anti-Israel protest 28/12/2008 15:51 - (SA) l Cairo - Around 20 000 people took to the streets of Egyptian cities on Sunday to protest against the killing of more than 280 Palestinians in 24 hours of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. The largest protest saw around 8 000 people demonstrate on the streets of Assiut, a city in southern Egypt of 400 000, a security official said, with another 3 000 gathering in Minya, south of Cairo. A security official said 4 000 people took part in another anti-Israel and pro-Gaza demonstration in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, the security official said. Another 4 000 people rallied outside the Doctors' Syndicate in the capital against the Israeli onslaught that has also wounded more than 600 Palestinians in the isolated enclave on Egypt's northeastern border. "Where is the Arab army?" some demonstrators shouted in Minya, calling for the Israeli embassy in Cairo to be shut down as other demonstrators burned the Israeli flag. Many of the demonstrators across Egypt were members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest opposition group from which Hamas, the target of Israel's air strikes, evolved. - AFP http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=240483 35 Cairo protesters arrested Posted on ? Sunday, January 18, 2009 CAIRO: Egyptian police arrested 35 people, including four journalists, at a downtown Cairo protest against Israel's war in Gaza yesterday. Anti-riot police were deployed in strength to deal with the protest by around 1,000 people, mostly members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood opposition group. The group, of which Hamas is an offshoot, said on their website that around 2,000 people attended the protest. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/fifty-arrested-for-organising-protests-1228138.html Fifty arrested for organising protests By Hadeel Al-Shalchi, Associated Press, in Cairo Tuesday, 6 January 2009 Police have arrested 50 members of the opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood for organising protests in Cairo against Israel's military incursion into the Gaza Strip. Fifty arrested for organising protests By Hadeel Al-Shalchi, Associated Press, in Cairo Tuesday, 6 January 2009 Police have arrested 50 members of the opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood for organising protests in Cairo against Israel's military incursion into the Gaza Strip. A security official said that yesterday's arrests followed calls by the outlawed Brotherhood to its members and to other opposition groups to stage more demonstrations to protest against the Israeli offensive. Demonstrations have been held across Egypt since Israel moved its troops into Gaza on 27 December. In some cases, police have clashed with protesters and made arrests. The country has a border with Gaza, where more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and about 2,000 wounded as a result of the Israeli offensive. Israel says the objective of the incursion is to prevent Palestinian fighters from firing rockets at its southern towns. Hamas, the militant Palestinian organisation that runs the Gaza Strip, has ideological ties to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the country's strongest opposition group. The arrests in Cairo, however, did not stop some 3,500 Muslim Brotherhood members from taking to the streets in the city of Assiut, some 200 miles south of the Egyptian capital, yesterday. The protesters chanted anti-Israel slogans and blocked off the city's main roads. Large numbers of riot police were deployed in the city, but there were no reports of clashes or arrests. Protesters throughout the Arab world have been criticising Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian President, and other Arab governments for failing to take a stronger stand against Israel. http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200901051141DOWJONESDJONLINE000291_univ.xml 50 Arrested Trying To Stage Gaza Protest in Egypt - Official1-5-09 11:41 AM EST | E-mail Article | Print Article CAIRO (AFP)--Egyptian police on Monday rounded up 50 members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood trying to demonstrate against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, with around 400 Islamists arrested in recent days. The Islamists were trying to stage a demonstration on a central Cairo square when riot police prevented them, a security official said. The group moved away to a less central part of the city and 50 were arrested. Senior Brotherhood official Essam al-Aryan told AFP that around 400 Islamists arrested since Israel launched its punishing offensive on the Gaza Strip 10 days ago remain in prison. Last year, dozens of Islamists were arrested trying to send relief convoys to the Gaza Strip, where Israel imposed a blockade after Hamas seized power. The Rafah crossing, which Egypt has refused to open permanently, is the only passage to the coastal strip not controlled by Israel. The Muslim Brotherhood is banned by the government but fielded independent candidates in 2005 parliamentary elections, winning a fifth of seats despite fraud and police intervention. After the group's success in the election, in which it contested a limited number of seats, arrests of its supporters have increased. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L2200129.htm Egypt police hold Islamists ahead of Gaza protests 02 Jan 2009 09:44:19 GMT Source: Reuters CAIRO, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Egyptian police detained 20 members of the Muslim Brotherhood on Friday, security officials said, the same day the opposition group called for mass demonstrations to protest at the Israeli offensive on Gaza. The Brotherhood, Egypt's strongest opposition group, said police rounded up at least nine members in four provinces. "The campaign (of arrests) is still going on," the group said on its website (www.ikhwanonline.org). The Brotherhood has historical and ideological ties with Hamas Islamists who rule the Gaza Strip. The group has been leading a broad campaign to end the Israeli-led blockade on the coastal strip. The Islamist group called for mass protests nationwide outside mosques after Friday's prayers. Israel says the attacks, which have killed more than 400 people, are designed to stop Hamas from firing rockets on towns in southern Israel. The Egyptian government, which says the Brotherhood is outlawed but allows it to operate, is wary that the group may attract more popular support by extending help to the Palestinians and criticising Arab states for not doing enough to stop the violence. (Writing by Alaa Shahine) http://www.metimes.com/International/2009/01/06/pro-gaza_protesters_in_cairo_turn_anti-mubarak/5435/ Pro-Gaza Protesters in Cairo Turn Anti-Mubarak By JOSEPH MAYTON (Middle East Times) Published: January 06, 2009 DEMONSTRATORS BARE THEIR SOLES -- Demonstrators take to the streets in Cairo early Monday here at the Press Syndicate, and at other venues, to condemn the Israeli war on Gaza and the government of President Hosni Mubarak for alleged collusion with Israel. (Photo by Joseph Mayton) TOOLBAR Print Story Add Comments CAIRO -- Whatever hope may have been growing over the relatively quiet weekend in the minds of state officials that street demonstrations in Cairo linking the Hosni Mubarak government with the Israeli offensive into Gaza would weaken were dispelled early and often Monday. Three separate protests, each organized by three distinct entities, revealed that Gaza is strong on Egyptian minds. The first, a sit-in at the American University in Cairo (AUC), saw tens of students carrying Palestinian flags. Young students in Egypt are a main driving force in the current stream of activism taking place across campuses in the country. The students prayed together. Their Facebook group AUCians for Gaza has drawn a large number of hits. In a sign of the Egyptian government's attempts to curtail demonstrations, security forces were quick to remove journalists from peering in on their activities. Forcing out a number of reporters from the area, the police said it was "forbidden for outsiders to speak with students." Nearby the downtown campus a much larger demonstration, organized by the Muslim Brotherhood, was beginning. Some 400 protesters took to an open space in front of the government's Mugama'a administration building ? a massive Soviet-style structure ? in downtown Cairo's Tahrir Square. "It is time to step on Israel," was one of the chants decried by the protesters, who had emerged from the underground metro station nearby, taking security forces by surprise. The gathering waved a large Palestinian flag. A violent confrontation was expected at the demonstration, but police were quick to surround the demonstrators and bar everyone, including press, from the immediate area. A circle of soldiers engulfed the massing of protesters. When the Middle East Times pressed to enter the area in order to talk with demonstrators, security used force, saying "we [security] have clear orders not to allow anyone in. Press is not allowed." The officer, who called himself Omar, without giving a surname, added "if you take a picture, we have orders to arrest you and take the camera if we must. Those are my orders." In the past, Egyptian security have been quick to allow journalists, especially foreign reporters, to enter the area around demonstrations, but with the growing success of Brotherhood power following the Israeli attack on Gaza, Cairo appears ready to force out all coverage of the demonstrations. After an hour of chanting and flag waving, the hundreds of demonstrators peacefully left the area without an altercation with police. According to a few activists, at least two Brotherhood members have been detained, although this is unconfirmed as of Monday evening. A little over an hour later, more than 100 activists from Egypt's leftist movement, including members of the opposition Kifaya (Enough) movement, gathered on the steps of the Press Syndicate in the day's final pro-Gaza demonstration. Although the main focus of the protest was support for Gaza, including chants that "Hamas is not a terrorist organization" and "resistance is not terrorism," the demonstration spiraled into an anti-President Hosni Mubarak protest at times. There were chants of "down with Hosni Mubarak" and a number of cries for the interior ministry to leave activists alone. The main focus of the demonstration, however, was not lost, as toward the end of the festivities, an Israeli flag was burned to the cheers of supporters. The activists also called on Egypt to do more to end the violence and death that has plagued the Palestinian territory since Israel began its offensive on Dec. 27. "We call on Mubarak to open the Rafah border and allow for Palestinians to be safe," one activist told the Middle East Times. Activism and protests have been an almost daily occurrence across Egypt, where the role of the Egyptian government's alleged knowledge of Israel's actions beforehand has been questioned by many, including both the Brotherhood and left-leaning activists. "It shows that the government is afraid of us and that is why they use so much violence against us when we are protesting against Israel. They are afraid of the truth we know about them," said Ahmed, a Brotherhood supporter, who asked that his surname remain anonymous due to security concerns. Across the region, Arabs have been frustrated by what they view as a muted response from their leaders. In Cairo, this is no different, and with the massive police presence and removal of journalists from the area it appears the Egyptian government is looking to stem the media coverage of demonstrations that until now, have been largely anti-Israeli, but as evidenced by Monday evening's protest at the Press Syndicate, can turn anti-government rather quickly. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L9424067.htm Egyptian protesters, police clash in Gaza protests 09 Jan 2009 15:06:32 GMT Source: Reuters By Yusri Mohamed EL ARISH, Egypt, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Egyptian demonstrators pelted police with stones in the Sinai peninsula on Friday when officers tried to break up a protest against Israel's offensive in Gaza, security sources and witnesses said. Thousands demonstrated in other Egyptian cities after Friday prayers, demanding Egypt open its border with Gaza to help supply food and medicine, but protests were dispersed by police. Five members of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood were detained when they tried to protest outside downtown Cairo's al-Azhar mosque, a major seat of Sunni learning, security sources who did not give their names told Reuters. About 1,500 protesters outside the Rafae mosque in the coastal city of El Arish threw stones at police trying to stop the demonstration, injuring three. Police beat demonstrators with batons. Some demanded Egypt expel Israel's ambassador. Demonstrators in downtown Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast, shouted slogans against Israel and in support of Hamas. "We are very angry about the dead people, the women, and the children, in Gaza," said Hassan Ismail, 40. "We are asking the Egyptian government to open the Rafah border crossing and we are asking that food and supplies as well as weapons be sent to Hamas." Some held up fake rockets in a show of support for Hamas. Israel says it wants to stop rockets fired into its territory by Hamas militants who control Gaza. Medical officials say the Palestinian death toll is at least 783, more than a third children. Ten Israeli soldiers have been killed and Palestinian rockets have killed three Israeli civilians. Israel pushed on with the offensive on Friday, ignoring the U.N. Security Council's call for an immediate ceasefire. Egyptian protesters temporarily blocked a bridge over Egypt's Suez Canal after security forces refused to let them cross over toward the border with Gaza. "We are a people's convoy demanding that the Egyptian government open the border," said Salma Said, 23. She said the group of about 100 protesters, including French, English, and Americans, were later allowed to continue towards Rafah, where they hoped to demonstrate. The Egyptian government says opening its Rafah crossing fully without the presence of the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza would give legitimacy to Hamas' rule in Gaza. In the Nile Delta town of Tanta, Egyptian police broke up a 1,500 strong protest after prayers, security sources said. (Additional reporting and writing by Will Rasmussen) http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=265662&version=1&template_id=37 50,000 Egyptians stage protest amid worldwide fury over Gaza Protesters burn an Israeli flag and hit it with shoes during a demonstration in Kuwait City yesterday ALEXANDRIA, Egypt: More than 50,000 Egyptians rallied after Friday prayers to condemn Israel?s ongoing assault against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in the biggest such protest of the day worldwide. Legislators affiliated with the opposition Muslim Brotherhood led the protest in the ancient Mediterranean port city that echoed to such slogans as ?Down with Israel and with every collaborator.? The anger was directed not only at the Jewish state, but at Arab regimes deemed to be complicit in the ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza that has stopped refugees from getting out and humanitarian aid from getting in. ?Gaza, excuse us ? opening Rafah is not in our hands,? went another slogan, referring to the Gaza-Egyptian border crossing that President Hosni Mubarak?s government in Cairo is refusing to keep open permanently. A security official put the turnout at 50,000. Riot police were seen by an AFP correspondent in Alexandria trying to prevent the demonstration from taking place ? only to give up because of the sheer numbers of protesters. In the Egyptian capital, riot police foiled demonstrations outside a number of mosques after the ministry of religious affairs instructed imams not to refer to Gaza in their sermons. ?They were warned to stay away from the Hamas topic and not to incite the masses,? the security official said, adding that 35 opposition activists had been arrested in the morning. In Kuwait, around 3,000 gathered outside parliament and the seat of government, shouting ?shame, shame? against Arab inaction vis-a-vis Gaza. In Jordan, police stopped more than 2,000 demonstrators from reaching the Israeli embassy in the capital Amman. The crowd had set off from Friday prayers at the Kaloti mosque, about 1km away. The protesters ? wearing chequered Palestinian keffiyehs (scarves), and carrying Palestinian and Jordanian flags ? chanted ?No Israeli embassy on Arab territory? and ?Arab rulers are cowards.? Unable to reach the embassy, protesters instead set up a symbolic cemetery in memory of the nearly 800 killed so far in Gaza, with the word ?Gazan? scrawled on each mock grave. http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=163479 Turkey-Israel basketball game suspended after Gaza protests A basketball game between Turkish team T?rk Telekom and Israeli team Bnei Hasharon was suspended on Tuesday after Turkish fans erupted in protest against the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. The referee suspended the match between T?rk Telekom and Bnei Hasharon, part of a European basketball championship, and ordered the players back to the dressing room after hundreds of T?rk Telekom fans began chanting ?Israel, killers!? and ?God is great? in an Ankara sports arena. The players of T?rk Telekom also withdrew to their dressing rooms amid the chaos. Turkish fans hurled coins and other objects at Israeli players, and one fan threw his shoe at some Israeli players, but police used riot shields to protect them. Bnei Hasharon refused to start the contest an hour and a half later, though police said they had cleared the arena. A disciplinary judge in the Union of European Basketball Leagues (ULEB) will review the situation and make a final ruling. Under league rules, the refusal to play a game by a team can be sanctioned, and the opposing team can be declared as the winner of the game by 20-0. A group of citizens gathered earlier outside the sports arena and protested the match, setting an Israeli flag on fire. The group, made up of members of the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUMDER) and the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (?HH), made a statement to the press before the match. The group?s spokesperson said: ?While Israel is bombing ambulances and health care centers in the Gaza Strip, the so-called human rights defender European Union remains silent. History will remember those supporting this violence with a curse.? Although the group tried to enter the arena, they were not allowed to by police, and they continued their protests until the game was suspended. The Israeli team departed from Ankara early Wednesday via the Ankara Esenbo?a Airport and came to ?stanbul amid strict security measures. The team flew to Tel Aviv from ?stanbul Atat?rk Airport. In the meantime, the Israeli press covered the suspension of the match as ?Terror in Turkey for Bnei Hasharon.? The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli newspaper, reported that the team had witnessed ?terror.? Bnei Hasharon captain Meir Tapiro also said the players were very frightened. ?They threw shoes, cigarette lighters, water bottles. We were holed up in the dressing room with police protection,? Tapiro told Israeli Channel 5 television. The Israelis were angered by the possibility that the game would be awarded as a technical victory to T?rk Telekom because Bnei Hasharon refused to start the contest an hour and a half later, after police said they had cleared the arena. Bnei Hasharon Chairman Eldad Akunis said the decision would be scandalous. ?After such a trying ordeal, there was simply no point in playing. The players were just concerned for their safety,? Akunis said. ?We were also given instructions by the Israeli Embassy staff, who were monitoring the situation, not to play.? 08 January 2009, Thursday TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES ?STANBUL http://english.sina.com/world/2009/0104/209129.html Israeli offensive against Gaza protested throughout Turkey 2009-01-04 15:33:05 GMT2009-01-04 23:33:05 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English ANKARA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people on Sunday joined demonstrations across Turkey to protest against the Israeli raids on Gaza, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported. Political parties and non-governmental organizations held demonstrations in different provinces protesting the Israeli strikes, according to the report. Thousands of people attended the demonstrations, chanting slogans and carrying banners condemning Israel and demanding an immediate halt to Israeli bombing in Gaza Strip, said the report, adding that some protesters burnt Israeli flags and effigies. The report said the Felicity Party held a rally in Istanbul to protest against the Israeli incursion and Turkish security forces took tight measures during the rally. Nearly 500 people have been killed and thousands of others injured since the beginning of Israeli offensive against Gaza on Dec. 27. http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=163482 Thousands march in Taksim to protest Gaza attack Nearly 4,000 people from the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (T?rk-??) and a number of NGOs protested Israel?s ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip along ?stiklal Street in Taksim on Wednesday. Having gathered at T?nel Square, demonstrators marched towards Taksim Square protesting the Israeli attacks. The group made a statement to the press and demanded that the government cancel all agreements with Israel. Several people held a huge banner reading ?We curse Israel?s ferocity.? Protestors also chanted ?We stand shoulder-to-shoulder against cruelty,? ?Murderer Israel, leave the Middle East? and ?Israel will be drowned in the blood of martyrs.? http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/12/28/turkey-anti-israel-protests/ Turkey: Anti-Israel Protests Sunday, December 28th, 2008 @ 03:23 UTC by Deborah Ann Dilley Erkan's Field Diary posts photos of the anti-Israel protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square in response to recent attacks on Palestinians. http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=163032 Thousands of Turks protest Israeli strikes on Gaza Turkish news agencies report that thousands of people have gathered outside mosques across the country to protest Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Some 5,000 people denounced the raids outside a mosque in ?stanbul after Friday prayers, burning Israeli and U.S. flags and reciting funeral prayers for the victims. The state-run Anatolia news agency says similar protests were held in several other Turkish cities. Turkey has strongly criticized Israel for its airstrikes and has warned the battle threatens to escalate into a wider crisis across the region. Turkey is Israel's closest ally in the region. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an is working on a plan to try to end the violence. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081228014727.366e9oe1p6&show_article=1 A Turkish muslim holds a Palestinian flag during a protest in Istanbul A Turkish muslim holds a Palestinian flag during a protest in Istanbul on December 27. Israeli warplanes have hammered targets in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for rocket fire, killing at least 228 people in one of the bloodiest days of the decades-long Middle East conflict. http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=163082 ?stanbul prepares for mass protest against Israel on Sunday Thousands of people protested Israel in ?stanbul?s Beyaz?t Square after Friday prayers. ?stanbul's ?a?layan Square will tomorrow be venue for a mass demonstration in protest of Israel's ongoing bombing raids in Gaza, with around 200 non-governmental organizations expected to participate in the demonstration. Teoman R?za G?neri, deputy chairman of the Saadet (Felicity) Party which has arranged the demonstration, said yesterday that they aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinian people through this demonstration. G?neri added that they expected 1 million people's participation in the demonstration to which they also invited officials from the Palestinian government. He said Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya television channels will live broadcast the demonstration at the ?a?layan Square. As of yesterday, protests were also held after Friday prayers in many cities around Turkey against Israel's assault, which has killed more than 400 people. At Beyaz?t Square of ?stanbul, around 10,000 people gathered after Friday prayer. After performing funeral pray in absentia for Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks, some protesters burned Israel and US flags, while the crowd shouted slogans as saying: "Damn on Israel, salute to Hamas, continue to resistance;" "Murderer Israel, get out of Palestine;" "Government, do not sleep and support Palestine." Some of the protesters at the Beyaz?t Square were carrying toy babies in blood, symbolizing babies killed in Gaza. At another place in ?stanbul, in G?ztepe district, hundreds of students at the Marmara University held a marching against Israel, while carrying banners against Israel. Marmara University Rector Necla Pur led the group which called on the UN, Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League for urgent action in support of Palestinians. In the capital of Ankara, a group shouted slogans against Israel after they left the Hac? Bayram Mosque following Friday pray. "It is not possible for us to remain silent to this acute brutality and genocide," a press statement read out by a member of the group said, urging the government to suspend its diplomatic, commercial and military relations with Israel. In Kayseri, a group performed funeral pray in absentia for killed Gazans following Friday pray that they performed at the Hunat Mosque. The group shouted "Allahu akbar," Arabic for "God is great" as well as slogans against Israel and the United States. In Denizli, members of a group of NGOs held a demonstration following the Friday pray, as they carried banners with photographs of Palestinians killed in Gaza. In Hatay, a group of demonstrators also performed funeral prays in absentia for Gazans killed in the latest attacks, while shouting "Allahu akbar." http://www.topnews.in/turks-protest-israeli-invasion-gaza-2104491 Turks protest Israeli invasion of Gaza Submitted by Mohit Joshi on Sun, 01/04/2009 - 12:18. Istanbul - Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Istanbul Sunday to protest Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip. To the backdrop of large screens broadcasting Al-Jazeera news reports of Israeli ground operations, the protesters in Caglayan Square on the European side of the city shouted "death to Israel" and "we are all Palestinians". "We are here to share our feelings with the Palestinians", a young man at the rally told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. The Turkish Foreign Ministry meanwhile called on Israel immediately to halt operations. "Once again we call on Israel to put an end to its military actions before the region becomes more precarious," the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement. "It is evident that raising tensions will not serve efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region. Attempts to find a solution to the problem through military methods will not yield any results except for causing more bloodshed and more tears," the statement said. Meanwhile, police stepped up security near prominent synagogues in Istanbul Sunday and erected metal barriers around the house of Turkey's chief rabbi. There were also small protests in Ankara Sunday outside the Israeli embassy. (dpa) http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/30/content_10581910.htm Turkish-Israeli inter-parliamentary friendship group officials resign in protest of Israeli air raid over Gaza Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts ANKARA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has resigned from the Turkish-Israeli Inter-Parliamentary friendship group over the Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday. Egemen Bagis, deputy chairman of the ruling party, announced on Tuesday his resignation from the Turkish-Israeli Inter-Parliamentary friendship group, saying that Israel's attacks on Gaza have caused sorrow for the Jewish citizens of Turkey, and this move was a show of disrespect towards Turkey. On Monday, Murat Mercan, Chairman of Turkish Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, also resigned as member of the Turkish-Israeli Inter-Parliamentary friendship group. "Israel's recent attack in Gaza tore a hole in people," Mercan, a deputy of the ruling AKP, was quoted as saying. "As what I can do is limited, I resigned in reaction to the attack. I also think that this operation was a sign of disrespect to Turkey," he said. More than 300 people were killed while hundreds of others injured in Israel's attacks on Gaza in the past three days.? http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/30/2478960.htm Turkish PM home to hero's welcome after Israel clash Posted Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:40pm AEDT The Turkish Prime Minister has returned home to thousands of cheering supporters, hours after clashing with the Israeli President over the recent fighting in Gaza. Demonstrators waved Turkish and Palestinian flags in Istanbul upon Recep Tayyip Erdogan's return from the World Economic Forum in Davos. During his heated exchange with Shimon Peres, Mr Erdogan said he found it sad that anyone applauded the president for defending Israel's war in Gaza. He has since said he does not want to rush into any diplomatic decisions. "On Turkish-Israeli relations we would want to base our decision on careful consideration. I made it clear many times our hard words are not directed towards the people of Israel," he said. "But they are totally directed towards the Government of Israel." - BBC http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/249454,indonesian-protestors-storm-kfc-over-israels-gaza-attacks.html Indonesian protestors storm KFC over Israel's Gaza attacks Posted : Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:06:07 GMT Author : DPA Category : Australasia (World) Jakarta - Protestors in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province on Thursday stormed an outlet of the US fast food chain KFC during a demonstration against Israel's raids on the Gaza Strip, police and a restaurant employee said. About 200 protestors rallied outside the popular chicken restaurant in the provincial capital Palu to condemn Israel's attacks on Gaza and US support for the Jewish state, burning American and Israeli flags, police said. Some of the protestors entered the restaurant, overturning tables and chairs and smashing the signboard, said an employee of the restaurant, who declined to give his name. The restaurant was closed after the attack and management had not decided when to reopen, he said. "I think they protested here because KFC is an American restaurant. But it is owned by an Indonesian," he said. No one was hurt in the incident, he said. The KFC restaurant in Palu has been a target of anti-American protests in the past. Meanwhile, police in the Central Java provincial capital Semarang stopped dozens of students who tried to enter a hotel to look for foreigners during an anti-Israeli protest, the state Antara news agency reported. The students then staged a rally outside the hotel, shouting slogans against Israel and the United States. Indonesia has seen daily protests since Israel launched strikes on Gaza earlier this month in what it says is a defensive move to halt rocket attacks on its territory by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24888038-12335,00.html Students storm KFC in Gaza protest ? Font Size: Decrease Increase ? Print Page: Print From correspondents in Palu, Indonesia | January 08, 2009 Article from: Agence France-Presse ANGRY Indonesian Muslim students stormed a KFC restaurant today in protest against Israel's military strikes on the Gaza Strip. About 300 protesters gathered outside the US fast food outlet in Palu, Central Sulawesi, waving Palestinian flags, burning US and Israeli emblems and carrying banners condemning Israel as a "terrorist and criminal" state. A handful of demonstrators then stormed the restaurant, overturning tables and chairs. "KFC's licence is from America, an important Israeli ally. In consuming US products it means that we give financial contributions to Israel's military strikes on the Palestinian people," protest coordinator Maful Haruna said. The restaurant, which was closed following the protest, was set to reopen tomorrow, management said. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and does not recognise Israel. The Israeli offensive against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which began on December 27, has so far killed 702 Palestinians and wounded 3100, Gaza medics say. http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2009/1/16/protesters-throw-rotten-eggs-at-western-fast-food-restaurant/ 01/16/09 13:29 Protesters throw rotten eggs at Western fast-food restaurant Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Some 60 members of the Majelis Mujahiddin and Laskar Muhahiddin organizations threw rotten eggs at a Western fast-food restaurant in an anti-Israeli rally here on Friday. Darmawan, the rally`s coordinator, called for a boycott of US products, arguing that the USA was funding the Israeli military aggression in Palestine. The protesters also demanded to meet the managements of two Western fast-food restaurants in Mataram to ask them to replace their Western food products with local NTB and Indonesian food. Meanwhile, in Medan (North Sumatra), on Friday, Dr. Iskandar Zulkarnain, an international media observer, urged the United Nations to investigate the killing of Fadal Shana (23), a Reuters television journalist, by Israeli troops in Gaza, Palestine, recently. "The death of the pressman who was doing noble and humanitarian work, must be investigated," he said. Under international laws on warfare , medical personnel helping war victims and journalists covering wars must be protected and not be shot, he said. He suspected that the Israeli troops had deliberately shot the Reuters journalist. If it was proven that Fadal Shana was killed by the Zionist soldiers deliberately, the Israeli government must be held responsible for violating the international law, he said. (*) http://itn.co.uk/videos/3f7d5eed0f56c69aeb07b134cd63730e.html Indonesian anti-Israel students protest and break into KFC - video Updated 09.25 Fri Jan 09 2009 Indonesian anti-Israel student protesters break into a branch of the American fast food chain KFC to show solidarity to the Palestinian cause. . http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/2009118102611687316.html Lebanese protest targets US embassy Protesters called for the expulsion of the US ambassador to Lebanon [Reuters] Several demonstrators have been injured in clashes between Lebanese security forces and protested who rallied in front of the US embassy near Beirut, Lebanon's capital. More than 200 people carried Lebanese and Palestinian flags on Sunday to show their solidarity with the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Hanan Zbeeb, a protester, said: "We are here to protest against the aggression on Gaza and against the 1,200 martyrs and 5,500 wounded." Members of the rally broke through barbed wire near the embassy, and security forces used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd. Some demonstrators regrouped and continued to protest, calling on the US ambassador to be expelled from the country. Demonstrators had also placed dolls representing babies killed during Israeli's war on the barbed wire barricade outside the building. The protest comes amid sporadic fire after Israel began a unilateral cessation of hostilities early on Sunday morning in its 22-day war on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, which has so far killed more than 1,200 people since December 27. http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/12/28/0812280159_lebanon.html Hundreds in Lebanon protest Sunday, December 28, 2008 01:57 [IST] Beirut: Hundreds of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon Saturday marched to the Egyptian embassy here to protest against the Israeli raids on Gaza. Riot police have thrown a security ring around the embassy in western Beirut to prevent the protesters from entering into the premises, Hezbollah Al-Nour radio reported. Lebanese soldiers were also deployed to control the situation, it said. The protesters were from the Palestinian refugee camp Bourj el-Barajneh in the southern part of the city. On Saturday morning, Israel launched massive air strikes against Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, hitting more than 30 targets, mostly security compounds of the Islamic Hamas movement. According to Palestinian officials, at least 200 people were killed and 750 others wounded in the attacks. Source : IANS http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&9FF33B8193A63BD9C22575350046C52B Security Forces Clash With Anti-Israel Protesters Near U.S. Embassy Lebanese security forces on Monday used water hoses to disperse protesters rallying near the U.S. Embassy in Awkar against Israel's ground offensive on Gaza. Some 500-university students hurled sticks at police and tried to break through the barbed wire fence outside the heavily fortified embassy. Police opened water hoses in a bid to push the protesters back. On Sunday, five civilians and one policeman were lightly injured when police first used water hoses and later fired tear gas to push demonstrators away from the embassy. In Syria, about 5,000 people held another anti-Israel demonstration in Damascus. The protesters burned effigies of the U.S. president and Israeli foreign minister and called on Hizbullah to fire rockets on Israel.(AP) Beirut, 05 Jan 09, 15:00 http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/middle-east/2009/01/05/190586/Lebanon-anti-riot.htm Monday, January 5, 2009 10:01 am TWN, AFP Lebanon anti-riot police teargas protesters near U.S. Embassy BEIRUT -- Lebanon anti-riot police fired teargas and water cannons at dozens of demonstrators who protested near the U.S. Embassy on Sunday against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, an AFP photographer said. The incident occurred when some 100 protesters, mainly partisans of the communist party and other leftists groups, tried to overrun barbed wire blocking access to the embassy compound in Awkar, just north of Beirut. At least two protesters were hurt in the confrontation. Meanwhile thousands of people demonstrated outside U.N. headquarters in Beirut against the Israeli ground offensive launched late Saturday on Gaza after eight days of deadly air and sea bombardments. Protesters carried effigies of U.S. President George W. Bush and acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, both with shoes sticking out of their mouths, as well as flags of the Islamist Hamas which rules Gaza. Last month an Iraqi journalist threw shoes at Bush during his farewell visit to Baghdad. Overnight thousands of Palestinians held night vigils and protests in several refugee camps in southern Lebanon, torching Israeli flags and pictures of Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, an AFP correspondent said. http://es.quote.com/news/story.action?id=RTT901180704000007 Protestors' move to attack U.S. embassy in Beirut foiled Sunday January 18, 2009 07:04:00 EST (RTTNews) - Outrageous protests against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, held near the U.S. embassy in Lebanese capital Beirut, were dealt with tear gas and water cannons on Sunday. Lebanese security forces dispersed 200-strong demonstrators who tried to cut through the barbed wire near the Embassy. Reports said the demonstrators, carrying Lebanese and Palestinian flags, were fend off while trying to cross the barricade to the mission compound in Awkar, north of Beirut. They demanded that the U.S. ambassador be expelled from Lebanon. Injuries have been reported in the use of force. The protests in Beirut has been the latest in a series of demonstrations held over the past three weeks in many parts of the world against Israel's Gaza attack. http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&B8FB6B3EC53DD18FC225752C0058BCAB Protesters Demonstrate near Egypt Embassy after Israel Raids on Gaza Hundreds of protesters against Israel's deadly raids on the Gaza Strip demonstrated near the Egyptian embassy in Lebanon on Saturday amid a greatly reinforced security presence, an AFP journalist said. The embassy was transformed into a veritable fortress as dozens of soldiers and other members of the security forces were deployed. The protesters, mostly from Hizbullah stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs, were kept several hundred meters away from the building in the Bir Hassan area, where other Arab embassies are also located. Riot police prevented demonstrators and journalists from approaching the embassy complex by blocking off nearby streets. Some shots were also heard, but it was not known who fired them. In Cairo on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni vowed to strike back at the Islamist Hamas rulers of Gaza after a sharp escalation of violence in the Palestinian territory dashed hopes of a new truce. A six-month truce ended on December 19. Hamas said Saturday's blitz killed at least 160 people and medics said around 300 people were wounded, 120 of them seriously. Earlier hundreds more Palestinians protested in south Lebanon. Demonstrators in Ain el-Hilweh -- the largest of the country's 12 refugee camps with 45,000 residents -- burned tires and dustbins and blocked the main road.(AFP) http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BT2SL20090101 Iran Gaza protesters, police scuffle at Jordan embassy Thu Jan 1, 2009 10:55am EST By Zahra Hosseinian TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian students scuffled with riot police near the Jordanian embassy on Thursday after some hardline groups threatened to seize the building in the latest protest linked to Israel's attacks in Gaza. Demonstrators demanded the mission's closure and pushed back police who had blocked the street leading to the embassy in Tehran, some of them briefly breaking through the cordon before being chased back. A few hurled shoes at police, who fought back with batons. One young man with blood on his face was helped by a fellow student, a photograph made available to Reuters showed. The rally ended after a representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, told the crowd of hundreds of people not to break into embassies or clash with police. Israel's military action has prompted days of protests in the Islamic Republic, mainly by students who accuse Arab and Western leaders of not doing enough to stop the Jewish state. On Tuesday, students broke into a British diplomatic compound. "You the Jordanian traitors -- shame, shame," protesters chanted at Thursday's demonstration. In another protest, thousands of students marched in downtown Tehran, some wearing white funeral shrouds showing they were "ready for martyrdom," Iranian media reported. A small rally also took place outside the British embassy. Khamenei, Iran's top authority, has urged Muslims to defend Palestinians whatever way they can and a group of Iranian hardline clerics is signing up volunteers to fight in Gaza. Iranian officials have condemned what they say is international inaction and bias toward Israel, Iran's arch-foe. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who often predicts Israel's demise, urged Arab leaders on Wednesday to act quickly to end Israeli air strikes that have killed at least 399 Palestinians. An Iranian daily this week said hardline student groups had written letters to the Jordanian ambassador and the head of the Egyptian mission "giving them 48 hours to choose between clearly condemning Israel's attack on Gaza or leaving Iran's soil." Like Egypt, Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel. If demands were not met by noon on Thursday students would "carry out their revolutionary duty as happened on 13th Aban, 1358," the Iranian date when students stormed the U.S. embassy in 1979, the Seda-ye Edalat newspaper said. Israel and the United States accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear arm, a charge Tehran denies, and have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the row. (Additional reporting by Hashem Kalantari and Hossein Jaseb; Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Katie Nguyen) http://www.nowpublic.com/world/iran-protests-gaza-massacres-0 Iran Protests Gaza Massacres uploaded by Rosie December 30, 2008 at 06:08 pm 15 views | add comment | 0 recommendations Press TV reported that in many cities of Iran stores were closed for the rest of the day and many workers were sent home to show their support for the Palestinians. Thousands poured to the streets of the Iranian capital, Tehran, calling for an end to the massacre of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Israel will not stop bombing Gaza to make a point in the retaliation of Hamas strikes that have been occuring since the ceasefire agreements ended over a week ago. Over 300 people have been killed. Muslims and non-Muslims all over the world have staged protest rallies against the war. Israel launched a series of deadly attacks on the Gaza Strip on Saturday killing at over 300 Palestinians and injuring nearly 800. The strong arm of Israel against Hamas have triggered international speculation and worry. This retaliation is now brutal and has shown the strength of the Israel army. Hamas has got to stop sending rockets into Israel if they want Israel to allow peace to begin. Israel is tired of the Hamas firing rockets at will and has finally gotten tough and will continue to bomb and kill Gaza residents if the Hamas does not end its attacks on Israel. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/02/content_10594093.htm Iranian protesters rally against Gaza raid Iranian people hold a demonstration in Tehran, capital of Iran, on Jan. 2, 2009, to protest against Israel's continued air strikes on the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua Photo) TEHRAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian demonstrators started a rally against Israel's Gaza raid after Friday prayers in the afternoon in Tehran. Among the hundreds of the demonstrators, there were some high ranking Iranian officials, including Vice President Parviz Davoodi, who made their way to the Palestine Square in Tehran. They were carrying the images of some Iranian leaders along with the Lebanese Hezbollah leader. people hold a demonstration in Tehran, capital of Iran, on Jan. 2, 2009, to protest against Israel's continued air strikes on the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua Photo) The demonstrators were uninterruptedly chanting slogans to support the Gaza resistance and condemn the silence of some Arab leaders, according to Iranian Students news agency (ISNA). "Shelling and bombing no more workable," "Zion knows nothing about Gaza might," "Zion knows nothing about Lebanon's might," "Death with the United States," and "Death with Israel" were among the protesters' slogans, according to ISNA. The statement released at the end of the rally called for the unity of Muslim Ummah (community) against Israel and said that "the continuation of the silence of some Arab leaders (concerning Gaza issue) is condemned." people hold a demonstration in Tehran, capital of Iran, on Jan. 2, 2009, to protest against Israel's continued air strikes on the Gaza Strip. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> It also stressed that Iranians would be by the side of the resistance in Gaza. During the rally, donation boxes were set up to collect the monetary donations of the participants. Earlier on Sunday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a religious decree saying that "whoever fights for Gaza today and killed is a martyr." The Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip was under intensive Israeli air strikes for the seventh successive day on Friday. Since last Saturday, massive air raids on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip has killed more than 400 Palestinians and injured near 2000 others. Israel said the offensive was aimed at halting nearly daily cross-border rocket attacks by the Palestinian militants. Hamas is strongly backed by Iran which does not recognize Israel as a state of the international community. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/30/content_10583175.htm Students in Iran's Isfahan province protest Israeli raids TEHRAN, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- University students of Iran's central province of Isfahan on Tuesday protested about Israel's raids on the Gaza Strip, the official IRNA news agency reported. "Hundreds of students from universities of Isfahan province staged a sit-in at Isfahan University of Technology on Tuesday to protest Zionist's crimes in Gaza," the report said They were chanting slogans such as "Death to Israel" and "Deathto the U.S.", and strongly "criticized Arab states for keeping silence on the inhuman crimes and genocide," according to IRNA. On Monday, 7,000 university students from Iran's Isfahan city registered to fight Israel. "On the first day of registration to fight Zionist regime and to help Palestinians, 7,000 students from the universities of Isfahan have claimed readiness," Mohammad Zarifi, member of Iran's Students Islamic Association, was quoted as saying by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. The registration came a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious decree saying whoever dies in fight with Israel and in defense of Gaza would be a martyr. The Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip was under intensive Israeli air strikes for the fourth successive day on Tuesday. About 380 Palestinians have so far been killed and 1,600 others wounded in the powerful offensive which Israel said was in revenge for nearly daily cross-border rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. Hamas is strongly backed by Iran which does not recognize Israel as a state of the international community. http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/12/30/iranian-jews-protest-israeli-war-crimes-in-gaza/ 12/30/08 19:42 Iranian Jews protest Israeli war crimes in Gaza Tehran (ANTARA News/IRNA) - Different groups of Iran`s Jewish community gathered in front of the United Nations office in Tehran Tuesday morning protesting Israeli war crimes and slaughter of the innocent people in Gaza Strip. The protestors, accompanied by Representative of Jewish Community at Majlis, Siamak Mara-Sedq, carried placards with anti-Israel slogans in both Farsi and Hebrew. Condemning Israel`s savage attacks on defenseless people of Gaza for four days running, the protesters called for restoration of peace and security to the region. Also present in the rally was chairman of Iran`s Jews Association, Rahmatollah Rafi, who said, "We are here to express our support and sympathy with the Palestinian nation." The final winners of this war are the people of Gaza, said the chairman adding that the Islamic states could have become a big and strong power against Israel, should they stay united and work together. The Jewish official also criticized certain Arab governments for their inaction and silence towards Israeli inhuman acts and war crimes in Gaza and the entire Palestinian territories. The Israeli warplanes stormed the besieged area since Saturday killing around 400 Gazans mostly women and children and injuring more than 1,700 others. Medical centers in Gaza announced on Monday that they could no longer provide medical treatment to the victims due to their growing number. The Israeli crimes against humanity in Gaza triggered waves of outrage in different parts of the world both by Muslim and Non-Muslim nations. Peoples express their anger and hatred by staging protest rallies calling on international organizations and Western countries to help stop slaughter of the innocent people by Israeli war criminals. During the past four days various demonstrations were held in front of the United Nations office in Tehran by different walks of life who have called the international body to take due action to stop the Israeli murderers. The demonstrators also condemned the silence of international community and that of certain Arab states vis-a-vis the ongoing atrocities against innocent people in Gaza. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230456535610 Dec 30, 2008 20:55 | Updated Dec 31, 2008 12:15 Iranian Jews protest Gaza 'slaughter' By JPOST.COM STAFF Different groups representing Iran's Jewish community on Tuesday gathered in front of the United Nations office in Teheran in order to protest "Israeli war crimes and the slaughter of the innocent people in Gaza Strip," the Iranian IRNA news agency reported. Iranian Jewish school girls and their Muslim teacher attend an anti-Israel demonstration to condemn Israel over air attacks on the Gaza Strip in front of the UN offices in Teheran, on Tuesday. Photo: AP The protesters, led by the Jewish representative in Parliament, Siamak Mara-Sedq, carried placards with anti-Israel slogans in both Farsi and Hebrew, the report said. "We are here to express our support and sympathy with the Palestinian nation," Rahmatollah Rafi, the chairman of Iran's Jewish community was quoted as saying at the rally. Hinting mainly at Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the report said that Rafi went on to criticize "certain Arab governments for their inaction and silence towards Israeli inhuman acts and war crimes in Gaza and the entire Palestinian territories." Separately, IRNA reported that in a Tuesday speech to the Iranian parliament Mara-Sedq "expressed shock" over the "savage acts" perpetrated by "the Tel Aviv regime." The report said that the Jewish MP "expressed hope that all the peace-loving nations and the true advocates of human rights would thoroughly support the defenseless Palestinian people and make Israel stop the genocide in the region by exerting pressure on Tel Aviv." He also reportedly gave voice to the "hatred" the Iranian Jewish Community harbors towards "the Israeli crimes." According to the report, Mara-Sedq's remarks elicited a chorus of anti-Israel and anti-US slogans from members of parliament. Iranian Jewish leaders are often quoted as having given voice to extreme anti-Israel views, but it is unclear whether these opinions are imposed upon them by the regime. Some 25,000 Jews live in Iran. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050663.html 28/12/2008 Suicide bomber kills 1, wounds 16 at protest against Gaza raids in Iraq By The Associated Press Tags: israel news, gaza, hamas A suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up Sunday amid a crowd of demonstrators in northern Iraq who were protesting Israel's air strikes on Gaza, killing one demonstrator and wounding 16 others, Iraqi police said. The bomber rode his bicycle into the demonstration of about 1,300 people in the center of the northern city of Mosul, said a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with news media. The demonstration was organized by the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party. The party's Mosul spokesman, Yahiya Abid Mahjoub, complained that police and the Iraqi army had not taken security precautions for the demonstration. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack, the officer said. "The ones who targeted our brothers in Gaza are the same who targeted us in Mosul today. They are agents of Israel," Mahjoub said. U.S. and Iraqi forces continue to battle al-Qaida and other insurgents in Mosul, Iraq's third largest city, where economic and political problems persist. The issues are complicated by Kurdish-Arab tensions in the city. Also Sunday, police in Fallujah said a bomb exploded on the outskirts of the city, killing two civilians and wounding four others. A police officer said the bomb exploded in a parking lot where farmers and other merchants gather to buy and sell goods. A U.S. military spokesman, Army Capt. Charles Calio, confirmed the casualty toll but added that the bomb targeted a police patrol. Delivery trucks and other vehicles that do not have access permits for Fallujah are not allowed to drive into the city, which is west of Baghdad. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to release information to the news media. Iraq's government also condemned Israel's airstrikes on Gaza, which began Saturday. In a statement, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraq is demanding that Israel immediately halt attacks on Gaza and called on the international community "to take the necessary steps to stop this attack." Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, said condemnation didn't go far enough. "Expressing condemnation and denunciation for what is going on against our brothers in Gaza and expressing solidarity with them by words only doesn't mean anything in the face of the big tragedy they are facing," he said in a statement released by office in Najaf. "Now more than at any other time, both Arab and Islamic nations are required to take a practical stance for the sake of stopping this repeated aggression and to break the unfair besieging of these brave people," the statement said, without giving details of the proposed stance. In Samarra, 60 miles (95 kilometers) north of Baghdad, hundreds of protesters gathered to denounce the air strikes. The demonstrators also condemned "the Arab silence and the humiliating stance of Arab rulers," said Mahdi al-Aran, a local member of the Iraqi Islamic Party. About 100 people took to the streets in Baghdad's largest Palestinian neighborhood, a complex of 16 apartment blocks surrounded by Shiite areas in the Baladiyat district, to protest the attacks. Some carried signs denouncing Israel and others carried flags. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=§ion=middleeast&xfile=data/middleeast/2008/December/middleeast_December558.xml Iraq protestors demand Arab response to Gaza (Reuters) 28 December 2008 BAGHDAD - Protestors burned Israeli flags and fired AK-47s into the air in protests across Iraq on Sunday, demanding a stronger response from Arab nations to the Israeli attack on Gaza. A teenage boy was killed in one protest in the volatile northern city of Mosul when a suicide bomber on a bicycle detonated explosives in a crowd of around 300 protestors. It was not clear why the bomber would have targeted an anti-Israeli rally. Police said 17 people were wounded in the attack in Mosul, a last stronghold for Sunni Islamist al Qaeda and other militants as violence subsides across Iraq. In Baladiyat, a Baghdad district that is home to many Palestinians given refuge in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, men waved banners and condemned Arab nations for not doing enough to support Palestinians. ?We have been waiting for an action from Arab leaders for almost 60 years,? Jaleel al-Qasus, the Palestinian envoy to Iraq, said during the protest of several hundred people. ?Our efforts have been in vain.? Several thousand people protested in the city of Samarra, a Sunni Arab city north of Baghdad and a few hundred took to the streets in Falluja in the mainly Sunni province of Anbar. ?Arab silence is behind the bombings,? one banner read. The protests took place as Israel launched more air strikes on Gaza on Sunday following attacks on Saturday initiated in response to rocket and mortar fire from Gaza militants. The attacks, some of the worst in 60 years of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, incensed many in Iraq. Iraq hosted some 30,000 Palestinian refugees before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Many of them found themselves victim of attacks or threats once the war began, partly because they were seen as clients of the deposed leader Saddam. Many have fled, and several thousand Palestinian refugees have been stranded at camps near the Iraq-Syria border waiting to find a new home abroad for more than two years. The demonstrations in support of Palestinians, many of whom are Sunni Muslims, in Mosul and Falluja were organized by the Iraq?s Sunni Arab Islamic Party. The office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the reclusive cleric who has peerless influence among Shi?ites in Iraq, issued a statement condemning what he called a ?savage? operation. ?The Arab and Muslim world demand, more than ever, a practical stance to stop this never-ending offensive,? it said. Moqtada al-Sadr, the Shi?ite cleric who is a chief foe of the U.S. presence in Iraq, criticised close U.S. ties to Israel. He accused Israel of having little regard for civilians? lives. ?The massacre of innocents in Gaza is proof of what we are saying. All this is happening with backing of the American government and colonial states,? he said in a statment. http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/42521/refid/RSS-politics-01-01-2009 Sadrists Protest Gaza Attacks in Baghdad Baghdad, 29 December 2008 The Sadrist Movement, or Iraqis loyal to Shiite Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, on Monday organized a demonstration at al-Mustansiriya Square, eastern Baghdad http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/43537/refid/RSS-latest-19-01-2009 Sadrists in Kut Protest Aggression on Gaza Wassit, 17 January 2009 Hundreds of Sadrists, or Iraqis loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, on Friday staged a demonstration in protest of the Israeli attacks on Gaza http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-26527-Palestinians-in-Baghdad-protest-against-Israeli-aggression.html Palestinians in Baghdad protest against Israeli aggression Saturday, January 10, 2009 08:20 GMT In Iraq, tens of Palestinians demonstrated after Friday prayers in Baghdad in protest to ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip. Protestors called on Islamic countries and the International Community to interfere in order to halt the offensive. http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/43474/refid/RSS-latest-16-01-2009 Oil Workers Stage Protests to Support Gaza Basra, 16 January 2009 Hundreds of oil workers in Basra staged a demonstration on Thursday in support of the Palestinians in Gaza and to condemn Israel. http://allafrica.com/stories/200901090920.html Garowe Online (Garowe) Somalia: Thousands of People Protest Israel's Gaza Offensive 9 January 2009 Thousands of people took to the streets after Friday prayers in the Muslim country of Somalia and neighboring Kenya, with protestors chanting anti-Israel slogans, Radio Garowe reports. The organized protests took place in Mogadishu, the national capital, as well as in two provincial capitals under the rule of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). Protestors in Mogadishu burned the Israeli flag and demanded that Israeli troops pullback from Gaza, where a two-week military offensive by Israeli Defense Forces has killed upwards of 700 people and wounded 3,000, mostly Palestinian civilians. In Jowhar, the capital of Middle Shabelle region, an ICU-organized event attracted hundreds of protestors after Friday prayers. "It is our duty as Muslims to support the Muslims of Palestine," said Sheikh Dahir Addow Alasow, the ICU governor of Middle Shabelle, calling the Israeli military's offensive in Gaza a "genocide." In the central regions, ICU leaders organized protests against the Israeli government's use of force against civilian targets in Gaza, a narrow strip of land that is home to 1.5 million people. The protestors walked along major streets and finally gathered in front of the main administration building in Beletwein, capital of Hiran region, where protestors listened to speeches by local sheikhs and ICU administrators. "We must express solidarity with our Muslim brothers in Palestine," said Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim Ma'ow, the ICU governor of Hiran. Radio Garowe's correspondent in Beletwein commented that it was the "largest protest in Hiran region." In Kenya, protestors took to Nairobi city streets chanting and carrying placards. Most of the protestors were Somali and Kenyan Muslims, but the protest also attracted people of other faiths who oppose Israel' s bloody intervention in Gaza. Kenyan security forces surrounded the Israeli embassy in Nairobi, where some angry protestors had gathered in an intense stand-off that ended peacefully. The Israeli government contends that it sent its superior armed forces to fight against Gaza's Hamas guerrillas after Hamas continued rocket attacks against targets in southern Israel. But the Israeli army's bloody intervention in Gaza has been widely condemned. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/09/content_10632257.htm Somalis protest against Israeli raids on Gaza MOGADISHU, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Somali demonstrators protested after Friday prayers in Mogadishu and a number of other towns in the war-torn Somalia against the Israeli raids on Gaza Strip in the Middle East. People chanted slogans against the Israeli bombing in Gaza calling for an immediate halt to the bombing which they say cause the death of innocent children, women and the elderly. Hundreds of people gathered outside the main Sheik Ali Sufi Mosque in Mogadishu, as religious leaders spoke about "the suffering of the Palestinian people," saying the current situation n Somalia will never bar them from expressing their anger at what is happing in Gaza and sharing the pain with the people of Palestine. Sheik Ibrahim Suley, one of the most prominent Islamic scholar sin Mogadishu, spoke with the protesters outside the main mosque. "We are against the killing of innocent people and we share the pain and suffering with the people of Gaza, because as Muslims we are as one body -- if one part feels pains the whole body feels the pain," Suley told the protesters who burned the Israeli flag. In Beledweyne, the provincial capital of Hiran in central Somalia, people also took to the streets and condemned the attack son Gaza calling the international community to intervene. Abdirahman Ibrahim Maow, senior local official in Beledweyne, spoke with the protestors and urged "the people of Gaza be saved." In Jawhar, hundreds of people gathered in the local stadium and chanted anti-Israeli slogans and called for the immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. Hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza were killed while nearly three thousand others were wounded including women and children in raids by Israeli fighter planes for nearly two weeks. Israel says it wants to stop fighters of Hamas from firing rockets into settlement posts close to the Gaza strip. http://www.topnews.in/bangladeshis-protest-against-israeli-crimes-against-humanity-2111022 Bangladeshis protest against Israeli "crimes against humanity" Submitted by Mohit Joshi on Fri, 01/16/2009 - 16:00. Dhaka - Several Islamist parties in Muslim-dominated Bangladesh staged demonstration Friday protesting the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, with rights groups calling for an end to Israel's "crime against humanity." "We believe the atrocities in Gaza clearly constitute a crime against humanity by the Israeli state," read a statement issued by Odhikar, a Bangladeshi coalition of human rights groups. It expressed deep concern over continued attacks by the Israeli military that have killed more than 1,100 people, many of them civilian women and children. The coalition called for the Bangladeshi government to apply diplomatic pressure on Israel to force it to immediately agree to an unconditional ceasefire and withdraw its forces from Palestine. The group also requested United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon to deploy a high-level commission to investigate what it calls gross violations of human rights currently being perpetrated in Gaza. Several hundred member of Islamist parties paraded through the streets of Dhaka, chanting slogans against Israel and the United States, charging them with attacking Muslims in the Middle East. In separate rallies after the marches, Islamist leaders called upon Muslims across the world to unite to protest atrocities on the Muslim population. Karamajibi Nari, a non-governmental organization of working women, formed a human chain in the city, demanding an immediate end to the killing of the innocent women and children in the Gaza Strip. They also denounced the "imperialist" United States. The Palestinian envoy to Dhaka, Shaher Mohammad, called upon the Bangladeshi people to stand by the people of Palestine. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday expressed deep concern over the Gaza situation and asked Israel to stop the killing of innocent people. (dpa) http://www.voanews.com/bangla/archive/2009-01/2009-01-15-voa3.cfm?CFID=170957170&CFTOKEN=61061847&jsessionid=0030a3c39e1771a71b7f10353c1779245650 Dhaka University Students, Teachers Protest Against Israel?s Attacks Against Gaza By Matiur Rahman Chowdhury Dhaka 15-January-2009 Dhaka university teachers and students, protesting against the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. Students at Dhaka University in Bangladesh demonstrated on campus to protest against Israeli attacks in Gaza. The students and teachers of the University brought out a procession on the campus and held a rally. Professor Shirajul Islam Chowdhury said Israel is working against humanity. Matiur Rahman Chowdhury has more on the story. http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200812310944DOWJONESDJONLINE000424_univ.xml 33 Protesters Arrested At Pro-Gaza Rally In Egypt's Cairo12-31-08 9:44 AM EST | E-mail Article | Print Article CAIRO (AFP)--Egyptian police arrested 33 people at a demonstration of around 3,000 people in central Cairo on Tuesday against Israel's continuing assault on the Gaza Strip, a security official said. The latest anti-Israeli protest was organized by Egyptian opposition parties outside the Journalists' Union. People who tried to demonstrate in neighboring streets were manhandled and arrested because "they risked obstructing traffic." Israel Wednesday rejected international calls for a truce. http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081228/NATIONAL/500484909/1040/rss Demonstrations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Rasha Abu Baker and Zoi Constantine ? Last Updated: December 28. 2008 11:42PM UAE / December 28. 2008 7:42PM GMT ABU DHABI AND DUBAI // Hundreds of people staged demonstrations outside Palestinian consulates in the UAE today to protest against the Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. More than a hundred people turned up to protest at a 5pm demonstration outside the Palestinian embassy in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, the crowd, which included not only Palestinians and other Arabs, but some westerners and children, converged on the consulate in Bur Dubai shortly before noon. Some of the protesters draped themselves in Palestinian flags, while some also brandished placards bearing slogans such as ?Get Israel Out? and ?Free Palestine?. Palestinian community leaders addressed the crowd, which chanted anti-Israeli slogans. Samira Mahmoud, 27, from Gaza, said she had been closely following the news since the bombings began on Saturday, and was anxious to return home to call her sister who still lives in the strip there with her family. "I called my sister immediately after hearing what happened. I wanted to make sure that she and her children were OK. She told me her children couldn't go to school and that they were very scared after hearing the sounds of the bombs." Mrs Mahmoud, who moved to Dubai with her husband and children two years ago, said the situation in Gaza seemed out of control. "The situation was bad before I left but now the situation has gone beyond repair with the strongest attacks we have seen in a long time." Faris Mansour, 40, from the US, said he wanted to show his solidarity with the Palestinian people: "I heard the news yesterday and I was very upset and disturbed. Gaza is a small area with nearly two million people cramped in an area the size of a small neighbourhood. ?Dropping bombs indiscriminately near schools and residential areas was inevitable. The hospitals are overcrowded and do not have the equipment to cope with the numbers of injured." http://arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=118170&d=15&m=1&y=2009&pix=world.jpg&category=World 15 January 2009 (18 Muharram 1430) Solidarity Day with Gaza in UAE Shadiah Abdullah | Arab News STOP THE AGGRESSION: Thousands of Pakistanis protest against the Israeli offensive on Gaza in Karachi on Wednesday. (Reuters) DUBAI: The UAE yesterday organized a solidarity day to reach out to Palestinian children in Gaza. Charities and government departments organized lectures, exhibitions and fund-raising drives for the day. On Friday the UAE held a nationwide telethon during which more than Dhs 300 million was raised. During yesterday?s event government departments announced donations of millions of dirhams. The General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Awqaf (GAIAA) donated AED6 million while Dubai Police donated AED2 million. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and Chairman of the Foreign Aid Coordination Office, affirmed the UAE commitment to deliver emergency aid to the distressed Palestinian people in Gaza in coordination with regional and international aid agencies. ?The UAE has been at the forefront of countries working tirelessly to ameliorate the suffering of the Palestinian people. This effort will continue unabated as directed by UAE leaders,? Shaikh Hamdan said. The Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works announced that it had held a series of meetings with Philip Ward, deputy regional director of the UN World Food Program for the Middle East and Peter Ford, representative of the commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), for identifying needs of schools in Gaza. Salim Al-Dhahiri, acting director general of the foundation, said assistance would also be delivered to women and children who are suffering the scourge of war. He indicated that Sheikh Ahmed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, has directed the foundation to launch a massive initiative for rebuilding and renovation of schools in Gaza. ?Works on building, renovating and rebuilding schools will immediately commence once a cease-fire is enforced,? he said. http://www.javno.com/en-world/video--saudi-police-break-up-pro-gaza-protest_219227 VIDEO: Saudi Police Break Up Pro-Gaza Protest Residents said between 200 and 300 people took part in the march in Saudi Arabia`s oil-producing Eastern Province. Published: December 29, 2008 18:37h Witnesses said Saudi police fired rubber bullets to break up a pro-Palestinian protest on Monday, injuring up to eight people, but a government official denied the report. Residents said between 200 and 300 people took part in the march in Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province. Many protesters held pictures of Palestinians wounded in Israel's military offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 300 Palestinians since it began on Saturday. At least three witnesses said they saw riot police fire rubber bullets after demonstrators clashed with security forces in the al-Qatif area. However, Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki said there had been no protest. "None of this is true. No rubber bullets have been fired, no clashes occurred and no demonstration happened. That's what security sources in Qatif told me," he said. "As you know, protests in the kingdom are banned." One witness said two demonstrators were injured by rubber bullets. Two others said between six and eight were injured. "We chanted slogans against Israel and America. We did not attack the (Saudi) government or the Arab political system," said another witness, who did not want to be named. "The police charged at us with sticks and electric batons. Some of us had to defend ourselves with shoes and rocks." One resident said the police had dispersed the crowds and blocked the main street in al-Qatif. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4BS3XU20081229 Saudi police break up pro-Gaza protest: residents Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:15pm EST RIYADH (Reuters) - Witnesses said Saudi police fired rubber bullets to break up a pro-Palestinian protest on Monday, injuring up to eight people, but a government official denied the report. Residents said between 200 and 300 people took part in the march in Saudi Arabia's oil-producing Eastern Province. Many protesters held pictures of Palestinians wounded in Israel's military offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 300 Palestinians since it began on Saturday. At least three witnesses said they saw riot police fire rubber bullets after demonstrators clashed with security forces in the al-Qatif area. However, Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki said there had been no protest. "None of this is true. No rubber bullets have been fired, no clashes occurred and no demonstration happened. That's what security sources in Qatif told me," he said. "As you know, protests in the kingdom are banned." One witness said two demonstrators were injured by rubber bullets. Two others said between six and eight were injured. "We chanted slogans against Israel and America. We did not attack the (Saudi) government or the Arab political system," said another witness, who did not want to be named. "The police charged at us with sticks and electric batons. Some of us had to defend ourselves with shoes and rocks." One resident said the police had dispersed the crowds and blocked the main street in al-Qatif. (Reporting by Souhail Karam; Editing by Katie Nguyen) http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gyE1wbZD9TkcePk4zgOu4-4FoWdQ Saudis arrest two over Riyadh pro-Gaza protest: report Jan 1, 2009 RIYADH (AFP) ? Two activists who attempted to stage a demonstration against the Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip were arrested in the Saudi capital on Thursday, a Saudi rights groups said. Human Rights First Society said that the two activists, Khalid al-Omeir and Mohammed al-Otaibi, were arrested by police as they arrived at the site of the planned protest in south Riyadh. The arrests came a day after the interior ministry denied organisers permission to hold the rally on the grounds that demonstrations are banned in Saudi Arabia. A member of the group also told AFP that a prominent Saudi cleric who called for attacks on Israelis had also been arrested on Tuesday in the southern city of Abha. Sheikh Awad al-Qarni had on Sunday issued a religious edict encouraging attacks on Israelis everywhere in retaliation for the ongoing Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip. "All (Israeli) interests, and anything else related to Israel, are a permitted target for Muslims everywhere," Qarni said in the fatwa. On Monday police fired rubber bullets to break up rare protests involving hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Qatif and Safwa in the eastern part of the country. According to Human Rights First, 10 people were arrested in the Qatif protest. Saudi Arabia has strongly criticised Israel for its six-day-old bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 400 people dead. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/716481/sudanese-protest-israels-gaza-invasion/?rss=yes Sudanese protest Israel's Gaza invasion 09:54 AEST Fri Jan 9 2009 97 days 10 hours 11 minutes ago Thousands of Sudanese have marched through the capital to denounce Israeli attacks on Gaza. Tens of thousands of Sudanese have marched peacefully through Khartoum denouncing Israel's invasion of Gaza and the international community for alleged "complicity with the Zionist regime". The miles-long march on Thursday started with fiery speeches and chanting of Islamic slogans in support of Gaza's Hamas rulers. When a speaker said the name of the US president, the crowd waved their shoes - a gesture evoking an Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W Bush during a recent Baghdad visit. The protesters also denounced Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak as a "hireling and cowardly" and handed in a protest note at the UN offices. Some carried green metal models of Hamas' Qassam rockets used in attacks on Israel. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L7286289.htm Sudan protesters call for attacks on Westerners-US 07 Jan 2009 20:58:11 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds UK Embassy advice and UN warning of Thursday protest) By Andrew Heavens KHARTOUM, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Sudanese protesters have called for attacks on Americans and other foreigners living in Khartoum during rallies against the Gaza offensive, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. Students and religious groups have held small-scale protests almost every day since Israel started the attack on Gaza it says is in response to Islamist militants firing rockets into Israel. The U.S. embassy in Khartoum said some protesters "have made threats against U.S. and other Western citizens in Sudan". At least one speaker at a rally outside the embassy on Monday read out a list of places and neighbourhoods where Westerners are known to gather, the embassy said. The list included Khartoum's Afra shopping centre, Amwaj, a Middle Eastern restaurant, and O-Zone, an open air cafe popular with Westerners and rich Sudanese. The threats come against the backdrop of an expected ruling from the International Criminal Court on whether to issue an arrest warrant against Sudan's president over suspected war crimes in Darfur. A senior official from Sudan's Foreign Ministry told Reuters on Monday an arrest warrant would fuel anti-Western sentiments already heightened by Gaza and promised to give diplomats advance warning if they were in danger. GENOCIDE ACCUSATION Sudanese officials have said the global court's case is part of a Western conspiracy against Khartoum, led by the United States, Britain and France. The U.N. in Khartoum put out a statement saying it had heard unions and other organisations were planning a large scale Gaza protest in the capital on Thursday, under the title "Grand Fury". The British Embassy in Khartoum said it was monitoring the rallies and advised its citizens to "maintain vigilance" and avoid crowds. The United States advised its staff to stay away from the O-Zone cafe in October, saying it had evidence a group called "Al Qaeda in the Land of the Two Niles" had threatened U.S. citizens. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court asked judges in July to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accusing him of orchestrating genocide in Sudan's western Darfur region. The judges are widely expected to decide on his request in coming weeks. International experts say 200,000 have died since mostly non-Arab rebels in Darfur took up arms against the government in 2003, accusing Khartoum of neglecting the region. (Editing by Ralph Boulton) http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081230163303.fcxh92ivp2&show_article=1 Sudanese protestors burn an Israeli flag in Khartoum Sudanese protestors set an Israeli flag on fire during a demonstration outside the United Nations offices in Khartoum. World powers are struggling to find ways to press Israel and Hamas to end their conflict despite widespread anger over the mounting toll. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/05/afghanistan.gaza/index.html?eref=rss_world January 5, 2009 -- Updated 0203 GMT (1003 HKT) Hundreds in Afghanistan protest Gaza incursion ? Story Highlights ? About 700 protesters in Kandahar called for an end to the hostilities in Gaza ? Israel began air attacks on Gaza in a bid to stop rocket strikes by Hamas militants ? Violence also continues to plague Afghanistan's volatile Kandahar province ? Two explosions at a Kandahar bazaar last week killed two people KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Hundreds of people in southern Afghanistan have burned Israeli flags and shouted anti-Israel and anti-American slogans to protest Israel's military action in Gaza, according to eyewitness accounts from a CNN stringer. People in southern Afghanistan on Monday protest Israel's military action in Gaza. Council leaders in the provincial capital of Kandahar bellowed over loudspeakers on Monday to an angry crowd of about 700 protesters, calling for an end to the ongoing hostilities in Gaza. Israel launched air attacks on Gaza nearly two weeks ago in an effort to stop months of rocket strikes on southern Israel by Hamas militants. It sent in ground forces late Saturday, resulting in mounting casualties in Gaza, where more than 500 Palestinians have been killed over the past week, according to Palestinian medical sources. Four Israeli civilians and one Israeli soldier have been killed in recent fighting, according to Israeli Defense Forces. Another three Israeli soldiers died late Monday in a "friendly fire" incident in northern Gaza, the country's military said Tuesday. Watch a report on the continued fighting Meanwhile, violence also continues to plague Afghanistan's volatile Kandahar province. Three Canadian soldiers were killed in mid-December after an improvised explosive device blew up near their armored vehicle during a patrol in central Kandahar, the Canadian Defense Ministry said Last week, two improvised explosive devices detonated at a bazaar in the province, killing two civilians, including a child. Twenty civilians and an Afghan border police officer were wounded in the attack in the town of Spin Boldak. The violence was the latest blamed on the resurgent Taliban movement that once ruled Afghanistan. The Taliban regime harbored the al Qaeda terror network before it was ousted from power in a U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan after the 2001 attacks on the United States. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/05/afghanistan.gaza/index.html January 5, 2009 -- Updated 0203 GMT (1003 HKT) Hundreds in Afghanistan protest Gaza incursion ? Story Highlights ? About 700 protesters in Kandahar called for an end to the hostilities in Gaza ? Israel began air attacks on Gaza in a bid to stop rocket strikes by Hamas militants ? Violence also continues to plague Afghanistan's volatile Kandahar province ? Two explosions at a Kandahar bazaar last week killed two people KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Hundreds of people in southern Afghanistan have burned Israeli flags and shouted anti-Israel and anti-American slogans to protest Israel's military action in Gaza, according to eyewitness accounts from a CNN stringer. People in southern Afghanistan on Monday protest Israel's military action in Gaza. Council leaders in the provincial capital of Kandahar bellowed over loudspeakers on Monday to an angry crowd of about 700 protesters, calling for an end to the ongoing hostilities in Gaza. Israel launched air attacks on Gaza nearly two weeks ago in an effort to stop months of rocket strikes on southern Israel by Hamas militants. It sent in ground forces late Saturday, resulting in mounting casualties in Gaza, where more than 500 Palestinians have been killed over the past week, according to Palestinian medical sources. Four Israeli civilians and one Israeli soldier have been killed in recent fighting, according to Israeli Defense Forces. Another three Israeli soldiers died late Monday in a "friendly fire" incident in northern Gaza, the country's military said Tuesday. Watch a report on the continued fighting Meanwhile, violence also continues to plague Afghanistan's volatile Kandahar province. Three Canadian soldiers were killed in mid-December after an improvised explosive device blew up near their armored vehicle during a patrol in central Kandahar, the Canadian Defense Ministry said Last week, two improvised explosive devices detonated at a bazaar in the province, killing two civilians, including a child. Twenty civilians and an Afghan border police officer were wounded in the attack in the town of Spin Boldak. The violence was the latest blamed on the resurgent Taliban movement that once ruled Afghanistan. The Taliban regime harbored the al Qaeda terror network before it was ousted from power in a U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan after the 2001 attacks on the United States. http://www.leaderpost.com/news/story.html?id=1143152 Afghans condemn NATO troops during anti-Israel protests By Darah Hansen, Canwest News ServiceJanuary 5, 2009 Afghan protesters shout slogans during a march against Israel's air offensive in Gaza, in Kabul Jan. 3. Photograph by: Omar Sobhani/Reuters, Reuters KANDAHAR CITY, Afghanistan - Carrying banners reading "Death upon Israel" and shouting against "the enemies of Muslims," hundreds of Afghans converged on the Kandahar?s city centre Monday to angrily denounce Israeli attacks on Gaza. "We are requesting Muslim countries to stop this barbaric attack, and we further condemn all non-Muslim countries, especially United States, for supporting the attack," said one protester, Mulave Khuja Muhammad, a member of a religious council, or shura, in Kandahar. About 500 Palestinians, including a growing number of civilians, have been killed in the ongoing offensive by Israelis in Gaza, now in its ninth day. In Kandahar, about 800 protesters chanted slogans against Israel and its supporters as the Israeli flag was set on fire. They also shouted ?glory to Allah and glory Islam and Muslims.? The crowd turned its anger against coalition forces in the province, demanding the immediate withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, which includes about 2,700 Canadians. "We do not want help from non-Muslims countries. They have proved in Afghanistan that they are unable to help Muslim countries," said Muhammadullah, another protester, according to an interpreter. "We blame NATO for killing Afghan civilians as well," he said. Protesters said international human-rights organizations have been too slow to get involved in the conflict, and condemn the growing civilian death toll. "This is not fair that non-Muslims are attacking Muslims and killing their children and women," said Jamil Ahmad. "Where is human rights? Where is (the) world community? Why they are silent?" Bismillah Afghanmal, a member of Kandahar?s provincial council, spoke out at the protest against the bombing ?whether it takes place in Afghanistan? or elsewhere. ?I am telling the world community especially to work on the Palestinian issue and end this kind of bombardment. I am totally against human loss, especially innocent people," he said. The protest has stirred up increased fear among residents of Kandahar City. Many worry the anti-Western rhetoric could translate into an increase in the number of suicide bombings and insurgent attacks across the region. Military officials at Task Force Kandahar had no immediate comment regarding the protest. http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=1143459 Afghan protesters condemn Israel, NATO troops Darah Hansen, Canwest News Service Published: Monday, January 05, 2009 KANDAHAR CITY, Afghanistan -- Carrying banners reading "Death upon Israel" and shouting against "the enemies of Muslims," hundreds of Afghans converged on the Kandahar's city centre Monday to angrily denounce Israeli attacks on Gaza. "We are requesting Muslim countries to stop this barbaric attack, and we further condemn all non-Muslim countries, especially United States, for supporting the attack," said one protester, Mulave Khuja Muhammad, a member of a religious council, or shura, in Kandahar. About 500 Palestinians, including a growing number of civilians, have been killed in the ongoing offensive by Israelis in Gaza, now in its ninth day. In Kandahar, about 800 protesters chanted slogans against Israel and its supporters as the Israeli flag was set on fire. They also shouted "glory to Allah and glory Islam and Muslims." The crowd turned its anger against coalition forces in the province, demanding the immediate withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, which includes about 2,700 Canadians. "We do not want help from non-Muslims countries. They have proved in Afghanistan that they are unable to help Muslim countries," said Muhammadullah, another protester, according to an interpreter. "We blame NATO for killing Afghan civilians as well," he said. Protesters said international human-rights organizations have been too slow to get involved in the conflict, and condemn the growing civilian death toll. "This is not fair that non-Muslims are attacking Muslims and killing their children and women," said Jamil Ahmad. "Where is human rights? Where is [the] world community? Why they are silent?" Bismillah Afghanmal, a member of Kandahar's provincial council, spoke out at the protest against the bombing "whether it takes place in Afghanistan" or elsewhere. "I am telling the world community especially to work on the Palestinian issue and end this kind of bombardment. I am totally against human loss, especially innocent people," he said. The protest has stirred up increased fear among residents of Kandahar City. Many worry the anti-Western rhetoric could translate into an increase in the number of suicide bombings and insurgent attacks across the region. Military officials at Task Force Kandahar had no immediate comment regarding the protest. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1231167318634 Jan 8, 2009 15:28 | Updated Jan 8, 2009 15:38 Hundreds of thousands rally in Syria to protest Gaza attack By ASSOCIATED PRESS DAMASCUS, Syria Hundreds of thousands of Syrians swarmed downtown Damascus Thursday in a government-orchestrated rally to protest Israel's military offensive against the Gaza Strip. A Syrian protester, burns a symbolic Israeli flag during a demonstration against Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip, in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday. Photo: AP SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World It was the biggest protest ever in the Syrian capital since Israel launched an air and ground offensive on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Dec. 27. The protest was called by Syria's labor unions. Syria's official news agency SANA and the state-run Syrian Television estimated the number of protesters in downtown Damascus at roughly one million. But independent estimates put it at hundreds of thousands. Demonstrators in downtown Damascus carried pictures of Syria's president and the leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah, both of whom support Hamas. The crowd, waving Syrian and Palestinian flags, also yelled protests against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak for refusing to open the Rafah border crossing with Gaza. Many in the Arab world have criticized Egypt for this, perceiving it as abetting Israel. "Oh Mubarak, listen, listen, the Arab people will not kneel down," the protesters shouted. Before the huge demonstration dispersed, an estimated few hundred of the protesters, marched to the Egyptian Embassy. The protesters, standing about 110 yards (100 meters) from the embassy, were prevented by Syrian riot police, carrying batons and protective shields, from reaching the building. The protesters in downtown Damascus also trampled on an Israeli flag before burning it. Some of the banners they carried read, "The Gazans' blood will not be shed in vain," and "Your blood is pure, Oh Gaza's people ... and the blood of Arab leaders stinks." Mayadah Nashawati, a 50-year-old housewife, who was at the protest said: "Israel is committing a genocide at a time when the entire world is regretfully watching." She said the Rafah crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip's 1.4 million residents with Egypt, must reopen to "salvage the Gazans from the holocaust." Ahmed al-Hamid, a 17-year-old student, also urged Mubarak to open the Rafah crossing. "The Arabs must break their silence on the injustice that has befallen the Palestinian people," he said. Israel has said that it started its campaign in order to stop Hamas rocket fire. More than 700 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began. Meanwhile, an Egyptian foreign ministry official lashed out Thursday at Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the militant group Hezbollah, for remarks Nasrallah made against Egypt in his latest speech. The official, who did not want to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue, said so far the militant leader has given "nothing to Gaza but some ringing speeches." http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=ac67dbe304214205788727bf808f2104 Damascus Erupts in Protests for Gaza New America Media, Gallery, Shane Bauer, Posted: Dec 30, 2008 Editor's Note: The day after Israel began pummeling Gaza with bombs, Damascus erupted in rage. Some called it the bloodiest day in Gaza since the occupation began--some 300 were killed and 700 injured in just two days. Anti-Israeli groups based in Damascus came out of the woodwork, gathering with some 5,000 people at Yusif al-Azmeh square. The horizon was cluttered with the flags and banners of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hezbollah, and the Iraqi Sadrists. The demonstration seemed to be government orchestrated?people were bussed in and official TV channels were at the scene two hours in advance?but the anger was clearly genuine. A truck stacked with masked men in white wearing fake suicide belts screamed calls for "jihad" against Israel and led crowds of people in fist-pumping chants calling for "struggle in the name of God." In other parts of the square, Palestinian groups denounced Israel as well as Islamism. "I came here to stand alongside my brothers in Gaza and against the aggression and rape of Gaza," said Ismael Balaan, a 45-year-old telecommunications worker. "Israel doesn't want peace." Syrian government spokespersons have since backed away from the possibility of Israel-Syria peace negotiations. NAM contributor Shane Bauer has this photo essay. http://english.sina.com/world/2008/1228/207770.html Syrians stage mass demonstration to protest against Israeli raids on Gaza 2008-12-28 17:50:32 GMT2008-12-29 01:50:32 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English DAMASCUS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Syrians staged a mass demonstration Sunday in the capital of Damascus to protest the continuing Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip which have killed at least at least 285 people. The demonstrators, coming from various political, economic, social and religious ranks, carried banners and chanted slogans affirming support to the Palestinian people in their resistance against the Israeli terrorism, the official SANA news agency reported. They expressed condemnation and anger of "the brutal U.S.-backed aggression" by the Israeli forces, burning American and Israeli national flags. The protestors urged those Arab countries which have diplomatic relations with Israel to sever such ties and dismiss Israeli ambassadors, stressing the need to bolster Palestinian national unity. They also called on the international community to force Israel to end the bloodshed and lift the unjust siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented intensive air strikes on Hamas movement targets in Gaza since Saturday, killing around 300 Palestinians and wounding over 900 people. Most of Hamas security installations were destroyed as well as roads, buildings, mosques and metal workshops used to manufacture homemade rockets. http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2009/01/04/207258.htm General Union of Arab Students Calls for Continuing Protests against Israeli Aggression on Gaza Jan 04, 2009 Damascus, (SANA) ? The Damascus-based General Union of Arab Students called all Arab students and youth organizations to protest on Wednesday at universities, schools, capitals and cities in support of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Union called for continuing demonstrations, staging sit-ins and public activities denouncing the Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip and the Arab silence and international collusion. It also stressed the need for mobilizing all possible resources to support the people of Gaza. H. Sabbagh / Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/248007,lebanese-protest-at-un-building-in-beirut-in-solidarity-with-gaza.html Lebanese protest at UN building in Beirut in solidarity with Gaza Posted : Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:45:20 GMT Author : DPA Category : Middle East (World) Beirut - Hundreds converged at the United Nations building in Beirut on Sunday to protest Israel's deadly raids on the Gaza Strip and show solidarity with the Palestinian people. Dozens of soldiers and other members of the security forces were deployed to the UN headquarters in downtown Beirut. The protesters, mostly from the Sunni groupings in Lebanon and Hamas were kept several hundred metres (yards) away from the building. Men riding motorbikes and carrying black flags, wearing the traditional Palestinian headdress and chanting "God help our people in Gaza," were among the protesters. One of the protesters told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, "We are here to show our solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza and ask the world community to intervene to stop the bloodshed." "Where the Arab leaders?" a placard carried by the protestors read. The UN Security Council early Sunday called for an immediate end to all military actions in the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, followers of Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah Movement held a rally in Beirut's southern suburbs in support of the Gaza population following Israeli airstrikes. Similar protests were held in several Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Some 367,000 Palestinian refugees live in 12 camps across the country. http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Gulf%2C+Middle+East+%26+Africa&month=December2008&file=World_News2008123001312.xml Egypt slams Nasrallah over protest calls Web posted at: 12/30/2008 0:13:12 Source ::: . AFP ANKARA: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit yesterday harshly criticised Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah for calling for mass demonstrations in Egypt to force the government to open the country?s border with Gaza. ?Someone yesterday called on the Egyptian people to take to the streets and create an atmosphere of anarchy. In other words, they want an atmosphere of anarchy similar to the one they created in their own country,? Gheit told a press conference here, without naming Nasrallah. ?This person also called on the Egyptian armed forces, but he is not aware of the situation,? Gheit said after talks with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan. ?If you do not know, let me tell you that the Egyptian armed forces are tasked with defending Egypt. If need be, they will also protect Egypt against people like you,? he added. Gheit also underlined that the Rafah crossing point between Egypt and Gaza was open for dispatching humanitarian supplies and receiving wounded Palestinians. In a televised address on Sunday, Nasrallah urged Egyptians to take to the streets ?in millions? to force the government to open the Rafah crossing to Gaza, arguing that security forces could not take actions against such a large turnout. ?I am not calling for a coup in Egypt... but if you (the Egyptian leadership) do not open the Rafah crossing, if you do not help the Palestinian people, you will be considered accomplices in the massacre and the blockade,? added Nasrallah. On Sunday, dozens of Palestinians tried to break through the border into Egypt, only to be stopped by Egyptian police firing into the air http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050980.html 29/12/2008 Hezbollah: Defending Gaza means offering blood of martyrs By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Tags: israel news, Gaza, israel Tens of thousands of Lebanese Shi'ite protesters, chanting "Death to America, Death to Israel," massed in Beirut on Monday, calling for an end to Israeli strikes on Gaza that have killed 320 Palestinians. In the Jordanian capital, Amman, about 20,000 people staged a demonstration organized by the mainstream Muslim Brotherhood, while in Cairo about 1,000 people rallied to show solidarity with Gaza Palestinians. "In Gaza today we face, as a nation, a battle against the fate of Palestine and not the fate of the Hamas government," Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah declared to a throng of demonstrators in Beirut's southern suburbs. Advertisement "I join my voice to the voices of other Palestinian leaderships that have called for a third intifada (uprising) in Palestine and other intifidas in both the Arab and Islamic worlds," he said. "I believe that defending Gaza and the people of Gaza means that the nation should offer the blood of martyrs," Nasrallah said. His comments echoed those of Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal, who on Saturday said the time for a third intifada had come. In the Amman rally, protesters urged Hamas to resume a campaign of suicide bombings and intensify rocket attacks. "Oh Hamas we are your soldiers ... hit them with al-Qassam rockets ... bring the suicide bombers to Tel Aviv," they chanted, waving the green flags of the Muslim Brotherhood who are ideological allies of Hamas and the leftist opposition. Many Jordanians, whose families originally came from towns and cities in what is now Israel, support Hamas. The demonstrators lambasted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and urged his country, which has been cooperating with Israel for months in the blockade of Gaza, to allow freedom of movement for Palestinians. In the Cairo protest outside the Journalists Union building, the crowd, which included Islamists, leftists and Arab nationalists, shouted slogans in support of Gaza Palestinians and condemning Arab governments, including Egypt's. Similar protests took place in a string of Arab countries on Sunday. Many governments in the Arab world are seen as collaborators with the United States or Israel by popular Islamist movements. They called on the Egyptian government to open the Rafah crossing and stop collaborating with Israel in the blockade of the impoverished coastal strip and 1.5 million inhabitants. About the same number of riot police, armed with batons and shields, penned the protesters into a narrow area on the steps of the union and along the nearby pavement. 6 demonstrators protesting Israeli Gaza op arrested in Tel Aviv Six protesters were arrested Monday at an unauthorized demonstration against Israel's aerial campaign in the Gaza Strip, held outside the Egyptian Embassy in Tel Aviv. The protesters, suspected of disturbing the peace, waved Palestinian Liberation Organization flags as they condemned Israel. Police forces that arrived asked the protesters to lower the flags and clear the area. Upon their refusal, police dispersed the protesters forcefully and arrested six of them. One of the protesters said "Police took advantage of the lack of public support and attacked the protesters with clubs. Two other protesters and I were trying to calm the soldiers and were kicked at. Within minutes I found myself being dragged by my head and shoulders across the sidewalk and into the patrol car." The protester indicated that once the police understood she is Jewish she was released. "The two Arab protesters were of course forced into the vehicle," she added. Some 200 Palestinians who had entered Israel ilegally and 140 Israeli Arab protesters have been arrested on charges of disturbing the peace since Israel first launched the assault on Gaza, most of whom are from Jerusalem and Northern communities. 31 policemen have been injured. Israeli Police have launched an operation called "Daylight" aimed at keeping all roads clear. Some 2,400 volunteers have been recruited to reinforce police forces. Some 12,000 officers and 200 patrol vehicles have deployed since the launch of the operation. Police emphasized that its forces were following riot guidelines decided upon in advance. Authorized protests are permitted but any lawbreaking, including any use of force, is not tolerated. Police forces are in contact with the Arab leadership in an attempt to keep protests calm and restrained. http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/Lebanon/902A06D6C05D7194C225754000221FB6?OpenDocument Anti-Suleiman Slogans at Awkar Protest for 1st Time since He Became President Anti-Israeli protesters shouted slogans against President Michel Suleiman during a pro-Gaza protest at Awkar raising fears that the implications of the Gaza war have moved to Lebanon. The daily An Nahar on Friday said the protesters, that included opposition and leftist parties spearheaded by Hizbullah, called on Suleiman not to "abandon the (Palestinian) cause." It said the demonstration took place at Awkar shortly before Suleiman headed for Doha Thursday evening to participate in the emergency summit on Gaza if it was convened. Otherwise, Suleiman would hold consultations in the capital of Qatar. Beirut, 16 Jan 09, 08:05 http://www.deseretnews.com/article/0,5143,705278435,00.html Protesters in Lebanon criticize U.N. approach to Gaza conflict Associated Press Published: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 9:12 p.m. MST 0 comments SHARE | E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - Facebook Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon BEIRUT, Lebanon ? Lebanese protesters vented their anger Saturday over the Gaza offensive against the visiting United Nations chief, saying he did not do enough early in the campaign to prevent hundreds of Palestinians from dying. "Ban Ki-moon, Ban Ki-moon, pack your things and leave!" hundreds shouted as the secretary-general spoke to Lebanon's parliament nearby. A Hezbollah legislator, Ali Ammar, displayed a bloody doll representing a wounded Palestinian child as he listened to Ban's speech. In the hours before Israel announced a unilateral cease-fire Saturday night, anger over the offensive echoed around Europe and the Arab world: Crowds of thousands marched in Paris, Rome, Germany and Tunisia. Hundreds of others gathered in Madrid and Athens, Greece. In London, protesters from a rally in Trafalgar Square smashed the windows of a nearby Starbucks. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri criticized the U.N. for its alleged paralysis on the Gaza issue and said implementing U.N. resolutions on the Arab-Israeli conflict, including calling for Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territory, would restore respect to the organization. The U.N. leader is on a trip through the Middle East designed to help end the conflict in the Gaza Strip, home to 1.4 million people. Story continues below Ban said Hamas must stop rocket attacks on Israel, and the Jewish state must end its offensive and withdraw its troops from Gaza. Ban met separately with the Lebanese president and prime minister earlier Saturday. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=29693 First Published 2009-01-10 Anger at Israel and some Arab regimes 63 injured in Algiers protest over Israeli Gaza raids Tens of thousands protest against Israel?s Gaza offensive despite eight-year-old ban on demonstrations. ALGIERS - ]'s interior minister blamed "trouble-makers" for clashes at a protest against Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip that left 63 injured in the capital, including 23 police officers. "In Algiers, the marches have been infiltrated by troublemakers, who committed acts of violence notably by throwing stones causing injuries to 23 police officers and 40 other people, including two journalists," said a statement. Shops were sacked, cars damaged and windows broken during the unrest causing panic, said the ministry statement, quoted by the APS agency. The security forces arrested those responsible, it said. The ministry statement said that marches in the capital continue to be banned but added that several demonstrations organised the same day in other towns protesting Israel's Gaza offensive passed off peacefully. Several thousand people took part in protest marches in Algiers, in the western city of Oran and in other towns in Algeria. Arabic-language daily newspaper Ennahar said on its website Friday that one of its journalists had been seriously injured during the Algiers demonstration. Knocked unconscious he was taken to hospital where he underwent an operation for a head injury. The anger was directed not only at Israel, but at Arab dictators deemed to be complicit in the ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza that has stopped refugees from getting out and humanitarian aid from getting in, and at the unsympathetic tone of some of those dictatorships towards Hamas, the only democratically elected government in the Arab World. http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&A662D9C0E5C86390C225753A002C10A0 Scores Injured in Algiers after Police Clash with Anti-Israel Protestors Algeria's interior minister blamed "trouble-makers" for clashes at a protest against Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip that left 63 injured in the capital, including 23 police officers. "In Algiers, the marches have been infiltrated by troublemakers, who committed acts of violence notably by throwing stones causing injuries to 23 police officers and 40 other people, including two journalists," said a statement. Shops were sacked, cars damaged and windows broken during the unrest causing panic, said the ministry statement, quoted by the APS agency. The security forces arrested those responsible, it said. The ministry statement said that marches in the capital continue to be banned but added that several demonstrations organized the same day in other towns protesting Israel's Gaza offensive passed off peacefully. Several thousand people took part in protest marches in Algiers, in the western city of Oran and in other towns in Algeria. Arabic-language daily newspaper Ennahar said on its website Friday that one of its journalists had been seriously injured during the Algiers demonstration. Knocked unconscious he was taken to hospital where he underwent an operation for a head injury.(AFP) http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&A662D9C0E5C86390C225753A002C10A0 Scores Injured in Algiers after Police Clash with Anti-Israel Protestors Algeria's interior minister blamed "trouble-makers" for clashes at a protest against Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip that left 63 injured in the capital, including 23 police officers. "In Algiers, the marches have been infiltrated by troublemakers, who committed acts of violence notably by throwing stones causing injuries to 23 police officers and 40 other people, including two journalists," said a statement. Shops were sacked, cars damaged and windows broken during the unrest causing panic, said the ministry statement, quoted by the APS agency. The security forces arrested those responsible, it said. The ministry statement said that marches in the capital continue to be banned but added that several demonstrations organized the same day in other towns protesting Israel's Gaza offensive passed off peacefully. Several thousand people took part in protest marches in Algiers, in the western city of Oran and in other towns in Algeria. Arabic-language daily newspaper Ennahar said on its website Friday that one of its journalists had been seriously injured during the Algiers demonstration. Knocked unconscious he was taken to hospital where he underwent an operation for a head injury.(AFP) Beirut, 10 Jan 09, 10:09 http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&715C23B44C6DEFFEC2257533004EA3C9 Kuwaitis Stage Anti-Israel Protest Over Gaza More than 2,000 Kuwaitis and Arab residents demonstrated on Saturday against Israel's deadly strikes on Gaza Strip, calling on Arab regimes to help Palestinians. Protesters chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America," and carried banners in support of the Islamist Hamas movement, criticizing what they called "Arab silence towards the Israeli massacre." A number of lawmakers and political activists took part in the protest, the second this week, organized by the Kuwait Students Union. Many women also participated. The protesters marched to the parliament building where a number of MPs delivered speeches condemning the Israeli attacks and expressing support to Gaza. Demonstrators called on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to open the only border crossing point with the Gaza Strip in order to allow aid to pass to around 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza. The student union called for the protest after authorities in the Gulf state on Wednesday prevented students from marching on the Egyptian embassy to urge Cairo to open the Rafah border crossing. Since then, security measures have been tightened around the embassy building in Kuwait City. The Kuwaiti government has strongly condemned the Israeli onslaught and the emirate's Red Crescent society has dispatched medical aid to Gaza.(AFP) http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081229220357.u0lupr8wp2&show_article=1 Protestors torch an Israeli flag in Kuwait City http://english.bna.bh/?ID=75233 AUTHORIZED DEMONSTRATION DISPERSED AFTER RESOTING TO VIOLENCE date: 19 12, 2008 MANAMA, DEC. 19 (BNA) AROUND 3000 PEOPLE STAGED A LARGE DEMONSTRATION, GIVEN GREEN LIGHT BY THE POLICE DIRECTORATE OF THE CAPITAL GOVERNORATE IN ADVANCE, TO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BUT UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF THE PROTESTERS DEVIATED FROM THE MAIN TARGET, INTERIOR MINISTER LT GEN. SHAIKH RASHID BIN ABDULLA AL KHALIFA SAID. FURTHERMORE, THEY ASSAULTED THE SECURITY MEN WHO WERE THEIR TO TELL THE ORGANIZERS TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE MAIN OBJECTIVE AND INJURED A POLICE OFFICER AND A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE, NECESSITATING, THEN, THE INTERVENTION OF SECURITY FORCES TO RE-ESTABLISH ORDER, SHAIKH RASHID EXPLAINED. THE MINISTRY GIVES ITS CONSENT TO PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS AND GATHERINGS WITHIN THE FRAME OF LAW AND IN SUPPORT OF LIBERTIES AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS GUARANTEED BY THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AS WELL AS IN PROSPECT OF CONSOLIDATING SOCIETAL PARTNERSHIP, SHAIKH RASHID SAID. SIMILARLY, THE MINISTRY SECURITY FORCES INTERFERE TO DISPERSE AUTHORIZED DEMONSTRATIONS OR GATHERINGS ONCE THEY DEVIATE FROM THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK, ABUSE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OR COMMIT PUNISHABLE CRIMES, HE ADDED. THE MINISTER ALSO DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE ORGANIZERS THAT ITS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR AUTHORIZED DEMONSTRATIONS OR GATHERINGS AND PREVENT, EVEN WITH POLICE HELP, ANY ILLEGAL ACT THAT INSTIGATES VIOLENCE, SHAKES ORDER OR TRANSGRESSES REGULATIONS, ORELSE THEY ASSUME THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IF HELD INVOLVED IN INSTIGATING OR PARTICIPATING IN THESE ACTS. THE MINISTER ALSO UNVEILED THAT HE WOULD PRESENT A PROPOSAL FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE LAW GOVERNING DEMONSTRATIONS AND GATHERINGS TO FURTHER TIGHTEN SECURITY AND SPECIFY LEGAL LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION FOR ANY HARM OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM ILLEGAL ACTS. HE ALSO AFFIRMED THAT IN LIGHT OF SUCH ABUSE OF LAWS, THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR WOULD NOT HESITATE IN THE FUTURE TO EXERCISE ITS LEGAL PREROGATIVES TO AVERT DAMAGE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY AND PROTECT ORDER. EFFECTIVELY, THE MINISTER SAID, LEGAL ACTION WAS TAKEN AGAINST THE ARSONISTS AND SABOTEURS IN TODAYS DEMONSTRATION. MTQ 20-DEC-2008 00:12 http://www.topnews.in/bahrainis-angry-protest-over-gaza-2111053 Bahrainis in angry protest over Gaza Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Fri, 01/16/2009 - 17:46. Muharraq, Bahrain - US and Arab leaders came under heavy criticism from hundreds of protesters during a rally in Muharraq, north of the Bahraini capital Manama on Friday, amidst continuing violence in the Gaza Strip. The protesters stabbed pictures of US President George W Bush, Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak, and Palestinian National Authority (PNA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas with knives, for their alleged role in supporting the offensive against the Gaza Strip. The protestors also set US and Israeli flags on fire and carried coffins for what they described as the fate of the state of Israel and its soldiers. Placards thanking Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for expelling the Israeli ambassador from Caracas in response to the Israeli offensive were waved during the protest, which also described him as "manlier" than Arab leaders. dpa http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3650494,00.html Tens of thousands of Moroccans march in solidarity with Gaza Published: 01.04.09, 23:53 / Israel News A demonstration against the Israeli offensive in Gaza has drawn tens of thousands of people to the streets of the Moroccan capital. Police have put the number of demonstrators at 50,000, according to the official MAP news agency. But organizers say even more turned out for the peaceful march in this Muslim kingdom on the Atlantic coast. Protesters emphasized their solidarity with the Palestinians in general and with Gaza residents in particular during Sunday's four-hour march, which coincided with large demonstrations in Turkey and Lebanon. (Reuters) http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iEW4GLcLDc9ZT6f7XMh_7rrSqKgg Thousands protest in Rabat against Israeli strikes on Gaza Dec 27, 2008 RABAT (AFP) ? Thousands of people marched in the Moroccan capital Saturday to protest Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip and called for revenge for the more than 200 Palestinians killed. A crowd estimated at 3,000 carried signs denouncing the "Israeli aggressors" and chanted that "with our soul, with our blood, we will sacrifice for you, Gaza!" Several Islamist organisations and political parties took part in the protest, including the opposition Justice and Development party (PJD). PJD party chief Abdelillah Benkirane criticised in particular the reticence of Arab states. "Where are they? Will they let people go to support the Palestinians?" he said to AFP. The Moroccan government Saturday condemned the Israeli strikes and called for "an immediate end to hostilities" and for talks between the two sides, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Israel said it launched air strikes in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Saturday, in retaliation for rockets fired at the Jewish state by Palestinian militants. http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=13608 Jordanians stage 600 pro-Gaza protests By Khetam Malkawi AMMAN - More than 600 protests and demonstrations were organised in Jordan during the Israeli offensive on Gaza, "without shooting a bullet, despite some provocations", Minister of Interior Eid Fayez said on Sunday. "Public Security and Gendarmerie forces have their limits of endurance, still they exhibited so much tolerance. Some of them were hospitalised during demonstrations, but we did not publicise that... in order not to be misunderstood," Fayez said at a Lower House meeting yesterday. "Peaceful expression of sentiments and demonstrations are citizens' rights and considered as the highest level of democracy... His Majesty King Abdullah said peaceful expression is allowed for all segments of Jordanian society," Fayez added in his reply to a number of MPs who cited complaints by citizens accusing the government of "shirking its duty towards the people of Palestine, and that some demonstrations went out of control". He added in his reply to a lawmaker who said that there was an absence of the Kingdom's political role during the Israeli attack on Gaza, "Jordan has and will always have a key role at the pan-Arab level, but it does not boast about that seeking gains". During yesterday's part of the meeting designated for unscheduled issues, Deputy Mamdouh Abbadi (Amman, 3rd District) said: "Since the offensive started, Jordan represented by its government and people and led by His Majesty the King were unified in their support... still we were looking for a clear political role for Jordan." "I noticed a real absence of Jordan's political role during the 20-day massacre," Abbadi said. During yesterday's three-hour meeting, Islamist MP Hamzah Mansour (Amman, 2nd District) called on the government to sever ties with Israel immediately. "Otherwise, with the support of my brothers at the Islamic Action Front bloc at the House, we will call for a vote of no confidence," Mansour said. Other legislators called on the government to sue the "Zionist enemy" at the International Criminal Court. A memorandum was also signed by 22 MPs, proposing the House form a parliamentary delegation to visit the Gaza Strip. In the question and answer session, lawmakers discussed the government's reply to 42 of their queries. 19 January 2009 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/30/content_10577653.htm Thousands in Jordan protest Israel's raids against Gaza AMMAN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people on Monday took to the streets in Jordan's capital of Amman to protest Israel's raids against the Gaza Strip. The protestors, led by trade union and syndicate leaders, called on the Jordanian government to cease the peace treaty with Israel in protest against the Jewish state's "heinous and savage aggression" on Gaza. They also urged Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing with Gaza to make Palestinians have access to medical treatment. Israeli air raids have pounded Gaza for a third straight day, killing so far more than 300 and wounding over 900 people. Jordan's King Abdullah II has ordered the government to take all necessary and possible steps to support Palestinians in Gaza and provide humanitarian and medical aids to them. Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, becoming the second Arab country after Egypt to normalize relations with Israel. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/03/content_10595564.htm Jordan's police use tear gas to disperse protesters AMMAN, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's police on Friday used batons and tear gas to stop protestors approaching Israeli embassy, a security official said. Police had to fire tear gas to disperse demonstrators as they threw stones when trying to march towards the embassy, said the official. This is the first clash between police and demonstrators since Israel launched intensive onslaught against Gaza, which has killed so far 432 Palestinians and wounded a further 2,200. In another rally at a sports stadium in Amman, thousands of protestors torched Israeli flags, pledging strong solidarity with Gazans. Participants also urged the government to sever ties with Israel and annul the peace accord with the Jewish state. Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, becoming the second Arab country after Egypt to normalize relations with Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/158229 Envoy to Jordan Returns to Israel Amid Violent Protests Reported: 07:16 AM - Dec/29/08 (IsraelNN.com) Yaakov Rosen, the Israeli ambassador to Jorndain, was ordered to return home Sunday amid growing anti-Israeli protests in Amman and elsewhere in Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel. Thirty Jordanian legislators demanded that Rosen be expelled from the country. Lawmaker Bassam Haddain told the French news agency AFP, "Thirty deputies signed a memorandum on Saturday condemning the Israeli aggression on Gaza and demanding that the government expel the Israeli ambassador to Jordan. The political atmosphere in Jordan is against Israel's arrogant polices and it is growing. We expect more MPs to sign the memo." Legislator Khalil Atiyeh stepped on an Israeli flag and burned it. http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=13125 Protests enter third day as citizens demand end to attacks Protesters demonstrate against ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza Monday. Demonstrations were held across the Kingdom for the third day in a row (Petra photo) By Mohammad Ben Hussein and agencies AMMAN - Thousands demonstrated on Monday in front of the Prime Ministry, calling on the government to expel the Israeli ambassador from the Kingdom in light of continued Israeli attacks on Gaza. Leaders from the National Coalition for Political Parties as well as representatives of various professional associations took part in the demonstration, which started from the Professional Associations Complex in Shmeisani. As many as 25,000 people chanted anti-Israeli slogans, expressing anger over the deadly carnage in the coastal strip in one of the largest demonstrations in three days across the Kingdom. Demonstrators burnt American and Israeli flags, while some beat a poster depicting American President George W. Bush with shoes. Parliamentarians were also present at the protest, including MP Khalil Atiyyeh who stomped on the American flag as demonstrators marched towards the Prime Ministry. Many shouted remarks condemning the actions of Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, accusing both of being ?Israeli agents?. They also expressed support for Hamas and vowed revenge for the attacks. In a letter delivered to officials at the Prime Ministry, the National Coalition for Political Parties as well as Jordan's professional associations called on the government to terminate the Wadi Araba peace treaty with Israel. They also presented a list of demands, including holding an Arab summit and action leading to the immediate end to the attack on Gaza. The letter also called on the government to allow demonstrations to take place and facilitate civil society efforts to collect donations for Gaza. Police forces amassed in front of the Prime Ministry as the gathering ended peacefully and without incident. Jordan has been witnessing a series of protests ever since the attack on Gaza began earlier this week with thousands taking to the streets in various parts of the Kingdom yesterday. In western Amman, the Social Left movement organised a sit-in following the afternoon prayer in front of Kalouti Mosque, during which hundreds of participants expressed their condemnation of the Israeli "massacres" in Gaza, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported yesterday. Also yesterday, political parties and professional associations, in addition to several civil society organisations, gathered in Madaba for a demonstration following the afternoon prayer. Almost 1,500 participants spoke out against ongoing Israeli military operations on unarmed Palestinians in Gaza, according to Petra. Meanwhile, residents in Ramtha near the JordanianSyrian border organised a sit-in at Al Omari Mosque to express their outrage over Israeli aggression against the Palestinians, calling for the closure of Israeli embassies in all Arab countries. In Tafileh Governorate, 150km to the south, the Islamic Action Front and the Muslim Brotherhood organised a march with the participation of hundreds while in the northern Governorate of Mafraq, members of the Shurafat tribe in Northeastern Badia District gathered in a march that toured most parts of the governorate and ended in the city of Mafraq. During the march, participants held banners and shouted slogans condemning the Israeli military operation in Gaza, Petra reported. Activists also launched a blood drive at Mafraq Public Hospital. Demonstrations also took place on Monday in Karameh in Northern Shouneh District, Wihdat refugee camp in east Amman and in Ajloun, according to Petra. 30 December 2008 http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=13572 Protesters urge action, boycott of US and Israeli goods Demonstrators burn US and Israeli products in front of the Professional Associations Complex in Shmeisani on Saturday (AFP photo) AMMAN (JT) - Public condemnation of the ongoing attacks on Gaza continued on Saturday, with activists burning Israeli and the US products at the Professional Associations Complex in Shmeisani. According to Maysara Malas, a member of the Jordan Engineers Association freedoms committee, the burning is a symbolic gesture of ?Jordan?s rejection of Israel and the US?. "We will be following up with a boycott campaign across the Kingdom," Malas told The Jordan Times. Meanwhile, a Muslim Brotherhood-sponsored conference on Saturday launched a petition calling for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to be refused entry into the Kingdom ?in light of his stance on the Israeli military offensive in Gaza?. Around 2,000 people took part in yesterday?s gathering, organised by the Islamist movement to galvanise support for Palestinians in the besieged coastal strip, with Islamist activists and tribal leaders expressing their anger over Palestinian Authority officials? inaction. Several speakers condemned Abbas for not attending Friday?s Doha summit, accusing him of being "an Israeli agent", and called for a national survey to gauge public opinion of the 1994 Wadi Araba Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty. Speakers included Hammam Said, overall leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, Islamist MPs, former army general Sami Majali and dignitaries from Karak, Maan, Irbid and Zarqa. "Although we appreciate the government?s efforts to support us, we call for cancelling the Wadi Araba agreement and ending all forms of normalisation with the Zionist enemy, including political and economic ties," said Said. Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson Jamil Abu Baker told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the conference that the event is a part of a series of initiatives to support Palestinians living in the besieged enclave. "We will be adopting a number of projects to help our brothers in Gaza, including reconstruction of Gaza city and twinning projects to help ease the impact of war on Gazans," he said. Friday?s protests On Friday, protests took a violent turn, as demonstrators clashed with police near the Israeli embassy in Rabia after some 200 young men tried to approach the embassy. Protesters threw rocks at anti-riot police, who in turn used force to disperse the demonstrators and at least two people were injured in the clashes, according to eye witnesses. PSD Spokesperson Major Mohammad Khatib confirmed to The Jordan Times that at least two protesters received slight injuries, in addition to a high-ranking Gendarmerie officer. Also on Friday, activists marched to the European Commission office in Amman to protest against the EU stance on the ongoing Israeli military offensive and delivered a letter to Patrick Renauld, head of the European Commission Delegation in Amman. In a speech at the demonstration, attended by some 2,000 protesters, Islamic Action Front Secretary General Zaki Bani Rsheid blasted the EU and some Arab countries for ?allowing Israel to kill children?. In a statement released on Friday, Renauld said it was ?unacceptable that the life of children and women are not respected and protected?, highlighting the support provided by EU citizens and institutions to the Palestinians in Gaza and ?the urgency to reach a ceasefire". Renauld added that he would like Arab and EU countries to focus on the future and find ways ?to rebuild houses and destroy walls, and put an end to the hatred between the two parties,? according to the statement. 18 January 2009 http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/247968,leadall-over-200-killed--israeli-gaza-attacks-prompt-global-protest.html LEADALL: Over 200 killed - Israeli Gaza attacks prompt global protest Posted : Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:21:05 GMT Hundreds of Jordanian trade unionists and opposition party members protested the Israeli airstrike. In Lebanon, supporters gathered to show support for Hamas. Calls were renewed for both sides to attend a peace conference, such as one planned in Moscow in the new year. http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=13150 Nationwide demonstrations continue as protesters urge action Demonstrators express outrage over Gaza attacks in Amman on Tuesday (AFP photo) By Mohammad Ben Hussein AMMAN - Nationwide demonstrations against ongoing Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip continued for the fourth day, with activists vowing to press ahead with protests until the attacks are stopped. In the upscale Amman neighbourhood of Abdoun, the Islamist movement, in association with the National Coalition of Political Parties, held a rally and prayers early yesterday evening for those who died in the attacks. Prominent leaders from the Islamist movement including overall leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Hamam Said, head of the Islamic Action Front (IAF) bloc in Parliament Hamzah Mansour and Jordan Bar Association President Saleh Armouti spoke in front of a crowd of nearly 1,500 people. Under the pouring rain, speakers took turns condemning the attack, expressing anger and frustration over the inaction of Arab regimes regarding the ?massacre of Gaza?. ?Shame on the Arab governments, who are busy trying to decide the date of a summit while the children of Gaza are dying,? said Said. Armouti was equally critical of Arab leaders, accusing governments of conspiring against the Palestinian people, while Mansour said Arab citizens must continue expressing their outrage to force their countries to act. ?The Arab regimes are frozen. People must continue protesting in the streets until governments are forced to live up to their historic responsibility by ending the attack on Gaza, opening the borders and throwing the Israelis out of all Arab capitals,? Mansour told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of yesterday?s gathering. Scores of activists chanted slogans condemning Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, accusing both of collaborating with Israel. Earlier in the day, around 500 UNRWA workers protested in front of UN Headquarters in Shmeisani, holding up pictures of Gazan children and urging the UN to act and stop the ?massacre of Gaza?. Meanwhile, the Jordanian Artists Union held a sit-in at its headquarters in Jabal Weibdeh in which a number of actors spoke out on the situation in Gaza. They also lit candles and urged Jordan and Egypt to end their diplomatic ties with Israel. Other activities to support Gaza yesterday included ongoing blood drives in various cities, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as the professional associations also held a blood drive and a sit-in at its Shmeisani headquarters. Activists have said that demonstrations will continue until the attacks on Gaza stop. Protesters at Al Hussein University in Maan also condemned the attacks and shouted anti-Israeli slogans, according to Petra. In addition, the Greater Amman Municipality said in a statement yesterday it will be receiving donations for Palestinians in the besieged coastal enclave in association with the Jordan River Foundation and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation. 31 December 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=64593 Nationwide protest against Israeli aggression Updated at: 2105 PST, Friday, January 09, 2009 KARACHI: The protest demonstrations were held in various cities of Pakistan on Friday against Israel?s ongoing aggression in Gaza. A protest rally was taken out by Sunni Tehrik in Mirpurkhas against Israeli onslaught on Palestinians. While second major demonstration was organized by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Lahore. JI central leader Liaquat Baloch led the rally, which paraded through various routes of the metropolis and ended at the Lahore Press Club. Liaquat Baloch, Asadullah Bhutto, Abdul Wahid Qureshi and other speakers addressed the participants of the protest. The speakers slammed the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) for its inability and silence on the issue. Thousands of people demonstrated in Multan against the killing of innocent Gazans by Israeli troops. The largest rally was taken out by Imamia Student Organization (ISO) at Delhi Gate. On this occasion, the protestors chanted anti-Israel slogans and called for Muslim Ummah to take action to restore peace in Palestine. Some student organizations protested Israeli strikes in Gaza. Similarly, protest demonstrations were held in other cities of the country also. http://www.geo.tv/1-11-2009/32441.htm Police use tear gas on Gaza protesters in Karachi Updated at: 1836 PST, Sunday, January 11, 2009 KARACHI: Police Sunday used tear gas and batons to disperse hundreds of angry protesters rallying against Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. About 2,000 people had answered the call of religious leaders to protest the Jewish state's campaign in the Palestinian territory, torching Israeli and US flags, but mainly marching peacefully. But the protest briefly turned violent when several hundred protesters deviated from the planned route and started heading toward the US consulate in the southern port city. When police tried to stop the demonstrators, they were pelted with stones. Some protesters even started fistfights with officers, prompting police to fire tear gas shells and baton-charge the crowd, the AFP reporter witnessed. Leaders used loudspeakers to urge the protesters to disperse without further incident and the situation was quickly brought under control. "We have not arrested anyone," said city police chief Wasim Ahmed. All roads leading to the US consulate were nevertheless sealed off as a security precaution. Demonstrations to express solidarity and support for the Palestinians were staged in several major cities in Pakistan on Sunday, with about 2,000 turning out in the capital Islamabad and several hundred more in eastern Lahore. Several small demonstrations took place in Lahore, with more than 400 people taking part in the main procession along central Mall Road, chanting anti-Israel and anti-US slogans before dispersing peacefully. "Muslim rulers must take serious note of the double standards of the West," the secretary general of Jamaat-i-Islami party, Munawwar Hussain, told protesters. "The US, Britain and some other European countries raised a hue and cry over the Mumbai attacks but surprisingly the world is watching the killings of innocent women and children in Gaza as silent spectators." Pakistan has condemned Israel's 16-day-old offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 875 people, saying it violates the UN charter. http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=65524 Protest demos held against Israeli massacre Updated at: 1905 PST, Sunday, January 18, 2009 KARACHI: Various political and social parties protested Sunday against Israeli atrocities on Palestinian people in Gaza. Imamia Student Organization (ISO) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) took out a joint rally in Rahimyar Khan to condemn the Israeli onslaught. The protestors demanded of Muslim nations to take immediate steps to stop the Israeli massacre. JI staged rallies in Jacobabad and Hyderabad also where thousands of protestors slammed Israel for the killings of innocent Palestinian children, women and men. Children and women took out rallies in Larkana and other cities of Sindh against Israeli aggression. ISO and JI stated a joint rally in the provincial capital of Balochistan against Israeli terrorism in Gaza. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\01\03\story_3-1-2009_pg12_4 Protest day observed against Gaza attacks Staff Report KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) observed a protest day on Friday, in an expression of solidarity with Palestinians and protesting against the bombardment of Gaza. The three religious organizations passed resolutions against Israel during the Friday prayers at various mosques and held protests in various areas of the city. A protest was held at the Jacob Lines Jamah Mosque by JI. JUI held a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club and JUP held protests outside various mosques in the city. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE50H1QA20090118 Thousands of Pakistanis protest against killings in Gaza Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:50pm EST KARACHI (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Pakistani Islamists took to the streets Sunday to protest against Israel's offensive in Gaza, calling for jihad (holy struggle) against the Jewish state. Chanting slogans "Down with Israel" and "Down with America," protesters marched in the city of Karachi to denounce the 22-day offensive that killed more than 1,300 Palestinians, including 700 civilians, Gaza medical officials said. Israel said hundreds of gunmen were among the dead. Ten Israeli soldiers were killed as well as three Israeli civilians hit by rockets fired by Hamas. Pakistani protesters burned effigies of U.S. President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during the rally described as the biggest anti-Israel protest in the mainly Muslim nation. "It's shame that U.N. and Muslim countries have always been ineffective to protect Muslims from brutalities," Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami party said. "We should not rely on the U.S. slaves and stand up against these brutalities," he said, referring to rulers of the Muslim countries. Israel called off its offensive in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, saying Hamas was "badly beaten." Hamas announced an immediate ceasefire by its fighters and allied groups Sunday, adding that the Islamists gave Israel a week to pull out its troops. People in different cities of Pakistan have been protesting against Israeli actions in Gaza in recent weeks and Pakistan's National Assembly last week passed a unanimous resolution condemning Israel's military action. (Reporting by Imitaz Shah; writing by Aftab Borka; editing by Kamran Haider and Dominic Evans) http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154240 JI to protest Gaza killings today Sunday, December 28, 2008 By our correspondent LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad strongly condemned the latest Israeli attack on Gaza killing 200 Palestinians, and said innocent Muslims were being slaughtered all over the world only because of the coward Muslim rulers. Qazi Hussain Ahmad announced that the JI would stage protests on Sunday in all the district headquarters to condemn the Israeli aggression against innocent Palestinians. He appealed to the countrymen for wholehearted participation in the protests. Qazi said the USA, Israel and India were the terrorists of the world whereas all Muslims of the world were victims of terrorism of this troika. He lamented that Muslim civilians were being butchered mercilessly but the UNO and other so-called world bodies of human rights were displaying a criminal silence over it. He said the UNSC and other global organisations were the guardians of Zionist and US interests, advising Muslims not to expect justice from them. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154360 JI protests Gaza massacre Monday, December 29, 2008 By our correspondent LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan on Sunday observed a protest day countrywide to condemn the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the massacre of innocent Palestinians in missile raids. The demonstrations were held in various cities of Pakistan. The JI leaders condemned the aggression of Israel, India and the US against the Muslim world. In Lahore, the demonstration was held on Multan Road outside Mansoora, the JI Headquarters. JI Naib Ameer Liaqut Baloch led the protest while Dr Farid Ahmed Paracha and Hafiz Idress were also present. Addressing the participants, Liaqut Baloch said the US was patronising all kinds of terrorism in Pakistan. He said peace in the country could only be restored if the dual standards of the US came to an end. He said that in order to expand its borders and legalise its existence, Israel had carried out missile attacks on innocent Palestinians and the killing of nearly 300 Muslims in the attacks was a condemnable act. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154666 Anti-Israel protests across Pakistan Wednesday, December 31, 2008 ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of people marched through the streets in the capital on Tuesday under the banner of the World Minorities Alliance (WMA), denouncing the Israeli air strikes on the people of Palestine. The rally, led by former minister J Salik, convener of the WMA, started from the Aabpara Chowk and terminated in front of the local press club. The protesters carried placards inscribed with slogans demanding an end to the Israeli atrocities and establishment of peace in Palestine. The rally urged world leaders to play their role for peace. The marchers held pictures of US President-elect Barack Obama, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and leaders of France, China, Britain, Germany and Middle Eastern countries. Addressing the rally, J Salik called upon Pope Benedict and Imam-e-Kaaba to help bring about peace in the troubled land. J Salik demanded of the United Nations and the world leaders to get the attacks against the Palestinians stopped. Mumtaz Alvi adds from Islamabad: The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday condemned the latest round of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians, calling on the leadership of the Muslim world to move beyond rhetoric in countering the aggression. The PTI?s foreign policy spokesperson Dr Shireen Mazari, while reacting to the latest massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, noted that the silence of leaders of the Muslim countries on the siege of Gaza had allowed Tel Aviv to become more violent and up the ante by using military force. ?Unless the international community asserts itself against this latest effort by Israel to defy all norms of international law, it would carry out genocide of the Palestinian people,? she cautioned. http://www.dawn.com/2009/01/10/local25.htm PESHAWAR: Protesters demand end to Israeli aggression Bureau Report PESHAWAR, Jan 9: Various political parties on Friday took out protest processions and staged demonstrations in different parts of the city against the killing of innocent Palestinians by the Israeli forces. Pakistan People?s Party (PPP-Sherpao) activists led by party?s provincial president MPA Sikandar Sherpao staged a protest demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club and chanted slogans against the atrocities being committed by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian civilians. The protesters were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the Israeli forces. Speaking on the occasion, Sikandar Khan Sherpao said that United States was taking up human rights issues in other countries whenever it wished, but it had turned a blind eye towards the genocide of Palestinians at the hands of Israelis. ?Our rulers are also least bothered about raising their voice for the rights of the innocent Palestinian citizens and are following the policies of the US,? he said. The demonstrators demanded an immediate end to the bombing of the civilian population. JI RALLY: The workers of Jamaat-i-Islami took out a protest procession from Masjid Mahabat Khan and held a rally at Chowk Yadgar. The procession was led by NWFP JI Amir Sirajul Haq and other local leaders. The protestors were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans against Israel, United States of America and its allies. The demonstrators raised anti-Israel and anti-US slogans. Sirajul Haq said it was time that Muslims should take a unified stand against their enemies. He said that the military operations in the tribal areas, Swat and other regions had been launched on the behest of the United States. The JI leader said it was very shameful that our government was providing logistic support to the American and Nato forces in Afghanistan who were ruthlessly killing our Muslim brothers. He also criticized the role of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in the Gaza crisis. The JI leader demanded of the OIC and the United Nations to use their influence and help stop the Israeli aggression. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=157802 Students stage protest against Isreal ?terrorism? Sunday, January 18, 2009 Saadia Khalid Islamabad Dozens of students Saturday protested against the escalated attacks on Gaza by Israel, which has claimed lives of thousands of innocent people till now. The protestors expressed their solidarity with the Palestinians and said that Israel must be made to stop the carnage especially by the leaders of the Muslim world. The protestors said that suffering in Gaza was beyond catastrophic while Israel was ignoring the worldwide clamour for it to stop now and is escalating its attacks. Holding the placards inscribed with the massages of peace, the protestors raised slogans against Israel, America and other supporting nations. They said that it was not the Hamas, which was terrorist but the Israeli forces that were playing havoc with the lives of peaceful Palestinians. They demanded of Israel to end Gaza massacre on immediate basis and also urged the leaders of Muslim world to take firm stand on the issue instead of silence on it. Talking to ?The News? President Pakistan Youth Initiative (PYI) Salman Zaidi said that their organisation comprised of students from different academic institutions and they strongly condemn the barbaric murder of thousands of Palestinians by cruel Israeli forces. ?We are astonished over the weak stance of the world leaders on the issue and it seems that they haven?t seen the footage of dead and bloodied bodies of young children on television screens,? he said. He said that the purpose of this protest demonstration was to press Israel to stop the genocide and adopt the way of negotiations. Peoples Right Movement (PRM) President Asim Sajjad on the occasion said that it was necessary to make the leaders of the world realize consequences of bloodshed in Gaza. ?The leaders of the world seemingly reluctant to take strong stance on the issue as they are supporting America for their vested interests,? said Sajjad. He also condemned the religious circles of the country who were trying to give this war a colour of religious discrimination despite the fact that the people from all across the country including Jews and Christians were protesting against Israel. ?People from across the world protesting against Gaza massacre as it is a war against humanity and not against religion,? he said adding religious parties should avoid giving wrong dimension to the war as it could cause more tension. The protestors later on marched towards Parliament House and dispersed peacefully after protest against the Israeli attacks of Gaza strip. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154347 Protesters condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza Monday, December 29, 2008 by Muhammad Anis Rawalpindi Jamaat-e-Islami Rawalpindi Sunday staged a protest demonstration on Benazir Bhutto Road to express its anger against the killing of over 225 Palestinians in Israeli air strikes in Gaza, Palestine. The demonstration was held in response to a protest call given by JI Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmed to observe Sunday as protest day. JI leaders including Raja Abdul Waheed, Shamsur Rehman Swati and others strongly condemned air strikes calling upon the Muslim world to pressurise Israel and US to stop brutalities on Palestinians. They also asked OIC and heads of 58 Muslim countries to play their due role at this critical juncture of the history and raise their voice against Israeli barbarianism. Online Adds from Islamabad: Jamaat-e-Islami and Imamiya Students Organisations held a joint protest demonstration in order to strongly condemn the latest Israeli incursion on Ghazi in which more than 225 people had lost their lives. Addressing the protest demonstration held in front of the Rawalpindi Islamabad Press Club Camp Office, JI leader and former MNA, Mian Aslam said that Israel has not only violated UN Charter, but it has also committed human rights violations by killing hundreds of innocent people. Mian Aslam said that silence of Muslim Ummah on such heinous incident was beyond his comprehension, as they had shown their utmost senseless attitude. JI Ameer Syed Bilal told that Israel alone was supervising terrorism across the globe. ?While there is also hand of Israel in recent Mumbai attacks,? he said and added that peace in the world would remain a dream unless deprived and oppressed people not given their rights. Allama Abid Bahisti of Imamiya Students Organisation stressed the need of evolving out an effective and comprehensive policy against the Israeli incursion. He said that Muslim must immediately summon the OIC meeting to strongly condemn the incident. http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1969017&Language=en Protests against Israeli aggression continue in Pakistan Politics 1/17/2009 3:52:00 PM ISLAMABAD, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- Protests against Israeli aggression continued in Pakistan on Saturday as Israel continued bombardment in Palestinian territories despite the UNs resolution to immediately stop it. The protest rallies, organized by Jamait-e-Islami (JI), were held in several cities including Lahore, Quetta, Gujranwala and other cities of the country. The protestors were carrying placards and chanting anti-Israel and anti-US slogans. They also burnt effigy of the Israeli president and also Israels flag. Also, the JI has set up camps in several cities to collect funds to help Palestinian victims. (end) amn.ajs KUNA 171552 Jan 09NNNN http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=157687 Students protest against Gaza massacre in Islamabad Sunday, January 18, 2009 By our correspondent ISLAMABAD: A large number of students on Saturday protested against the escalated attacks on Gaza by Israel, which has claimed lives of thousands of innocent people till now. The protestors expressed their solidarity with the Palestinians and said that Israel must be made to stop the carnage, especially by the leaders of the Muslim world. The protestors said that suffering in Gaza was beyond catastrophic while Israel was ignoring the worldwide clamour for it to stop now and is escalating its attacks. Holding the placards inscribed with the massages of peace, the protestors raised slogans against Israel, America and other supporting nations. They said that it was not the Hamas, which was terrorist but the Israeli forces that were playing havoc with the lives of peaceful Palestinians. They demanded of Israel to end Gaza massacre on immediate basis and also urged the leaders of Muslim world to take firm stand on the issue instead of silence on it. Talking to ?The News? President Pakistan Youth Initiative (PYI) Salman Zaidi said that their organisation comprised of students from different academic institutions and they strongly condemn the barbaric murder of thousands of Palestinians by cruel Israeli forces. ?We are astonished over the weak stance of the world leaders on the issue and it seems that they haven?t seen the footage of dead and bloodied bodies of young children on television screens,? he said. He said that the purpose of this protest demonstration was to press Israel to stop the genocide and adopt the way of negotiations. Peoples Right Movement (PRM) President Asim Sajjad on the occasion said that it was necessary to make the leaders of the world realize consequences of bloodshed in Gaza. ?The leaders of the world seemingly reluctant to take strong stance on the issue as they are supporting America for their vested interests,? said Sajjad. He also condemned the religious circles of the country who were trying to give this war a colour of religious discrimination despite the fact that the people from all across the country including Jews and Christians were protesting against Israel. ?People from across the world protesting against Gaza massacre as it is a war against humanity and not against religion,? he said adding religious parties should avoid giving wrong dimension to the war as it could cause more tension. The protestors later on marched towards Parliament House and dispersed peacefully after protest against the Israeli attacks of Gaza strip. Our Quetta correspondent adds: Activists of the Pukhtoon-khwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) brought out a rally against the killing of innocent Palestinians in Gaza here on Saturday. A rally, led by provincial president of PkMAP Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar and others, marched on various roads and streets of the city while carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the Israeli brutalities. The protesters chanted full-throated slogans against the Israeli forces and in favour of the Palestinians. The rally turned into a public meeting at the Meezan Chowk, where the protesters denounced the Israeli aggression against Palestinians, demanding of the UN and the Muslim world to take cognizance of the situation. Addressing the meeting, the PkMAP leaders criticised the inadequate response of the international community to the Israeli barbarism. They expressed shock at the attitude of the United Nations Security Council in brokering a ceasefire. They said the crisis in Gaza was aggravated by the two-year-long blockade of the territory by the Israeli forces and appealed to the people to help the Palestinians through the provision of humanitarian aid. They condemned the Israel?s aggression against Palestinians and said women and children were being killed in the aerial and ground attacks. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/9/nation/20090109181548&sec=nation January 9, 2009 MYT 8:20:23 PM MCA Youth on nationwide signature drive to protest Gaza attack KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth has joined those protesting the Gaza attacks by launching a nationwide signature campaign in hopes of ending the bloodshed of innocent Palestinians. ?We are very saddened to see media reports on the killing of women and children in Gaza. It is very shocking that this group was targeted by the Israeli army,? said the movement?s chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong. ?We may not be an Islamic body but we condone peace and that is why we are against the Israeli regime?s aggression,? he told reporters at the launching of the campaign titled ?Say No To War In GAZA? at Wisma MCA on Friday. Dr Wee hoped the petition would receive support from everyone regardless of race and religion as the loss of innocent lives was ?universal?. ?Although we are initiating the campaign at the MCA headquarters here, party branches in other states are encouraged to follow suit,? he said. Dr Wee also hoped the special Parliament session on Monday to discuss the attacks would reach a resolution leading to immediate action from the United Nations (UN) to impose economic sanctions on Israel. ?We urge all political parties from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to come together during that meeting as a one firm voice to speak out against the violence demonstrated by the Israeli regime,? he said, adding that political differences should be set aside to achieve the dream of an end to the war. Dr Wee said the signatures collected from the campaign would be given directly to the UN or Malaysia?s permanent representative to the UN Datuk Hamidon Ali. Asked the number of signatures the movement was aiming to collect, Dr Wee said: ?We do not have a target. Do you think the Israeli army sets a target of how many people they want to kill everyday?? Those who want to sign the petition may obtain the form from the MCA Youth office at Wisma MCA or visit www.petitiononline.com/no2war09. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/9/nation/20090109145054&sec=nation January 9, 2009 MYT 8:20:23 PM 2,000 march to US embassy to protest Israel aggression KUALA LUMPUR: More than 2,000 people are marching to the United States embassy holding placards protesting Israel?s brutal 13-day assault in Gaza. The crowd which started on the march at 2.20pm chanted ?long live Palestine? and ?destruction to the zionists? to protest the oppression of Palestinians. Police is controlling the crowd and the road leading to the US embassy is closed. It is learnt that there are two other groups who came after Friday prayers from Masjid KLCC and Masjid Negara. These two groups are combined with a group at Tabung Haji and the crowd could swell to 3,000. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/3/nation/2937508&sec=nation January 3, 2009 Protest against Gaza attacks KUALA LUMPUR: Hundreds of people gathered at separate locations nationwide to protest against the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip that have killed more than 400 Palestinians. Barisan Nasional Youth representatives, led by its deputy chairman Khairy Jamaluddin, turned up in full force at the Palestinian Embassy here yesterday with other non-governmental and youth organisations to denounce the attacks. Making a stand: A group of protesters gathering at George Town?s Kapitan Keling Mosque. They were part of the Coalition Against Israeli Aggression, which submitted a memorandum of support to Palestinian Ambassador Abd ElAziz Abu Ghoush. ?The brutal massacre of the Palestinians, including women and children, by the Israeli military has reminded the world of the urgency to bring a just solution for the Palestinian people, guaranteeing their sovereignty, security and well-being,? the memorandum stated. Khairy said a special Palestinian fund had been set up to help those affected by the humanitarian crisis and handed over a mock cheque for RM100,000 to Abd ElAziz to kick-start the fund. ?This is a humanitarian issue which transcends religion. This is about the dignity and freedom of the Palestinian people,? said Khairy. Representatives from the MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP were also at the embassy, as was a group of Palestinians who carried several banners calling for an end to the killing. Earlier, there was a commotion when Abd ElAziz called on several non-Malaysian Palestinian supporters to stop holding up pictures of leaders of different Palestinian factions during the protest. ?It is time to unite as one Palestine, across political lines and factions. The killings are affecting all Pales-tinians and does not distinguish between Hamas or Fatah or other factions,? he added. Khairy (right) leads the Barisan Nasional Youth members at a protest at the Palestinian Embassy . MCA national youth international affairs bureau chairman Dr Toh Kian Kok said they supported the protest as ?we are against any form of violence, and discord should be solved in an amicable manner.? Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to initiate an emergency seating of Parliament to table a motion condemning the Israel attack. PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, representing the coalition, said the Prime Minister, who is the former Organisation of the Islamic Conference chairman, should take pro-active action in the wake of the Israel aggression. ?We are also disappointed with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for not taking strong action against Israel, ? he said at a ga??thering at the National Mosque yesterday. In George Town, more than 200 people staged a peaceful gathering in front of the Kapitan Keling Mosque to condemn the attack. Similar gatherings were also held at mosques in Kampung Jawa, Sungai Gelugor and Dato Kramat. In Johor Baru, some 100 protesters gathered at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque to condemn the aggres-sion. In Kota Kinabalu, more than a hundred people staged a brief demonstration within the grounds of the city mosque to protest against the attacks. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2009/01/11/2003433444 Malaysians protest Gaza attacks QUICK RESPONSE: The Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia boycotted goods produced by Colgate-Palmolive Co, Coca-Cola and Starbucks to protest US inaction AGENCIES , KUALA LUMPUR Sunday, Jan 11, 2009, Page 5 More than 3,000 Malaysians protested on Friday against Israel?s invasion of Gaza, burning Israeli flags and effigies of US President George W. Bush. The mainly Muslim protesters, waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans, marched to the US Embassy in downtown Kuala Lumpur from a nearby mosque after Friday prayers. They called on the US to use its influence to stop Israel?s military offensive on Gaza, which has left more than 750 people dead ? at least half of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials. Thirteen Israelis have died. Israel has defended its two-week operation, saying it wants to stop rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza into Israeli territory. ?The killing continues ... We are urging the American government to demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza,? said Adnan Mohamad Tahir, an activist. The protesters, who burned two Israeli flags and effigies of Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, dispersed after an hour. The US abstained from a UN Security Council resolution passed on Thursday that called for a cease-fire. Malaysia?s government, which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, has condemned Israel?s ground offensive as a ?an act of total war.? On Thursday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called for international sanctions on Israel. In Hong Kong, several hundred people outside a mosque chanted slogans and held placards reading, ?Stop the Israeli Attacks on Gaza? and ?Stop Killing Children and Innocent.? Meanwhile, a Malaysian Muslim group began a boycott of top US products on Friday as protesters demanded a halt to the Gaza conflict. The Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia said Muslims in the Southeast Asian country would not buy goods produced by US toothpaste manufacturer Colgate-Palmolive Co, soft drink maker Coca-Cola and coffee chain Starbucks to protest US inaction against the attacks. ?We urge Muslim consumers internationally to unite so that we can teach a lesson to Israel and its allies,? Ma?amor Osman, an official with the association, told reporters in the compound of the national mosque after Friday Muslim prayers. ?This is to object to the arrogance and cruelty of Israel and its allies towards the Palestinians.? He urged the Malaysian government to end all its contracts with US-owned firms. The US is among Malaysia?s single largest export markets, absorbing more than a tenth of its total shipments. More than 750 have been killed in the Gaza clashes and Israel pushed ahead with its offensive on Friday, ignoring a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire to the conflict. The attacks have sparked angry demonstrations in countries with large Muslim populations such as Indonesia, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt. Former premier Mahathir Mohamad urged Muslims worldwide to to stop using the US dollar. ?If enough of us do this, then the value [of the US dollar] will fall, just like what they did to us in 1997,? Mahathir said, referring to the 1997 Asian economic crisis that he blamed on currency speculators. Mahathir urged the UN to set up a war crimes tribunal to try Israeli leaders involved in the attacks against the Palestinians. http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/95585 500 protest Israeli air strikes at US embassy Tarani Palani | Dec 30, 08 1:20pm About 500 people today protested outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur against the deadly Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip that have killed close to 400 people in the Palestinian territory. No action taken by 80-odd police Demonstration ended an hour later http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/2/nation/20090102204833&sec=nation Friday January 2, 2009 MYT 8:49:00 PM Hundreds protest Gaza carnage By FLORENCE A.SAMY, WINNIE YEOH, RUBEN SARIO and BEH YUEN HUI KUALA LUMPUR: Hundreds of people gathered in separate locations throughout the nation to protest the Gaza Strip carnage that has killed more than 400 Palestinians. Barisan Nasional Youth representatives led by their deputy chairman Khairy Jamaluddin turned up in full force at the Palestinian embassy here on Friday, together with other non-governmental and youth organisations, to denounce the Israeli strikes. They were part of the Coalition Against Israeli Aggression which submitted a memorandum of support to Palestinian ambassador Abdel Aziz Abu Ghoush. Khairy said a special Palestinian fund had been set up to help those affected by the humanitarian crisis and handed over a RM100,000 mock cheque to Abdel Aziz to kickstart the fund. Representatives from MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP were also at the embassy together with a group of Palestinians who carried various banners calling for an end to the killings. ?The brutal massacre of Palestinians including women and children by the Israeli military has reminded the world of the urgency it must have to bring a just solution for the Palestinian people guaranteeing their sovereignty, security and well-being,? the memorandum stated. The coalition also condemned economic sanctions and travel restrictions on the Gaza strip and West Bank, called for an immediate ceasefire and proposed a peace summit under United Nations to create an independent Palestine. ?This is a humanitarian issue which transcends religion. This is about the dignity and freedom of the Palestinian people,? said Khairy, who is also Umno Youth deputy head. Earlier there was a bit of commotion when Abdel Aziz called on several non-Malaysian Palestinian supporters to stop holding up pictures of leaders of different Palestinian factions during the protest. ?It is time to unite together as one Palestine across political lines and factions. The killings are affecting all Palestinians and does not distinguish between Hamas or Fatah or other factions,? he added. MCA national youth international affairs bureau chairman Dr Toh Kian Kok said they supported the protest as ?we are against any form of violence as discord should be solved in an amicable manner.? In GEORGE TOWN, more than 200 people staged a peaceful gathering in front of Kapitan Keling Mosque condemning the attacks. Chanting anti-Zionist and anti-American slogans and carrying banners, the crowd staged the protest for about 45 minutes after performing their Friday prayers. Policemen and patrol cars were seen patrolling the area to avoid any untoward incident. PKR state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, who attended the gathering, said he wanted to show his support for the Palestinians who had been oppressed for years. ?The people there do not deserve this kind of treatment. The Hamas Government was properly elected by the people and no other state or authority has the right to interfere,? he said. State PAS Youth chief Mohd Hafiz Nordin said the gathering was jointly organised by 13 non-governmental organisations like state PAS youth council, Ulama Association of Malaysia (PUM), Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) and Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions? Alumni (Haluan Malaysia). ?The inhumane and barbaric attacks by Israel have to cease. About 400 people have been killed since the attack started on Dec 27,? he said. Mohd Hafiz said similar gatherings were also held at mosques in Kampung Jawa, Sungai Gelugor and Dato Kramat. In JOHOR BARU, where some 100 people held a peaceful gathering, Johor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Muhamed said, ?We sympathise with the innocent people in Palestine, especially the children and women, who were killed in the attacks.? The group dispersed peacefully after about 30 minutes. In KOTA KINABALU, more than a hundred people staged a brief demonstration near the downtown area at a mosque soon after the Friday prayers. Chanting ?Save Palestine,? some of the protesters then burned a replica of the Star of David, the national symbol of Israel. The group?s spokesman Lahirul Latigu said they had decided to stage the demonstration as a show of solidarity for the besieged Palestinians. ?Relevant international bodies such as the OIC must take immediate action to help people in the Gaza Strip and pressure Israel to stop its assault,? said Lahirul, the Sabah PAS Youth deputy chairman. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/6/nation/2947260&sec=nation Tuesday January 6, 2009 Cries of protest grow louder KUALA LUMPUR: Various groups continued to protest against the invasion of Gaza by Israel. Some 40 members from the Gerakan Belia 4B Malaysia marched to the United States Embassy yesterday and submitted a memorandum of protest against the attacks. The movement?s Federal Territory branch chairman Mohd Azhari Naharuddin said they were appealing to the US Government to intervene and use its powers to stop Israel from attacking Palestine. ?We are very concerned about the strikes in Gaza which have led to over 500 deaths including Palestinian children. ?We hope this war would stop so that others would have a chance to live,? he said at the embassy. An embassy representative accepted the memorandum on behalf of the US Government from him. The group marched from Bangunan Tabung Haji but was stopped by members of the light strike force unit and police. Mohd Azhari was allowed to hand over the memorandum. The Council For Ex-Members of Parliament and State Assemblies, Federal Territory president Aziz Yassin called for the boycott of Israeli and Israeli-related goods and services to protest against the military assault. He said it was the least Malaysians of all races could do to register their sympathy towards the Palestinians who had been suffering at the hands of the Zionists for the past 50 years. Pakatan Rakyat MPs urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to call for an emergency meeting in the Dewan Rakyat to discuss the matter. ?It is very important that the people of this country make a stand to join the international community in voicing their objection against Israel?s violence and throw their moral support behind the Palestinians,? the statement said. DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said in a statement that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should spearhead world condemnation of the invasion. He also said US president-elect Barack Obama should pledge to end the country?s carte blanche support to Israeli aggression under his administration. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/17/nation/3048724&sec=nation Saturday January 17, 2009 300 in protest at US embassy KUALA LUMPUR: More than 300 people handed over two memorandums to the United States Embassy during a gathering, protesting the attacks on Palestine by Israel. The gathering organised by the Organisation of Islamic Missionaries and Welfare Malaysia (Pekida) and Malaysia-Palestine Friendship and Solidarity Association (PSPMP) handed over the memorandums to an embassy official at 2.45pm yesterday. However, the embassy refused to accept 10 boxes containing documents with signatures of 1.2mil Malaysians, obtained during the One Million Signatures campaign, condemning the brutality of Israel towards Palestine. In the memoranda, the groups demanded that the US instruct Israel to end the attacks in Gaza City. The protesters, including several Palestinian nationals, marched about 200m to the embassy carrying banners, posters and placards. They torched several Israel flags condemning the attacks by Israeli troops. Cheras OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Amir Mohd Hashim said the one-hour gathering was peaceful and the crowd dispersed without any untoward incident. Unhappy: Protesters in front of the US Embassy yesterday. In Butterworth, more than 200 people made up of Umno members and supporters from the Kepala Batas division staged a peaceful protest against Israel?s attack on Gaza. The 75-minute protest in Bertam, which began at 9.45pm, was organised by the Kepala Batas Umno division. State Opposition Leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim in his speech said although the crowd was small, the voice of the people was strong. Azhar, who is also the Penaga assemblyman and State Umno secretary, called on Malaysians to boycott products from the United States and Israel to express their protest. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/09/content_10632287.htm Demonstrators protest against U.S. support for Israel Demonstrators march to the United States Embassy to Malaysia to hold a protest against the US support for Israel's continued military attacks on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 9, 2009. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung) http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/401577/1/.html Malaysian police arrest activists protesting against Israeli strikes Posted: 11 January 2009 0017 hrs Malaysian police arrest demonstrators protesting against Israeli action in Gaza in Kuala Lumpur KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia police arrested 21 people including two opposition MPs for protesting against Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip, an activist said Saturday. "We were holding a candle light vigil to demand the end to the killing of innocent lives in Gaza," said E. Parameswari, 30, an activist with Jerit a group championing the rights of marginalised people in the country. "Police used force to break up the gathering and arrested 21 people including opposition lawmakers Charles Santiago, Abdullah Sani and a local state assemblyman Nasir Hashim," she told AFP. Parameswari said they were arrested at the popular Independence Square in the capital Kuala Lumpur late Saturday and taken to a local police station. "Police said our gathering was illegal," she told AFP. Parameswari condemned the police action, adding that the demonstrators did not provoke the police. "The police action is an abuse of power." S. Arutchelvan, secretary general of the Socialist Party of Malaysia told AFP they were being held in a police lockup. "Our arrest makes a mockery of the position taken by Malaysia to condemn Israel. "The way the police acted against us is no difference from the way the Israelis are treating the Palestinian people," he said from the police station. The UN Security Council called Friday for an immediate ceasefire to halt the two-week-old war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas which has killed almost 800 Palestinians, many of them civilians. A council resolution also called for the "unimpeded" provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza. - AFP /ls http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/7/nation/20090107143005&sec=nation Wednesday January 7, 2009 MYT 4:28:05 PM Penang protest against Israeli attacks on Friday By MANJIT KAUR GEORGE TOWN: Penang-based Citizens International will hold a demonstration on Friday at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling to protest the Israeli attacks on Palestine. Its chairman S.M. Mohamed Idris said the protest would be carried out after Friday prayers at about 2pm, and that they expected people from all religions and races to participate. He said the brutal massacre of the Palestinians by the Israeli military was a humanitarian issue which transcends religion. ?We also urge the people and the Government to boycott American-made goods and services. ?Each ringgit used to buy the American goods eventually becomes bullets to be fired at the hearts of the people in Palestine,?? he told a press conference at the office of the Consumer Association of Penang here on Wednesday. Mohamed Idris also urged the Egyptian government to immediately open the Rafah Crossing (between Egypt and Gaza Strip) to enable food, medicine and humanitarian aid workers to enter the Gaza Strip and provide relief to the victims. He said due to the closure of the crossing, urgently needed food and medicine were being held up. Mohamed Idris also applauded the initiative taken by the Malaysian Government to request for an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss and take action on Israel?s attack on Gaza. ?We therefore urge the Government to take immediate and urgent action to get the majority of the members? to consent to ... the session,? he added. http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/Frontpage/2447834/Article/index_html 2009/01/09 Gaza Under Siege: Ministry plans huge protest by schoolkids By : Regina Lee PUTRAJAYA: Nearly all schoolchildren in the country will be mobilised to protest against the Gaza offensive by Israeli forces. Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said about five million pupils and 360,765 teachers from more than 10,000 schools would be involved. "This is to create a wave of pressure for the Israelis to stop their violence and oppression of Palestinian civilians." He said the ministry would be working with the Information, Foreign, and Youth and Sports Ministries, as well as Peace Malaysia, to expand the campaign to a mega scale. "When we protested against the US invasion in Iraq, we managed to get 200,000 people into Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil. "We are confident that youth leaders from political parties, including those in Pakatan Rakyat will join us in this fight against the Zionist regime," he said after his ministry's New Year gathering at Putrajaya International Convention Centre here yesterday. Hishammuddin said the directive was passed in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Asked on the danger of exposing children to such atrocities, the minister said: "When they grow up, they will have to face global issue like peace, environment and the economic crisis." He said he would be using the Unesco platform, of which he is an executive board member, to voice out Malaysia's concern over the Gaza crisis. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/palestine/?id=29873 First Published 2009-01-20, Last Updated 2009-01-20 08:46:22 ?Hamas are the only winners? Thousands protest in Tunisia against siege of Gaza Tunisian demonstrators express support for Palestinians, call for end of Israeli blockade of Gaza. TUNIS ? Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tunisia's capital Monday calling for an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. The march in the centre of Tunis came two days after Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire against the democratically elected government of Hamas in Gaza. Hamas and other resistance groups kept to a week-long truce on condition that Israel would withdraw its troops from Gaza by then. Statistics released by the Palestinian bureau of statistics showed some 4,100 homes in Gaza were totally destroyed and 17,000 others damaged in the three-week war. Tunisian demonstrators protested against Israel's military offensive that began on December 27 and resulted in the deaths of at least 1,300 Palestinians, most of them civilians and a third of them children. "The Islamists and Hamas are the only winners. We do not share their ideas but we support the Palestinian people," said Khadija Cherif, a feminist demonstrator from a secular opposition group. Israel, which wants to crush any Palestinian liberation movement, responded to Hamas's win in the elections with sanctions, and almost completely blockaded the impoverished coastal strip after Hamas seized power in 2007, although a ?lighter? siege had already existed before. Human rights groups, both international and Israeli, slammed Israel?s siege of Gaza, branding it ?collective punishment.? A group of international lawyers and human rights activists had also accused Israel of committing ?genocide? through its crippling blockade of the Strip. Gaza is still considered under Israeli occupation as Israel controls air, sea and land access to the Strip. The Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gaza's sole border crossing that bypasses Israel, rarely opens as Egypt is under immense US and Israeli pressure to keep the crossing shut. Fatah has little administrative say in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and has no power in Arab east Jerusalem, both of which were illegally occupied by Israel in 1967. Israel also currently occupies the Lebanese Shabaa Farms and the Syrian Golan Heights. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/03/protesters-out-force-lambast-israel-us.html Protesters out in force to lambast Israel, U.S. The Jakarta Post, , Jakarta, Bandung, Malang, Medan | Sat, 01/03/2009 10:32 AM | Headlines Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of cities across the country on Friday to denounce Israeli air strikes on Gaza that have killed 425 people in the past six days. The protesters accused the United States of supporting the attacks, raising strong and renewed anti-American sentiment among Indonesian Muslims. Muslim scholars and observers have warned of a rise in radicalism and retaliation against Western targets over the air strikes, after the United States and its Western allies failed to condemn them. The protesters stopped short of slamming Hamas, which Israel and some Western countries accuse of having provoked the attacks. In the capital, about 100,000 protesters hit the streets in downtown Jakarta. The demonstrators, mobilized by the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), marched on the U.S. Embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. "As of today, every Islamic element in the country and the world must stand together to fight Israel and their American allies," PKS president Tifatul Sembiring told the applauding crowd gathered outside the embassy compound. "I also demand that U.S. president-elect Barack Obama fulfill his slogan, *Change We Can Believe In'. Obama must not support Israel as the Bush administration does." The protesters, carrying anti-Israeli and U.S. banners and yelling "Allahu Akbar" (God is great), came from Jakarta and PKS branches in Bandung, Depok, Bekasi, Bogor and Banten. Fadli Amirulah, 27, came from Bandung, bringing with him some 1,000 protesters to show their support for peace in Gaza and for the Palestinians' struggle against Israel. He and fellow protesters urged young people to start boycotting U.S. and Western products. "We have data that shows some of the profits made by companies such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola are allocated to the Zionists. We must stop using their products to cut their funding," he said. In Bandung, hundreds of members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and United Islam (Persis) staged an anti-Israeli rally in the city center, condemning the attacks and burning pictures of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and U.S. President George W. Bush. Twenty-two Muslims, including four women, have registered with the FPI to fight against Israel in Gaza. "I saw on TV how cruel Israel was. I couldn't stand to watch children being killed. So I joined as a jihadi to prepare to die," said Herlina, 43, a mother of one. A similar rally was also held in Malang, East Java, involving thousands of members of the PKS, the National Mandate Party (PAN), Muhammadiyah, Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) and the Indonesian Islamic Youth. In Medan, North Sumatra, 95 people have volunteered to be sent to Gaza to fight Israel. "We plan to send 100 people to Gaza in the first stage. Now we only need five more people to begin sending people there," said Indra Suheri, the FPI's North Sumatra FPI secretary. Large protests also took place in Ternate, North Maluku, and Banda Aceh, Aceh province. (hdt) Yuli Tri Suwarni, Wahyoe Boediwardhana and Rizal Harahap contributed to this story from Bandung, Malang and Medan, respectively. --------------------------------------------------- Hundreds of students in Banten stage protest against Israel Jakarta Post - December 29, 2008 Jakarta -- About 200 students and members of Muslim organizations staged a rally in front of the Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University in Serang, Banten, on Monday to protest Israel's recent air strikes in Gaza. "We're deeply concerned. Israel has launched an inhumane act at a time when others are supposed to be celebrating the new year," said Sjaeful Akbar, the rally coordinator adding the event was held partly to prepare for further rallies in Jakarta. "We're planning on joining fellow protesters in Jakarta," the college student said, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com. Akbar said he planned to coordinate the Banten student rallies with efforts by other students in Jakarta, Bekasi, Bogor and Tangerang. After rallying in Banten, the group of protesters will be heading to Jakarta. Sjaeful said the government should immediately step up measures to assist the Palestinians. "They need to start sending medicine and medics there." (amr) --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Muslims in Bali demand US stop Israeli aggression Jakarta Post - January 2, 2009 Hundreds of people in Bali staged a rally in front of the US Consulate in Denpasar on Friday demanding that country exercise its influence to stop Israeli attacks on Palestinians. State news agency Antara reported those joining the rally were mostly Muslims living on the predominantly Hindu island and also sympathizers of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The rally began at the governor's offices then set off on a 1-kilometer march to the consulate. During the march protesters sang an Indonesian national song, "Maju Tak Gentar" (Press on bravely), while carrying banners bearing slogans such as "Free Palestine", "Stop Israeli Predators" and "Boycott Israeli Zionists". The protestors also asked for donations from rally onlookers. They said the money would be used to fund humanitarian aid in Gaza. The rally went peacefully, but there was no response from the consulate siunce officials were still on their New Year's holiday. (and) --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- PKS rally snarls Central Jakarta Jakarta Post - January 2, 2009 Jakarta -- Thousand of Prosperous and Justice Party (PKS) members from across Greater Jakarta staged a rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Friday, causing traffic tie-ups around the area. Kompas.com has reported the rally has held up busses and cars coming into the major intersection from the south. Central Jakarta Police have deployed 500 officers to keep the peace and regulate traffic. They have already confiscated three containers containing sound systems and have both a water cannon and a paddy wagon in case rioting occurs. During the rally, demonstrators set out blue donation boxes so passers-by could contribute. PKS chair Tifatul Sembiring said the party condemned Israel's air raid attacks on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and urged all Muslims to join the fight against Israel. "We have to unite. If we don't, we will have failed," he said during the rally. (ewd) --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Protesters out in force to lambast Israel, US Jakarta Post - January 3, 2009 Jakarta, Bandung, Malang, Medan -- Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of cities across the country on Friday to denounce Israeli air strikes on Gaza that have killed 425 people in the past six days. The protesters accused the United States of supporting the attacks, raising strong and renewed anti-American sentiment among Indonesian Muslims. Muslim scholars and observers have warned of a rise in radicalism and retaliation against Western targets over the air strikes, after the United States and its Western allies failed to condemn them. The protesters stopped short of slamming Hamas, which Israel and some Western countries accuse of having provoked the attacks. In the capital, about 100,000 protesters hit the streets in downtown Jakarta. The demonstrators, mobilized by the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), marched on the US Embassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. "As of today, every Islamic element in the country and the world must stand together to fight Israel and their American allies," PKS president Tifatul Sembiring told the applauding crowd gathered outside the embassy compound. "I also demand that US president-elect Barack Obama fulfill his slogan, 'Change We Can Believe In'. Obama must not support Israel as the Bush administration does." The protesters, carrying anti-Israeli and US banners and yelling "Allahu Akbar" (God is great), came from Jakarta and PKS branches in Bandung, Depok, Bekasi, Bogor and Banten. Fadli Amirulah, 27, came from Bandung, bringing with him some 1,000 protesters to show their support for peace in Gaza and for the Palestinians' struggle against Israel. He and fellow protesters urged young people to start boycotting US and Western products. "We have data that shows some of the profits made by companies such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola are allocated to the Zionists. We must stop using their products to cut their funding," he said. In Bandung, hundreds of members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and United Islam (Persis) staged an anti-Israeli rally in the city center, condemning the attacks and burning pictures of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US President George W. Bush. Twenty-two Muslims, including four women, have registered with the FPI to fight against Israel in Gaza. "I saw on TV how cruel Israel was. I couldn't stand to watch children being killed. So I joined as a jihadi to prepare to die," said Herlina, 43, a mother of one. A similar rally was also held in Malang, East Java, involving thousands of members of the PKS, the National Mandate Party (PAN), Muhammadiyah, Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) and the Indonesian Islamic Youth. In Medan, North Sumatra, 95 people have volunteered to be sent to Gaza to fight Israel. "We plan to send 100 people to Gaza in the first stage. Now we only need five more people to begin sending people there," said Indra Suheri, the FPI's North Sumatra FPI secretary. Large protests also took place in Ternate, North Maluku, and Banda Aceh, Aceh province. (hdt) [Yuli Tri Suwarni, Wahyoe Boediwardhana and Rizal Harahap contributed to this story from Bandung, Malang and Medan, respectively.] --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Protesters seal off synagogue amid pro-Palestinian protests Adnkronos International - January 9, 2009 Jakarta -- As Israel's two-week offensive in Gaza continues, massive anti-Israel and anti-US rallies have been taking place across Indonesia. Muslim protesters also sealed off a Jewish synagogue in Surabaya, East Java and have threatened to boycott American products in the province. On Thursday, a crowd of 500 protesters gathered outside the US Consulate in Jakarta to express their solidarity for the Palestinian people and condemn the Israeli attacks, which have killed an estimated 770 Palestinians, including many children. Fourteen Israelis have died since Israel began its offensive to end Hamas rocket attacks against it from Gaza. Brandishing anti-Israel and anti-US banners through the main streets in front of the governor's office and crowded shopping centres, protesters in Surabaya moved on the nearby synagogue. They held a forum there that later ended with the burning of Israeli and American flags and the sealing off of the synagogue. Rally coordinator Abdusshomad Buchori said the group would organise a massive movement against US citizens, Jews and American products such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's fast food outlets in the city until the attacks in Gaza were halted. "If Israel doesn't stop its attacks on the Palestinian people immediately, we will conduct raids on sympathisers, supporters and Israeli agents in the province," he said. The rally continued peacefully as more than 300 riot police were deployed to the area. Following the synagogue closure, the demonstrators then moved on KFC and McDonald's outlets at the nearby Plaza Surabaya, calling for a boycott of the American products. The demonstrators also demanded the government intensify diplomatic efforts with the UN and the international community to "stop the bloodshed" and get humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people. The United Nations Security Council late on Thursday passed a resolution calling for an immediate and durable ceasefire in Gaza followed by a complete withdrawal of Israel forces from the aid-dependent territory. The United States abstained from the 14-0 vote, weakening its impact of the resolution. --------------------------------------------------- Indonesian women protest against Israeli strikes Agence France Presse - January 9, 2009 Jakarta -- About 200 Indonesian women protested against Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip outside the Egyptian embassy in Jakarta on Friday. Carrying posters showing wounded and dead Palestinian children, they urged Egypt to open its border with Gaza for the delivery of humanitarian aid. "As Palestine's closest neighbour, we hope Egypt will open roads so relief supplies can be sent to the victims," said Nani Handayani, of women's welfare group Salimah or Muslim Sisterhood. "As mothers, we feel sad for the women who lost their children in Palestine... they are in our prayers." The UN Security Council called Friday for an immediate ceasefire to halt the two-week-old war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas which has killed almost 800 Palestinians, many of them civilians. A council resolution also called for the "unimpeded" provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Egypt has partially opened its border for deliveries of foreign aid and for the evacuation of wounded Palestinians, and has asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to open a humanitarian corridor. Israel announced a plan for a humanitarian corridor for Gaza's aid-dependent population of 1.5 million on Wednesday. --------------------------------------------------- 250,000-strong solidarity forum for Palestine in Jakarta Jakarta Post - January 11, 2009 Jakarta -- Around 250,000 supporters from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) joined religious leaders in a solidarity forum at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Sunday morning to condemn Israel's attacks on Palestine. Among the leaders attending the forum were representatives from Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Konghucu sects, kompas.com reported Sunday. During the rally some figures -- including the chair of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hidayat Nur Wahid and Azazah, chair of the Jakarta Forum Majelis Taklim, an Islamic study group -- made speeches and expressed their opposition to the conflict. "We urge an immediate halt to the military incursion. We oppose any kind of violence because we love peace," said Edi Kuswara from Suara Tionghoa (Chinese Voice) during his address. During the peaceful action, participants collected donations for victims by distributing boxes so the public could contribute. After the forum, they are set to march to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. (ewd) --------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gaza war fuels anti-Israeli anger in Indonesia Associated Press - January 16, 2009 Anthony Deutsch, Jakarta -- Indonesia Islamic hard- liners enraged by Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip marched to the synagogue's gates chanting, "Go to hell Israel!" The only Jewish religious site in the world's most populous Muslim state -- which has no rabbi and only a few followers -- then closed its doors. Across Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan, sentiments are running high about the conflict, fueled by disturbing TV footage of Palestinian casualties. "This is the way to show our solidarity for the Palestinian people and to condemn the Israeli attacks," said Abdusshomad Buchori, a local leader of the Ulema Council, which is pushing for the permanent closure of Beth Hashem synagogue in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city. "If Israel refuses to stop its attacks and oppression of the Palestinian people, we don't need to defend (the synagogue's) presence here," said Buchori, who led about 100 hard-liners to the synagogue, where they burned an Israeli flag. The woman who has run the synagogue since the 1970s went underground after the Jan. 7 incident, in which Buchori also threatened to drive any remaining Jews out of town. The incident was not unique: An outlet of the American fried chicken chain KFC was shut on Sulawesi island after protesters upset with Washington's Middle East policies hurled chairs and overturned tables. And thousands have rallied in the capital, Jakarta, waving Palestinian flags and shouting insults outside the US Embassy. "The Israeli attacks against Palestine and Lebanon have resulted in increased anti-Semitism," said Hendardi, chairman of the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, a human rights group. Like many Indonesians, he uses a single name. The government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, which is seeking re-election in April, donated millions of dollars in aid, sent doctors and humanitarian workers to Gaza and offered peacekeepers -- moves that could win votes. Smaller radical groups seeking to create an Indonesian Muslim state staged publicity stunts where they claimed to be signing up martyrs for a jihad, or holy war, to combat Israeli troops. Despite the calls for volunteers and a message from Osama bin Laden urging Muslims to fight in Gaza, there are no known cases of Indonesians leaving to defend the Palestinians. Emotions have nonetheless been stirred by the media coverage. One Indonesian broadcaster, tvOne, has been running ads showing footage of Palestinian parents weeping over dead children under the heading, "Tears for Palestine." The vast majority of Indonesia's Muslims practice a moderate form of the faith and do not advocate violence against Israelis, but they support the creation of a Palestinian state. Jakarta hosts a Palestinian embassy but has no political links with Israel. Other major Muslim countries in Asia have also seen an outpouring of support for Palestinians since Israel began its Gaza offensive Dec. 27. Malaysian leaders called for a boycott of iconic American brands like McDonald's and Coca-Cola, and pro-Palestinian charities and newspapers have collected millions of dollars in aid. Lawmakers sharply criticized Israel's use of force in a six-hour-long debate and tens of thousands of people held prayer sessions for Palestinians. The conflict is a topic of heated discussion across Malaysia. "We are Muslims. We are very angry," said Zaiton, a 50-year-old Malaysian teacher who declined to give her full name while attending a protest with her four daughters and grandson. "You see the (Palestinian) children. Looking at the newspaper, it's enough to break your heart." In Pakistan, there are near-daily protests from the southern city of Karachi to towns on the border with Afghanistan. Protesters have burned US and Israeli flags and effigies of Israeli leaders. Some of the protests have been dominated by women or children. However, most have been limited in size and marshaled mainly by an Islamist political party. "All the Muslims of the world should stand united against Israel," said Qari Shafiq, a principal at an Islamic seminary. "But unfortunately we are divided into countries and sects." Associated Press writers Ashraf Khan in Karachi, Sean Yoong in Kuala Lumpur, Niniek Karmini in Jakarta contributed to this report. --------------------------------------------------- http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090104-181337/Send-troops-to-Gaza--Indon-protesters Send troops to Gaza--Indon protesters Agence France-Presse First Posted 14:49:00 01/04/2009 Filed Under: Protest, Unrest and Conflicts and War, Gaza conflict JAKARTA--Thousands of Indonesian Islamists rallied across the country Sunday to condemn Israel's military strikes on the Gaza Strip and called on the government to send troops to fight Israeli forces. Around 3,000 members of the Islamist Hizbut Tahrir movement took over the streets of central Jakarta to condemn Israel's strikes and ground offensive, which have killed hundreds of Palestinians. Dressed head-to-toe in black and white, the women in headscarves, the crowd marched peacefully, waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and carrying banners denouncing the Jewish state as a "terrorist" force. "Indonesia's military must go to war against Israel, not just as peacekeepers. We ask the government to send troops there, not just medicine," Farid Wadjdi, the movement's local head, was quoted as saying by news website Detikcom. Thousands of members of the group, which calls for the establishment of a worldwide Islamic Caliphate, also marched in other cities including the second-largest city, Surabaya, where more than a hundred police stood guard outside the United States consulate, local media reported. Protesters marched over an Israeli flag painted onto the ground in Makassar city in South Sulawesi province, rubbing their feet into the image as a sign of disrespect, television station MetroTV said. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, and does not recognize Israel. It has condemned the massive Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip and has sent aid workers, who are currently in Jordan. The offensive, launched more than a week ago in response to a wave of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, has killed over 463 people so far. Rockets fired from Gaza have killed four Israelis. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1451437.php/Indonesian_Muslims_stage_more_anti-Israeli_protest_rally_ Indonesian Muslims stage more anti-Israeli protest rally Asia-Pacific News Jan 4, 2009, 6:13 GMT Jakarta - Thousands of Indonesian Muslims on Sunday protested Israel's military offensive against the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 400 people. In the capital Jakarta, more than 2,000 Muslim followers from Hizbut Tahrir hardline group, rallied at the National Monument near the US embassy. In the adjacent Depok district, more than 3,000 Muslim activists from the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party, marched through the city's main street, condemning Israeli's brutal airstrikes, witnesses said. Protestor leader Farid Wadjdi urged the government to sent troops to Gaza to help defend the Palestinian people against the onslaught. Similar anti-Israeli rallies were also held in several other cities, including in Bandung of West Java, Surabaya and Bojonegoro in East Java province, Purwokerto, Solo and Kendal in Central Java, Banjarmasin in south Kalimantan, and Makassar in south Sulawesi, local media reported. Indonesia, the world's most-populous Muslim country, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian struggle for nationhood and has no diplomatic relations with Israel. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/middle-east/2009/01/03/190368/Thousands-of.htm January 3, 2009 9:53 am TWN, AP Thousands of Indonesians protest Israeli strikes JAKARTA, Indonesia -- More than 10,000 Muslims marched through Indonesia's capital on Friday to protest the ongoing bombing raids in Gaza, aiming fake missiles labeled ?Target: Tel Aviv, Israel? at the U.S. Embassy. Several thousand Afghans held a similar demonstration in Kabul, burning Israeli flags and chanting anti-American slogans. A smaller protest was also held in the Philippines against Israel's assault, which has killed more than 400 people. Men, women and children attending the Indonesian rally organized by the Islamic-based Justice and Prosperity Party waved Indonesian and Palestinian flags and shouted ?Allahu akbar,? Arabic for ?God is great.? Many wore traditional white robes and held banners that read: ?Save Palestine from Israel, the terrorist.? They marched to the U.S. Embassy, which was guarded by hundreds of police. ?President-elect (Barack) Obama, we're watching you,? party leader Tifatul Sembiring told the crowd. ?If you want peace in the world, change the U.S. attitude toward Israel, don't support Israel.? Police estimated that at least 10,000 people were at the demonstration in Jakarta, but Associated Press reporters at the scene said the numbers were much higher. Protests were also held after Friday prayers in other Indonesian cities, in what was the largest turnout since Israel began the operation last Saturday, intended to end weeks of intensifying rocket fire from Gaza. The vast majority of Indonesian Muslims practice a moderate form of Islam. Although they support the creation of a Palestinian state, most oppose violence against Israel. In the Afghan capital, about 3,000 people gathered outside a prominent mosque after Friday prayers, according to police estimates. Men in the crowd threw stones and shoes at an effigy of President George W. Bush. Kabul Police Chief Ayoub Salangi said no violence was reported. A cleric who spoke to the crowd condemned America's support of Israel and led the crowd in chants of ?Death to America? and ?Death to Israel.? In the Philippines, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Manila, carrying placards saying Israel is a ?butcher of children? and accusing it of war crimes. Organizer Reihana Melencio accused Israel of genocide. ?This is one of the strongest militaries on earth and attacking a people who can only shoot back some old rockets, sticks and stones,? she said. From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 20:12:23 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:12:23 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] GAZA PROTESTS - UK (December-January 2008-9) Message-ID: <4AECFC97.9020203@tesco.net> * Extreme police violence - protesters tell of fear and panic * Skirmishes at string of protests near Israeli embassy * Thousands join marches and rallies against the invasion * Protesters also target Egyptian embassy * Protests in cities across Britain * London universities occupied in Gaza protest * Weapons manufacturer EDO trashed over Israel links * Raytheon plant in Derry blockaded * Large protest in Scotland * Roundup of local protests http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/05/israel-palestine-protests-police London clashes: Protesters tell of fear and panic ? Vikram Dodd ? The Guardian, Monday 5 January 2009 ? Article history Demonstrators yesterday told how they feared they were going to die after riot police charged hundreds of people in an underground tunnel in London, which led to stampedes and panic. The clashes came after protesters from Saturday's march against Israel's attack on Gaza tried to cross London to continue their demonstration. Scotland Yard was criticised for the level of violence used by its officers and its tactics against hundreds of people ordered into an underpass as they tried to walk from Trafalgar Square to Israel's embassy in west London. People told of being trapped under each other and of hearing screams of fear as police charged the crowds three times in the confined space of the Piccadilly underpass on the edge of Hyde Park. Scotland Yard said riot police charged after they were attacked and that their tactics were proportionate. People trapped in the tunnel said the police were not attacked. Among several people injured was Asil Alrashidi, 23, a bank worker from Langley, Berkshire. She said she feared she and her sister would die after they were trapped in a crush of people as a stampede broke out when protesters panicked amid repeated charges by baton-wielding riot police. She said she suffered bruising after being knocked to the floor. "I was petrified," she said. "The riot police were charging and pushing people, hitting them with their batons. I was trapped with people coming at us. They were falling on us, trampling us. "There was screaming and shouting, I thought I was going to die. I was holding my sister, our hands were separating and I could hear her screaming my name. I think there were 20 to 30 people on top of me." Chris Ninehams, chief steward for the march, organised by the Stop the War Coalition, said the level of police violence was unprecedented. Scotland Yard said in a statement: "Officers made a 10-metre advance into the crowd to regain control of the protest, using recognised and proportionate tactics." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/riot-police-called-out-in-london-as-protest-ends-in-skirmishes-1224474.html Riot police called out in London as protest ends in skirmishes By Emily Dugan, Kaarina Miles and Richard Osley Sunday, 4 January 2009 Jason Alden Protesters march to Trafalgar Square to demonstrate against the recent attacks on Gaza Riot police were dispatched to the Israeli embassy in London last night as a day of protests across Europe degenerated into ugly skirmishes. In London Israeli flags were set ablaze and surging crowds were penned back by police with shields and batons. Some protesters were in tears, claiming they were being stopped from leaving peacefully, and organisers said they would complain about police heavy-handedness. Others, growing more aggressive as news of Israel's ground invasion spread, threw missiles while police tried to drive them back. Late into the evening, several hundred were still staring down officers outside the embassy. The London ambulance service said it had helped one man with a head injury and others with minor bruises after sending a team of 25 to the scene. Tens of thousands initially took to the streets, even as Israeli forces were firing shells from the border of Gaza. In London, where the largest rally was held, Trafalgar Square turned to a sea of black, white, red and green ? Palestinian national colours ? as what organisers claimed were up to 55,000 people showed up in the largest British demonstration for the Palestinian cause. Police claimed the size of the protest was far lower. In the crowd was the singer Annie Lennox, the comedian Alexei Sayle, Tony Benn and George Galloway. Lennox told the crowd: "We are looking at a huge human rights tragedy in front of us. The idea of an air assault combined with a ground war in such a tightly packed area as Gaza is unimaginable. It will be a bloodbath. Hopefully now we will see dialogue, dialogue, dialogue." The thrust of the protest was aimed at the British government's inaction over the Israeli attacks on Gaza, as the onslaught started its second week. One marcher, Omar Lemrini, 45, helped to carry a fake coffin covered in images of dead civilians and children. "This is the second Holocaust," he said. "It's a question of conscience now." Some 30 organisations, including the British Muslim Initiative, the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, joined forces for the protest. Hemmed in by police, the marchers resorted to the symbolic throwing of shoes into Downing Street. Hundreds of old shoes were hurled over barriers and gates to represent the Palestinian lives lost in the bombing. The gesture echoed the protest by Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi, who threw his shoes at President Bush last month in protest at US "war crimes". David Carr, 45, a nurse, contorted his face in fury as he picked up his battered brown shoe and tossed it over the railings: "I helped search for the people who were injured in the London bomb blast, so I know what it means," he said. Two people broke through the police barrier to make a dash for Downing Street. The protests were mirrored elsewhere with marches in France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Holland and Turkey. In Edinburgh and Glasgow, around 1,000 were involved in marches which police said passed peacefully. In Paris, 20,000 demonstrators descended on the city centre chanting "Israeli murder". http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Protests-Against-Israeli-Attacks-On-Gaza-Turn-Violent-As-Tens-Of-Thousands-Take-To-The-Streets/Article/200901115196923?f=rss Anti-Israel Protests Turn Violent 7:21am UK, Sunday January 04, 2009 Several protesters have been arrested during violent demonstrations against the Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Protesters burn the Israeli flag outside the country's embassy in London More than 12,000 people marched through London, joining thousands of others around the world staging public events against the attacks on the Palestinian territory. Protesters in the English capital included singer Annie Lennox, Respect MP George Galloway and comedian Alexei Sayle, who marched along the Embankment in London to Trafalgar Square. The demonstration calling for an immediate end to the Israeli attacks was the biggest of at least 18 organised across the country. It saw clashes outside the Israeli Embassy between protesters and police wearing riot gear. Police made several arrests, claiming protesters made repeated attempts to break through the barriers and throw missiles outside the embassy in south Kensington. Alexei Sayle calls for stronger diplomatic action Human rights advocate Bianca Jagger and singer Lennox called on American president-elect Barack Obama to speak up against the bombardment. "A few days after Christmas I came downstairs, put the television on, and saw smoke pyres coming from buildings and I was shocked to the core because I was thinking as a mother and as a human being," Lennox said. "How was this going to be the solution to (find) peace?" Air strikes in Gaza Former mayor of London Ken Livingstone and comedian Alexei Sayle also added their support to the campaign. Comedian Sayle said he was speaking out because it was important for Jewish voices to be heard. He said: "I want to feel proud of Israel, I want to be proud of my people but I am ashamed." Israel has followed a week of aerial attacks said to have killed more than 400 people with an artillery bombardment and ground offensive aimed at halting rocket attacks by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5408132.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084 December 28, 2008 Violent protests at Israeli Embassy in London Times Online Violent confrontations broke out at the Israeli Embassy in London today as up to 1,500 protesters against Israel's Gaza campaign gathered in a vociferous demonstration. Campaign supporters, Palestinians and British Muslims stood on the pavement of High Street Kensington, west London, and chanted in unison: ?Five, six, seven, eight - Israel is a terror state.? Riot police were brought in to control the crowd, some of whom turned violent. Witnesses said some protestors were forcibly removed and others were seen with bloodied faces as violence erupted. One campaigner was seen throwing a bag and what appeared to be a book over some gates towards the embassy and another was seen throwing red liquid. Officers retreated from the immediate scene as the crowds swelled, and some appeared to be trying to break through barriers to access the embassy. The protesters waved Palestinian flags and held up placards, including some which read: ?Holocaust in Gaza? and ?no peace, no justice.? Traffic on the busy shopping street was brought to a standstill as more protestors arrived and the road was blocked off near the Embassy. Six police vans, four police cars and territorial units from the Metropolitan Police waited to intervene as the chanting continued. As the standoff continued, a security guard at the nearby Royal Garden Hotel said police had been rapidly outnumbered and handled the situation ?terribly?. The member of staff, who did not want to be named, added: ?There were only eight officers trying to contain a protest with about 500 demonstrators. ?They are trying to break down the barriers towards the Embassy and the police can do nothing about it. ?It has been handled terribly and now they are chasing to catch up a scene which is already out of control.? Gamal Hamed, from Hammersmith, whose 23-year-old son still lives in Gaza, said: ?Yesterday was the bloodiest day in my homeland?s history. We will do what we can to make the world take notice. ?I am delighted by the number of people who have pledged their support today - we are all worried about where the conflict goes from here.? It was one of numerous anti-Israel protests, with other sizeable gatherings reported in Paris, Madrid and Jordan. Scotland Yard said three people were arrested at the London protest on suspicion of committing public order offences. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/2008/12/28/riot-police-called-to-demonstration-91466-22563521/ Riot police called to demonstration Dec 28 2008 Angry confrontations broke out at the Israeli Embassy in London as protesters against the Gaza bombing blitz gathered in a vociferous demonstration. Palestinian families and campaign supporters crammed the pavement of High Street Kensington and chanted in unison: "Five, six, seven, eight - Israel is a terror state." Barriers penning the demonstrators were torn down and riot police were brought in to control the crowds. The crowds - which eventually totalled more than 500 - waved Palestinian flags and held up placards, including some which read "holocaust in Gaza" and "no peace, no justice." Among the protestors was Gamal Hamed, from Hammersmith, whose 23-year-old son still lives in Gaza. The 68-year-old said: "Yesterday was the bloodiest day in my homeland's history. We will do what we can to make the world take notice. "I am delighted by the number of people who have pledged their support - we are all worried about where the conflict goes from here." Over the past day, Palestinians reported at least 20 different raids on their territory, causing hundreds of deaths and plumes of smoke to rise above Gaza city. International pressure has been mounting on both Israel and Palestine, with Britain, the EU, the Vatican, the United Nations and former Prime Minister Tony Blair all calling for an immediate restoration of calm. Traffic on the busy shopping street was brought to a standstill as more protestors arrived and the road was blocked off near the Embassy. Six police vans, four police cars and territorial units from the Metropolitan Police waited to intervene as the chanting continued. Scotland Yard said three people had been arrested on suspicion of committing public order offences. http://news.scotsman.com/world/Global-protests-end-in-riot.4841795.jp Global protests end in riot on London streets Published Date: 04 January 2009 By Jeremy Watson RIOT police had to be deployed last night as a protest outside the Israeli embassy in London over Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip erupted into violence. In a day of global demonstrations over Israel's military campaign against the Islamist Hamas movement, thousands of protestors gathered outside the embassy with some attempting to storm the Kensington compound. As tensions mounted in the early evening, police officers came under fire from missiles. The barrage, including fireworks and bottles, continued despite a number of protesters being led away by the police, who armed themselves with riot shields. Scotland Yard said that from around 6pm protestors at the front of the barrier line made repeated attempts to break through to the embassy and several arrests were made. As the situation grew more violent, more units of armoured riot police were mobilised and forcibly moved waves of protesters away from the embassy down Kensington high street. Organisers of the demonstration said they would make an official complaint after claiming that riot police charged into people, injuring many. Witnesses said a number of people, including children, were thrown to the ground during clashes in the underpass at Hyde Park at the end of a march. Chris Nineham, an official of the Stop The War Coalition who has organised dozens of national demonstrations and rallies, said: "It was the most irresponsible police behaviour I have ever witnessed. The police forced us to go down a tunnel where we were met by three or four ranks of riot officers who then charged at us at least three times using their riot sticks." Respect MP George Galloway, who was caught up in the incident, said he and his daughter were thrown to the ground. "It was very frightening. The police trapped us in the tunnel and attacked us repeatedly." Stephen Hodgkins, 38, from Battersea, who was among the crowd of around 100 in the underpass, said officers wielding batons made "two or three" charges at the crowd, leaving several people injured. "It was just shocking," he said. But the Met defended its officers, saying: "Officers made one 10-metre advance into the crowd to regain control of the protest, using recognised and proportionate tactics." The spokeswoman said the advance was filmed by police evidence gatherers and a number of people, "including Mr Galloway", were "facilitated" through police lines for their safety. Earlier, more than 5,000 demonstrators, including singer Annie Lennox, former model Bianca Jagger and comedian Alexei Sayle, marched on Trafalgar Square in London. Hundreds threw shoes at Downing Street, inspired by the Iraqi journalist who showed the same traditional Muslim sign of disrespect to US President George Bush last month. More protested in cities across Britain, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, all demanding an immediate halt to Israeli air attacks on the Palestinian enclave and Hamas, the radical group that runs the territory. In Glasgow, Barrie Levine, from Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, said: "In common with a growing number of Jews in Israel and internationally, we condemn the air strikes by Israel on Gaza and the likelihood of a land assault." Levine was one of up to 500 people who gathered in Glasgow's Blythswood Square to protest. Police said around 600 protesters attended a similar event in Edinburgh's Princes Street. Protests also took place in Bristol, Liverpool, Exeter, Norwich, Hull, Tunbridge Wells, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Swansea, York, Caernarfon, Bradford and Sheffield. Mass demonstrations also took place in other major western capitals and across Muslim nations of the Middle East. In Paris, police said 21,000 marched through the streets. Later, a small group of protesters burned Israeli flags, set fire to at least three cars and smashed windows in an area popular with shoppers. In the Netherlands, thousands marched through Amsterdam. One banner declared: "Anne Frank is turning in her grave. Oh Israel!" http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/415364.html Very urgent appeal London Solidarity Demonstration at Dalston station! Anarchist Solidarity Initiative | 14.12.2008 15:28 | Repression | Social Struggles 3:30pm update. Get down to Dalston Station now if you can! Police have cordoned in a hundred protesters and are refusing to let anyone leave or join them. They are being very heavy handed having viciously attacked people trying to leave the cordon injuring several of them! URGENT HELP IS NEEDED NOW! Please come down to Dalston Station now as the police are being very heavy handed hitting out and beating anyone trying to leave the police cordon. Several people have been injured and need urgent medical attention. Police are also refusing to allow a couple of dozen protesters join their comrades outside the train station and anyone trying to join them is being arrested. Anarchist Solidarity Initiative http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/foreign/display.var.2478183.0.Protesters_take_to_the_streets_in_Britain_and_across_the_world.php Protesters take to the streets in Britain and across the world Protesters take to the streets in Britain and across the world MARTIN WILLIAMS December 29 2008 Demonstrators took to the streets across the world in protests against Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. In the UK, 10 people were arrested when a demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in London descended into chaos. Kensington High Street was closed off with police vans blocking the street as the number of protestors swelled throughout the afternoon to about 2000. Campaigners were seen being handcuffed and dragged away by officers after events boiled out of control. Among the protestors were Respect MP George Galloway and former MP Tony Benn, who both addressed the rally. After his speech, Mr Galloway said: "Israel has killed hundreds and maimed hundreds more - many of whom are women and young children - yet Gordon Brown is blaming the victim rather than the aggressor." More than 500 attended a candlelit vigil in Glasgow's George Square and there was a demonstration at The Mount in Edinburgh which aimed to show support for the victims of the ongoing violence in Gaza. Labour's Glasgow Central parliamentary candidate Anas Sarwar, one of the organisers of the vigil, said: "It was a massive turnout when you consider there was just 24 hours' notice." Mr Sarwar, who was part of a Scottish delegation invited by Medical Aid for Palestinians to assess the extent of the humanitarian crisis in the region earlier this year, added: "What we wanted to show was that all faith communities - people of all faiths and no faiths, people of all political parties, all community organisations, all peaceful organisations - are coming together in Glasgow, in Scotland, to say we stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Gaza at this difficult time and we call as one united voice for a peaceful resolution where no innocent lives on either side are lost." In the West Bank, one Palestinian protestor was killed in clashes with police. A demonstration in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul was also marred by bloodshed when a suicide bomber on a bicycle blew himself up among the crowd, killing one person and wounding 16, police said. The largest single protest of about 8000 people took place in Egypt on the streets of the southern city of Assiut. Some 4000 protestors rallied in the capital Cairo, while a demonstration in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria drew a similar number, a security official said. In Damascus, Israeli and American flags were burned as thousands of people demonstrated in the city centre. Security was tight around the US embassy, which lies a mile and a half from the scene of the protest in the Syrian capital. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416568.html Israeli Embassy flag burning protest, London - pictures Terence Bunch | 31.12.2008 20:05 | Palestine | Terror War On the fifth day of the Israeli assault against the population of Gaza, people gather at the Israeli embassy to voice their growing anger over the barbarism now being meted out to the defenceless Gaza'n civilian population. On the fifth day of the Israeli assault against the population of Gaza, people gather at the Israeli embassy to voice their growing anger over the barbarism now being meted out to the defenceless Gaza'n civilian population. The protesters chant hostile phrases and burn the Israeli flag repeatedly outside the embassy. Police take a more relaxed approach to the crowd in marked contrast to an earlier protest outside the embassy on Sunday 29th December. The protest comes as international pressure is dismissed by the Israeli's who have now made clear their intention to bring about the destruction of democratic HAMAS and the political infanticide of their fledgling middle-Eastern democracy. Israeli Embassy, London, 31st December 2008. Terence Bunch e-mail: terry.bunch at terencebunch.co.uk Homepage: http://www.terencebunch.co.uk/PUBLIC/solidarity-with-palestine-protest-israeli-embassy-new-years-eve-london-31-12-2008.php http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/embassy-protesters-chant-for-justice-in-gaza-1219455.html Embassy protesters chant for justice in Gaza By Robert Bex, PA Wednesday, 31 December 2008 Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy today to protest at the attacks on Gaza. The crowd outside the embassy in Kensington, central London, carried banners demanding justice for Palestine and were led in chants of "no justice, no peace". Majed Al-Zeer, from the Palestinian Return Centre which helped organise the protest, said the fact several hundred people had turned out for the protest showed how strong feelings were about the Israeli attacks. He said: "It is a working day and for some people a holiday and it is very cold but still hundreds have turned out. "It is a very reasonable number. We have had many pickets here with only tens of people. "There are British people, people from the Arab community and people from the Muslim community. The protest sends a very important message that what is happening in Gaza is not right." Richard Kuper, from Jews For Justice for Palestine, was returning to the protest for the third time. He said: "I'm outraged by what is going on in Gaza and I think it is important Jewish voices speak out against bombing. "I think it was the scale of the bombardment which is greatly disproportionate that has angered people." The protest was peaceful and no arrests were reported. Seven people were arrested on Monday for public order offences, including assaulting police officers, during angry clashes. The protest comes after Israel rejected calls for a 48-hour ceasefire. The protest will continue tomorrow before moving on to the Egyptian Embassy on Friday and then on to Trafalgar Square on Saturday. More than 370 Palestinians are believed to have been killed in the air strikes on Gaza. http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/mhsncweymhgb/rss2/ Hundreds protest Israeli embassy over Gaza 30/12/2008 - 16:46:39 Hundreds of people today returned to the Israeli Embassy in London to protest at the country?s bombardment of opponents in Gaza. The crowd outside the Embassy in Kensington, central London, chanted slogans in support of Palestine from behind heavy metal barriers, facing a line of around 30 police officers while a police helicopter hovered overhead. Yesterday?s protest outside the Embassy saw seven people arrested for public order offences, including assaulting police officers, during angry clashes. The atmosphere this afternoon was calmer, with protestors who attended yesterday noting that their numbers were slightly less ? adding that people were now focusing on the rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday. For Lindsey German, the national convenor for the Stop The War Coalition, today was the third time she had joined protestors outside the Embassy. ?I feel that what is happening in Gaza is complete barbarism,? she said. ?The Israeli government has obviously been planning it for a very long time. ?I think what they are imposing on the people of Gaza is collective punishment.? She said of the reaction from the international community: ?I imagine 300 people (dead) in Israel or this country ? it wouldn?t be a bit of diplomacy going on. There would be condemnation, sanctions and so on. ?That?s why we are here today. ?We want the end of the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and we want the end of the blockade of Gaza.? Kevin Ovenden, 40, was also protesting outside the Embassy for the third day. He said: ?The reason that I am here along with everybody else is to try and draw as much attention as possible in Britain to the crime that Israel is committing in Gaza and also the complicity of the British Government which has consistently sided with Israel.? Mr Ovenden, from Tower Hamlets in east London, who is parliamentary assistant to George Galloway MP and has family in Iran, said he had noticed a ?sea change? in the British public?s attitude. ?Many people who didn?t understand the issue or didn?t need to care are now expressing deep anger at what is happening to the people of Gaza and demanding that Israel stop.? He said that among those arrested yesterday was a young man whose keyring in the shape of Palestine was confiscated as, he was told, it was ?like a dagger?. A 20-year-old local government worker also from Tower Hamlets, who did not wish to give his name, said: ?When people like George Bush and Condoleezza Rice think it?s okay to keep their mouths shut at a time like this it?s up to us, the public, to make our voices known. ?The Palestinians don?t have a voice. The only voices that are heard are those coming from the corridors of power, Downing Street and the White House. ?It?s obvious what needs to happen ? the bombardment of the Palestinians needs to stop.? Today is the fourth day of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, which have killed more than 350 Palestinians and left another 1,400 wounded by the end of yesterday. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/10/israel.gaza.uk.protests/index.html January 11, 2009 -- Updated 0507 GMT (1307 HKT) Protesters across Europe call for end to Gaza conflict ? Story Highlights ? Three arrested after London protest becomes unruly; officer knocked out ? Police say 20,000 gathered outside Israeli Embassy in London ? Similar demonstrations take place in other European cities ? 3,000 protest outside temporary residence of U.S. President-elect Obama (CNN) -- Thousands of demonstrators marched through cities across Europe on Saturday, calling for an immediate end to Israel's attacks on Gaza. A protester swings a club at a police horse Saturday night near London's Israeli Embassy. Up to 20,000 people were gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in London, England, at the peak of protests there, London Metropolitan Police said. A police officer was knocked unconscious Saturday night as the protests turned unruly, the police said. The London crowd dismantled barriers placed in front of the embassy and began pelting officers with sticks, rocks and pieces of the metal barriers, police said. Three people were arrested. Organizers including the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign expected more than 100,000 people to join the London march to protest Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza. Celebrities including musician Annie Lennox and Bianca Jagger, musician Mick Jagger's ex-wife, spoke at a rally before the procession, which went from Hyde Park to the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, West London. Watch demonstrators throw bottles, metal at police ? Lauren Booth, the sister-in-law of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, also spoke at the rally, The Times newspaper reported. During her speech, Booth criticized Blair over his attempts to bring about a resolution to the conflict. "Tony Blair's only comment regarding the cease-fire has been to say that it can only take place after the tunnels in Gaza are destroyed," The Times quoted her as saying. "What he is suggesting means that after the massacre, people will have no access to food, kerosene and medicines that came through those tunnels. That is not a cease-fire; that is a slow agonizing death," she said, according to The Times. Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone issued a statement backing the demonstration. "Every day, we see appalling pictures of children slaughtered by Israeli bombs, missiles and other sophisticated weapons," he said. "Yet with more than 700 dead and thousands more seriously wounded, the international community is allowing Israel to continue its completely disproportionate onslaught accompanied by an Orwellian litany of lies." Meanwhile, the British Press Association reported that similar demonstrations took place in other British cities, including Newcastle and Edinburgh. Thousands took part in a rally through the center of Edinburgh calling for an end to the military campaign. About 300 shoes and red paint were thrown toward the U.S. consulate in the Scottish capital, the PA said. Thousands demonstrated in other European cities, according to local media reports, including Innsbruck, Austria; Paris, France; Milan, Italy; Berlin, Germany; and Oslo, Norway. iReport: Protests in Paris In Washington, pro-Palestinian activists rallied outside the temporary residence of President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday and called on the incoming leader to stop the violence in Gaza. About 3,000 people carrying signs and chanting "Free Palestine" flooded Lafayette Park between the White House and the Hay-Adams Hotel, where the president-elect is living with his family. Carrying a flag and wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh head scarf, Abdel-Kader Elkabil exhorted the president-elect to take action. "Please, Mr. Obama, do something. We love you. We voted for you," he said. "I'm expecting you to do something. ... You're the only one who can do something." Asma Mobin-Uddin drove to Washington with a group of 500 activists from Ohio. She said she voted for Obama because she believed he could "make a difference." "President Obama, look in the eyes of your kids and look in the eyes of the kids in that region," she said at the rally. "Please, stop the violence, stop the hate, stop the occupation." Israelis say their Gaza military operation, which started December 27, is targeting rocket-launching sites, Hamas infrastructure and the movement's leaders in an effort to stop militants from sending rockets into southern Israel. Palestinian medical sources said that more than 800 Palestinians have been killed in the attacks, including 235 children, and about 3,300 people have been wounded. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, have died since the operation began. http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/More-antiIsraeli-protests-expected-across.4831128.jp Hundreds protest outside Israeli Embassy over Gaza attacks Published Date: 30 December 2008 HUNDREDS of people today returned to the Israeli Embassy to protest at the country's bombardment of opponents in Gaza. The crowd outside the Embassy in Kensington, central London, chanted slogans in support of Palestine from behind heavy metal barriers, facing a line of around 30 police officers while a police helicopter hovered overhead. Yesterday's protest outside the Embassy saw seven people arrested for public order offences, including assaulting police officers, during angry clashes. The atmosphere this afternoon was calmer, with protestors who attended yesterday noting that their numbers were slightly less ? adding that people were now focusing on the rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday. For Lindsey German, the national convenor for the Stop The War Coalition, today was the third time she had joined protestors outside the Embassy. "I feel that what is happening in Gaza is complete barbarism," she said. "The Israeli government has obviously been planning it for a very long time. "I think what they are imposing on the people of Gaza is collective punishment." She said of the reaction from the international community: "I imagine 300 people (dead) in Israel or this country ? it wouldn't be a bit of diplomacy going on. There would be condemnation, sanctions and so on. "That's why we are here today. "We want the end of the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and we want the end of the blockade of Gaza." Kevin Ovenden, 40, was also protesting outside the Embassy for the third day. He said: "The reason that I am here along with everybody else is to try and draw as much attention as possible in Britain to the crime that Israel is committing in Gaza and also the complicity of the British Government which has consistently sided with Israel." Mr Ovenden, from Tower Hamlets in east London, who is parliamentary assistant to George Galloway MP and has family in Iran, said he had noticed a "sea change" in the British public's attitude. "Many people who didn't understand the issue or didn't need to care are now expressing deep anger at what is happening to the people of Gaza and demanding that Israel stop." He said that among those arrested yesterday was a young man whose keyring in the shape of Palestine was confiscated as, he was told, it was "like a dagger". A 20-year-old local government worker also from Tower Hamlets, who did not wish to give his name, said: "When people like George Bush and Condoleezza Rice think it's okay to keep their mouths shut at a time like this it's up to us, the public, to make our voices known. "The Palestinians don't have a voice. The only voices that are heard are those coming from the corridors of power, Downing Street and the White House. "It's obvious what needs to happen ? the bombardment of the Palestinians needs to stop." Today is the fourth day of Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, which have killed more than 350 Palestinians and left another 1,400 wounded by the end of yesterday. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/158319 London Protestors Burn Israeli Flag; Seven Arrested Reported: 08:30 AM - Dec/30/08 (IsraelNN.com) Hundred of Britons protested against Israeli counterterrorist operations in Gaza Monday and burned an Israeli flag. Police arrested seven people at the demonstration, the second straight day of protests near the Israeli embassy. Mounted police tried to disperse the crowd, which broke through metal barriers, and an activist said the protestors would return to the area every day. http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1966956&Language=en Officers hurt as Gaza protest ends in violence in UK Politics 1/10/2009 11:39:00 PM LONDON, Jan 10 (KUNA) -- An anti-war demonstration ended in violence Saturday as protesters clashed with riot police in London, detectives said. The protest against Israel's attacks on Gaza saw one police officer knocked unconscious and two others receive facial injuries, a police spokesman said. An initially peaceful demonstration ended with a group of protesters facing mounted riot police throwing missiles and smashing windows on Kensington High Street near the Israeli Embassy. Riot officers from the Metropolitan Police force charged at the group of mainly young men. Sticks and barriers were hurled at the officers by the group, many of whom were masked. About 300 police in full riot gear had surrounded a similar-sized group of protesters pushing them up the street. Meanwhile, Protesters hurled shoes at an American consulate today as a part of a protest against the Israeli action in Gaza. Thousands took part in a rally through central Edinburgh, Scotland, calling for an end to the military onslaught. About 300 shoes and red paint were thrown towards the US consulate in the Scottish capital. Pete Cannell, secretary of the Scottish Stop the War Coalition, said 10,000 attended the event. "If we'd had a few more days it would've been twice the size," he said. "The reponse we got when we were handing out leaflets was overwhelming." Event organiser Nick Napier said the action was taken as a result of the "rage and anger" over the death toll in Gaza over the past two weeks. Three police officers sustained minor injuries after being attacked by around 60 protesters at the Consulate, Police said later. In addition to hundreds of shoes, a hail of sticks, ski boots and paint rained down on them as they stood guard at a barrier. The force said it was "extremely disappointed at the violent behaviour". A spokesman said: "This was done with the obvious intention of causing injury." No one has been arrested over the incident. Police appealed for witnesses to track down the troublemakers. The spokesman went on: "While we recognise people's right to protest, this should be done in a lawful manner, and we are extremely disappointed at the violent behaviour shown today by the minority whose obvious intention was to cause trouble. "Inquiries are now under way in order to identify those responsible for today's disorder and we are appealing for anyone who has any information that can help us identify those concerned to contact police immediately." The force put the number of demonstrators in Edinburgh at around 4,000 and praised the conduct of the majority as "commendable". In London, three people were arrested, police said. Police ensured a heavy presence at today's demonstration after a similar protest in the capital last Saturday was also marred by confrontations. The Metropolitan Police estimated 12,000 people joined in Britain's biggest pro-Palestine demonstration in London's Hyde Park today before marching through the capital to the embassy, chanting "free, free Palestine". But, the BBC said around 50,000 took part in the protest. The Journalist Lauren Booth criticised her brother-in-law Tony Blair, saying his suggestions for a ceasefire in Gaza would condemn Palestinians "to a slow agonising death". Cherie Blair's half-sister Ms Booth said: "Tony Blair's only comment regarding the ceasefire has been to say that it can only take place after the tunnels in Gaza are destroyed. "What he is suggesting means that after the massacre people will have no access to food, kerosene and medicines that came through those tunnels. That is not a ceasefire, that is a slow agonising death." Organisers of the march brought together a number of different groups including Stop The War Coalition, The British Muslim Initiative and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. John Rees, co-founder of the Stop the War Coalition, told reporters: "Unless we are able to deal with this we will not get peace in the Middle East. " Many of the protesters trapped between two lines of riot police were peaceful and included women and older people. But their pleas to those causing disorder to "stop throwing things" and sit down were ignored. There were running skirmishes between the lines of police and groups of young men, each time prompting a further charge from the officers and sending the crowd running screaming in the opposite direction. there to protect the embassy". He said: "The barrier line put in place to protect the embassy was dismantled and a hard core of protesters threw missiles, including sticks stones and metal barriers, at police." Extra officers were deployed at 4.40 pm, but this group was then attacked by the "hard core" of protesters, he added. Police estimate the crowd was between 15,000 and 20,000 at its peak, although it was starting to disperse tonight. Commander Bob Broadhurst said: "A group of people on this demonstration have set out to deliberately confront and antagonise police officers trying to protect the Embassy of Israel. "We are very disappointed by the irresponsible and criminal actions of those who have challenged police by ripping apart security barriers and throwing objects at them. A hard core of demonstrators are undermining the cause of the vast majority of people on this demonstration, who are law abiding citizens wishing to protest peacefully." Of the three arrests, one man was held on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and another man was in custody on suspicion of aggravated trespass. The spokesman said they were awaiting details of the third arrest. There were also similar demonstrations in a number of other UK cities. (end) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/11/gaza-israel-demonstration-embassy-police Violence erupts at embassy protest ? Ben Quinn and David Smith ? The Observer, Sunday 11 January 2009 Protesters clash with mounted riot police outside the Israeli embassy in London. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Violent clashes broke out near the Israeli embassy in London yesterday as tens of thousands marched in protest against the military action in Gaza. Shop windows were smashed and police pelted with missiles by masked youths near the embassy during the largest demonstration in Britain against the Israeli offensive. Last night, broken glass and debris littered the scene of the disturbances on Kensington High Street, where ranks of riot police waited behind locked gates near the embassy entrance. Earlier in the evening, a number of demonstrators attacked a branch of Starbucks, smashing its front windows and ransacking it before shattering the facade of a clothes shop. Panic rippled through the crowd as riot police advanced repeatedly with batons drawn before being later backed up by dozens of mounted police. Officers were pelted with missiles, including shards of glass from shattered shopfronts, as stewards from the demonstration called for calm and tried to separate police from protesters. Women and children took cover in doorways as missiles were hurled at helmeted riot police. Youths let off firecrackers and fire extinguishers and pushed over crowd control barriers. Three officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, the Metropolitan police said. At least 15 people were arrested as the remaining demonstrators were corralled by riot police and held in the area for a number of hours after darkness fell. The trouble came after tens of thousands of protesters from groups including the Stop the War Coalition marched from Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park to another demonstration at Kensington Gardens, near the embassy. Earlier, protesters had also tried to force entry to the north gate of Kensington Gardens and six climbed up an adjoining wall, smashing two lamps and setting an American flag on fire. Protester Ahmed Mohammad, 23, said that he saw women and children hurt in police charges: "It was a peaceful protest until the riot police came. I've seen a mother and little girl pushed to the ground." The Stop the War Coalition, which organised the demonstration, claimed that "at least" 100,000 people had braved the cold, making it "the biggest demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinian people in the history of this country". The Metropolitan police estimated the number of marchers at 20,000. In one of several speeches delivered in Kensington Gardens, George Galloway, leftwing MP for the Respect party, called on protesters to go to shopping centres and "shut down Israel Shops" ? a reference to mobile retailers who operate in malls, selling Israeli products. At the start of the march, Speakers' Corner was turned into a sea of Palestinian flags and banners condemning Israel. The crowd, which ranged from young British Muslims to leftwing activists to students and pensioners, listened to speakers including human rights advocate Bianca Jagger, singer Annie Lennox and the Rev Garth Hewitt, canon at St George's Cathedral in Jerusalem. ? This article was amended on Tuesday 13 January 2009. We reported that George Galloway MP had called for a boycott of 'Israel's shops'. This was incorrect. He called for a boycott of Israel Shops, mobile retailers who operate in shopping malls selling Israeli goods. This has been corrected. http://cbs5.com/national/London.violent.protest.2.904850.html Jan 10, 2009 1:00 pm US/Pacific Anti-Israel Protest In London Turns Violent Police Officer Knocked Unconscious At Pro-Gaza Rally This article was compiled from various news reports NEW YORK (CBS) ? Click to enlarge Protesters burn the Israeli Flag as they take part in a Gaza Protest march on Jan. 10, 2009, in London, England. Chris Jackson/Getty Images Israel Targets Hamas With Bombs In Gaza As Israel promised Saturday to step up their operations in Gaza against Hamas, an estimated 12,000 pro-Palestinian protesters in London clashed with riot police in the streets. At least one officer was knocked unconscious and two others were injured, according to British media reports. Reports say the rally had started out peacefully, but as things came to a close near the Israeli Embassy in the English capital, things started getting out of control. A small group of protesters reportedly threw missiles at police, smashing store windows. About 300 police in riot gear descended on the group, composed mainly of masked young men. When police cornered another small group, protesters reportedly threw sticks, stones and shoes at the officers. The crowds were eventually brought under control, according to the Times Online. Media reports indicate at least three people were arrested. The protesters had first gathered in London's Hyde Park in support of the Palestinian cause, carrying placards marked "Gaza: Stop the massacre" and chanting "free, free Palestine." In attendance was former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's half-sister, who condemned him for what she perceived as his anti-Palestinian stance on the conflict, which has claimed at least 800 lives in Gaza. Singer Annie Lenox also participated in the rally. Similar protests took place across the globe, with crowds in Lebanon, Bosnia, Germany, Greece and Scotland gathering to voice support for Palestinians in Gaza. http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/11/stories/2009011154661100.htm International Jews lead protest Hasan Suroor LONDON: Many British Jews were in the forefront of a huge protest here on Saturday to demand an end to the Israeli invasion. Rock musician Brian Eno said their presence disproved the propaganda that all those who opposed Israeli actions were ?anti-Semitic?. People across the racial and religious divide were concerned about the crisis in Gaza, he said. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/ten-arrested-as-london-protest-outside-israeli-embassy-turns-violent-14121939.html?r=RSS Ten arrested as London protest outside Israeli embassy turns violent Monday, 29 December 2008 Ten protesters were arrested during angry confrontations with police outside the Israeli Embassy in London, Scotland Yard said last night. Campaigners were seen being handcuffed and dragged away by officers after events boiled out of control when thousands gathered in Kensington to protest against the bombing blitz on Gaza. High Street Kensington was closed off with police vans blocking the street as the number of demonstrators swelled throughout the afternoon to about 2,000. Among the protesters were Respect MP George Galloway and former MP Tony Benn, who both addressed the rally. Mr Galloway said later: ?Israel has killed hundreds and maimed hundreds more ? many of whom are women and young children ? yet Gordon Brown is blaming the victim rather than the aggressor. ?We should treat Israel as we treated South Africa during apartheid. They should be shunned.? Violence flared as police attempted to physically remove people so they could reopen the road. Protesters threw placards and screamed abuse as officers scrummaged to push campaigners back. Some demonstrators were seen attempting to climb the gate towards the Embassy. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5408132.ece December 28, 2008 Violent protests at Israeli Embassy in London Times Online Violent confrontations broke out at the Israeli Embassy in London today as up to 1,500 protesters against Israel's Gaza campaign gathered in a vociferous demonstration. Campaign supporters, Palestinians and British Muslims stood on the pavement of High Street Kensington, west London, and chanted in unison: ?Five, six, seven, eight - Israel is a terror state.? Riot police were brought in to control the crowd, some of whom turned violent. Witnesses said some protestors were forcibly removed and others were seen with bloodied faces as violence erupted. One campaigner was seen throwing a bag and what appeared to be a book over some gates towards the embassy and another was seen throwing red liquid. Officers retreated from the immediate scene as the crowds swelled, and some appeared to be trying to break through barriers to access the embassy. Related Links ? Israeli blitz kills 290 as ground troops gather ? Britain hardens position on Israel Multimedia ? Gaza violence ? BLOG: attacks damage Israel The protesters waved Palestinian flags and held up placards, including some which read: ?Holocaust in Gaza? and ?no peace, no justice.? Traffic on the busy shopping street was brought to a standstill as more protestors arrived and the road was blocked off near the Embassy. Six police vans, four police cars and territorial units from the Metropolitan Police waited to intervene as the chanting continued. As the standoff continued, a security guard at the nearby Royal Garden Hotel said police had been rapidly outnumbered and handled the situation ?terribly?. The member of staff, who did not want to be named, added: ?There were only eight officers trying to contain a protest with about 500 demonstrators. ?They are trying to break down the barriers towards the Embassy and the police can do nothing about it. ?It has been handled terribly and now they are chasing to catch up a scene which is already out of control.? Gamal Hamed, from Hammersmith, whose 23-year-old son still lives in Gaza, said: ?Yesterday was the bloodiest day in my homeland?s history. We will do what we can to make the world take notice. ?I am delighted by the number of people who have pledged their support today - we are all worried about where the conflict goes from here.? It was one of numerous anti-Israel protests, with other sizeable gatherings reported in Paris, Madrid and Jordan. Scotland Yard said three people were arrested at the London protest on suspicion of committing public order offences. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1120942/Gaza-protesters-unleash-fury-Starbucks-coffee-shops-late-night-rampage.html Gaza protesters unleash their fury against Starbucks coffee shops in late night rampage By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 11:17 AM on 18th January 2009 ? Comments (0) ? Add to My Stories Starbucks coffee shops in London were targeted last night by Gaza rioters. Scotland Yard is investigating damage to two shops after pro- and anti-protesters clashed in Central London Windows were smashed and the branches, in Shaftesbury Avenue and Piccadilly, were looted. Enlarge 'Inexcusable violence': The rioters smashed two Starbucks coffee shops after clashing over Gaza A police spokesman said the trouble was caused by a 'small minority' of protesters, with officers containing around 200 people in Piccadilly who were believed to be making their way to the Israeli Embassy in Kensington High Street. About 40 people were contained in Hyde Park to prevent a further breach of the peace, he added. A passer-by said the trouble flared up when pro-and anti-Israeli demonstrators clashed in Piccadilly. The man, who did not wish to be named, said groups of protesters had been split up by the police in an attempt to divert them as they tried to march to the Embassy. He said: 'Both sides were getting rowdy and somebody smashed the windows of a Starbucks down past The Ritz.' Smashed: Stores were looted during the late-night violence Many of the men wore scarves covering their faces and a police car had its rear window smashed. By 7pm only a small group of protesters remained outside Green Park, where they were surrounded by police but no arrests were made, police said. Commander Bob Broadhurst, in charge of public order policing for the Met, said: 'Once again what we have witnessed in London today is a group of thugs, who are not interested in lawful protest, run through the streets smashing shops without care for the alarm they caused the public. 'Thousands of people expressed their views in an earlier, lawful, rally in Trafalgar Square ... What followed was totally unacceptable criminal behaviour by a small minority who do not appear to care about any cause. 'Their behaviour was inexcusable as they took part in wanton criminality.' A police officer stands guard outside the Starbucks store after its windows were smashed by protesters, following a rally in Trafalgar Square against Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip The violence followed demonstrations by thousands of protesters, who waved banners demanding an end to the attacks on Gaza and chanted 'Free Palestine'. The Met said 3,500 gathered in Trafalgar Square in central London, while organisers of a rally in Birmingham said more than 5,000 people turned up. An Israeli flag was set alight at the rally outside Birmingham's Council House in Victoria Square. In London, former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn was among the speakers addressing the crowds. He said the Royal Navy should be used to break the blockade of Gaza and warships should accompany ships carrying food and medicine to the territory. He said: 'Never underestimate the impact these demonstrations have because they are reported all over the world.' In London 200 protesters, including many children carrying dolls to symbolise the children killed in the conflict, walked from Trafalgar Square down Whitehall to Downing Street. Last Saturday a protest in Kensington also ended in violence, with a group of protesters facing mounted riot police throwing missiles and smashing windows on Kensington High Street near the Israeli Embassy. http://www.pressassociation.com/component/pafeeds/2009/01/09/hundreds_join_gaza_protest_rally?camefrom=regional Hundreds join Gaza protest rally Hundreds of people gathered at a rally in central London to protest against the Gaza conflict. Speakers took it in turn to condemn the Israeli and British Governments on Thursday night. Former Labour Cabinet Minister Tony Benn said the Israeli Ambassador to the UK should be expelled. He said: "We should be making a demand on the British Government because speaking for myself, and I am sure for you, I think the response of British Government has been an absolute disgrace. "That is a demand that can perhaps come out of this meeting." Among the 11 speakers who addressed the rally at the Friends Meeting House were Respect MP George Galloway and the President of the University and College Union (UCU) Sasha Callaghan. Ms Callaghan called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to speak out against the Israeli attacks. She said: "We ask him to stand up and be brave and walk out of the shadow of US foreign policy and condemn what is happening in Gaza." Mr Galloway criticised media coverage of the conflict and the language used by some journalists. He said: "Israel is not targeting Hamas militants in Gaza. How can a warship firing its lead and fire onto a beach and beyond be said to be targeting anyone." http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=RSSFeed-World&id=828739f4-7a33-4217-a3b9-6bc8ae15a4ef&Headline=Gaza+protesters+throw+shoes+at+Downing+Street Gaza protesters throw shoes at Downing StreetAds By Google Vijay Dutt, Hindustan Times Email Author London, January 05, 2009 First Published: 23:56 IST(5/1/2009) Last Updated: 00:01 IST(6/1/2009) Throwing shoes at leaders one intensely hates or disagrees with seems to be in vogue since an Iraqi TV journalist, Muntadhar al-Zeidi, tossed a pair of brogues at US President George W. Bush in Baghdad. In a copycat expression of protest, over 1000 pairs were hurled at the wrought-iron gates of 10, Downing Street, in a gesture of scorn and anger against the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip. It is not known whether Prime Minister Gordon Brown was in residence at the time. In any case, the prime minister?s door is at least 200 yards from the gate. ?One fails to understand why Brown was targeted,? said a passerby. ?He has been asking for a ceasefire, in defiance of Washington?s policy.? Demonstrations here have been staged in London almost every day since the Israeli attacks began. Over 5000 protesters, comprising mainly British Muslims, gathered near the Israeli Embassy in west London and tried to break the police cordon. Three were arrested. They burnt Israeli flags and hurled missiles including fireworks at police. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/violence+erupts+at+israel+protests/2905757 Violence erupts at Israel protests Print this page Last Modified: 17 Jan 2009 Source: ITN Violence has erupted at anti-Israeli protests in London. Young men - many wearing scarves covering their faces - clashed with police on Saturday, with one group seen kicking in the front window of a Starbucks coffee shop. A police car also had its rear window smashed. The Metropolitan Police force said it contained a group of between 120 and 200 people in Piccadilly at about 5.20pm. A spokesman said: "The decision to contain this group was based on the need to prevent a further breach of the peace." The spokesman also said it was investigating reports of damaged, looted shops. He said: "There is now believed to be two branches of Starbucks, one in Shaftesbury Avenue, junction with Rupert Street and one in Piccadilly. Windows have been smashed and shops looted." http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Another-Day-Of-Protest-Against-Gaza-Assault-Peaceful-Rally-Outside-Israeli-Embassy-In-London/Article/200901115197334?f=rss Subdued Gaza Protest At Embassy 2:54am UK, Monday January 05, 2009 Protests against the attacks in Gaza have continued in London with several hundred people again converging on the Israeli Embassy. The rally outside the Israeli Embassy was largely peaceful About 60 police officers monitored the group of demonstrators, who demanded Israel stop what they describe as a "Holocaust in Gaza". Sky News reporter Simon Newton said following the violent scenes of Saturday, Sunday's rally was largely peaceful. "There was a demonstration yesterday in Trafalgar Square. There were some violent scenes and 10 arrests last night, but so far today nothing akin to that," Newton said. He added the protest will continue for the next couple of days in light of developing events in the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, more than 12,000 people marched through London, joining thousands of others around the world in public events against the attacks on the Palestinian territory. Among the protesters were singer Annie Lennox, Respect MP George Galloway and comedian Alexei Sayle, who marched along the Embankment in London to Trafalgar Square. Police made several arrests, claiming protesters made repeated attempts to break through the barriers and throw missiles outside the embassy in south Kensington. http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/264473 At Least 10,000+ Protest In London Against Israeli Airstrikes By Can Tran. Published Jan 3, 2009 by ? Can Tran Share: By tgraham London: Protest against the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Again, protesters are taking to the streets of London to condemn the Israel bombings on the Gaza Strip. This one is much bigger than the last one. On Saturday, December 27, 2008, Israel had begun a campaign of airstrikes onto the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. A few days before, it was Hamas that announced an end to the six-month ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt. However, the ceasefire was shaky at the start. As Israel carried out airstrikes, Hamas continued its rocket attacks onto Israeli soil. Soon, the Israeli airstrikes would bring international condemnation. Many had taken to the streets of London, Britain to protest the Israeli airstrikes. They had protested in front of the Israeli embassy. So far, it has spelled out a major international problem for US President-Elect Barack Obama once he takes the office of US President on January 20. Obama will need to bring his S+ game. Perhaps the S+ game may not be good enough and will have to up it to S++ or S+++. The protest that took place today in London was city-wide. It was not limited to the Israeli embassy. So far, some people were arrested. Luckily, it was considered a peaceful protest. The total of people that showed support for Palestine was around in the five-figures. According to police, the numbers can go up to 12,000 people. According to the Stop the War Coalition, the number went up to 50,000. Most of the protesters held out the flags for Palestine. Singer Annie Lennox said that both Palestinians and the Israelis were completely in the wrong. She adds that there is only a small window of opportunity to have talks for a ceasefire. She said: ?For every one person killed in Gaza, they are creating 100 suicide bombers. It?s not just about Gaza, it?s about all of us.? Alexei Sayle, an actor and comedian who is Jewish, said that he is disappointed in Israel. So far, other protests took place across Great Britain. One can say that while the British government has not condemned the Israeli airstrikes, the British people did not hesitate to condemn them at all. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/gaza-hundreds-protest-outside-israeli-embassy-in-london-14125813.html?r=RSS Gaza: Hundreds protest outside Israeli embassy in London Thursday, 1 January 2009 ? Print ? Email Search Search Go Bookmark & Share ? Digg It ? del.icio.us ? Facebook ? Stumbleupon What are these? Change font size: A | A | A Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in London yesterday to protest at the attacks on Gaza. The crowd outside the embassy in Kensington, central London, carried banners demanding justice for Palestine and were led in chants of "no justice, no peace". Majed Al-Zeer, from the Palestinian Return Centre which helped organise the protest, said the fact several hundred people had turned out for the protest showed how strong feelings were about the Israeli attacks. He said: "It is a working day and for some people a holiday and it is very cold but still hundreds have turned out. "It is a very reasonable number. We have had many pickets here with only tens of people. "There are British people, people from the Arab community and people from the Muslim community. The protest sends a very important message that what is happening in Gaza is not right." Richard Kuper, from Jews For Justice for Palestine, was returning to the protest for the third time. He said: "I'm outraged by what is going on in Gaza and I think it is important Jewish voices speak out.? http://www.worldpress.org/feed.cfm?http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5494750.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093 January 12, 2009 Thousands gather in Trafalgar Square to protest over Gaza (Andrew Parsons/Reuters) Pro-Israeli protestors shout at pro-Palestinian protestors during the rally Image :1 of 2 Will Pavia Demonstrating their solidarity with the state of Israel, thousands of people congregated in Trafalgar Square yesterday to call for peace as fighting continues in Gaza. Organisers estimated that 15,000 had come to protest under the banner 'Peace in Israel, Peace in Gaza? and to hear speeches from the Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sachs, the Israeli Ambassador and a number of British MPs. A counter-protest organised by the Islamist Human Rights Commission assembled on the western edge of the square in the shadow of the Canadian Embassy, and organisers said around 1,000 people had attended. Both sides said the protest had been peaceful, though the Metropolitan Police made two arrests and pro-Israel supporters said one man had been pushed into an icy fountain after he tried to infiltrate and disrupt their demonstration. Jonathan West, 41, a solicitor from Ilford, Essex, said: ?He tried to disrupt the Chief Rabbi?s speech. People pushed him into the fountain - he did go through the ice and he must be very cold. ? However, other witnesses said that the man jumped into the fountain. Mr West said he had come to call for "peace and reconciliation". Related Links ? War intensifies in Gaza after diplomacy falls on deaf ears ? Hamas rocket chief is killed ? Protests intensify as Israel remains in Gaza ?It was all about harmony, unlike the protests from the pro-Hamas supporters, which were full of hatred and anti-Semitism and death and destruction. I think it was important that a different voice was heard.? Mr West, whose sister lives in Israel said: ?Over the last six years Israel has taken a real hammering from Hamas rockets.? Across to the west of the square behind barricades, protestors chanted: "Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go." Raza Kazim, a spokesman for the Islamic Human Rights commission said: ?The Zionists had come out to support the massacre that was going on in Gaza. We thought this was an inappropriate thing to do with the images and pictures that are coming out now. We are showing solidarity with the people of Palestine and showing that we haven?t forgotten them. ? He said among the protestors were orthodox Jews ?standing shoulder to shoulder with Muslims". Abraham Greenburg, 30, originally from Haifa but living in London for five years, burnt his passport as part of the protest. He said: ?What the Zionists are doing is against God and against the Palestinian people. As an Israeli citizen I feel ashamed of what is happening.? Rabbi Elhanan Beck, of Stamford Hill in North London, said: ?Jews have lived in peace in many Muslim countries - the most dangerous place for Jewish people today is the state of Israel. We have come here today to protest against Israel and the Zionist people.? http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=United+Kingdom+%26+Europe&month=December2008&file=World_News20081229117.xml Three arrested after Israeli Embassy protest Web posted at: 12/29/2008 1:1:7 Source ::: AFP LONDON: British police arrested three people after a demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy in London over the bombardment of the Gaza Strip turned violent yesterday. Traffic in the up-scale central London district of Kensington where the embassy is located was brought to a halt by hundreds of protesters ? organisers estimated 3,000, while police put the figure at 700. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and placards, shouting in unison: ?Israel is a terror state!? At one point, barriers containing the demonstrators were torn down and riot police were deployed to restore order ? with several protesters forcibly removed. As teams of police officers attempted to push protesters away from the embassy, some demonstrators attempted to retaliate by pushing back and throwing placards at police. ?(Saturday) was the bloodiest day in my homeland?s history,? said 68-year-old Gamal Hamed, whose 23-year-old son lives in Gaza. ?We will do what we can to make the world take notice... we are all worried about where the conflict goes from here.? http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/30/1001878/protesters-police-clash-at-london-embassy Protesters, police clash at London embassy December 30, 2008 LONDON (JTA) -- Protesters clashed with police during a demonstration near the Israeli Embassy in London. Seven activists were arrested at Monday's demonstration as they tried to break down barriers placed by police to keep them away from the embassy compound. About 400 people took part in the demonstration, much smaller than a violent demonstration held on Sunday. However, police were more prepared as about 140 officers, some of them on horses, prevented demonstrators from getting close to the embassy. Demonstrators also blocked a main London road during the demonstration. On Sunday police arrested 10 demonstrators. One was later released and the other nine are scheduled to appear in court next month on charges relating to disturbing public order and attacking a police officer. Monday's arrests were on similar grounds. The demonstrators promised to return every day until hostilities end, and on Friday are scheduled to demonstrate in front of the Egyptian embassy. The Israeli ambassador to London, Ron Prosor, said that none of these demonstrations will stop him and the rest of the embassy staff from working tirelessly to explain Israel's position, making clear to the media that "Hamas is a tragedy to all those who want peace in the Middle East." http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1450529.php/Six_held_in_anti-Israeli_protests_in_London__Roundup__ Six held in anti-Israeli protests in London (Roundup) Middle East News Dec 28, 2008, 16:46 GMT London - Around 2,000 people staged a noisy protest outside the Israeli embassy in London on Sunday in response to Israeli airstrikes that left hundreds dead in the Gaza Strip. Police were forced to call in reinforcements after protesters tore down barriers holding them back and hurled projectiles in the direction of the diplomatic mission. Six people were arrested on charges that included disturbing public order after police forcibly removed a number of protesters from the gathering in the west of London. Traffic in the area ground to a halt as the protest swelled from an initial group of 500 Palestinians and other people opposed to the Israeli military action in Gaza. 'Israel is a terrorist state,' chanted demonstrators as Palestinian flags were waved. Other protesters held up posters reading 'Holocaust in Gaza.' British Foreign Secretary David Milliband called for an 'immediate halt to all violence' in Gaza. He said a cease-fire was urgently needed to halt the 'massive loss of life' from the Israeli bombings. Milliband said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had contacted his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert and made it clear Israel must stick by its humanitarian obligations. http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2448229,00.html 1000s in UK protest Gaza strikes 03/01/2009 17:00 - (SA) London - Demonstrators took to the streets across Britain on Saturday to protest against Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The biggest rally was in London, where organisers were expecting thousands of protestors including singer Annie Lennox and former London mayor Ken Livingstone to march through the British capital. Demonstrators on the event organised by the Stop the War Coalition were to leave old shoes for Prime Minister Gordon Brown at his Downing Street residence, in the spirit of an Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush. Protests were also due to be held in other cities, including Manchester in northwest England and in Glasgow. The demonstrations cap a week of demonstrations in London over the Israeli military clampdown, including a rally outside Egypt's embassy in London on Friday, urging Cairo to open its border with Gaza to allow refugees through. The Israeli offensive has killed at least 436 people, including 75 children, and wounded almost 2 300 inside the territory, according to Gaza medics. - AFP http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7809216.stm Saturday, 3 January 2009 UK protests over Gaza air strikes Protesters march through central London A series of demonstrations is taking place across the UK to try and stop the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The protests are being held at 18 locations including Portsmouth, Manchester, Hull, London and Glasgow. They come after several days of smaller demonstrations around the country, including outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, west London. Israel's government has said it is defending its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks. 'No defence' The government launched the offensive after Palestinian rockets were fired into Israel's southern regions, breaking a six-month truce. But Lyndsey German, of the Stop the War Coalition, said Israel's actions were not "a defence measure". She said there would be "tens of thousands" of people in London alone and this "is just the start of the campaign". "If there is an invasion of Gaza, as looks likely, by the Israeli army, if the blockade continues with people suffering from shortages of food and medicine, then I think this will grow. "This is Israel being aggressive, this is Israel attacking one and a half million people who already live in great poverty, in great difficulty." For every one person killed in Gaza, they are creating 100 suicide bombers. It's not just about Gaza, it's about all of us Annie Lennox Cities protest over Gaza attacks More than 30 organisations, including the British Muslim Initiative and the Stop the War Coalition, have worked together to organise the series of protests. The BBC's Barnie Choudhury estimated there were 7,000 to 10,000 people marching along the Embankment in central London towards Trafalgar Square. Some chanted "Free, free Palestine" and "Israel terrorists". On Whitehall, hundreds of shoes were thrown at the gates of Downing Street, echoing the protest of an Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush. A firework was also reportedly thrown at police. Elsewhere, an estimated 2,000 people marched through Manchester and in Portsmouth, nearly 500 people took to the streets. Police said there were about 500 demonstrators in Glasgow and 600 in Edinburgh. Former model Bianca Jagger and singer Annie Lennox have supported the action, and have also called on American president-elect Barack Obama to speak up against the bombardment. Ms Lennox told the BBC that both sides were "wrong" and a total ceasefire was the only sensible solution. She said the intervention of President George W Bush, who has described Hamas's rocket attacks as an "act of terror", was not helping the situation. She said: "The problem is, from my perspective, they are pouring petrol onto the fire. "They have to sit down. This is a small window of opportunity just before things kick off. "For every one person killed in Gaza, they are creating 100 suicide bombers. It's not just about Gaza, it's about all of us. Actor Paul Kaye, whose mother-in-law was killed in a Hamas rocket attack, told the BBC he had experienced the situation from an Israeli point of view. "It's terrifying," he said. "My wife was trapped in a supermarket in a rocket attack. I was with my sons in Ashkelon station, holding them, waiting for a rocket to land and shutting my eyes thinking 'is this it?' "So I think it's important to remember that mothers fleeing rocket attacks holding their children have the same fear on both sides of the border." Ceasefire calls The UN has reported that some 2,000 Palestinians have been wounded since the airstrikes began last Saturday. Thousands marched past Downing Street in protest at the violence More than 400 people have been killed including 60 civilians - 34 of them children. Four Israelis - three civilians and one soldier - have been killed by rockets fired into Israel from Gaza, which have hit towns up to 25 miles (40km) from the narrow coastal strip. Both sides have so far resisted international calls for a ceasefire. 'Self-defeating' Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said the British government was "forcefully and strongly arguing" for an immediate end to the violence. "Israel has a right to respond proportionately, but we've been very, very clear that there has been a massive loss of innocent life... and that is unacceptable." Mr Rammell said Hamas rocket attacks on Israel were also "unacceptable", but stressed that "a reinvigorated political process" was the only route to a long-term solution. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg branded Israel's strategy of bombing Gaza "self-defeating". "One of the great victims of the Israeli action is... moderate public opinion in the Arab world, upon whom Israeli long-term security interests depend," he said. He said the reaction of the EU had been "weak" and said member states should have threatened to sever trade links with Israel if the bombardment continued. Chairwoman of the Jewish Labour Movement, MP Louise Ellman, defended Israel's actions. She told the BBC: "The scale of human suffering of the people in Gaza is deeply distressing but the responsibility lies with Hamas." She described the militant group as an "organisation that does not accept the existence of Israel" and one that "refuses to be involved in negotiations" that would result in a two-state solution in the region. http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3144174.html?menu= Rallies to protest Gaza bombing Tens of thousands of protesters are due to voice their anger at the Gaza bombing blitz in a series of rallies across the UK. Up to 20,000 people - including the singer Annie Lennox and Respect MP George Galloway - are expected to march along the Embankment in London before walking to Trafalgar Square to call for an immediate end to the Israeli attacks. The demonstration is the biggest of at least 18 organised across the country. Former model Bianca Jagger and singer Lennox have backed the protests, calling on American President-elect Barack Obama to speak up against the bombardment. Other rallies will take place at Blytheswood Square, Glasgow; Bedford Square, Exeter; Princes Street, Edinburgh; Bristol city centre; Bold Street, Liverpool; Norwich Forum; Portsmouth's Guildhall Square; Queen Victoria Square, Hull; Tunbridge Wells town centre; Leeds Art Gallery; All Saints Park, Manchester; Grey's Monument, Newcastle; Castle Square, Swansea; St Sampson's Square, York; Morrisons, Caernarfon; Bradford city centre; and Sheffield town hall. Former mayor of London Ken Livingstone and comedian Alexei Sayle also added their support to the campaign to end the violence. Speaking at a press conference in central London, Ms Jagger said: "I would like to make an appeal to President-elect Obama to speak up. "People throughout the world were hopeful when he was elected and we must appeal to him to ask for the immediate cessation of the bombardment of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip." Lennox spoke of her shock at watching scenes of the bombing on television. She said: "A few days after Christmas I came downstairs, put the television on, and saw smoke pyres coming from buildings and I was shocked to the core because I was thinking as a mother and as a human being." Comedian Sayle said he was speaking out because it was important for Jewish voices to be heard. He said: "I want to feel proud of Israel, I want to be proud of my people but I am ashamed." http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/international-protests-grow-as-bombardment-continues-1222841.html International protests grow as bombardment continues By Robert Dex, PA Saturday, 3 January 2009 AP Opposition to the military action has brought activists on to the streets in cities around the world including Berlin ? More pictures More than 100 protesters gathered outside the Egyptian embassy in London yesterday demanding the country opens its border with Gaza. Betty Hunter, general secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: "Egypt has to say this is our border and we can open it. It would allow humanitarian aid in and it would also allow the sick and the injured to come out and they could go to hospital. "Egypt has to stop colluding with Israel and do this now." George Galloway, the Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, joined the protesters and said: "We hold Egypt jointly responsible for this great crime. Israel's Foreign Secretary was with Hosni Mubarak when the bombs began to fall and it's inconceivable she did not co-ordinate it with him," he claimed. "The Mubarak dictatorship has brought shame on Egypt," Mr Galloway declared. The demonstration follows five days of protest outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, and comes a day before marchers gather in central London to protest against Israel's bombardment of Gaza. The former model Bianca Jagger, singer Annie Lennox and former London mayor Ken Livingstone are expected to lead the action in Trafalgar Square against Israel's bombardment of Gaza. More than 300 people turned out for a vigil for Gaza in Birmingham's shopping area last night. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/416813.html Gaza Protest at Egyptian Embassy, London, 2 January Peter Marshall | 02.01.2009 23:23 | Palestine | Repression | World Around 500 people took part in a noisy demonstration outside the Egyptian Embassy in London this afternoon, Friday 2 January 2009, calling for greater support from Egypt for the people of Gaza and an immediate opening of the border. Pictures Copyright (C) 2008 Peter Marshall, all rights reserved. The crowd, mainly of Palestinians but with a good sprinkling of other supporters, were united in pressing for urgent action from Egypt as well as an immediate stop to the Israeli killing in Gaza and an end to the siege, although there were a few minor arguments and I saw stewards call police to deal with one trouble-maker who was quickly escorted away. There was an effective barrier on the opposite side of South Street between the crowd and the embassy with a fairly strong police presence on the roadway in front of the building, as well as a number well behind the crowd, but other than preventing any access by demonstrators or press to the front of the Embassy the police simply stood and watched for the hour and a quarter I was there. After some prolonged chanting and various addresses to the crowd, a small group of young men burnt some crudely drawn Israeli flags decorated with swastikas, and then set fire to a photograph of the Camp David meeting with a text reading "TREATY OF CAMP DAVID." A few small rotten tomatoes were also thrown towards the embassy. More pictures on My London Diary shortly: http://mylondondiary.co.uk Peter Marshall e-mail: petermarshall at cix.co.uk Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/protesters-demand-egypt-opens-gaza-border-1222265.html Protesters demand Egypt opens Gaza border By Robert Dex, PA Friday, 2 January 2009 More than 100 protesters gathered outside the Egyptian embassy today demanding the country opens its border with Gaza. Betty Hunter, general secretary of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: "Egypt has to say this is our border and we can open it. "It would allow humanitarian aid in and it would also allow the sick and the injured to come out and they could go to hospital. "Egypt has to stop colluding with Israel and do this now." Protesters gathered outside the embassy in South Street in central London chanted "Mubarak shame on you", in a reference to Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak. Respect MP George Galloway joined the protestors later. The member for Bethnal Green and Bow said: "We hold Egypt jointly responsible for this great crime. "The Foreign Secretary of Israel was with Hosni Mubarak when the bombs began to fall and it's inconceivable she did not co-ordinate it with him. "The Mubarak dictatorship has brought shame on Egypt." Today's demonstration follows five days of protest outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington and comes a day before marchers gather in central London to protest at Israel's bombardment of Gaza. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/248065,six-held-in-anti-israeli-protests-in-london--summary.html Six held in anti-Israeli protests in London - Summary Posted : Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:50:53 GMT Author : DPA Category : UK (World) London - Around 2,000 people staged a noisy protest outside the Israeli embassy in London on Sunday in response to Israeli airstrikes that left hundreds dead in the Gaza Strip. Police were forced to call in reinforcements after protesters tore down barriers holding them back and hurled projectiles in the direction of the diplomatic mission. Six people were arrested on charges that included disturbing public order after police forcibly removed a number of protesters from the gathering in the west of London. Traffic in the area ground to a halt as the protest swelled from an initial group of 500 Palestinians and other people opposed to the Israeli military action in Gaza. "Israel is a terrorist state," chanted demonstrators as Palestinian flags were waved. Other protesters held up posters reading "Holocaust in Gaza." British Foreign Secretary David Milliband called for an "immediate halt to all violence" in Gaza. He said a cease-fire was urgently needed to halt the "massive loss of life" from the Israeli bombings. Milliband said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown had contacted his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert and made it clear Israel must stick by its humanitarian obligations. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7802078.stm Sunday, 28 December 2008 London protest over raids on Gaza Protesters outside the Israeli Embassy in London clashed with police Ten people have been arrested for public order offences after clashes at a protest near the Israeli embassy in London against air raids on Gaza. Police said up to 700 people joined the demonstration and nearby Kensington High Street was closed to traffic. The protesters resisted and threw placards when officers forcibly moved them back so that the road could be reopened. The UK government has urged an "immediate halt" to violence in Gaza. The protesters had gathered to wave placards, banners and flags bearing slogans such as "End the Siege in Gaza" and "Free Palestine". Among them was 68-year-old Gamal Hamed, from Hammersmith, west London, whose 23-year-old son lives in Gaza. "Yesterday was the bloodiest day in my homeland's history," he said. "We will do what we can to make the world take notice. The deteriorating humanitarian situation is deeply disturbing Foreign Secretary David Miliband Arabs rally against Israeli raids Voices: Reaction to Israeli raids Some protesters were seen attempting to climb the gate towards the embassy and also throwing red liquid - to symbolise blood - towards the gate. The clashes began after a small group of protesters stormed a barrier that had been penning them in. Riot police were brought in to control the crowds and demonstrators were seen being handcuffed and taken away by officers as they tried to clear the street. Several protesters left the scene with bloodied faces, according to a reporter from the Press Association. The crowd chanted "shame on you" at officers as they were moved back from the embassy on Palace Green to Kensington High Street. Campaigners said protests would continue on Monday. 'Deeply disturbing' Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes left hundreds dead. He said a recent rise in rocket attacks against Israel and the "massive loss of life" from the Israeli bombings made it a "dangerous moment". "The deteriorating humanitarian situation is deeply disturbing," he added. The foreign secretary has called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza Mr Miliband said Prime Minister Gordon Brown had spoken his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert and made it clear Israel must stick by its humanitarian obligations. International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said the amount of aid needed in Gaza was "enormous". "I note statements by the government of Israel that it wishes to avoid a humanitarian crisis, and its willingness to assist by opening one of the crossings into Gaza for limited humanitarian supplies today," he said. He added: "Rocket attacks out of Gaza into Israel are indefensible and hampering efforts to help." Conservative leader David Cameron called the violence "horrific" and said both sides must show "restraint". Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey described the strikes as "disproportionate" and "unacceptable". 'Shun Israel' The demonstration outside the embassay was organised by the Stop the War Coalition and Respect MP George Galloway and former Labour MP Tony Benn were among those who addressed the crowd. Afterwards Mr Galloway said: "The support at today's demonstration has been overwhelming. There are even Jewish rabbis who have joined us here. "We should treat Israel as we treated South Africa during apartheid. They should be shunned." One of the event's organisers, Ghada Razuki, said she was pleased with the turnout. "I hope that events like today's show that there is hope for Palestinians - I really hope they see it," she said. Israeli jets have launched a second day of air attacks on the Gaza Strip amid warnings that operations will continue until Hamas ends rocket fire from Gaza. Palestinians say at least 280 people have died in the air raids. The UN Security Council has called for an end to all violence, including rocket attacks from Gaza. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416371.html Details of national and local protests to end bombing of Gaza HANDS OFF GAZA | 29.12.2008 23:53 | Palestine NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION: SATURDAY 3 JANUARY HANDS OFF GAZA: STOP THE BOMBING: FREE PALESTINE ASSEMBLE 2.0 PM PARLIAMENT SQUARE, W1. Nearest tube Westminster. Called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative and many other organisations. PLEASE PUBLICISE AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE. OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS IN LONDON: TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER, 2 - 4pm outside Israeli Embassy, Kensington High Street, London, W4. Nearest tube Kensingston High Street (turn right out of tube station and walk along the main road. WEDNESDAY 31 DECEMBER, 2 - 4pm outside Israeli Embassy THURSDAY 1 JANUARY, 2 - 4pm outside Israeli Embassy FRIDAY 2 JANUARY 2 - 4 pm. Outside the Egyptian Embassy, . 26 South Street, London, W1K 1DW. Call for Egypt to open the border immediately. ********************************* DEMONSTRATIONS ROUND THE COUNTRY GLASGOW Saturday 3 January 12 noon. Outside Lloyds TSB St Vincent Street then assemble for demo at Blytheswood Square 2pm EDINBURGH Saturday 3 January 12 noon. Foot of the Mound, Princes Street BRISTOL Centre, opposite the Hippodrome, Tuesday - Friday 5.00 - 6.00 and Saturday 3.00 - 4.00. CARDIFF Tuesday 30 December 12 to 1pm. outside Cardiff Market/ St John's Church, the Hayes Wednesday 31 December New Year Vigil. Nye Bevan Statue, Queen Street NOTTINGHAM Tuesday 30 December 12 noon, Market Square SOUTHAMPTON Tuesday 30 December 12 to 2pm, West Quay Entrance, High Street PORTSMOUTH Saturday 3 January 11am, Guildhall Square Organised by Portsmouth Network for a Just Settlement of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, and Portsmouth Stop the War Coalition HULL Saturday 3 January, 11am. Queen Victoria Square. HANDS OFF GAZA Brighton Gaza vigil 30.12.2008 10:42 There is a vigil on Wednesday 31st December at 1pm at the Clock Tower, Brighton to protest Israel's bombardment of Gaza. free Gaza ________________________________________ Newcastle Upon Tyne 30.12.2008 13:25 Gaza massacre - Emergency Protest Saturday 3rd January, Grey's Monument, Newcastle, 12 noon-2pm Organised by Newcastle PSC, Tyneside StWC & University Friends of Palestine Please bring placards, banners, flags, etc. Solidarity ________________________________________ Brighton 30.12.2008 14:00 There will also be a demo in Brighton on Saturday the 3rd of January. Churchill Square 12.30. T http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk-cities-hold-protests-over-gaza-attacks-14122627.html UK cities hold protests over Gaza attacks Monday, 29 December 2008 Campaigners throughout Britain organised emergency protests today over the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip. As Israeli air strikes on the Palestinian enclave continued for a third day, members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign were preparing to gather in towns and cities including London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Halifax and Sheffield. Around 30 people in York held a silent vigil this afternoon to raise awareness over what they termed the "dreadful massacre" of a suffering Palestinian population. They encouraged passers-by to write to MPs and MEPs, and to call for human rights demands to be built into negotiations on an EU-Israel trade agreement currently being worked out. One of the organisers of the vigil, Monica Wusteman, said the attacks were part of a deliberate move to win votes in the forthcoming Israeli elections. "There are 300 Palestinians dead and the count is still soaring, and the Israelis have declared that they have no intention of stopping at the moment," she said. "This is a piece of Israeli electioneering - Palestinian rockets have been fired for years now. "We knew this was going to happen, it has been scheduled to happen for some weeks now, because whoever can kill the most Palestinians is going to win the Israeli vote." She said the people of York were generally supportive of the Palestinian cause, and campaigners in the city were hoping to hold a larger-scale protest next week. Organisers of a protest in Sheffield city centre this afternoon were hopeful up to 200 people would join them in their bid to remember civilians killed in the attacks. Musheir El-Farra, who moved from Palestine to Britain 20 years ago, said he hoped the British protests would help to humanise the Palestinian victims of the conflict. "The Israelis are not attacking military targets, as they claim," he said. "They are attacking civilians, in schools, in mosques, in hospitals and universities. "To many people, the Palestinian deaths are nothing but numbers, but they are not numbers, they are human beings, and we hope to show their lives were very special to us." http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/national-news/2009/01/08/campaigners-step-up-gaza-protests-73871-22649095/ Campaigners step up Gaza protests Jan 8 2009 British campaigners stepped up protests against the Gaza conflict amid growing concerns about the impact of the fighting on civilians. Amnesty International claimed Israeli soldiers were using Palestinians as human shields, while the United Nations halted aid shipments to Gaza after its staff and buildings were hit in attacks. For a second day Israel temporarily suspended military action for three hours to allow Gazans to stock up on supplies, but aid agencies said only a full ceasefire would allow them to tackle the massive humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, police were preparing for further demonstrations by supporters of both Palestine and Israel in the coming days as tensions rose in Britain as a result of the bloody violence. On Wednesday night nine men were arrested when two rival groups of protesters clashed in the streets outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, west London. Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, who is responsible for Scotland Yard's central operations branch, said the demonstrations required at least 200 officers every night and had already cost the Metropolitan Police ?300,000. Veteran peace campaigners Tony Benn and Brian Haw joined the launch of a non-stop vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament in protest at Israel's attacks. Activists plan to maintain a presence in Parliament Square around the clock until the Israeli military withdraws and the violence ends. Mr Benn, 83, who retired from a long Parliamentary career in 2001, condemned the "massive humanitarian crisis" in Gaza. But he praised the thousands of people in Britain who have joined demonstrations for peace. Further protests in London are planned this weekend, with the Stop the War Coalition organising a march from Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park to the Israeli Embassy on Saturday. The Board of Deputies of British Jews is planning a rally to call for peace in Israel and Gaza, which will take place in Trafalgar Square at 11am on Sunday. British aid agencies Islamic Relief and Cafod warned the humanitarian crisis was deepening hour by hour. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jan2009/prot-j17.shtml Students at two London universities occupy campuses in protest at Gaza attacks By Paul Mitchell 17 January 2009 Students at two British universities have carried out occupations in protest at the war in Gaza. More are being planned on other campuses. Occupation committee at the London School of Economics Students at the School of Oriental and Asian Studies in London started their occupation on Tuesday issuing a leaflet explaining that "the current war of Israel against Gaza is yet another manifestation of the injustice which has been occurring un-remarked by the Western press since the establishment of the state of Israel, and the simultaneous expulsion of almost 914,000 Palestinians from their homes in 1948." It condemned Israel's violent seizures of land and the detention and forced exile of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians since then. "World leaders have refused to condemn outright the massive overreaction by the Israeli state to the rocket attacks by Hamas; a manifestation of the frustration and fear of the occupied peoples. The Israelis are backed by the most powerful government in the world, the Palestinians have nothing to defend themselves but a few simple rockets, stones, and their bodies," the statement continued. "That is why we must protest, and why we must make our voices heard using any means necessary; because this conflict has never been equal. Because we stand on the side of the oppressed," the statement concluded. SOAS student Haroun Lazim explained that the occupation had erupted over three issues?the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and the atrocities being committed in Israel, an exhibition "We Were There" held in the university's Brunei gallery by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) promoting the role played by ethnic minorities in the UK's colonialist wars and the privatisation of the university facilities. Haroun said the protesters had issued a set of demands to SOAS director Professor Paul Webley, including the publication of a statement condemning Israel's actions, the closure of the MOD exhibition and greater student control of the university facilities. He said that several students had decided to carry out an occupation similar to the one at the university in 2000 protesting against tuition fees because several motions had been passed by the Students' Union supporting the Palestinians, criticising privatisation and addressing other issues. The students set up an alternative exhibition to the one organised by the MOD "to display solidarity with the people of Gaza" which was banned to any "uniformed presence" and organised several meetings. They called "for other students to join us here and in similar demonstrations at other universities." Students at the London School of Economics responded to the SOAS call by occupying one of the main lecture theatres. A statement from the occupation committee said, "LSE is an institution founded on the Fabian values that were the precursor of the human rights agenda of modern politics. LSE must restate those values and condemn state criminality. It is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of humanity." The statement demanded that the university condemn the attack on Gaza, stop investments in arms companies that supply the Israeli military and increase the number of scholarships available to Palestinian students. So far the SOAS and LSE authorities seemed to have backed down from any confrontation with the students. Although LSE director Howard Davies has warned that "were there to be any damage (which would surprise me) or disruption of the education of other students, we might have to take a different view, but I am sure that is not in your minds." Both institutions have insisted that they will not condemn the Israeli aggression in Gaza. SOAS's Webley says that, "it would be inappropriate for the School to make any overtly political statement as an institution." Davies insists that, "the School's Council has reiterated its position ... that the School will not take a position on the Israel/Palestine dispute." But as the LSE student statement makes clear "this is in stark contrast to an overtly political statement issued by Davies in May 2007 condemning a UCU (University and College Union) resolution concerning the Israeli Occupation, and previous condemnations by LSE of South African Apartheid and the Tiananmen Square massacre in the 1980s." Davies says he is quite happy for the LSE to become involved in "legitimate humanitarian charity" and for students to send surplus books and computers students to "deserving institutions" in Palestine. Students should be wary that their courageous and principled political stand does not become co-opted into a charity exercise and should consider the perspective based on the unity of the Jewish and Arab working classes in the struggle for a Socialist Federation of the Middle East, which is bound up with the overthrow of capitalism across the world. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/lse-students-continue-gaza-protest-1403934.html LSE students continue Gaza protest By Alison Kershaw, PA Friday, 16 January 2009 More than 40 students were continuing their sit-in at the London School of Economics today in protest at the conflict in Gaza. A rally was due to take place this afternoon attended by veteran politician Tony Benn and anti-war campaigner Lindsey German. The students are demanding that LSE director Howard Davies issues a statement condemning Israeli violence on Gaza. The protest began last night when a group of students entered the LSE's Old Theatre in central London and occupied the stage. In a statement the students said: "LSE is an institution founded on the Fabian values that were the precursor of the human rights agenda of modern politics. "LSE must restate those values and condemn state criminality. It is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of humanity." A university spokesman said a "small group" of students were staging a "limited occupation" and lectures were continuing as normal. He said: "The students have presented six demands to the school, all of which relate to the conflict in Gaza. The school has sent a formal response to these demands." In a letter replying to the demands, Mr Davies said the school's council had reiterated its position that the school "will not take a position" on the conflict. He expressed his concerns at the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The LSE was founded in 1895 by Fabian socialists including Beatrice and Sidney Webb and the playwright George Bernard Shaw. Among its former students are Cabinet Minister Ed Miliband and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who dropped out to pursue his music career. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419374.html LSE occupation continues into fifth day as other universities start protests LSE Occupation | 19.01.2009 18:41 | Education | Free Spaces | Palestine | Social Struggles | World tudents occupying a lecture theatre at the London School of Economics have continued their demonstration in to the fifth day. Over forty students started the occupation in solidarity with Palestine last Thursday afternoon demanding that the LSE condemns Israeli aggression, divests from BAE, a firm that arms Israel, and provides material support for Palestinians. The students are demanding that the LSE waivers application fees and provides more scholarships for Palestinian students, sends surplus computers and books to Palestine and facilitates a cross-campus collection for Medical Aid for Palestine. The move came after the Students' Union voted to condemn Israel for the attacks on Gaza. The occupation has attracted several high profile speakers including Tony Benn, George Galloway, Lindsey German and Alex Callinicos to rallies and public lectures inside the occupied theatre. The line-up of speakers for Tuesday includes Baroness Jenny Tonge, Haim Bresheeth, Moshe Machover and Paul Gilroy. Tony Benn endorsed the occupation, "May I congratulate you all for having organised this occupation. I have seen the statement of intent that you have made and I agree with it one hundred percent." He said, "Don't think that you're an isolated little group at the LSE. In my judgement I believe there is mass support for what you are doing from all over the world." Over 350 students attended the lecture with Tony Benn. Since its start, the core group of the occupation has doubled to about 80 students, with dozens more coming in daily to express their support. One of the students, Mira Hammad, addressed 10.000 people at Saturday's Trafalgar Square rally. "Now, this is the age of human rights, this is the age when we stand up for the people who have no voice, we are giving a voice to the silenced," she said, adding, "We urge all students: Forget NUS, forget the government. Stand up yourselves, and make a statement: Start the movement now" George Galloway expressed his support for the occupation outside the occupied theatre today, "I want to thank you on the action that you have taken, rescuing the honour of the London School of Economics. It has been dishonoured by the silence of Howard Davies in the face of the war crime involved in the deliberate destruction and bombardment of the Islamic University in Gaza.", he said. The group has received messages of support from LSE Staff against the war, a large number of academics and students from other universities and members of the public. Over 350 LSE students have signed a petition in support of the occupation. Occupations have also been taking place at SOAS and Essex Universities and other student groups plan to start occupations in the coming days. The group today expressed optimism that the School is close to meeting their demands. A spokesperson said, "The School appears to have agreed in principle to our reasonable demands regarding providing support for Palestinians. We look forward to meeting with them to discuss the details of the support the LSE community can provide and our request that they issue a statement and divest from BAE. Unfortunately, they are currently arguing that they will not speak with us further until the occupation has ended. This is unsatisfactory to us as in the past they have used this tactic to avoid making firm commitments. We hope to meet with them shortly." The spokesperson added, "LSE is an institution founded on the Fabian values that were the precursor of the human rights agenda of modern politics. LSE must restate those values and condemn state criminality. It is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of humanity. For an academic institution to profit from firms that arm Israel is unacceptable." NOTES TO EDITORS 1) Please view our blog for updates and past news releases. http://lseoccupation.blogspot.com/ 2) The identity of other universities who will start occupations is being kept secret. Contact us: lseoccupation at googlemail.com 3) For more information on the SOAS occupation: http://soassolidarity4gaza.blogspot.com/ 4) For more information on the Essex occupation: http://www.visitpalestine.asia/page.cfm/id/98207 5) For the motion on Gaza passed by the Students' Union: http://lseoccupation.blogspot.com/2009/01/student-union-passes-motion-condemning.html 6) The video of Mira's speech can be found here: http://lseoccupation.blogspot.com/2009/01/lse-students-to-speak-at-trafalgar.html 7) The video of Tony Benn's speech can be found here: http://lseoccupation.blogspot.com/2009/01/videos-now-uploaded-tony-benn-lindsey.html 8) The video of George Galloway's speech can be found here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=22IMP8EbgFg&feature=channel_page LSE Occupation e-mail: michaeldeas at gmail.com Homepage: http://michaeldeas at gmail.com http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/17/gaza-armsfactory-protest Military components factory ransacked in Gaza protest Nine people held after break-in at plant near Brighton allegedly making parts for Isareli missiles ? Mark Townsend ? guardian.co.uk, Saturday 17 January 2009 15.41 GMT Nine people are being questioned by police following extensive damage at an arms factory where protesters claim military components are being made for Israeli warplanes bombing Gaza. The group, which calls itself Smash EDO, entered the EDO MBM Technology plant in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, in the early hours of this morning. During the incident computers and furniture were hurled from the windows of the Sussex factory. Police described the damaged as "substantial". Demonstrators said they were "decommissioning" the site in protest against the killings of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military. They said equipment made at the plant was being used in Gaza by the Israeli air force. DCI Graham Pratt of Sussex police said: "Windows had been smashed and offices turned over in what I would describe as wanton vandalism, but with machinery and equipment so targeted that it could have been done with a view of bringing business to a standstill. The damage is significant and the value substantial." EDO MBM is the sole British subsidiary of US weapons company EDO Corp. From its Moulescoomb base it manufactures laser-guided missiles that have been used extensively in Iraq, the Palestinian territories and Somalia. The weapons were reportedly used by Israel against Lebanon in 2005, and have also been allegedly used in the occupied Palestinian territories. Thousands of people gathered this afternoon for demonstrations across the country in a third weekend of protests against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Organisers of a rally in Birmingham said more than 5,000 people had turned up in the city centre. In London, the former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn was among the speakers due to address crowds in Trafalgar Square. He said: "It is a moral responsibility for all of us. People are being killed not so far away from here, women and children." http://www.myantiwar.org/view/170505.html Military components factory ransacked in Gaza protest Nine people held after break-in at plant near Brighton allegedly making parts for Isareli missiles ? Mark Townsend ? guardian.co.uk, Saturday 17 January 2009 15.41 GMT Nine people are being questioned by police following extensive damage at an arms factory where protesters claim military components are being made for Israeli warplanes bombing Gaza. The group, which calls itself Smash EDO, entered the EDO MBM Technology plant in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, in the early hours of this morning. During the incident computers and furniture were hurled from the windows of the Sussex factory. Police described the damaged as "substantial". Demonstrators said they were "decommissioning" the site in protest against the killings of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military. They said equipment made at the plant was being used in Gaza by the Israeli air force. DCI Graham Pratt of Sussex police said: "Windows had been smashed and offices turned over in what I would describe as wanton vandalism, but with machinery and equipment so targeted that it could have been done with a view of bringing business to a standstill. The damage is significant and the value substantial." EDO MBM is the sole British subsidiary of US weapons company EDO Corp. From its Moulescoomb base it manufactures laser-guided missiles that have been used extensively in Iraq, the Palestinian territories and Somalia. The weapons were reportedly used by Israel against Lebanon in 2005, and have also been allegedly used in the occupied Palestinian territories. Thousands of people gathered this afternoon for demonstrations across the country in a third weekend of protests against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Organisers of a rally in Birmingham said more than 5,000 people had turned up in the city centre. In London, the former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn was among the speakers due to address crowds in Trafalgar Square. He said: "It is a moral responsibility for all of us. People are being killed not so far away from here, women and children." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7836468.stm Sunday, 18 January 2009 Seven charged over Gaza protest Seven men have been charged with burglary and criminal damage following an attack on an arms factory in Sussex. EDO MBM Technology in Moulsecoomb was broken into on Friday night by protesters angry about the Israeli attacks in Gaza. Police said two men from Brighton and five men from Bristol would appear before Brighton magistrates on Monday. A woman from Bristol remains under arrest, while a woman from Brighton is on bail pending further inquiries. EDO designs, develops and manufactures weapon carriage and release systems and is an approved supplier to the Ministry of Defence and governments worldwide. http://story.torontotelegraph.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/455828/cs/1/ Anti-Israel protest targets British arms' company Toronto Telegraph Monday 19th January, 2009 (IANS) London, Jan 19, (IANS) Anti-Israel protesters Monday staged a demonstration here outside an armament company that supplies military hardware to Israeli security forces, IRNA reported. The Lichfield-based company, a subsidiary of Israel's Elbit systems, supplies Wankel engines that are used in Hermes 450 surveillance aircraft (drone), the report said. The aircraft were believed to have been widely used in the latest Israeli operation in Gaza. The protesters were demanding the end of the hardware supplies to Israel. The protest comes after Amnesty International, a human rights group, said that the specially designed engines for the pilot-less Israeli drones were made in Britain. The Amnesty said the UN relief agency in Gaza had seen these drones being used by the Israeli forces. The rights group has called on the British government to suspend all arms sales to Israel. 'The British government must ensure that weapons exports to Israel does not encourage human rights abuses,' Tim Hancock, campaigns director of the group, said, adding that the ban must also include military hardware. The pilot-less aircraft were also used by Israel on previous occasions. The government should ensure that the Britain-based firms are not involved, directly or indirectly, in attacks on civilian targets, Hancock said. http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/ireland/mhsnmhqlcwmh/ Gaza protestors block Raytheon plant in Derry 09/01/2009 - 09:50:25 Up to 70 protesters are blocking workers from entering the premises of the US weapons manufacturer Raytheon in Derry this morning as part of a protest against the Israeli attack on Gaza. The Derry Anti-War Coalition says the company is being targeted because of its involvement in producing weapons being used by the Israeli military in Gaza. Raytheon is the world's third largest arms manufacturer and makes Patriot, Sidewinder and Tomahawk missiles. However, it says its Derry operation only makes civilian aviation systems. Two years ago, protesters in Derry stormed its offices and threw computers and files out of the windows, but were later cleared of theft and damage charges after arguing that they were trying to save lives. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417847.html Report of all Scotland protest against the current Israeli attack on Gaza. Paul O'Hanlon | 11.01.2009 09:36 | Anti-militarism | Anti-racism | Palestine | World This is a detailed report with 20 photos of the all Scotland demonstration against the Israeli attack on Gaza. There is also a round up of a number of protests around the world. Saturday 10th January 2009 saw an all Scotland protest against the current Israeli attack on Gaza in Edinburgh. The event was supported by Stop the War Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Pauline McNeil MSP, Sandra White MSP, Muslim Association of Britain, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign, Lebanese Community Scotland, Scottish Afghan Society, Scottish Islamic Foundation, Scottish Friends of Palestine, Scottish CND, SACC and others. (Note: MSP = Member of Scottish Parliament, CND = Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, SACC = Scotland against Criminalising Communities). The Scotland-wide demonstration assembled in East Market Street behind Waverley train station at 1230 and set off late due to the large numbers of people arriving from other parts of Scotland. There was a fairly heavy police presence including mounted constabulary. To chants of `Free, Free Palestine` the march set off just after One o?clock and moved along Market Street, Waverley Bridge and Princes Street towards Waterloo Place and Regent Road. The length of the march which was estimated by organisers to be about 10,000 people took around 20 minutes to pass the 300 yard length of Waverly Bridge. Chants heard include `One, two, three, four we don?t want your Banners and placards read `End the siege of Gaza`, `Free Palestine` and `Stop the massacres`. The march went past St Andrew?s House (the headquarters building of the Scottish Government) and the old Royal High School. The entrance to Regent Terrace (the location of the US Consulate) was closed off by police and the march turned round here and went back down towards the city centre. Firstly however many demonstrators took the opportunity to throw hundreds of shoes in the direction of the consulate. Inspired by Baghdad shoe thrower Muntadhar al-Zaidi several hundred pieces of footwear were hurled over the heads of the line of police. This went on for around 15 minutes. To the singing of `The war machine goes round and round`, `Occupation is a crime`, and ` Free, free Muntadhar` the march went on down to the rally by the Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens. There at around 2.45pm speakers included Kenny Ross (Secretary Scottish Fire Brigades Union), Joy Dunn (on behalf of the STUC General Council), Fatima Helou (Survivor of Sabra and Chatilla), Pauline McNeill (MSP), Henry Maitles (Jews for Justice for Palestine), Aamer Anwar (Human Rights Lawyer), and Osama Saeed (Scottish Islamic Foundation). There were two speakers from Gaza by phone link, one each from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and the Stop The War Coalition (Scotland). Kenny Ross of the Scottish Fire Brigades Union pointed out the great difficulty there would be in rescuing people from burning buildings in such a densely populated area. Fatima Helou, a Survivor of Sabra and Chatilla, said that the attack on Gaza was so indiscriminate that not just Hamas would be killed but many innocent civilians and that it amounted to ethnic cleansing. She called for UN forces to be used in both Gaza and the West Bank to protect Palestinians. Scottish National Party MSP Sandra White said that the Scottish Parliament had called for a ceasefire right away. She called for ordinary people to say to their government that `enough is enough`. ?We in Scotland support you, we bleed with you and we will not rest until this conflict is finished.? Then human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar spoke saying that in the previous two weeks we had heard a lot about Israel?s right to defend itself. The Palestinian people have every legal and moral right to resist the illegal and violent occupation of their land. He said the Israelis would not let journalists into Gaza so as to cover up the evidence of war crimes. Calling George Bush a war criminal he also criticised the silence of President elect Barack Obama. He said the reporting of the BBC was prejudiced in favour of Israel. Next there was a link up to a doctor in Gaza who told the silent crowd that he was grateful to the protestors and spoke of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Over 800 people had been killed and houses and hospitals were being bombarded. Over 1,000 children had been injured, drinking water was in short supply and he said that ordinary people around the world had the power to stop the slaughter. Then Labour Party MSP (member of Scottish Parliament) Pauline McNeill addressed the gathering. Since her student days, Pauline McNeill has had a strong interest in international issues. She is the Convener of the Cross Party Group on Palestine, and was a United Nations observer at the 2006 Palestinian Authority elections, later in 2006 she visited Lebanon in the aftermath of the war there, and continues to speak out, both in the Parliament, and at demonstrations, public meetings and protests on the need for a peaceful and just solution in the Middle East. The Scottish Parliament, she said, in its emergency session on Thursday 8th January, in an unprecedented debate, called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the bloodshed. Everyone had heard the truth today ? a third of the casualties were children and whole families had been wiped out. The Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank would not be divided. She said Hamas would not be firing rockets were it not for the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Then Keir McKechnie of the Scottish Stop the War coalition followed telling the crowd that 100,000 were protesting in London. He said there were demonstrations all over the world and instead of arming Israel they should be sending hospital ships to Gaza. He suggested that Prime Minister Gordon Brown should expel the Israeli ambassador. He said there could be no comparison between the home made rockets of Hamas and Israeli F 16s and Apache helicopters. Then Mick Napier of Scottish Palestine Solidarity spoke: ?Friends the Israelis have a very simple calculus. They know they can murder Palestinians at will, they know they can murder; they?ve been doing it for a bloody long time. They watch the reaction around the world and when it reaches certain intensity they know Western governments will rein them in. He said the answer rests in our hands ? the more pressure we put on them the better. Bill Rammell (a Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) said there was no difference between the US and British position. According to former British Ambassador Craig Murray while Gordon Brown publicly calls for a ceasefire he privately tells British diplomats in New York to vote with the Americans. He likened the Hamas fighters in Gaza to Spartacus. He spoke of the attempt of a number of Scots to deliver medicine to Gaza last year when the Egyptians (who work hand in hand with the Israelis) refused them entry. This drew loud boos from the crowd. He urged boycotts of Israel. There was a brief goodwill message from Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and then Osama Saeed of the Scottish Islamic Foundation talked to the crowd. He said `Salaam 'Alaykum` (peace be with you) and called for an immediate ceasefire. He said ?Don?t just get mad, get active.? Another speaker live from Gaza ? an International - told of the dreadful humanitarian situation. Henry Maitles (Jews for Justice for Palestine) spoke next and said he was proud and privileged to march alongside the Stop the war on Gaza demonstration that day. He said that the Israeli army did not act in his name and commended those demonstrating in Haifa and Tel Aviv against the war. ?There will be no peace in the Middle East without justice for Palestinians.? There was a message from deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon saying that Scottish hospitals would be open to people from Gaza. Joy Dunn (on behalf of the STUC General Council) said that the number of casualties and the violations of International Law were terrible. She called for a Palestinian state and criticised George Bush?s failure to call for a ceasefire. Penultimate speaker was John Barrett MP (Liberal Democrat Edinburgh West constituency) In his daily blog he said on January 6th: ?Just when you think things cannot get any worse, often they do. Today there are reports of a UN run school in Gaza being hit and 40 people being killed, and also three Israelis being killed by their own side. The term often used to describe this is "friendly fire" but it is no such thing and is one of the many odd phrases used in war, such as "theatre" to describe the field of action or "theatre weapons" which are those between tactical and strategic. The words used do not capture the human suffering and misery on all sides. The history of the region has a legacy of bloodshed and terror on both sides. From early attacks on the UK Government by Jewish terrorists, when Israel was being established, to the modern terror from both sides. There has been little improvement over 60 years. One thing that has happened elsewhere and will no doubt happen someday in Israel and Palestine is that today's terrorists will become those involved in negotiations in the future. The killing must stop and the discussions must start again. A two state solution with both sides accepting the existence of the other, within secure borders, is the only way forward.? Final speaker was Mohammed Asif, a refugee from Afghanistan who called for support for Hezbollah and Hamas in their opposition to Israel. The event finished about 4.00pm. 20 photos from the day are attached. Here is how the event was reported on the BBC Scotland website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7822195.stm Here is an Al Jazeera round up of World protests: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200919123947912684.html Round up of demonstrations around the world: Here is an Israeli Indymedia report of a demo in Tel Aviv: https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10203/index.php Here is the Israeli Indymedia report from Jaffa: https://israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10202/index.php Photos from London, UK demo: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417810.html?c=on#c212089 Photos from Indymedia Norway: http://www.indymedia.no/ From Indymedia Chicago news of a large and lively demo: http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/85403/index.php From New York City: http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2009/01/102737.html From Portland, Oregon: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2009/01/384768.shtml From Washington DC: http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/145222/index.php List of protests in Canada: http://www.cmaq.net/node/31854 Images from Quebec protests: http://www.cmaq.net/taxonomy/term/15 From Italy: http://lombardia.indymedia.org/node/12380 From Liguria (Italy near the border with France): http://lombardia.indymedia.org/node/12380 From Barcelona, Spain: http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/362322/index.php From Sydney, Australia: http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/event/rally-israeli-embassy-stop-massacre-gaza-saturday-10-january-1pm From Auckland, New Zealand: http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/76693/index.php From Wellington, New Zealand: http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/76650/index.php From Athens, Greece: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417790.html From Cork, Ireland: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/90528 From Switzerland: http://switzerland.indymedia.org/demix/2009/01/66122.shtml From Perth, Western Australia: http://perth.indymedia.org/ From Jakarta, Indonesia: http://jakarta.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=2075 From Argentina: http://argentina.indymedia.org/ GEORGE BUSH, GORDON BROWN, BARACK OBAMA, EHUD OLMERT AND TZIPI LIVNI - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! THE WORLD IS WATCHING! Paul O'Hanlon http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Protesters-take-to-the-capital39s.4883415.jp Protesters take to the capital's streets Published Date: 16 January 2009 MORE than 100 pro-Palestinian campaigners gathered outside Edinburgh University yesterday in a protest against Israeli military action in Gaza. The "Stop Bombing Gaza: Ceasefire Now" demonstration in the city's Bristo Square featured marching and chants calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza. The protest passed peacefully ? unlike many of the pro-Palestinian rallies elsewhere in Europe, which have resulted in arrests. Holding banners reading "Stop The Massacre" and "End The Siege", students marched through Edinburgh chanting: "Occupation is a crime, free, free, Palestine". The demonstration ? which included representatives from the Edinburgh University Palestine Solidarity Society ? concluded their march outside Holyrood. Australian student, Yasmin Bushby, called for an end to hostilities which have left hundreds of civilians dead. She said: "I'm not going to comment on the complexities of 60 years of conflict, but what we want above all is an end to violence and an attempt to try and establish peace between Israel and Gaza." Simon Hodge, a radio producer from Fife, joined in the protest. He said: "I felt compelled to attend because it's too easy to say it doesn't affect us, so we therefore don't need to attend." http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419251.html Gaza Protest March Through Nottingham to Market Sq : Pix 1 Tash [alan lodge] | 19.01.2009 17:05 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Social Struggles | Terror War | Nottinghamshire On Saturday 17th January people began meeting at 10.30 am on the Forest Recreation Ground. On Saturday 17th January people began meeting at 10.30 am on the Forest Recreation Ground. Nottingham Stop the War Coalition has called a Protest Demonstration through Nottingham. The march was supported by all the Nottingham Mosques. Assembled with banners, placards, several coffins carried by local children behind a hearse, a couple of thousand marched down the Mansfield Road into the Market Square for a rally in the Market Square. Speakers included Alan Sipson MP, Nottingham City Council Labour Counsellors and others. **** Yesterday, Called by Nottingham Stop the War Coalition, Nottingham Mosques and supported by many groups. On Friday 16th January from 5.30pm onwards, there was a Protest 'candle-lit' Vigil outside the Council House in the Old Market Square on Friday evening. people began to gather from 5:30pm, some coming straight from work. There were speakers, including Alan Simpson MP, Hicham Yezza from Nottingham University (recently wrongly imprisoned under the terrorism laws), Nottingham City Labour Counsellors and others. Nottingham Gaza Protest 'candle-lit' Vigil http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419206.html http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419227.html Please continue to support these efforts and also contact your Local MPs - phone, write and ask them what the are doing about the situation in Gaza. Free Gaza Campaign http://www.freegaza.com Nottingham Stop the War http://www.nottmagainstwar.org.uk Gaza Public Meeting at Bobbers Mill Community Centre, Nottingham http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418048.html Nottingham's Gaza Emergency Protest: Pictures 1 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416449.html Nottingham's Gaza Emergency Protest: Pictures 2 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416470.html ALAN LODGE Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK Email: tash at indymedia.org Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345] http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419682.html Protest against Israel's assault on Gaza-Mansfield Lily | 21.01.2009 17:51 | Palestine | Nottinghamshire Saturday 24th Jan 1pm Mansfield Market Square The Israeli government should know that the worldwide outrage at Israel?s actions, and the complicity of other governments will not simply disappear. It will continue until the attacks and siege of Gaza end and until the occupation of Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem end, and the Palestinian people achieve justice and their full rights under international law. Lily Homepage: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/Mansfield-protest-this-Saturday-over.4893086.jp http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417469.html Plymouth Protests Disgraceful BBC Gaza Reporting freeluncher | 07.01.2009 23:17 | Palestine Plymouth says no to War Criminals and their Apologists. Despite the freezing cold, 50 or so people attended another protest in Plymouth at Charles Cross this evening in response to the ongoing slaughter in Gaza. Once again, it was obvious from the abundant beeps of support from passing motorists that a great many people are disgusted by the ongoing aggression of the Israeli military. After the rush hour traffic had died down, a sizeable contingent of us then headed for the BBC building on Seymour Road, to register our displeasure at the biased reporting of the British Broadcasting Service. For more on the BBC?s shameful one-sided reporting, read http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9307 freeluncher Homepage: http://talkingliberties.wordpress.com/ http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417481.html Hey, while in London this evening, flashing blue lights drew my attention to about 20 cars with Palestinian flags stuck on their windows driving along the embankments tooting horns. Police went a bit mental - can i just say to people stopped, you only have to tell cops name, address, date of birth, after that NO COMMENT, i repeat NO COMMENT. Nice one for getting this demo together love and rage xHey, while in Hey, while in London this evening, flashing blue lights drew my attention to about 20 cars with Palestinian flags stuck on their windows driving along the embankments tooting horns. Police went a bit mental - can i just say to people stopped, you only have to tell cops name, address, date of birth, after that NO COMMENT, i repeat NO COMMENT. Nice one for getting this demo together love and rage xLondon this evening, flashing blue lights drew my attention to about 20 cars with Palestinian flags stuck on their windows driving along the embankments tooting horns. Police went a bit mental - can i just say to people stopped, you only have to tell cops name, address, date of birth, after that NO COMMENT, i repeat NO COMMENT. Nice one for getting this demo together love and rage x brighton solidarity http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417519.html Gaza protest at Israeli Embassy, London, Wed 7 Jan Peter Marshall | 08.01.2009 12:19 | Palestine | Repression | World Daily demonstrations opposite the Israel Embassy in London against the killings and injuries in Gaza continue. By the time I had to leave around 6.30pm around 500 people had turned up to protest opposite the Israeli embassy about the continuing ground and air attacks on Gaza and its people with its ever increasing death toll - over 680 people killed in 11 days -and to call for an immediate end to Israeli aggression. Among the many Palestinians and others showing their solidarity with the Palestinian people were several ultra-orthodox Neturei Karta as well as other Jewish groups including the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. There were several people holding posters "ASHAMED TO BE AN ISRAELI !!!" and a group of supporters of Haitian human rights activist Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine (kidnapped in Haiti in 2007) who had come to the Gaza demonstration rather than their normal weekly vigil at the Brazilian Embassy. While I was there, police were keeping the demonstrators behind a double row of barriers and keeping a single lane of traffic moving on the road in front in both directions. For a very short time I was able to photograph from the area in the front of the demonstration, but one familiar police officer told me that I was getting in his way and I was forced to leave. The demonstration was due to end at 7pm and a pro-Israel demonstration was scheduled to start at 7.45pm in the same place. According to news reports, around 500 pro-Israel demonstrators turned up and some of the pro-Palestine demonstrators had stayed to oppose them. There were a number of struggles with police and 5 pro-Palestine demonstrators were arrested as police attempted to drive them further west away from the Embassy and the other demonstrators. Another arrest was also reported earlier when police stopped a group of almost a hundred cars with Palestinian flags coming to join the demonstration from East London. More pictures on My London Diary shortly, http://mylondondiary.co.uk Peter Marshall e-mail: petermarshall at cix.co.uk Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/cities+protest+over+gaza+attacks/2894462 Cities protest over Gaza attacks Print this page Last Modified: 29 Dec 2008 Source: PA News Campaigners throughout Britain have organised emergency protests over the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip. As Israeli air strikes on the Palestinian enclave continued for a third day, members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign were preparing to gather in towns and cities including London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Halifax and Sheffield. Around 30 people in York held a silent vigil to raise awareness over what they termed the "dreadful massacre" of a suffering Palestinian population. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416407.html Newcastle Gaza Protest Organised by Newcastle PSC, Tyneside StWC & University Friends of Palestine | 30.12.2008 13:40 | Palestine Gaza massacre - Emergency Protest NEWCASTLE Saturday 3rd January Grey's Monument, Newcastle, 12 noon-2pm Please bring placards, banners, flags, etc. Organised by Newcastle PSC, Tyneside StWC & University Friends of Palestine http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416412.html Protest Against the Israeli Ambassador's Visit to Warwick Uni Campus Tomorrow Concerned Citizens | 30.12.2008 15:19 | Anti-militarism | Education | Palestine | Birmingham | Cambridge We've learnt that Ron Prosor, the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, will be speaking on Warwick Campus tomorrow at midday, as part of the Limmud conference. Clearly this is very short notice - it's been kept under wraps as far as I can tell. If you can make it along to protest, then please do, it's really important to have a presence, given the current situation. A map is on the facebook page linked to above. Given that it'll be New Years Eve, and given the short notice (we only just found out), turnout will be less than it should be. Any and all attendees will be very valuable. Concerned Citizens Homepage: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=41257237978 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7805046.stm Tuesday, 30 December 2008 E-mail this to a friend Printable version Welsh protests over Gaza violence A boy among the protesters in Cardiff city centre More than 100 people have attended a protest in Cardiff city centre calling for peace in Gaza. Carrying banners and singing songs, they called for an end to violence in an hour-long demonstration. Meanwhile, members of a group called Swansea Palestine Link protested at BBC Wales' Cardiff HQ by superglueing themselves to security barriers. Palestinian officials say 360 have died in air attacks since Saturday. Four Israelis have died in rocket fire. Demonstration organiser Ray Davies said at the protest in the main Queen Street shopping street: "We want to give a Welsh protest voice to what is happening in Gaza." One of the protesters in Cardiff city centre on Tuesday Mr Davies, vice-chair of CND Cymru, said: "I feel a great deal of sadness and pain at the bombings, and it has prompted me, and other people, to use that to campaign for peace in Palestine and Israel." Yousif Abbas, who runs an Iraqi community school in Cardiff, said: "A resolution has been promised, but there is no sign of it. There needs to be an end to all this, by peaceful means." Abdullah Saif, 18, from Butetown, Cardiff, said: "We're the next generation, and we need to show people what's happening." Meanwhile, in the protest at BBC Wales, a man and woman glued themselves to barriers, temporarily closing access via the main reception area. They said they were unhappy with coverage of the conflict and asked the BBC to refer to Hamas as a government which has been democratically elected. A BBC spokesman said: "We're satisfied that the BBC's coverage of the events in Israel and the Palestinian Authority has been balanced, fair, accurate and up to the usual BBC standards of impartiality. "In our reports, we have tried to explain how the current situation started and has since developed, and given air-time to representatives from across the political spectrum." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1120262/Rangers-defender-Bougherra-risks-SFA-rap-Israel-protest.html Rangers defender Bougherra risks SFA rap over Israel protest By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 11:13 PM on 16th January 2009 ? Comments (0) ? Add to My Stories Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra will risk the wrath of the SFA on Saturday and wear a black armband in protest at the 'barbaric' treatment of Palestine by Israel. The defender - a devout Muslim - is determined to protest over the situation in the Middle East when Rangers welcome Falkirk to Ibrox this afternoon. Bougherra runs the risk of SFA sanctions for making a political point, but the Algerian star insists he doesn't care if he is fined. 'As a Muslim, I am deeply touched by the barbarity that has been suffered by our Palestinian brothers and sisters from Israel,' said Bougherra. 'These killings must stop because there could be massacres and even genocide. The images that come to us from Gaza upsets any sensitive and fair human. 'Everyone must make a gesture about this. I am now thinking about action in the next match. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418826.html 150 protest for Gaza in Bath! Matt Banning | 17.01.2009 17:40 | Anti-militarism over 150 people responded to Bath Activist Networks call for and 'Israel out of Gaza' protest, joining tens of thousands of others accross the country demanding an end to Israels genocidal war on the Palestinian people. The crowd was large, angry and noisy, and many agreed that this was the best and biggest demo Bath has seen in a while. Taking to the streets, the march wound through the centre of Bath, stopping outside, and blockading (by weight of numbers) Starbucks before protesting outside, and inside Llyods TSB, which ended up locking its doors after the manager refused to come out and debate with activists. We then headed down to M&S, one of the UKs biggest corporate sponsors of Israel. We asked for no permission to march, and do not intend to do so in future, we also reserved our right to set our own route and agenda for the demo. The police were very jumpy, and at points got heavy with activists filming the demo, as well as getting a bit obsessed with finding an organiser (something they didn't succeed in doing!). All in all, the day was a huge sucess, and the demo was very well recieved by the public. If hostilities continue, we will be holding another demo next saturday, starting at 12.30 at Abbey Courtyard, Bath. Sorry for the slightly poor write up - just got homr from the demo! Matt Banning e-mail: bathactivistnet at yahoo.co.uk Homepage: http://www.bathactivistnetwork.blogspot.com http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418819.html 2nd Gaza Protest In Wrexham! Andrew McCoy | 17.01.2009 16:23 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Terror War | Liverpool Wrexham Peace and Justice Forum protest again at the continued violence and bloodshed that is Israels invasion of Gaza ! More than 60 people again braved the cold in Wrexham, N. Wales this Saturday in continuation of their protest against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. The protest, the second of its kind, was organised by Wrexham Peace and Justice Forums who heard Councillor Marc Jones, of Plaid Cymru, and Janet Ryder, the North Wales AM, adding their voices of concern over the invasion. They were united in seeking an end to the violence on both sides, calling the 800 deaths suffered in the invasion totally disproportionate. Both again, urged Wrexham people to join a boycott of Israeli goods including fruit, vegetables and herbs. More than half Israel's exports are to the UK and many are available in local supermarkets. Some activists went on from the protest to make their opposition to Israeli goods being sold locally in a known supermarket. Andrew McCoy e-mail: abmccoy at tiscali.co.uk http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418810.html Cambridge protest in solidarity with Gaza manos | 17.01.2009 15:50 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Cambridge | World Quite a crowd got together today Sat 17, 2009 in Cambridge, UK to show their solidarity with people in Gaza, and opposition to the Israeli bombing and invasion. The vigil was given permission to march around town after a short negotiation with the police. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418975.html Massive Gaza Solidarity protest in Cambridge. Pt 1 Cameraboy. | 18.01.2009 00:13 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Cambridge | World The biggest demonstrations to be seen in Cambridge for years happened today (17-01-2009), with approximately 1,000 people in attendance, letting their disgust at the massacre in Gaza be known to the world. The pictures below appear in chronological order. After some delay (and a public vote), it was decided to do a march around town, to wake up the other Saturday shoppers and remind them there's a real world out there beyond The Grand Arcade. This was a good natured but passionate demo, saying loud and clear that the people of Cambridge give a damn about their fellow Human Beings in Gaza. The Police as usual snooped on protestors with their own cameras, as well as the usual blanket CCTV coverage around the city centre, with the camera on top The Guildhall being trained on the action for the whole afternoon. Plenty of footage to start a new file for them then. Nice to know they care. This protest comes on the same day that the EDO factory in Brighton has been, erm, disabled by SmashEDO protestors, due to it being a factory where arms are manufactured and sent to Israel and other pointless warzones. There have also been further attacks on Starbucks Cafes today in Central London, due to their CEO Howard Schultz being a notoriously rabid Zionist. Israel has also declared a *conditional* ceasefire, on the proviso that Hamas don't fire any more rockets into Israel. Funnily enough this ceasefire also happens to coincide with the end of the Bush era and the start of Barack Obama's inauguration process. It will interesting to see what Israel does once Obama is sworn in. I shall now let the pictures do the talking. Cameraboy. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419099.html Stop the Slaughter in Gaza - Lincoln Protest Nick Parker | 18.01.2009 17:11 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Terror War | Nottinghamshire A review of the events leading up to and including the protest against the slaughter in Gaza that we organised in Lincoln. Also, some lessons for the future. On Saturday 17th January, at least 150 people braved the cold to protest on Lincoln High Street against the ongoing brutality that is being inflicted by the Israeli Army upon the people of the Gaza Strip. The local Socialist Party branch, at short notice, made the audacious decision to call a demonstration and we gave ourselves just over a week to build for it. There had been a previous demonstration on January 3rd, which some Socialist Party members attended, which was organised by the local Mosque leaders. We only had one stall before the demonstration, but the 25 papers sold and over 60 petition signatories showed us that the issue of Gaza was a pressing one for many workers. We produced 1,000 leaflets which did not mention any organisation simply to advertise our action and which had the basic demands "stop the slaughter in gaza", "end the blockade and occupation of Gaza", "let the Palestinian people decide their own future", and "no to war in the Middle East". We circulated these leaflets widely, going into pubs, takeaway restaurants (where we met several supportive Palestinian workers), in the university, the mosque and to passers-by on the High Street after work. We also contacted local councillors who agreed to attend and who were impressed by our initiative and the high degree of organisation we had shown. Another smaller protest organised by university lecturers on the Tuesday before our protest received leaflets, at which many sympathisers who attended promised to join ours. The semi-active local trades' council also lent their support, although only after a controversial debate including a reactionary standpoint from a minority. We managed to build a loose coalition, of socialists, university lecturers, mosque leaders and trade unionists to mobilise the numbers, and this may be the basis on which to build a viable anti-war group locally. We felt that this coalition worked better at changing attitudes of the broader mass of the population than the previous protest, as we weren't seen as an exclusively Muslim group. There was some criticism of the chant "Allah-Akbar" (God Is Great) used by the Mosque leaders, which will need to be a point for a discussion in the future if this local movement can take on more flesh. It was seen by many non-Muslims to be something divisive that excluded them, which is unhelpful when trying to build a broad coalition. On the day, there were speakers from a range of viewpoints. A rolling programme of speeches and chanting seemed to work well, and as chair I encouraged anyone to come up and say a few words. The diverse range of speakers allowed for some controversy (over pacifism, and the tactic of rocket attacks). This was understandable as we heard from Muslim community leaders, a Palestinian doctor who had lost 16 family members in the attacks, local councillors, as well as trade unionists and socialists, but this was no reason to hide our socialist convictions. Indeed, the final message that I put forward of an end to war, imperialism, poverty, conflict and exploitation - a socialist world - was received enthusiastically. In contrast to demonstrations in London, which have been disrupted by an aggressive police force, we co-operated well with the police. There was 1 arrest - a fascist who was taken into custody for refusing to stop openly photographing the men, women and children on the demonstration. All in all, a really great demonstration of solidarity by Lincolnites with ordinary people in Gaza. Hopefully, we can build on this and develop a thriving and vibrant anti-war movement locally. This could encourage the next generation to become politically active and to inspire young people that by mass campaigns, we can achieve not just an end to bloody wars or racist hatred, but we can change the world and have a socialist society based on human need not private profit. Nick Parker e-mail: nicktparker at gmail.com http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419100.html Swindon protest for Gaza 17 Jan 2009 ? videos Simon | 18.01.2009 17:28 | Anti-militarism | Palestine Between 250 and 300 people assembled in Wharf Green in the centre of Swindon yesterday for the largest anti-war protest seen in Swindon since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. A handful of hi-viz jacketed symbols of authority, consisting of a mixture of police officers, PCSOs and private inSwindon security guards, kept a watchful eye on proceedings from a distance. They were not needed in the end as the event passed off entirely peacefully. An assortment of politicians and activists from across the political spectrum addressed the assembly, and were filmed by yours truly in order to show to the people of Gaza (when they have electricity anyway) and the warmongers in the Israeli government that the world is watching them. Cllr Derique Montaut (Lab, Central): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=88W5xMHlVNg Cllr Michael Dickinson (Cons, Freshbrook & Grange Park): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ_-squmEJM Anne Snelgrove MP (Lab, Swindon South): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SuHoifDHdUw Jenni Miles (Swindon Green Party): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wmyv8U5dD4A Pete Smith (National Union of Teachers): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YVDbHhdo1-g Cllr Junab Ali (Lab, Central): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=60wZue1sidA Andy Newman (Swindon GMB): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6fHQnXezAdY Martin Wicks (Swindon TUC): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N2oup9SZh_E Cllr Bob Wright (Lab, Central): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SIE20JkG1XY And the 10-minute edited highlights version, for sharing with friends who don?t want to watch all the speeches in full: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=37o7V0Ao4z0 After around forty minutes of speeches and two minutes of silence for the dead on both sides, the assembly dispersed as peacefully as it had arrived. What?s coming up? Stop the War Coalition have called a national demonstration in London for Saturday 24th January, assembling at BBC Broadcasting House for a march to Trafalgar square. Swindon peace activists are investigating transport options for this event. If you would like to join a coach (estimated cost ?12 waged or ?6 unwaged), or if there is no coach but you would like to travel with other protestors on the train (estimated cost ?25 if a little ingenuity is used when buying the ticket) then please write to office [at] swindonstopwar dot org dot uk. On Tuesday 27th January there will be a fundraising gig at the Beehive pub in Prospect Place, Swindon (behind the old Regents Circus college and up the hill a bit), to raise money for Medical Aid for Palestine. This event starts at 8pm and will feature Dub the Earth, The Sweet Plums, Natasha Griffiths and Stuart Rowe. Simon http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419088.html Muslim & Jewish women protest outside the BBC - Monday 19 Jan, 5:30-7 pm Islamic Human Rights Commission & International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network | 18.01.2009 14:50 | Anti-militarism | Gender | Palestine | World Muslim & Jewish women: Vigil & Speakout against slaughter in Gaza Protest the BBC's reporting of the Gaza crisis. All women welcome. Monday 19 January 2009, 5.30-7pm BBC Broadcasting House Portland Place, London W1A 1AA Muslim & Jewish women: Vigil & Speakout against slaughter in Gaza Protest the BBC's reporting of the Gaza crisis. All women welcome. Monday 19 January 2009, 5.30-7pm BBC Broadcasting House Portland Place, London W1A 1AA (near Oxford Circus) link to map: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=528887&y=181593&z=110&sv=528887,181593&st=OSGrid&lu=N&tl=~&ar=y&bi=~&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf We have come together to spell out the truth about Occupied Palestine that the media, beginning with the BBC, refuses to report ? about Zionist apartheid, women giving birth at checkpoints, the expulsions, the theft of land and resources, the imprisonment of children, the swimming pools in Zionist settlements filled by siphoning Palestinians? drinking water. The BBC has not publicly complained that Israel is preventing their reporters from entering Gaza to witness the bombing and invasion firsthand. Neither does it report Jewish opposition to this Zionist slaughter of the innocents. We are Muslim and Jewish women who are speaking out together against the Israeli slaughter and devastation in Gaza . We, like the whole world, are shocked by what we witness on our television screens, a small part of the horrendous truth. But we are not surprised by this horror. Israel has been driving Palestinians from their homes, killing and maiming women, children and men, bulldozing and bombing their infrastructure, since 1948 when the UN gave them permission to impose a Zionist state on Palestinian land. No one works harder than the women in Occupied Palestine to keep family, neighbours and friends alive. In Gaza under the stress of shortages of the most basic necessities as a result of the blockade -- endorsed by the EU -- women under bombardment and invasion must watch their babies being killed and maimed. This is the most powerful indictment of Israeli arrogant racist and sexist murder. We must spell out how, to justify the US/Israeli war against the people of the Middle East, the UK has launched a racist war against Muslims in Britain . Therefore we Muslim and Jewish women are coming together to hold a vigil and speakout. Women will finally tell their story of what they have to do and undergo to try to preserve life and to resist occupation and genocide. In every society we women are the carers of the human race. Our work is human survival. Let us exercise this power to help stop Israel ?s war against Palestine . This event is organised by: * The Islamic Human Rights Commission info at ihrc.org (44) 20 8904 4222 www.ihrc.org * International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network uk at ijsn.net (44) 20 7209 4751 www.ijsn.net Islamic Human Rights Commission & International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network Homepage: http://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=3901 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419042.html Photos from protest outside Lloyds TSB in Edinburgh. Paul O'Hanlon | 18.01.2009 10:45 | Anti-militarism | Anti-racism | Palestine | World Here are 8 photos from the demo outside Lloyds TSB in Edinburgh on Saturday 17th January 2009. There are links to reports of protests around the country. There was a lively and visible protest outside the Hanover Street branch of Lloyds TSB in Edinburgh on Saturday 17th January 2009. 8 photos are attached ? courtesy of Mr Tom McVitie. The bank, which has withdrawn banking facilities to the charity whose main work is to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, links Interpal with global terrorism. On November 12, Interpal received notification from their bank, the Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB), that Lloyds TSB (their clearing bank) has served notice on IBB to cease all dealings with Interpal. Clearing banks are responsible for the processing of all financial transactions and Lloyds TSB is one of the 4 clearing banks in the UK, which all high street banks must work through. The notice comes into effect on 8 December 2008 (date subsequently revised to 30 January 2009) and has the potential to force Interpal to cease operations early next month. FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Here are photos of a demo outside Lloyds TSB in Bristol: http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/689615 Lloyds TSB in Bristol closed by protesters! : http://suspectpaki.com/2009/01/17/lloyds-tsb-in-bristol-closed-by-protesters/ Here is a photo of a protest outside Lloyds TSB in Newcastle upon Tyne: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25424557 at N04/3203854451/ Protest outside Lloyds TSB St Vincent Street, Glasgow; http://www.flickr.com/photos/laura-elizabeth/3170656647/ From Bath, Somerset - Bank shuts in Bath Gaza protest: http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Bank-shuts-Bath-Gaza-protest/article-623051-detail/article.html Lloyds TSB Trample UK Registered Palestinian Charity: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417700.html?c=on#c212363 Paul O'Hanlon e-mail: o_hanlon at hotmail.com http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418670.html Newcastle BBC Protest - The place to have been on Thursday evening!!! gaza solidarity | 15.01.2009 21:59 | Culture | Other Press | Palestine This evening over 50 people gathered outside the BBC in Newcastle to demonstration against the BBC's coverage of the Gaza conflict and to an end to the Israeli onslaught in Gaza. 25 Students and Lecturers from Newcastle University met outside the Students' Union to march up to the BBC. With a foghorn, megaphone and placards a long procession marched up to the BBC chanting and shouting and getting a lot of support from the public. When the student/lecturer march reached the BBC there was another 30 people outside the BBC. The protest then moved forward to the entrance of the building where a sit down protest then took place. Security were rushing round behind the scenes as the police came and went. There were a few speakers including speakers from the Newcastle Trade Council, Newcastle Uni Lib Dem Society and Socialist Worker Student Society. The protest then continued until the end of the local news bulletin, throughout which as much noise was made as possible. FURTHER PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN EVENTS IN NEWCASTLE... Rally on Saturday 17/01/09 at Monument from 12noon Protest outside the Labour Party Dinner hosted by David Miliband and with special guest, defence secretary John Hutton. Friday 23/01/09 Meet 6pm Chicester Metro gaza solidarity http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417446.html Photos: Lobby of Sheffield Council to protest against the massacres in Gaza underclassrising.net | 07.01.2009 15:24 | Sheffield More Photos: Lobby of Sheffield Council to protest against the massacres in Gaza http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416518.html Manchester Gaza demonstration, noon Saturday 3rd Jan Gaza solidarity | 31.12.2008 11:50 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Terror War | Manchester Details of demonstration against the atrocities in Gaza, this Saturday 3rd Jan, noon Gaza protest leaflet - application/pdf 291K Saturday 3rd January Assemble: 12 noon All Saints Park Oxford Road/Cavendish Road Manchester March through city centre to Albert Square http://www.mancsagainsttanks.org/resources/Gaza_protest_030109.pdf Gaza solidarity Homepage: http://www.freegaza.org http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416514.html Liverpool Gaza demonstrations Gaza demos | 31.12.2008 10:16 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Terror War | Liverpool Vigil and protest dates in Liverpool Demonstrations and vigils have been organised by groups up and down the country to protest the insane assault by Israel on the refugee population of Gaza. Liverpool Friends of Palestine invite you to the two following events. Please invite family/friends if you can. If you cannot attend, please forward information to other contacts, blogs etc. Bring Palestine flags/posters/banners to both events: PEACE VIGIL ON GAZA Wed. 31st. Dec. 2-4 pm Top of Church St. (Just up from Christmas tree) Please bring candles, in jars for safety, if you have them. Demonstration to protest Israeli Assault on Gaza Saturday 3rd January 12-2.30pm St Lukes Church opposite Bold St Walk from St Lukes along Renshaw St to St Georges Hall Gaza demos Homepage: http://www.freegaza.org http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/relative-of-israeli-air-strike-victims-joins-demonstration-14122897.html?r=RSS Relative of Israeli air strike victims joins demonstration Monday, 29 December 2008 A relative of five young girls killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza joined one of the demonstrations held across Britain today in protest against the bombings. Mohammed Balousha, 30, said his cousins, aged from just two weeks old to 14, lost their lives when Israel's forces targeted a mosque near their home in Jabalya, one of the territory's largest refugee camps. He was relayed the news last night in a phone call with his brother, who is in Gaza. Speaking at the demonstration in Birmingham city centre, Mr Balousha said: "The Israelis were bombing a mosque near the house and the house was destroyed. "We saw pictures on Palestine television of them lifting one of the surviving girls off the rubble and beneath her were some of her younger sisters, who had died. "I think they were asleep at the time. It's awful." He said the girls, who were second cousins, were members of the Balousha family. They included Sama, four, and 14-year-old Samar. The Birmingham protest lasted for around 90 minutes and attracted up to 700 people, said organisers. West Midlands Police estimated the figure was closer to 200. Protesters chanted "Free, Free Palestine" and "Down, Down Israel" as sales shoppers watched. Banners carried the messages "Stop Israeli Terrorism" and "Stop Israeli Crimes". Ali Jafai, 26, who held aloft an effigy of a blood-soaked victim of the strikes, said: "It really is bad what's happening in Gaza and the world is just watching. We are looking for peace." Birmingham University engineering student Ali Afana, 25, has lived most of his life in Gaza. He said: "It's a disaster for the whole world. I don't think Israel will stop now. They will continue attacking Gaza. "I am very worried for my family in Gaza. I do not know if they are alive or not." Manzoor Sadaq, from Aston, Birmingham, said he spent seven years in the Gaza Strip, carrying out humanitarian work. "Innocent Palestinians are being killed by an occupying force and the whole world is doing nothing about it," he said. The "vigil" in Birmingham was organised by the Midlands Palestinian Community Association (MPCA) and the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign. MPCA chairman Kamel Hawwash said: "We condemn Israel's actions and call on the British Government to do the same and to call for an immediate end to the military operation in Gaza and for the unconditional lifting of the siege." http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417060.html Speech delivered by anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews at the Gaza protest in London Neturei Karta | 03.01.2009 23:53 | Anti-militarism | Anti-racism | Palestine | World Throughout their history, the Zionists have resorted to intimidation, war, ethnic cleansing and state?sponsored terrorism to achieve their goals. But among this movement's greatest crimes, is that it has claimed to carry out these nefarious actions in the name of holiness, in the name of the Almighty, in the name of Judaism and the Jewish people !! The following speech was delivered by Anti Zionist Orthodox Jews at the "Emergency Protest to Stop the Massacre in Gaza" rally, Rockefeller Center, New York City, December 27, 2008, 2.00 PM and again at a Protest in London on December 28, 2008 ----------------------- (This speech was originally delivered in Durban, South Africa by Rabbi Y D Weiss) May our words be pleasing to the Creator and cause His Great Name to be sanctified. Assalaam Aleikhum: The world stands aghast as the atrocities being committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza, becomes known in ever greater and shocking detail. Mere words are insufficient to express the pain that all mankind feels at the plight of the Gaza and Palestinian people. For over one hundred years, they have been subject to a carefully conceived plan, to drive them from their homes and their land. Throughout their history, the Zionists have resorted to intimidation, war, ethnic cleansing and state?sponsored terrorism to achieve their goals. This is, has been and continues to be, the criminal agenda of the Zionist movement. But among this movement's greatest crimes, is that it has claimed to carry out these nefarious actions in the name of holiness, in the name of the Almighty, in the name of Judaism and the Jewish people !! This is a wicked and monstrous lie !! It is a desecration of our religion !! Judaism forbids and rejects Zionism and the existence of the State of "Israel". We have been expressly commanded by the Almighty that we are forbidden to have our own sovereignty in this heavenly decreed exile, we are also forbidden to rebel against any nation. Torah believing Jews, under the leadership of the most esteemed rabbis of the 20th century have always opposed and fought against Zionism and ultimately the State of "Israel". Unfortunately in recent years the Zionists have succeed in seducing and co?opting members of the religious community and some rabbis into support of not allowing the return of the rightful owners, the Palestinian people, to their land, by fear mongering, by appealing to their worst fears, that there is a religious conflict and that the Arabs always have had an ingrained hate for the Jews. Especially, they claim, that because of the many years of the existence of the State of "Israel", if the Palestinians where to return to their land, they would massacre the Jews, may the Almighty protect us. Anyone familiar with the ploys and techniques of the Zionist State is aware of this fact. Before the advent of Zionism, Muslims and Christian, Arabs and Jews, lived peacefully together in the Holy Land, as in all the Muslim lands, ? Ask your grandparents! ? They remember those peaceful days! And in fact it is here the opportune time to thank all the Muslim countries for their extraordinary friendship, hospitality and safe haven that they have provided to the Jewish people throughout the ages! The Zionists rely on the Bible, the Torah, for their imaginary right to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian people and to subjugate them. This is a pathetic joke! The Zionists have always been heretics and rejected all the fundamental tenets of our faith, and yet they have the nerve, the arrogance, the audacity, the chutzpa, to pretend to base their behavior on our holy Torah. We know what our holy writings and our great rabbis have taught us ? that we are forbidden to subjugate or oppress anyone or to desecrate the holiness of the Holy Land with paths of violence, ethnic cleansing, discrimination and military power. Our religion teaches justice. It teaches peace. It teaches compassion. In fact, the greatest and ultimate hope and prayer of the Jewish people is, that when the Messiah comes that then "Nation shall no longer lift up sword against nation, and they will make war no more." All nations will serve God together in peace. To the governments of the world, it is not through your support of the Zionist regime ? the State of "Israel", that the Jewish people are being helped! On the contrary, this tragic historical mistake has led to the killing of Arabs and Jews alike. The governments of the great powers, by supporting the State of "Israel" are not only harming the Palestinian people but they are also unwittingly contributing to the growth of hostility towards Jews worldwide! To our Jewish brethren, we beg! Do not be intimidated by ruthless Zionist bullying and violence!! ? Proclaim loudly and clearly your outrage, pain and sympathy for the people of Gaza and that those who show contempt for the Torah, the teachings of our rabbis, and disregard the ethical and moral basics of our faith, have no right to speak on behalf of the Jewish People or Judaism! We must tell the world that self rule, sovereignty and ALL the rights of the Palestinian people, must be restored throughout historic Palestine! This is a requirement of Jewish ethics and values! Jewish justice demands the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homes, towns, villages and cities throughout Palestine! Tell the world, loudly and clearly, that you support Palestinian statehood over the ENTIRE Holy Land ?? not despite your Jewish identity, but because of it. To our Islamic brethren ? let us speak up for the people of Gaza and please do not judge the Jewish faith or its people, on the basis of this passing lunacy of Zionism. The Jews have always been your friends and cousins. Do not allow your understandable anger to be directed at those who are innocent of wrongdoing, regardless of whether they reside in Occupied Palestine, Europe, or anywhere around the globe. Together, people of all nations, may we be worthy, with God's help, speedily and peacefully, without further suffering and bloodshed of anyone, be it Arab or Jew, to witness the peaceful end of the Zionist occupation over every inch of Palestine. And may we yet merit to see, in the very near future, the revelation of the One God, over the entire world, with all mankind in His servitude, in joyous brotherhood. AMEN Let's Proclaim Together: FREE GAZA ? FREE PALESTINE JUDAISM YES ZIONISM NO ! Neturei Karta Homepage: http://www.nkusa.org/activities/Speeches/20081227.cfm http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417049.html Report of Emergency Protest in Newcastle ?Stop the Massacre in Gaza? Revolutionary Communist Group/Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! | 03.01.2009 23:16 | Palestine Rally held at Grey's Monument, Newcastle upon Tyne, in solidarity with the people of Palestine and their resistance and to end the occupation of Palestine and the siege on Gaza. On Saturday 3rd January 2009 there was a rally held at Grey?s Monument in solidarity with the people of Palestine, against the occupation and the siege on Gaza. It was organized by individual Palestinian people in Newcastle, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Stop the War Coalition and the Revolutionary Communist Group/Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! It was attended by around 400-500 people from 12-2pm and remained vibrant throughout. On the platform there were speakers from the Palestinian community, the PSC, the University Mosque and FRFI. The FRFI speaker explained why it was fitting that a celebration of Cuban resistance, originally planned from 12-4, made way for such an urgent demonstration of solidarity with Palestine, highlighting Cuba's active solidarity with the Palestinian cause and their shared struggle against imperialism. She compared the solidarity shown by socialist Cuba to the role played by Britain as an imperialist country: 'While socialist Cuba exports doctors and teachers, capitalist Britain exports instruments of repression'. She went on to emphasize that 'British imperialism has consistently colluded with Zionist terror throughout the years of Intifada and that Israel could not survive without the support of US and British imperialism'. The speech ended with a call to support the third Palestinian intifada called by Hamas from within the heartland of imperialist Britain, by getting out on the streets and targeting key links in the chain of support from Britain to Israel, like Marks and Spencer, Britain's biggest corporate sponsor of Israel and the Labour Party, which has always been a racist, imperialist party and which has supported Zionism since its 1944 conference called for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. There was then an open mic session where speeches were interspersed with chants of ?Victory to the Intifada!? ?Free, Free Palestine!? ?1,2,3,4 Occupation No More! 5,6,7,8 Israel is an Apartheid State!? etc. It was also highlighted that, although there was a massive turnout and it was an inspirational event, this would not change the situation in Palestine and had to be the start of a movement on the streets of Newcastle putting pressure on the British government. So there will be a public forum on Gaza and action we can take in Newcastle on Tuesday 6th January, 7-9pm at the Culture Caf? (above Get Stuffed takeaway), Mary?s Place (near Haymarket metro), Newcastle hosted by FRFI. All groups and individuals welcome. There will also be an organizing meeting held by the PSC and Stop the War on Wednesday 7th January, at Muslim Welfare House, meeting at 6.30pm outside Mark Toney?s near Haymarket metro, Newcastle. Revolutionary Communist Group/Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! e-mail: frfinortheast at googlemail.com Homepage: http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/416934.html Lancaster Gaza Solidarity Protest Sat 3rd Jan Lancaster Solidarity with Gaza | 03.01.2009 18:16 | Manchester All around the world people are taking to the streets in spontaneous outrage against the Israeli state massacre of people in Gaza. In the small northwest English city of Lancaster, people also made their own protest... These photo's show the hastily organised protest by people in Lancaster on Sat 3rd Jan. Lancaster is a small city in the northwest of England. The protest was attended by local people of many different backgrounds, and united local Jews, Muslims, Christians, Socialists, anarchists, Greens, Trades Unionists, Gays, working people, students and Saturday shoppers! This is just the start. Israel must stop its violent oppression of the Palestinian people. Lancaster Solidarity with Gaza http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/416617.html EDO profits from Gaza massacre. Protest!? Smash EDO | 01.01.2009 20:35 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | South Coast ITT/EDO-MBM make components for the Israeli F16's which are bombing Palestinians in Gaza as we speak. Demonstrations against these atrocities are taking place all week across the country -join them. If you are in Brighton there is a demo -called by a broad coalition of Brighton anti-war groups- on Saturday the 3rd, 12.30,Churchill Square. Come and show your outrage at Israel's EDO backed war crimes! Against the war profiteers, for the people of Gaza -wherever you are. Smash EDO e-mail: smashedo at riseup.net Homepage: http://www.smashedo.org.uk http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418015.html Young Jew Sings Protest to Chief Rabbi, Gets Arrested Dovid | 11.01.2009 20:27 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | World LONDON - A young Jewish man was arrested today after singing at the Chief Rabbi of GB, Jonathan Sacks, during his speech at today's End Hamas Terror (pro-Israel) rally. Dovid Von Neumann stood up on the ridge of a Trafalgar Square fountain and sung the well known child's Chanukah song 'Sevivon sov sov sov.' [Spinning-top, spin spin spin] He was pushed into the iced fountain by members of the demonstration and was wrestled into police custody by special Jewish security guards. Whilst the ongoing Israeli bombing of Gaza began during the festival of Chanukah, Jewish children around the world received the traditional gift of a four sided spinning-top (sevivon in Hebrew, driedel in Yiddish). Jewish children play a betting game on whichever side the sevivon should land on. Today these are mostly made from plastic; once upon a time they were cast in lead - hence Operation Cast Lead, the name given by Israel to its current Gaza incursion. Dovid explains: "I wished to highlight the insidiousness of how the current Israeli invasion into Gaza was named after a child's toy made from a highly toxic material, lead, and how Palestinian children have been at the mercy of such randomly falling deathly devices. Houndreds of children in Gaza have been killed by indirect attack, like flying shrapnel or inadequate medical resources, whilst many have died through direct attack. It's as if Israel had the lead sevivon in mind as a metaphorical present to Palestinian children." Through his red megaphone, Dovid also accused Rabbi Sacks of being unrepresentative of the Jewish community in his claims that British Jews supported Israel's current military action. As he was being grabbed by a Jewish security guard inside the semi-frozen Trafalgar Square fountain, Dovid was seen kissing the guard on each cheek, a traditional way of greeting another Jew. Nevertheless the guard snapped his megaphone in half and pulled him to the crowd, who assisted to drag him to the pavement. Dovid was screaming "Ani gam Yehudi! "[I'm also Jewish] but he was nevertheless handcuffed and carried away by Police. The on looking crowd, mostly Jewish and Hebrew speaking, was left quite shocked. Dovid, 25, was held for a number of hours by Metropolitan Police until the day's other demonstrations were over. He was released without charge. Dovid http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Gaza-protesters-march-through-Capital.4864142.jp Gaza protesters march through Capital Published Date: 10 January 2009 THOUSANDS of protestors marched through the Capital to demonstrate against the continued conflict in Gaza. Police said about 4,000 people attended the protest but organisers put the number at 10,000. Supporters arrived by bus and train from across Scotland to take part. And they said the support for the rally, along with the marches held in other parts of the UK and around the world in cities including Los Angeles, should leave politicians in no doubt about the concern the ongoing Israeli military action has caused. At the assembly point on East Market Street, placards demanding a stop to the war in Gaza, freedom for Palestine and an end to the Israeli blockade were handed out to the growing crowd. Organisers had also brought along spare shoes for people, and the protestors, also waving banners proclaiming George Bush as the "World's Number 1 Terrorist", marched first to the US Embassy, which was bombarded with shoes and red paint as a demonstration to America's perceived failure to back a peace agreement. Three police officers sustained minor injuries. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417725.html GAZA PROTEST in Wrexham Andrew McCoy | 10.01.2009 15:49 | Palestine | Liverpool | Manchester Demonstrators in Wrexham Justice and Peace Forum, call for end to Israeli Invasion of Gaza ! More than 70 people braved sub-zero temperatures in Wrexham on Saturday to protest against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. The last-minute protest organised by Wrexham Peace and Justice Forums heard from Steve Ryan, of the PCS union, and Elfed ap Nefydd, a local peace activist. Councillor Marc Jones, of Plaid Cymru, chaired the meeting and also read out messages of solidarity from Jill Evans MEP and Janet Ryder, the North Wales AM. They were united in seeking an end to the violence on both sides, calling the 800 deaths suffered in the invasion totally disproportionate. Steve Ryan urged Wrexham people to join a boycott of Israeli goods including fruit, vegetables and herbs. More than half Israel's exports are to the UK and many are available in local supermarkets. Some activists went on from the protest to make their opposition to Israeli goods being sold locally known outside supermarkets. Andrew McCoy e-mail: abmccoy at tiscali.co.uk http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417696.html Manchester Palestine Protest Tomorrow! Palestine Solidarity Campaign Manchester | 10.01.2009 12:49 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Terror War | Liverpool | Manchester Protest! Sunday 11th Jan, 11 AM, Albert Square, Manchester Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign are organising an Occupation of Albert Sq, outside of Manchesters Town Hall at 11 am on Sunday 11th January. They are asking that people, Trade Unions, Peace Groups and Campaigns bring banners, leaflets and flags as they plan to take the whole square over. It is also asked that people circulate this information. Thank You Palestine Solidarity Campaign Manchester http://www.revolutionarycommunist.org/vti/vtinews.html Victory to the Intifada News! Saturday 17 January - Victory to the Intifada! Dundee! PUBLIC REPORT OF POLICE HARRASSMENT AND CHARGING OF FIGHT RACISM! FIGHT IMPERIALISM! STREET PROTEST. The day had started very well with a militant, angry and noisy protest march against Israel?s attack on Gaza going into Dundee?s city centre. After the rally, activists from Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism, one of whom had spoken at the event, set up a protest stall in the Murraygate to continue building support for the people of Gaza and Palestine. Once again the city centre ambassadors demanded we remove our stall as we did not have permission or insurance. Once again we told them no! The police were called this time and proceeded to threaten the comrades with Breach of the Peace or causing alarm. It was suggested they go and consult their law books and superior officers as we were not backing down to such contrived charges. They appeared to accept this but returned an hour later with a van and told those present that this time they had come up with obstruction as a charge. Third time lucky for them maybe but the comrades then began speaking to the gathering crowds explaining what the police were doing and asking them to stay around as witnesses, sign the petitions and support political rights. People were told to check out the You Tube videos about the cops in Liverpool trying to close down protest there and to check out Dundee Arrest on You Tube where a comrade was violently assaulted and arrested by Tayside police for handing out leaflets about Cuba. Speakers explained that when people start to protest here about unemployment, low wages and rent rises that the same cops would be out attacking their rights too. We were speaking out for the people of Gaza who were dying at that moment and we would not allow the police to silence us. Talk about obstruction! - by now there was 1 police van and 100 people prepared to listen to speeches and chants about free speech. Comrades from the Socialist Workers Party joined the protest having been harassed for doing political work for Gaza that week. By now the police action was a very public affair and they were not looking so comfortable. They charged Michael with obstruction under Section 53 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. As Michael explained to the youth present this was one of the hated Margaret Thatcher?s laws and it was no surprise that her favourite bobbies were digging it up now! Michael was threatened with arrest if the stall was not immediately removed and after consulting with the comrades and the crowds it was decided to call a rally in the Murraygate at 12 the following Saturday to protest the harassment and charges. We call on everyone to openly and publicly challenge this attack on democratic and political rights. Get up! Stand Up! Stand Up For Your Rights! DEFEND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS! NO TO POLICE INTERFERENCE! RALLY AT MURRAYGATE 12 NOON DUNDEE SATURDAY 24.01.09 Contact the campaign on frfiscotland at yahoo.co.uk. VENCEREMOS! WE SHALL WIN! Supporters of the Revolutionary Communist Group and its newspaper Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! joined over 400 other people in Newcastle to demonstrate against the Israeli attacks on Gaza and to demand freedom for Palestine at Grey's Monument. The demonstration was initiated by Palestinians living in Newcastle and supported by a range of organisations including Tyneside Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Tyneside Stop the War Campaign, University Friends of Palestine, Newcastle University Islamic Society, Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!/ Revolutionary Communist Group, Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Party and a number of community groups. The opening speaker, from the Palestinian community, emphasised the need for absolute solidarity with the Palestinian right to resistance in their struggle for self determination against colonial occupation. This was followed by a speaker from University Friends of Palestine, who pointed out that Israel had absolutely no interest in recognizing an independent Palestinian state The FRFI speaker explained why it was fitting that a celebration of Cuban resistance, originally planned from 12-4, made way for such an urgent demonstration of solidarity with Palestine, highlighting Cuba's active solidarity with the Palestinian cause and their shared struggle against imperialism. She compared the solidarity shown by socialist Cuba to the role played by Britain as an imperialist country: 'While socialist Cuba exports doctors and teachers, capitalist Britain exports instruments of repression'. She went on to emphasize that 'British imperialism has consistently colluded with Zionist terror throughout the years of Intifada and that Israel could not survive without the support of US and British imperialism'. The speaker received a spontaneous round of applause when she said: "Israel could not survive without the support of US and British imperialism. In order to fight the occupation of Palestine we need to fight British imperialism." The speech ended with a call to support the third Palestinian intifada called by Hamas from within the heartland of imperialist Britain, by getting out on the streets and targeting key links in the chain of support from Britain to Israel, like Marks and Spencer, Britain's biggest corporate sponsor of Israel and the Labour Party, which has always been a racist, imperialist party and which has supported Zionism since its 1944 conference called for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. There followed an open mic session where speeches were interspersed with chants of 'Victory to the Intifada!' 'Free, Free Palestine!' '1,2,3,4 Occupation No More! 5,6,7,8 Israel is an Apartheid State!' etc. It was also highlighted that, although there was a massive turnout and it was an inspirational event, one demonstration alone would not change the situation in Palestine and had to be the start of a movement on the streets of Newcastle to demand an end to all British support for Israel. There will be a public forum on Gaza and action we can take in Newcastle on Tuesday 6th January, 7-9pm at the Culture Caf? (above Get Stuffed takeaway), Mary's Place (near Haymarket metro), Newcastle hosted by FRFI. All groups and individuals welcome. Victory to the third intifada! Free Palestine! Following the spontaneous demonstrations of last Sunday, over 2,000 people marched in Glasgow to proclaim solidarity with the people of Gaza and express their anger over Zionist war crimes in Palestine. The march was led by the flags of Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and those of the resistance forces Hamas and Hizbullah. Called by Stop the War Coalition and supported by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign and many other groups including the local Lebanese community, the march made its way through Glasgow city centre. Loud and spirited, many Muslim men, women and children, working class football fans, families, politicians and angry individuals chanted and shouted for a free Palestine, and RCG comrades were amongst those leading the calls of ?No justice, no peace? and ?Victory to the Intifada!?. The end rally saw the crowd treated to the usual array of bourgeois politicians ? Labour, Lib Dem and SNP ? issue their hollow calls of condemnation along with trade union bureaucrats and their prevaricating explanations of a ?possible? boycott of Israel. A young local Lebanese girl offered a moving plea for everyone to remember the brutality greeting the children of Gaza as they awoke to the New Year; nonetheless, just like the brave population of southern Lebanon did in 2006, the Palestinians would survive and resist. A Palestinian woman from Gaza, and a survivor of the Sabra massacre, also issued an emotional call for solidarity. The spirit and militancy of the majority on the march, especially amongst young people, could be sensed by the loud cheers which greeted any calls for solidarity with the resistance forces in Gaza, support rather than condemnation of Hamas and total isolation of the Zionist entity. RCG comrades spoke to many new faces in the crowd, selling copies of Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! and handing out leaflets for an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, with many interested to learn about the consistent support shown by the Cuban government for the Palestinian struggle. Between two and three thousand demonstrators were said to be on the streets of Edinburgh at the same as the demo in Glasgow, and further protests are planned for Tuesday 6 December. In the words of one protestor, ?We are all Hamas!? The Victory to the Intifada (VTI) campaign in London kicked-off the new year with its weekly picket of Marks & Spencer, corporate sponsors of the state of Israel. Thousands of shoppers passing the M&S flagship store on Oxford street witnessed a large crowd of VTI supporters chanting, waving flags, handing out leaflets and petitioning against Israel?s occupation of Palestine and its barbaric slaughter of the people of Gaza. The picket, now entering its eighth year, takes place every Thursday, from 6-8pm, outside M&S Oxford street (Marble Arch end). All are welcome to attend. There are also pickets in Manchester and Newcastle on a regular basis. Come and join us to protest against Israel?s war crimes and in defence of the Palestinian people! Sunday 29 December - Victory to the Intifada! London! The RCG and supporters from Victory to the Intifada joined up to 1,000 protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in High Street Kensington, London, in a rapidly-mobilised response to the deadly escalation of attacks on Gaza by the Israeli military which have left nearly 300 dead, including children. Despite early efforts by the police to stop protesters coming through, the demonstration closed most of High Street Kensington. Constant chanting demanded an end to the illegal occupation by Israel, an end to the attacks, freedom for Palestine and victory to the Intifada. At one point the demonstrators organised an impromptu march up the road before returning to the embassy gates. Shortly after 4pm the police attempted to clear the road, organising a series of violent pushes that were met with resistance and shouts of ?Shame on you!? Over the RCG?s ?open mic? megaphone, comrades denounced the role of the British Labour government in propping up Zionist state and the British police for defending its racist embassy. The demonstration was organised by PSC, Palestine Return Centre (PRC), Palestinian Forum of Britain (PFB), British Muslim Initiative (BMI), Stop the War, Friends of al Aqsa, Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Respect, Islamic Human Rights Commission. As the attacks on Gaza continue ? attacks described by Ehud Barak as ?only the beginning? ? and a land invasion of Gaza is threatened, another protest will be held today, Monday 29 December, at 4pm. Nearest tube High Street Kensington. Victory to the Intifada will also be holding its regular protest outside Marks and Spencer ? British corporate sponsor of Zionism ? in Oxford Street on Thursday 1 January at 4pm. Join us to make your condemnation of Israel heard. Boycott Israeli Goods Action - November 10 As part of The Fifth International Week of Action against Israel?s Apartheid Wall between 9 and 16 November 2007 (www.stopthewall.org), protesters held a rolling picket in London raising awareness of the Apartheid Wall and calling on the public to boycott Israeli goods. The Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign and its popular committees have called on the world to protest against the illegal occupation of Palestine. In 2004 the International Court of Justice ruled that the Apartheid Wall is illegal. Despite this, the British government has continued to support Israel economically, politically and militarily. Join the movement to boycott Israeli Apartheid. The protest was called by Victory to the Intifada and Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! Israel destroys Palestinian lives, livelihoods and homes daily, refuses to stop building its illegal apartheid wall, denies Palestinian refugees their right of return, grows produce and sets up industrial zones on stolen Palestinian land, and operates an apartheid, racist system against Palestinian people. Meanwhile illegal Israeli settlements are continuing and growing, in defiance of international law. Already, 40% of the West Bank is taken up with Israeli infrastructure including settlements, outposts, roadblocks, checkpoints, military areas, nature reserves and the parts of the Apartheid Wall built so far. There are now 450,000 Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. In the last 20 years the settler population has increased by 150%. 29 September 2007 marked the seventh anniversary of the start of the second Intifada. In those seven years the Israeli Occupation Army has killed more than 4,600 Palestinians, including 967 children and has injured a further 32,000. In August 2007 alone, the Israeli Occupation Army killed 52 Palestinians, 12 of them children. The rolling picket began at Marks & Spencer in Edgware Road. M&S is one of the biggest British corporate sponsors of Israel and the occupation of Palestine. Marks & Spencer is not just interested in trading with Israel for profit like other companies; it IS and ALWAYS has been a supporter of Israeli apartheid ? ?aiding the economic development of Israel is one of our main objectives? (Marcus Sieff, M&S chairman, Management: The M&S Way, 1990) and sells food and clothing manufactured in colonial settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank Palestinian Territories. The protest then moved on to Sainsbury?s in Marble Arch, calling for the public to boycott Israeli goods, and picketed Marks and Spencer?s flagship store on Oxford Street, using street theatre to demonstrate the reality of the daily brutal oppression Palestinian People face. We continued to Selfridges, which sells goods produced in Israel?s illegal settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights. Under pressure from pro-Palestinian campaigners they initially withdrew these products from their shelves only to stock them again. Finally a lively demonstration was held outside John Lewis because they sell Caterpillar products. Caterpillar?s armoured bulldozers have been used by the Israeli army for the destruction of thousands of Palestinian homes, schools, wells and olive groves, and have also been used in the construction of the Apartheid Wall. The aim of the campaign to Boycott Israeli Goods is to raise awareness of the economic links between British business and Israeli Apartheid and build economic pressure on Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestine. We aim to get people active on Britain's streets in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their national liberation struggle. We call on the public to: ? Demand that British companies stop supporting Israel?s brutal occupation and apartheid by selling Israeli goods and goods made by companies directly involved in the destruction of Palestinian land, lives and livelihoods. ? Demand that the British Government stops supporting and funding Israeli racism. ? Join our campaign in support of the Palestinian Liberation Struggle. There is a demonstration every Thursday, 6 ? 8 pm outside Marks & Spencer?s flagship store on Oxford Street (Marble Arch end), London. We urge everyone to boycott M&S as a focus of the boycott Israeli goods campaign in order to dent the profits of the British retailing company that has repeatedly stated their support for Israel and thus send a shock wave through the whole establishment. End the Occupation of Palestine! Victory to the Intifada! Free all Palestinian Political Prisoners! Tear down the Apartheid Wall! Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416258.html PROTEST SHEFFIELD Monday 29 December, 4pm, outside Town Hall http://underclassrising.net/ | 29.12.2008 01:13 | Sheffield Victory to the Intifada ISRAEL, now you are doing the same genocide to Palestine that Hitler has done to you.You have killed to date 27.12.08 230 innocent civil people. Do you think that you won't pay for this? One day all peoples of world will wake up and when they wake up they will destroy your state and the USA ,you trusted, on your heads which you built upon blood and betrayal People of Israel, stop your states fascism Protests organised and supported by PSC, Palestine Return Centre (PRC), Palestinian Forum of Britain (PFB), British Muslim Initiative (BMI), Stop the War, Friends of al Aqsa, Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Respect, Islamic Human Rights Commission, Association of the Palestinian Community in Britain (APC), the Israeli Commitee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods (JBIG), the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN). "What we think or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do" John Ruskin 1819 1900 http://underclassrising.net/ e-mail: worldwarfreatriseupdotnet Homepage: http://underclassrising.net/ http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416239.html Protest against Israeli Massacres of Palestinians Paul | 28.12.2008 23:18 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Repression | World Edinburgh saw a protest of around 100 people by the Royal Academy of Scotland near the foot of the Mound in the space between East and West Princes Street gardens. Against a background of dozens of Palestinian flags, banners and placards read `Israel stop bombing Gaza`, Boycott to stop Israeli war crimes`, and `End Israeli war crimes`. Speakers included Kevin Connor and solidarity?s Willie Black. 11 photos from the day are attached. Sunday December 28th saw a large number of demonstrations around the world against the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza strip. Stop Israeli Massacres of Palestinians Stop Israeli Genocide Stop British Government Support for Israeli crimes Demonstrate, Sunday 28th 4.30pm - Glasgow: George Square (Supported by MSPs Pauline McNeill & Sandra White, Scottish PSC, Scottish Friends of Palestine, Scotland Stop the War, Glasgow Central Mosque, Scottish Islamic Forum, Scottish Afghan Society, Lebanese Community in Scotland, Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign) - Edinburgh: Foot of the Mound, Princes Street Edinburgh saw a protest of around 100 people by the Royal Academy of Scotland near the foot of the Mound in the space between East and West Princes Street gardens. Against a background of dozens of Palestinian flags, banners and placards read `Israel stop bombing Gaza`, Boycott to stop Israeli war crimes`, and `End Israeli war crimes`. Speakers included Kevin Connor and solidarity?s Willie Black. 11 photos from the day are attached. Scottish Palestine solidarity: http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/ http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416311.html Photos: Hundreds Protest in Sheffield Against Gaza Massacre - 29th December Chris | 29.12.2008 19:03 | Palestine | Repression | Terror War | Sheffield | World Photos from the protest outside Sheffield Town Hall on Monday 29th December 2008 against the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel. There was a massive turnout at this protest -- hundreds of people. There is to be another protest at noon on Saturday 3rd January 2009 called by the Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) http://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/ Chris Homepage: http://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/ http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/national-news/2008/12/29/cities-protest-over-gaza-attacks-73871-22570111/ Cities protest over Gaza attacks Dec 29 2008 Campaigners throughout Britain have organised emergency protests over the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip. As Israeli air strikes on the Palestinian enclave continued for a third day, members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign were preparing to gather in towns and cities including London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Halifax and Sheffield. Around 30 people in York held a silent vigil to raise awareness over what they termed the "dreadful massacre" of a suffering Palestinian population. They encouraged passers-by to write to MPs and MEPs, and to call for human rights demands to be built into negotiations on an EU-Israel trade agreement currently being worked out. One of the organisers of the vigil, Monica Wusteman, said the attacks were part of a deliberate move to win votes in the forthcoming Israeli elections. "There are 300 Palestinians dead and the count is still soaring, and the Israelis have declared that they have no intention of stopping at the moment," she said. "This is a piece of Israeli electioneering - Palestinian rockets have been fired for years now. We knew this was going to happen, it has been scheduled to happen for some weeks now, because whoever can kill the most Palestinians is going to win the Israeli vote." Organisers of a protest in Sheffield city centre were hopeful up to 200 people would join them in their bid to remember civilians killed in the attacks. Musheir El-Farra, who moved from Palestine to Britain 20 years ago, said he hoped the British protests would help to humanise the Palestinian victims of the conflict. "The Israelis are not attacking military targets, as they claim," he said. "They are attacking civilians, in schools, in mosques, in hospitals and universities." About 315 people have been killed in Gaza since air strikes began on Saturday. Most were reported to be members of Hamas security forces, although the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees said at least 51 civilians were dead. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418895.html Photos: Sheffield Gaza Protest - 17th January 2009 Chris | 17.01.2009 22:46 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Terror War | Sheffield | World There was another protest and march in Sheffield on Saturday 17th January 2009 in opposition to the ongoing massacre in Gaza. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418964.html 1000 Dead and Nothing Said - London protest against Gaza Killings Peter Marshall | 17.01.2009 23:32 | Palestine | World Around 5000 people attended a rally in Trafalgar Square this afternoon (Sat 17 Jan, 2009) to protest at the Israeli killings in Palestine and to demand an end to the attacks and reparations for the victims. Pictures Copyright (C) 2009 Peter Marshall, all rights reserved. Over a thousand Palestinians have been killed in the past three weeks by Israeli attacks on Gaza including some 300 children - and attacks have included those on known UN installations where people were sheltering - with a top UN official today calling for war crime investigation into the shelling of a school. In the same time around 13 Israelis have also died, four of them killed by its own army. So it was hardly surprising that Trafalgar Square was fairly full for today's rally against the Israeli attacks, with perhaps 5-10,000 people - although this was only a small fraction of the number at last week's national demonstration. A few hours after the demonstration, news was released that Israel was to announce a ceasefire on its own terms. Unfortunately we can be sure that these terms will mean no justice for Palestine, welcome though what seems likely to be a temporary respite in the killings may be. As I arrived - and as on so many occasions in this Square - Tony Benn was being announced and rightly given a huge welcome. One of the greatest political figures of the last 50 years, it's a national tragedy that while he has so often been right on major issues, governments have seldom if ever followed his lead. Most of those attending listened to all the speakers with respect and applauded enthusiastically, though a small section of the crown attracted rather more than its share of press attention with its noisy animation and gestures such as burning Israeli flags and tearing up placards carrying pictures og George Bush (what will we do after Obama takes over next week?) As well as political speeches from a wide range of speakers there were two contributions that particularly moved me. One was a very assured speech by an 11 year old Palestine girl, now living in Manchester, and another was the Palestinian singer Reem Kelani (who also grew up in Manchester) who led the crowd in singing a Palestinian song, written in the 1930s but since then appropriated by others, that she wants to reclaim for Palestine. On the stone steps behind the speakers were a group of children all dressed in white robes marked with bloody red hand prints, keeping our minds on the children slaughtered in Gaza. After Kelani had sung, they came down from the plinth and went with a deputation to take a letter from the rally to Downing St, calling for an immediate ceasefire and reparations for the war damage inflicted by the Israeli attacks. I went with them down Whitehall to Downing St, where police led them into a pen close to the gates. While a delegation of six, including Diane Abbott MP, Betty Hunter of the PSC and Lindsay German of Stop the War, took the letter into Downing St, the children posed for pictures, at first standing, and then lying on the ground as if the innocent victims of an Israeli attack; but these children were just playing dead. More pictures on My London Diary shortly: http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2009/01/jan.htm#slaughter Peter Marshall e-mail: petermarshall at cix.co.uk Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 20:34:25 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:34:25 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] GAZA PROTESTS Palestine and Israel, Dec-Jan 08-09 Message-ID: <4AED01C1.9060306@tesco.net> * WEST BANK: Israeli goons murder protester during wave of protests * GAZA: Protest boat attacked by Israeli navy * WEST BANK: Fatah repression, factional disputes mar protests * WEST BANK/JERUSALEM: Wave of protests, clashes * WEST BANK: Hamas in show of strength at funerals * WEST BANK: Thousands march in Ramallah; later protest cancelled for lack of interest * JERUSALEM: Unrest as Arab protesters clash with police * ISRAEL: Clashes in Umm al-Fahm * ISRAEL: Palestinians march in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Sakhnin, Nazareth * ISRAEL: Peace groups push for truce * ISRAEL: Harassment of protesters decried * ISRAEL: Anarchists blockade army base * ISRAEL: Leftists in court challenge over flag ban * ISRAEL: Palestinian group calls general strike * ISRAEL: Peace Now, Meretz in belated anti-war protest * PALESTINE/TURKEY: Palestinian painter protests on canvas http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2446474,00.html Gazan shot while protesting 28/12/2008 19:50 - (SA) West Bank - Israeli troops in the West Bank shot dead a Palestinian man and gravely wounded another on Sunday during a violent protest against Israel's deadly air campaign against Gaza militants, the army and a Palestinian medic said. The medic, Basem Abu Sheikh, said 22-year-old Arafat Khawaja was hit in the chest by live fire in the village of Naalin, near Ramallah. Residents said some demonstrators were hurling rocks at Israeli forces, but it was not immediately clear if the dead man had been among them. Abu Sheikh and the Israeli military said another man was also shot during the protest and was in critical condition. The military said troops stationed near the village were attacked with a hail of rocks and only used live ammunition after other crowd control methods failed to halt the barrage. A spokesperson said the incident was being investigated by military authorities. Some 280 Palestinians have been killed in a wave of Israeli airstrikes into Gaza launched on Saturday in an attempt to halt cross-border rocket attacks on Israeli towns from the territory ruled by the radical Islamic Hamas movement. Demonstrations against the strike have erupted across the Arab world and in Israel itself, where Arabs in the northern village of Deir al Asad fired rifles during one rally, and two children were injured by stray bullets, police spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said. In the southern West Bank town of Hebron, Palestinian security forces loyal to western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas fired in the air to break up a crowd of hundreds of Hamas supporters who were preparing to march to a nearby Israeli checkpoint. Abbas' forces have been deploying in several West Bank towns, both to minimise friction with Israeli troops and to keep Hamas in check. At the Kalandia Israeli checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, Palestinians stoned Israeli police but there were no reports of injuries on either side. - AP http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230456501062 Dec 28, 2008 18:18 | Updated Dec 28, 2008 22:52 Palestinian killed by Israeli fire in protest By ETGAR LEFKOVITS IDF troops shot and killed a Palestinian man and seriously wounded another in the West Bank Sunday during a violent protest against Israel's major military offensive against Hamas in Gaza. The fatality was the first in the West Bank since Israel launched its air campaign against Hamas security installations on Saturday. The deadly late-afternoon protest in the village of Ni'lin near Ramallah turned violent after troops stationed in the area were attacked with a hail of rocks, the military said. After the soldiers were unable to halt the barrage with crowd control measures, they used live ammunition to quell the protest. It was not immediately clear Sunday why the security personnel did not have sufficient anti-rioting equipment, and an army spokesman said the incident was being investigated by military authorities. The Palestinian victim who was hit by a bullet in his chest was identified by a Palestinian medic as 22-year-old Arafat Khawaja. The village in question is the focus of a long-running dispute between Palestinians and Israelis over land appropriations for the construction of the security barrier. Meanwhile, Arabs teens in east Jerusalem continued to pelt police with stones in sporadic violent protests in Arab sections of the city, police said. On Monday evening, a tourist bus was damaged in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi Joz after it was hit by a stone thrown by an Arab rioter, police said. There were no injuries reported in the incident. More than three dozen Arabs suspected of rioting have been arrested in east Jerusalem over the last 48 hours. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230111718524&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Dec 27, 2008 17:19 | Updated Dec 28, 2008 1:11 Tibi protests Israeli 'war crime' By BRENDA GAZZAR AND ETGAR LEFKOVITS Israeli Arab leaders called Saturday for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza as thousands of Israeli Arabs around the country took to the streets to protest. Soldiers fire rubber bullets and throw stun grenades at Palestinian demonstrators during clashes following a demonstration against the IAF missiles strike on Gaza, at the Kalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem on Saturday. Photo: AP Slideshow: Operation Cast Lead Following the assault on Gaza, outbreaks of rioting were being reported in east Jerusalem on Saturday. "It's a war crime," said MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al) "I can't accept the logic that panic in the streets of Sderot is worth 200 killed in Gaza as a consequence of firing from one side or another." Tibi said he could not accept that logic particularly when Israel had repeatedly violated the six-month cease-fire that expired December 19 by not opening the crossings and by conducting military strikes in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. "This war crime needs to stop, and we need to return to the tahadiya [calm] to save lives both here and there," he said. Tibi said UAL members participated in spontaneous protests Saturday in the cities of Taiba, Sakhnin, and the Galilee village of Ibillin. In Nazareth, some 3,000 protesters participated in a protest march Saturday evening organized by the Nazareth Democratic Front. Marchers demanded a halt to "all the massacres of the Israeli army in Gaza, second for the unity of the Palestinian people and third, a critique on the silence of the Arab regimes," said Abir Kopty, a Nazareth city councilwoman from the NDF, who helped organize the march. "You see the silence of the international community and the Arab world, except for condemning, and calling for it to stop, but there are no concrete actions to stop the Israeli attack on Gaza," she said after the march. "The only thing you can do is to go out to the streets and demonstrate." A protest was also held in Umm el-Fahm, while another - organized by Jewish and Arab peace activists - took place in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, the Higher Committee for Arab Citizens in Israel called on Israeli Arabs to hold protests against "Israeli aggression wherever it happens." The Higher Committee was meeting late Saturday night to create a plan of action vis-a-vis the Israeli military operation. MK Muhammad Barakei (Hadash) accused Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak - both candidates for prime minister in the upcoming elections - of "using Palestinian blood for political aims." "We are part of the Palestinian people," he said. "We can't be silent about a situation like this when there are innocent people that are killed in cold blood." Barakei called on the government to stop its attack and on the international community to do something "to stop the massacre of the Palestinian people." "It's clear that these attacks will not bring quiet or calm, only negotiations will," he said. On Saturday evening, a 22-year-old Arab ran over a policeman in east Jerusalem, lightly injuring him in what police called a terrorist attack. The assailant, who has a criminal record, was arrested on the scene, Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said. It was the fourth vehicular terror attack in the capital this year, and came as hundreds of Arab residents of east Jerusalem pelted police with stones in several locations in protest of the IAF strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. According to an initial police investigation, the driver intentionally ran over the policeman near the Augusta Victoria Hospital as he exited his patrol car, after having watched the police patrol from his own vehicle for several minutes. The victim managed to overcome the attacker with the help of his colleague. He was then evacuated to Hadassah-University Hospital on Mount Scopus. More than a dozen rioters were arrested. In one incident, dozens of masked teens from the Isawiya quarter clashed with police after trying to enter the adjacent French Hill neighborhood, police said. The rioters, who were forcibly dispersed by police, threw stones at a gas station on the edge of the Jewish neighborhood. A large police force was positioned in the area from early afternoon, some officers on rooftops. Later in the evening, three firebombs were thrown at police on the edge of Isawiya, police said. Also on Saturday night, a firebomb was hurled at a Jewish home in the mixed Jerusalem neighborhood of Abu-Tor. There were no injuries or damage reported in the attack, according to police. Palestinians in the West Bank also demonstrated their opposition to the IAF attacks. In Bethlehem, municipal officials switched off Christmas lights in protest. "In solidarity with Gaza, we turned off the lights," said Mayor Victor Batarseh. The colorful Christmas lights usually remain lit until mid-January. In Ramallah, just a few hundred meters from the home of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, club-wielding PA policemen in white helmets formed a cordon to keep back about 200 Palestinians throwing rocks at an IDF checkpoint. PA firefighters doused burning tires. On the city's main streets, angry residents raised the Palestinian flag as they marched through town, shouting, "We will defend you, Gaza!" In Hebron, dozens of youths hurled stones at soldiers, who lobbed back percussion and tear gas grenades in response. At one point, PA security forces tried to step in, but to no avail. From mosque minarets in Jenin, Palestinians called for strikes and more demonstrations. AP contributed to this report http://rawstory.com/news/2008/West_Bank_protester_shot_dead_by_0104.html West Bank protester shot dead by Israeli troops Agence France-Presse Published: Sunday January 4, 2009 NABLUS, West Bank (AFP) ? A Palestinian demonstrator was shot dead by Israeli troops in the northern West Bank on Sunday during a protest against the Gaza Strip offensive, medics and security officials said. Mufid al-Walwil, 21, was killed when Israeli troops opened fire on a group of Palestinians who were throwing stones at them near the separation barrier in Qalqilya. An army spokewoman confirmed that troops had opened fire after the Palestinians threw stones and "two flaming tyres" towards them during a "violent riot." She said two demonstrators had tried to climb the barrier and had ignored warning shots fired by the soldiers. "The soldiers aimed at their lower body and realised that they had hit one of them in the knee," she said. At least 23 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel's ground offensive began on Saturday. In total, more than 485 Palestinians have died since Israeli started a week of bombing raids on December 27. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1056164.html 10:25 17/01/2009 Palestinian killed, IDF soldier hurt in West Bank protest against Gaza operation By The Associated Press Tags: Israel News, Hamas, Israel Israel Defense Forces troops on Friday shot and killed a Palestinian who participated in a violent West Bank protest against Israel's offensive in Gaza. An IDF soldier sustained light wounds when Palestinian demonstrators hurled rocks at troops who stopped them from marching into Hebron to protest the Israeli operation in the coastal strip. IDF soldiers then fired tear gas rubber-coated bullets at the group of protesters, killing one. Palestinian witnesses named the dead man as Musab Daana, 20. A Palestinian medic said that Daana was killed by a live round to the head. Fifteen other Palestinians were injured in the incident. Israel's offensive in Gaza entered its 21 day Friday, as the Israel Air Force attacked close to 40 targets in the coastal strip, while rockets fired from Gaza pounded southern Israel. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LG92998.htm Palestinian youth killed during W.Bank protest 16 Jan 2009 14:26:46 GMT Source: Reuters HEBRON, West Bank, Jan 16 (Reuters) - A Palestinian teenager was killed on Friday as Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron confronted protesters demanding an end to Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, medics and witnesses said. Medical officials and a relative said 17-year-old Musat Dana was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier. An Israeli army spokesman said soldiers had not fired live ammunition, only rubber bullets, and that the incident was being investigated. Reuters journalists saw troops fire rubber bullets and smoke grenades as demonstrators in Hebron, where Gaza's ruling Islamist movement Hamas has strong support, threw rocks and petrol bombs. Israel imposed sweeping additional restrictions on movement for Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and deployed large number of forces during Muslim weekly prayers. There were no reports of injuries at some half a dozen other protests in the occupied territory. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1232100160779 Jan 16, 2009 14:00 | Updated Jan 16, 2009 15:18 'IDF kills Palestinian W. Bank rioter' By AP AND JPOST.COM STAFF Once again, Gaza violence spilled over into the West Bank after Muslim prayers on Friday, and Palestinian medics said that IDF soldiers shot a Palestinian dead during a violent protest against the army's operation in the Strip. Hamas supporters in Hebron throw stones at Israeli security forces during clashes following a protest against the Gaza operation. Photo: AP SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World They named the dead man as Musab Daana, 20. Witnesses said demonstrators hurled rocks at troops who stopped them from marching into the Israeli-controlled sector of Hebron following Friday prayers. They said the soldiers fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, but a medic said that Daana was killed by a live round to the head. Five other men were lightly wounded. The army had no immediate comment. In the capital, an Arab was arrested in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras el Amud on suspicion of hurling stones at Border Police forces. In addition, dozens of Arabs demonstrated near the Old City's Damascus Gate against the Gaza offensive, and police prevented the demonstrators from marching to Salah a-Din Street. In Silwan, Arabs hurled three Molotov cocktails at security forces, damaging a jeep. Meanwhile, a border policeman was lightly wounded when he was hit by a stone during a protest in Ni'lin, west of Ramallah. There were also protests next to Kalandiya and in Bil'in. http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=84303 Israel Navy fired on protest boat (Dignity) off Gaza shore www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051224.html sent by kjlovell since 104 days 5 hours 8 minutes, published about 103 days 19 hours 38 minutes Israel has declared the coastal territory (international waters) a closed military zone and said the Free Gaza Movement boat would not be permitted to dock. Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, said the boat failed to respond to Israeli naval radio contact, and that an Israeli vessel "clashed with the ship." Free Gaza Movement told Reuters their boat, carrying 3.5 tons of medical aid with 16 people aboard, was rammed and shot at while in international waters about 70-80 miles off Gaza by Israeli naval vessel. NOTE: Latest word from the passengers and crew is that the Israeli ship rammed Dignity three times, putting the lie to the initial Israeli claim that the collision was an accident. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054495.html 14:43 11/01/2009 International protesters plan to break Gaza naval blockade By The Associated Press Tags: Israel News, Hamas, Israel International protesters said Sunday they will again sail from Cyprus to Gaza in a renewed bid to break an Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian territory. Free Gaza group organizers said their 20-meter Greek-flagged yacht, the Spirit of Humanity, will depart at noon Monday from the Cypriot port of Larnaca. It will be carrying medical supplies and 30 passengers aboard, including 7 doctors and Greek, Belgian and Spanish lawmakers. Another Free Gaza boat with aid and volunteer doctors aboard was turned back last month after being seriously damaged in a collision with an Israeli navy vessel. Organizers said in a statement Sunday they have already notified Israeli authorities of the trip and they expect no interference because of the trip's humanitarian purpose. http://arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=117690&d=31&m=12&y=2008&pix=world.jpg&category=World Gaza protest boat sails back into Lebanon AP BEIRUT: A boat carrying international peace activists and medical supplies to the embattled Gaza Strip sailed into a Lebanese port yesterday - after being turned back and damaged by the Israeli Navy, organizers of the trip said. A small crowd on the docks in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre, including fishermen, cheered welcoming the vessel, called SS Dignity, and some flashed the victory sign. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said the boat had ignored an Israeli radio order to turn back early yesterday. Palmor said the boat tried to outmaneuver an Israeli Navy ship and crashed into it, lightly damaging both vessels. The navy then escorted the boat out into the territorial waters of Cyprus. But passengers and crew aboard the SS Dignity disputed the Israeli account, saying their boat was rammed by Israeli Navy boats. ?We were prevented from entering Gaza ... by Israeli patrol boats that tracked us for about 30 minutes. They shone their spotlight on us and then all of a sudden they rammed us approximately three times, twice in the front and once in the side,? said former US Rep. Cynthia McKinney who was aboard the boat. ?Communications from the Israelis indicated that we were involved in terrorist activities ... I presume that?s why they rammed our boat,? she added. The boat?s British captain, Denis Healey, said the Israeli action came ?without any warning, or any provocation.? The boat, which set off from Cyprus on Monday seeking to make a statement and deliver medical supplies to Gaza, bore clear damage marks near its front. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051224.html 30/12/2008 Pro-Palestinian activists say Israel Navy fired on protest boat off Gaza shore By Reuters Tags: Israel News, Hamas, Gaza An Israel Navy ship clashed on Tuesday with a small boat carrying international activists with aid destined for Gaza, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said. There were no reported casualties from the incident involving the small cabin cruiser "Dignity" that sailed from Cyprus late on Monday. Israel has declared the coastal territory a closed military zone and said the Free Gaza Movement boat would not be permitted to dock. Advertisement Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, said the boat failed to respond to Israeli naval radio contact, and that an Israeli vessel "clashed with the ship." Free Gaza Movement told Reuters their boat, carrying 3.5 tons of medical aid with 16 people aboard, was rammed and shot at while in international waters about 70-80 miles off Gaza by Israeli naval vessel. Palmor denied there had been any shooting although the two ships made "physical contact." He said no one had been hurt and that the Israeli ship escorted the aid boat back to Cypriot territorial waters. Israel has declared areas around the Gaza Strip a "closed military zone" after it launched an aerial offensive in the coastal territory on Hamas targets on Saturday, in which 345 Palestinians have been killed. Free Gaza Movement said their boat was safe, but had sustained damage. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054286.html Palestinian security forces break up Gaza protest By Amira Hass Tags: Palestinian Authority Ramallah residents were shocked on Friday when a protest against the Israeli offensive in Gaza was forcibly dispersed by Palestinian Authority security forces using tear gas and clubs. Youth from the Fatah movement assisted security forces in breaking up a rally of solidarity with the Palestinian faction's rival Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Fatah said the protest was dispersed because Hamas supporters waved flags identified with the Islamic group, violating an agreement to only display symbols not affiliated with any party. Witnesses who are not members of either Palestinian faction said Fatah youth provoked the clash by shouting slogans supporting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as the protesters left a mosque. Demonstrators responded by shouting Hamas slogans, prompting security forces to intervene. "Welcome to Dayton country," a teary-eyed female Palestinian protester shouted, referring to U.S. General Keith Dayton who trained the PA security forces that dispersed the crowd. Ties between the two Palestinian factions have been severed since 2007 when Hamas forcibly took control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority, which is associated with Fatah. Since the start of the IDF's operation in Gaza, the PA government has decided to suppress demonstrations supporting Hamas in the area under its control in the West Bank. Last week, PA forces dispersed demonstrators marching toward an Israel Defense Forces roadblock near Jerusalem. Meanwhile, a large contingent of security forces is preventing protesters from going near the PA's government center in Ramallah. Plain-clothes policemen have been stationed around town to keep protesters under surveillance. According to Palestinian sources, Hamas activists demonstrated in areas under Israel's security control because they were barred from holding the protest in areas under the control of the PA. Some 20 participants in the protest were hurt in clashes with Israeli troops. Last week an initiative to hold a joint protest by Hamas and Fatah against Israel was abandoned after the IDF arrested a senior Hamas member involved in its organization. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054269.html 11/01/2009 Left-wing activists: IDF uses live ammo to break up West Bank protests By Nir Hasson and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: West Bank, Security Fence Palestinians and Israeli left-wing activists claim that in the wake of Operation Cast Lead, the Israel Defense Forces has reintroduced the use of a semiautomatic rifle that uses live ammunition to disperse crowds that was banned after the second Intifada. The Ruger .22 rifle was banned following the Al-Aqsa Intifada, in which it was used to break up protests and caused the deaths of a number of Palestinians, including youths and children. In 2001, the IDF's then-Military Advocate General Menahem Finkelstein ruled that the rifle, used against protesters and stone-throwers, be viewed as a lethal weapon in all senses. The rifle has been used by snipers to shoot at protesters from the waist down, and last Friday it was used to fire on activists, eight of whom sustained light wounds to the leg. The .22 rifle fires a small cartridge which has a much lower stopping power than larger caliber rifles in use by Israeli security forces, but can still be lethal at close range. IDF snipers will use the rifle to fire at demonstrators, aiming at the lower half of the body. The rifle was used by security forces against Palestinian demonstrators in the West Bank last Friday, with 8 demonstrators sustaining light wounds to their legs. "We have never seen these rifles used before. The soldiers use them to break up demonstrations, not in instances where their lives are in danger. They shoot from long range, far past the range of rock-throwers," left-wing activist Yonatan Pollak said. A West Bank resident who was wounded by the .22 fire told Haaretz Friday that he and his friends were leaving their village for a demonstration when as they approached the West Bank Security Fence they were fired upon by IDF soldiers. The man said he was shot three times in the leg and suffers from lingering pain as a result. He said his friend who was also shot in the incident was more severely injured and lost a great deal of blood. An IDF official said Friday that the rifle is less lethal and causes less damage than a rubber bullet. "These demonstrations can be very dangerous. Our goal is to cause as little damage as possible in order to calm the situation", the official said. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=11732 West Bank protests end in fist fights (01-09 20:51) Hamas supporters clashed with members of the rival Fatah party during protests in the West Bank city of Ramallah against the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. The clashes erupted after the Hamas rulers of Gaza had called for a second Friday of protests to mark a ''day of wrath'' against the Israeli bombardments. Fist fights erupted and security forces used teargas and batons to disperse the fighters. Thirteen people were taken to hospital and several others were detained. In the West Bank city of Hebron, 3,000 people took part in a protest march, with some hurling stones at Israeli soldiers who fired rubber-coated bullets and teargas. In Jerusalem, police fired teargas at dozens of young Palestinians who threw stones. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,475305,00.html Palestinian Police Ban Pro-Hamas Protests in Widening Crackdown on Violent Demonstrations Friday, January 02, 2009 | FoxNews.com AP Jan. 2: Palestinian protesters throws stones at Israeli troops, not seen, during clashes in the Shuafat refugee camp on the outskirts of Jerusalem. RAMALLAH, West Bank ? Palestinian police violently cracked down on protests organized by their rivals in Hamas throughout the West Bank on Friday as rallies against Israeli air strikes in Gaza turned into demonstrations against the Palestinian Authority. Police of Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority pounced on demonstrators protesting seven days of heavy Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip targeting the militant Hamas movement. Security forces particularly focused on anyone carrying Hamas' green flags, a telling indication of Abbas' determination to thwart any challenges to its own rule in the West Bank from Hamas. Feelings are running high among Palestinians and across the Middle East against the strikes which have killed at least 400 Palestinians, including around 100 civilians, according to a U.N. estimate. Abbas, together with his allies in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have blamed Hamas for bringing the attacks on themselves by repeatedly firing rockets into Israel. These criticisms, though, have angered many in the face of Israel's assaults. "Abu Mazen is on the side of the Jews!" yelled 66-year-old Umm Maher at a small demonstration in east Jerusalem, referring to Abbas by his nickname. Israeli police quickly dispersed the few dozen protesters in that demonstration, but elsewhere, it was the security forces of the Palestinian Authority stopping the rallies against Israel's actions. In the southern West Bank city of Hebron, demonstrators who for decades had being throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers, now pelted Palestinian police after they tried to disburse 400 Hamas loyalists brandishing the movement's green flag. "We will prohibit any signs and slogans that are hostile to the Palestinian Authority, and prohibit incitement," said Riyad Malki, Information Minister. "Security forces have been instructed to deal with these demonstrations." Police detained five Hamas supporters at a 3,000-strong demonstration in the central West Bank town of Ramallah and ripped up placards with pro-Hamas slogans. "The more they try suppress us, the more popular we will become," vowed Muna Mansour, a prominent Hamas member. In several cases, the Palestinian police stopped protesters from approaching some of the Israeli checkpoints scattered around the West Bank, which youths target with rocks and firebombs. Demonstrators were shocked to suddenly find themselves clashing with their own police forces. "When I saw the police coming with their batons, I thought of the Jews. They also don't deal with people except with clubs and live bullets," said Najiyeh Awdeh, a 50-year-old protester, referring to Israeli forces. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98960940&ft=1&f=1004 Palestinian Infighting Meanwhile, protests broke out in several Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank on Friday as Hamas urged supporters to observe a "day of rage" over the Israeli bombardment. In Ramallah after Friday prayers, Omar Barghouti was among several thousand who marched through downtown streets. He said the bombings in Gaza had helped unite Palestinian factions around a common enemy. "We're pushing for national unity. Without unity there will be no Hamas and no Fatah," Barghouti said. "Both factions have the objective of liberating Palestine. Anybody who idealizes one faction over another is mistaken. Factionalism will get us nowhere." But while there were chants of "unity, unity," Palestinian police worked hard to keep the Fatah and Hamas supporters separated and repeatedly cracked down on pro-Hamas demonstrators. At one point, a Hamas man called a pro-Fatah protester "a traitor," sparking a fistfight; shots were fired into the air. A few people were injured in scuffles. Israeli Soldiers Taunted In an uncharacteristic way, Palestinian riot police and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank were united Friday in their quest to crack down hard on Palestinians seething over the Israeli bombing of Gaza. After getting roughed up by their own police force in Ramallah, hundreds of Palestinian teens and young adults made their way over to an Israeli checkpoint where they were greeted with rubber bullets and tear gas. At the entrance to Qalandiya, a massive, walled checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem, teenagers threw rocks, burned tires and taunted Israeli soldiers who responded with round after round of tear gas. Israel declared a general closure of the West Bank through the weekend. The move, which severely restricts the movement of Palestinians, is aimed at reining in protests and violence. Israel also has added mobile checkpoints and bolstered security throughout Jerusalem and entrances to the city fearing more protests and reprisal attacks over its ongoing bombing of Gaza. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/tm_headline=three-boys-killed-as-thousands-protest-at-gaza-violence%26method=full%26objectid=21011734%26siteid=115875-name_page.html Three boys killed as thousands protest at Gaza violence By Stephen White 3/01/2009 Three young children were killed in air strikes in Gaza yesterday as thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in protest at Israel's attacks. The boys, two brothers and a cousin aged between seven and 10, were said to have died during an air raid as they played in the street. Hamas's call for a Day of Wrath protest was answered by mass demonstrations across the middle east. Thousands of Palestinians also flocked to a memorial service for Hamas leader Nizar Rayan, killed in a rocket strike on Thursday with four of his children. Mourners marched to a cemetery carrying the bodies of Rayan and his family. In London ex-model Bianca Jagger and singer Annie Lennox joined a human rights rally to call on US president elect Barack Obama to speak up against the Israeli bombardment. Israel yesterday said it was still being hit by missiles. Meanwhile hundreds of its tanks massed near Gaza, heightening invasion fears. The Israeli military was reported to be ringing homes in Gaza warning they were about to attack. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/03/2458419.htm Thousands protest Gaza bombings Posted Sat Jan 3, 2009 12:32am AEDT Updated Sat Jan 3, 2009 12:46am AEDT As the violence continues Palestinian anger is increasing. (Reuters: Abed Omar Qusini ) Thousands of Palestinians have been taking part in demonstrations across the West Bank in response to a call from Hamas for what it called a day of wrath against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The protesters are directing their anger not just at Israel but at Arab governments for their failure to stop the offensive. As the violence continues Palestinian anger is increasing. In Ramallah a large demonstration has been held in support of Hamas and the people of Gaza. Protests were planned in other towns along the West Bank. In east Jerusalem stones were thrown at Israeli police. Overnight in Gaza there were more than 20 Israeli air strikes. They targeted a mosque and the homes of several Hamas members. But rockets are still being fired out of Gaza towards towns in southern Israel and preparations continue for a possible ground operation by Israeli troops. There is speculation that could begin soon. Protests against the Israeli bombing raids in Gaza have also been held across Pakistan, were hundreds of demonstrators have rallied, some calling for a holy war against Israel. In Afghanistan, demonstrators ripped up an Israeli flag, torched banners and set alight an effigy of Israeli President Shimon Peres. Up to 5,000 people gathered in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, while hundreds of people in Indian-administered Kashmir burned Israeli flags. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/249688,thousands-in-ramallah-protest-israeli-offensive-in-gaza.html Thousands in Ramallah protest Israeli offensive in Gaza Posted : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:31:02 GMT Author : DPA Category : Middle East (World) Ramallah - Thousands of Palestinians gathered in the West Bank city of Ramallah to protest the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip on Friday, shouting slogans and waving national flags. Up to 3,000 people gathered outside a mosque after Friday prayers and began marching to the main Manara Square in the city centre. While there were no green Hamas flags, Palestinian police, who were located around the demonstration in large numbers, arrested people who shouted pro-Hamas slogans. The West Bank is under control of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from the Fatah faction, the rival of the Islamic movement which rules Gaza. Even so, few yellow Fatah flags could be seen at the protest. One sign held by the marchers read "one people united against Israeli aggression." People shouted they would "sacrifice" themselves for Gaza. http://www.anspress.com/nid99688.html Event / 09.01.2009 23:03 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank protest over Gaza Palestinian youths threw stones at soldiers who again fired tear gas and stun grenades at the protesters. Palestinians in the occupied West Bank protested on Friday against Israel's full-scale offensive against Gaza.. Around 4,000 people protested in Ramallah after the Muslim noon prayer. Supporters of Hamas, the Islamic movement which controls Gaza, said Fatah-dominated police of the Palestinian Authority tried to intimidate them. Police fired tea gas to disperse Hamas supporters in the crowd who taunted them as "Jews" and "collaborators" of Israel. Palestinians protesting against the Israeli offensive on the Gaza strip have clashed with Israeli security forces in the West Bank. At the Qalandiya checkpoint, an entrance to the city of Ramallah, Palestinian youths threw stones at soldiers who again fired tear gas and stun grenades at the protesters. In the West Bank village of Bilin, protesters dressed as Holocaust concentration camp inmates and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who responded with tear gas. In Nablus, about 700 protested. Some carried pictures of Abbas, but 30 women bore the green banners of Hamas. There were no clashes http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/features/article_1452587.php/As_Gaza_bleeds_West_Bank_protests_-_and_bickers__News_Feature__ As Gaza bleeds, West Bank protests - and bickers (News Feature) Middle East Features By Ofira Koopmans Jan 9, 2009, 14:13 GMT Ramallah, West Bank - 'With our souls, with our blood, we will sacrifice for Gaza' and 'God is great,' chant the protesters, as they march after completing Friday's prayers from the mosque at Ramallah's vegetable market to the West Bank city's central Manara circus. 'One people, united against the Israeli aggression,' say several signs they hold up. A two- to three-year-old sits on his father's shoulders, a Palestinian flag tied around his head and a plastic toy rifle in his hand. Then follow a group of dozens of women, all holding up copies of the Koran as they chant. The protesters mostly carry black-white-green-and-red Palestinian flags, but a few standing on a truck also wave two Venezuelan flags and carry a large portrait of President Hugo Chavez, who earlier this week called Israel 'cowardly' and expelled the Israeli ambassador from Caracas. The administration of President Mahmoud Abbas and the demonstration's organizers, handing out the four-colour national flags, have told people not to carry either Hamas or Fatah flags in a show of unity. But as a leading independent legislator pleads for national unity over a truck loudspeaker, what was meant as a large display of just that - a united protest against Israel - quickly turns into yet another factional spat. A boy carries a large Palestinian flag, with a tiny green Hamas flag taped to the back, so Abbas' security forces - present in large numbers both in blue police uniforms and in civilian cloths - do not see it. When one group then starts chanting slogans in support of Fatah and Abbas, another begins to chant 'Hamas, will shake the earth!' Soon a few dozen heated young men in Fatah baseball caps with wooden sticks - guided by what bystanders say are Abbas' security forces - storm after someone who appears to be a Hamas supporter. Intelligence officers in civilian cloths drag away a protester to a green van of the National Security Service, as he shouts 'I didn't do anything' - and then soon disperse the demonstration. Up to 3,000 people attended the march in the heart of downtown Ramallah, which would be filled with as many as 50,000 during past demonstrations a few years ago, especially those called by the popular and disciplined Hamas shortly after it won the January 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections. Israel was initially concerned its Gaza offensive would revive major unrest throughout the West Bank. Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal called for a third Intifada (uprising) against Israel. But while mass demonstrations have been held elsewhere in the Arab world, the West Bank has been comparatively quiet. 'Why?' wonder some observers. Palestinians in the West Bank, while outraged at the high death toll in Gaza, say they feel that going out into the streets en mass would make 'no difference.' Still exhausted from the second Intifada, which erupted in late 2000 amid a deadlock in the peace process but has largely died down in the West Bank, they say the uprising brought nothing but Israel's security wall and more military roadblocks. They have no interest in a third one. Many in the West Bank also say they have lost faith in both Hamas and Fatah, the two largest Palestinian political factions which have been locked in a bitter and at times bloody power struggle ever since the radical Islamic movement beat the secular party of the Palestinian establishment in the 2006 elections. Hamas, they suspect, would not hesitate to use whatever means, including violence, to seize sole control over the West Bank as it did of Gaza in June 2007, while Fatah promoted a peace process that has brought nothing but promises. Both factions, therefore, have more difficulty to mobilize large numbers of people than they had in the past. Hamas, more centralized than Fatah, is still able to call up larger numbers of its supporters' base, but its demonstrations have been harshly crushed down by Abbas' security forces. During a protest against Israel's Gaza offensive in Ramallah last Friday, security forces in civilian cloths beat several female supporters of Hamas. Police threatened to confiscate the cameras of journalists who had documented the beatings, until the cameramen pledged not to publish the footage. The police arrested several protesters, who say they were also beaten before being released. 'We are all feeling awful,' said shoarma shop employee Mohammed Nakhla of the Gaza violence, adding that in his 25 years 'I haven't seen anything worse.' 'I don't know anyone there (in Gaza), but we are all Palestinians. There is no difference between Hamas and Fatah. We all have the same goal. We want freedom for our country.' But even in the face of the fierce Israeli offensive in Gaza, the rift and distrust between the two rival factions seems as deep as ever. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6578929.html Fatah calls for protests against Israel's offensive on Gaza 19:04, January 21, 2009 Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Wednesday for massive protests against the Israeli military air and ground offensive on Gaza that ended last Sunday. Israel had carried out a large-scale military offensive on the Gaza Strip and lasted for 22 days until January 18. Official figures said that around 1,400 Palestinians were killed and 5,500 others wounded. The Israeli army had also destroyed more than 4,000 houses, and damaged around 20,000 others, in addition to destroying mosques, security and governmental installations and buildings. Fatah said in a written statement sent to reporters that "the war on the Gaza Strip had not differentiate between one faction and another, but it targeted everyone, including Hamas and Fatah." Hamas and Fatah movements are the biggest rival groups in the Palestinian territories. Both had been conflicting on power in Gaza Strip, which Hamas has been ruling since mid June 2007, and the West Bank that Abbas and Fatah rule. Fatah statement called also for appealing to the international courts "in order to sue the Israeli leaders for their inhuman aggression and the crimes they committed against the Palestinian people." The movement, which lost 35 of its militants during the Israeli offensive on Gaza, said that the Palestinian factions are urged to join popular protests and rallies, calling on Hamas movement not to prevent these protests. Source: Xinhua http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,473285,00.html Palestinian President Sends Forces to Disperse Protesters Saturday, December 27, 2008 AP Dec. 27: A Palestinian woman reacts during a demonstration against the Israeli missiles strike on Gaza, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip ? Protests against Israel's deadly bombing of Gaza erupted across the West Bank on Saturday, and in two cities, club-wielding Palestinian police tried to block crowds from throwing stones at Israeli troops. In Bethlehem, Jesus' traditional birthplace, municipal officials switched off Christmas lights in protest. More than 200 Palestinians were killed in unprecedented Israeli air attacks on Hamas security compounds across Gaza on Saturday, in retaliation for continued rocket fire from Gaza on Israeli towns. Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who controls the West Bank, called for restraint. However, he is also engaged a bitter power struggle with Hamas which wrested control of Gaza from him last year. Since then, Abbas' security forces have cracked down hard on Hamas activists in the West Bank. Click here for photos of the seige (WARNING: Graphic) Click here for photos of resistance to the airstrikes. In sending forces to block anti-Israel protests Saturday, Abbas' government signaled that it is determined to prevent the unrest from spreading. Abbas coordinates some security with Israel and has held peace talks with Israel for the past year. Abbas aide Nimer Hamad suggested that Hamas carries some of the blame for Saturday's violence because of continued rocket fire from Gaza. "We think that launching rockets is useless. No excuse should be given to (Israel) to attack," Hamad said, while calling on Israel to halt its strikes. Abbas had left the West Bank for a Mideast tour earlier Saturday, before the air strikes began. In the West Bank town of Ramallah, just a few hundred meters from Abbas' home, club-wielding Palestinian policemen in white helmets formed a cordon to keep back about 200 Palestinians throwing rocks at an Israeli checkpoint. Palestinian firefighters doused burning tires. Nearby, Israeli soldiers stood behind their jeeps, clutching guns. In the southern West Bank city of Hebron, dozens of youths hurled stones at Israeli soldiers, who lobbed back sound bombs and tear gas grenades in response. At one point, Palestinian security forces tried to step in, but to no avail. Bethlehem, the scene of Christmas celebrations this week, went dark Saturday. "In solidarity with Gaza, we turned off the lights," said Mayor Victor Batarseh. The colorful Christmas lights usually remain lit until mid-January. From mosque minarets in the northern West Bank town of Jenin, Palestinians called for strikes and more demonstrations. On Ramallah's main streets, angry residents raised the Palestinian flag as they marched through town, shouting, "We will defend you, Gaza!" http://www.myantiwar.org/view/168959.html West Bank factions announce protest coalition Date: 28 / 12 / 2008 Time: 21:03 [Ma'anImages] Ramallah - Ma?an - National and Islamic factions announced Sunday the formation of a leadership coalition for "daily action that would interact with those who took to the streets over the past two days in protest to the Israeli attacks on Gaza." This leadership group will organize daily activities in all parts of the West Bank, it said in a statement. Factions had called for Palestinians to carry Palestinian and black flags in all of their actions in the West Bank, adding that the leadership will work with all organizations of the civil community and each of the anti-occupation committees, aiming at ?lifting the siege, resisting the construction of the wall on a daily basis until the occupation has ended.? This statement was released after an urgent meeting that was held by national and Islamic factions in the West Bank city of Ramallah to discuss consequences of Israeli attacks on Gaza. It urged the Palestinian leadership to fully halt all negotiations, end political arrests and stop security coordination. It also urged a ?joint Arab stance in the coming Arab summit... a national stance that will address international legitimacy, in spite of Israeli and American domination." http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/20081227122748912382.html Protests call for Palestinian unity In Hebron, people took to the streets in anguish over the attack [Reuters] Palestinians in the West Bank have demonstrated for unity between the rival factions, Fatah and Hamas, after Israeli air attacks on the Gaza Strip killed more than 225 people and wounded about 700 others. Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in the centre of Ramallah in the West Bank on Saturday, some carrying banners reading: "We will not forget you, Gaza." Protesters threw stones at Israeli troops in the occupied city, as well as at the Qalandiya checkpoint and a village near Hebron. Television pictures showed the soldiers responding with tear gas. In Bethlehem, municipal officials switched off the Christmas lights in protest over the violence. Nour Odeh, Al Jazeera's correspondent in neighbouring Jordan, said: "This is probably one of the most violent Israeli air campaigns against Gaza." "Politically speaking, this is devastating... We can see people in Ramallah coming out on the streets, calling on the leaderships in the Palestinian territories to unite, and set aside their differences knowing that that will be difficult, as it has been for the past year and a half. "It will certainly be very embarrassing for Mahmoud Abbas [the Palestinian president], who is engaged in a peace process with Israel, trying to convince a very sceptical public that a political process with Israel can yield results while these bombs are raining on Gaza." Solidarity Yasser Abed, an adviser to Abbas speaking in the West Bank said: "In this moment we express our solidarity with all the victims of this aggression. "And we call for an immediate halt and ending of this aggression against the Gaza Strip. "Our leadership and our government are taking measures now in order to help the victims of the aggression" Yasser Abed, Spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian president "Our leadership and our government are taking measures now in order to help the victims of the aggression." Abbas said he was in "urgent contact" with numerous countries over the raids. Angry demonstrations also broke out in Oum el-Fahem, Nazareth, Sahnin and Tamra in northern Israel in response to a call from leaders of the country's Arab community. Protesters chanted slogans condemning "Israeli aggression" and waved Palestinian flags. The Israeli bombardment sparked rallies across the Arab world, including in Amman, the capital of Jordan, and Damascus in Syria. "It's a Zionist holocaust, but it won't dissuade us from going on with our struggle to achieve our goals," Ali Barakah, one of the protesters at al-Yarmouk camp, outside Damascus, said. In Beirut, Palestinian and Lebanese protesters gathered outside the Egyptian embassy, calling on Egypt to open the Rafah crossing into the Gaza Strip. Protesters held candles and Palestinian flags, chanting pro-Hamas and anti-Israel slogans. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230733174742 Jan 5, 2009 0:27 | Updated Jan 5, 2009 1:24 PA keeping lid on Hamas protests in West Bank By ETGAR LEFKOVITS AND YAAKOV LAPPIN The Palestinian Authority Police has proven capable of quelling violent protests and maintaining law and order in the West Bank during Israel's military offensive against Hamas in Gaza, Israeli security officials said Sunday. A Palestinian demonstrator jumps off the West Bank security barrier at the Kalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah on Sunday. Photo: AP SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World "The Palestinian police have succeeded in dealing with the demonstrations in the West Bank over the last week," Judea and Samaria Police spokesman Ch.-Supt. Danny Poleg said. The PA police, which recently received training from the Americans, had largely been able to contain violent protests in Palestinian-controlled cities, so they didn't spill over into Israeli-controlled areas, Poleg said."They are under the same high alert as we are," he said. On the instructions of PA President Mahmoud Abbas,the Fatah-controlled security forces have banned pro-Hamas demonstrations. Hamas supporters in the West Bank said the PA's security forces threatened to arrest them if they raised Hamas flags or chanted slogans in favor of the Islamist movement. "We were told that we could only stage protests against Israel and in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip," a Hamas representative said. "We were also warned against initiating confrontations with the Israeli army." He added that it was ironic that "millions of people" in nations across the world were being permitted to demonstrate in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip while Abbas and other Arab leaders were prohibiting such protests. The tough measures in the West Bank are aimed at preventing Hamas from stirring trouble and undermining the Palestinian Authority, a senior PA official in Ramallah said. He pointed out that Hamas leaders have in the past few days called on Palestinians living in the West Bank to rise up against Israel and the PA. "Our security forces have instructions to use an iron fist against anyone who incites and expresses support for Hamas," the official said. On Friday, the PA security forces used force to disperse several hundred demonstrators in Hebron. Sources in the city said at least five protesters were detained. Separately, IDF troops shot and killed Mufid Saleh Walweel, 22, during violent protests near Kalkilya on Sunday, Palestinian medical officials said. The military said the soldiers fired at a man who was trying to cross the West Bank security barrier during a protest in which firebombs and stones were thrown at the troops. Meanwhile, the Israel Police remain on the highest state of alert nationwide over the weekend as the ground operation in Gaza got under way. Hamas has said it would carry out suicide bombings in Israeli cities in retaliation for the Israeli offensive. Nearly 600 Arabs suspected of taking part in violent protests in Israel against the Gaza operation were arrested over the past week, most of them in northern Israel and in Jerusalem, police said. Two hundred and thirty of them remain in detention, while dozens have been charged with rioting and disturbing the peace. Scores of police officers were lightly wounded in the clashes. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7808257.stm Friday, 2 January 2009 West Bank anger over Gaza raids Hamas made a show of strength at funerals on Friday Thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank have joined demonstrations after a call from Hamas for a "day of wrath" against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Five Palestinians, including three children, have been killed in the latest Israeli air attacks on Gaza. More than 400 people are believed to have died in a week of raids on Gaza. Four Israelis have died in the rocket attacks Israel is trying to prevent. The US said on Friday it wanted a "durable and sustainable" ceasefire. But US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said any ceasefire should "not allow a re-establishment of the status quo ante, where Hamas can continue to launch rockets out of Gaza". The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says it is unclear what Ms Rice means by "sustainable ceasefire" or how it can be attained. But it is a position that is widely interpreted as tacit backing by Washington for Israel to continue its military operation and try to weaken Hamas as much as possible, our correspondent says. Stone-throwing Friday's protests were called after an Israeli air strike hit the home of Nizar Rayan, a firebrand leader of Hamas who refused to go into hiding, killing him, and several of his wives and children. "We will not rest until we destroy the Zionist entity," senior Hamas figure Fathi Hammad said at the funeral for the 20 people who died in that attack. In the West Bank Palestinian protesters have been directing their anger not just at Israel but at Arab governments and their own leaders for their failure to stop the offensive. Thousands gathered in Ramallah, while in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, youths threw stones at security forces, who fired tear gas. Protests have also been held across the Middle East and in several Asian countries, as well as in Australia and Kenya. Riot police in Jordan reportedly fired tear gas to stop a march on the Israeli embassy, while in Istanbul thousands of Turks burned Israeli flags after main Friday prayers. The Egyptian authorities deployed thousands of riot police to prevent demonstrations in Cairo. The Islamist opposition group, The Muslim Brotherhood, said many people had been arrested there. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-01-11-westbank_N.htm?csp=34 West Bank stages calm protests against Israel's Gaza offensive Updated 1/12/2009 12:21 AM | Comments 24 | Recommend 3 ISRAELI TROOPS GO DEEP INTO GAZA CITY GAZA CITY ? Israeli ground forces on Sunday made their deepest foray yet into Gaza's most populated area as infantry engaged in urban warfare. Meanwhile, Hamas militants kept up their assault of southern Israel. An Israeli army spokeswoman said residential neighborhoods in Gaza are riddled with bombs and booby traps, including mannequins placed at apartment entrances to simulate militants and rigged to explode if soldiers approach. The army "is advancing more into urban areas," said the spokeswoman, Maj. Avital Leibovich. "Since the majority of the Hamas militants are pretty much in hiding in those places, mainly urban places, then we operate in those areas." Late Sunday, smoke from explosions rose over Gaza City. Early Monday, Israeli gunboats fired more than 25 shells at Gaza City. At least 870 Palestinians, about half of them civilians, have been killed since the conflict began Dec. 27, according to Associated Press interviews with Palestinian health officials. Israel says Hamas terrorists are firing rockets from residential neighborhoods, schools and mosques in violation of international law and causing civilian deaths. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, have died. Israel and Hamas have ignored a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel had made progress in its objectives in the Gaza offensive but is not finished. "Further patience, determination and effort are necessary in order to achieve those goals in a way that will change the security reality in the south." ?The Associated Press By Jim Michaels, USA TODAY RAMALLAH, West Bank ? Not so long ago, it might have been a sign of impending bloodshed: knots of Palestinians gathered in a square, unfurling banners and chanting to protest Israel. Yet as the crowd grew louder at a street demonstration here Sunday against the Gaza conflict, a handful of police officers looked on from a distance ? and the proceedings remained peaceful. The police were close enough to watch but not so near as to provoke the crowd. "When they arrest anyone, it is to stop chaos," explained Mariam Nakhmeh, a 38-year-old housewife who was among about 150 mostly female protesters gathering at Manara Square. If any region would be expected to explode in violence during Israel's offensive in Gaza, it would be the West Bank ? the other Palestinian territory, which itself has a long history of unrest. However, the area has remained relatively quiet so far, even as rowdy protests have ignited throughout the Arab world. Officials here say that after years of violence, Palestinians in the West Bank are tired of the violence. They also point to the growing strength and professionalism of the Palestinian Authority security forces, many of whom have been trained under U.S. and European-funded programs designed to create an effective force respectful of civil rights. FIND MORE STORIES IN: United States | Israel | Middle East | Palestinians | Gaza Strip | West Bank | Hamas | Arab | George W Bush | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas | Fatah | Palestinian Authority | Knesset | Ephraim Sneh | Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton | Shawan Jabarin | Manara Square | National Security Forces "There are sit-ins, demonstrations and rallies," said Brig. Gen. Adnan Damiri, a police spokesman. But, he said, people have concluded violence is counterproductive. "Are we supposed to fill our morgues with dead people?" Gaza and the West Bank would constitute a unified Palestinian state under the long-term Middle East peace plan sponsored by the U.S. and European powers, but the territories have been effectively separate since Hamas took over Gaza in a revolt in 2007. Provoked by rockets fired from Gaza, Israeli launched an offensive Dec. 27 against Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by the U.S. and Europe. In contrast, the West Bank is governed by Fatah, a moderate rival organization that has shown a willingness to negotiate with Israel. "Palestinians feel law and order are the ticket to statehood," said Dov Schwartz, a senior aide to Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, the U.S. security coordinator who is overseeing a program to support and aid Palestinian security forces. "The security services are delivering that law and order." When Israel launched its offensive in Gaza, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Fatah member, ordered his security team to keep a lid on violence in the West Bank. The orders that came out of the meeting were that peaceful demonstrations would be allowed but anyone trying to incite violence would be arrested, said Brig. Gen. Majid al-Khatib, who heads the joint operations center in Ramallah.The rules also state that only the Palestinian flag could be flown and that Hamas and Fatah flags were banned from rallies ? a step designed to prevent clashes among Palestinians. "I am not against people expressing their views," said Maj. Gen. Diab al-Ali, commander of the Palestinian Authority's National Security Forces. "However, we discourage people from getting to the point of conflict." Police have arrested about 50 people in demonstrations over the past couple of weeks, al-Khatib said. Some are still being held. There also have been scuffles at demonstrations. Police and security officials say they have kept the demonstrators away from Israeli troops. "We consider anyone who throws stones at Israelis a criminal," al-Khatib said. "We do not want to escalate the situation." The security measures have bothered some. "Everybody is demonstrating," said human rights activist Shawan Jabarin, referring to worldwide protests. "What about the Palestinians? You can't control the public in an angry moment." Jabarin said some demonstrators have been roughed up by police. Col. Akram Rujib, a security official in Ramallah, conceded that "sometimes we violate human rights." But he says new training programs are aimed at eliminating such abuses by teaching officers how to respect people while enforcing the law, a balance he compared to "walking on land mines." During a visit here a year ago, President Bush called the creation of an effective security force "step one" of building credibility with the Palestinian people. The United States has provided about $161 million for training. The Palestinian security forces also have benefited from a better relationship with the Israelis. Earlier this decade during the Palestinian intifada, or revolt, police stations were targeted by Israeli forces, leaving security forces weakened. Now, the relative calm here has given Israelis one less possible front to worry about as it battles Hamas. The more effective police force, plus a security wall that Israel built around the West Bank, may help explain why Hamas' threat to send suicide bombers into Israel has so far been unrealized. "In the old days, it was militias or sometimes thugs in uniform," said Ephraim Sneh, a former member of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, who once served as the civil administrator of the West Bank. "Now it is a real organized, disciplined and professional force." http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/250932,several-thousand-protest-in-ramallah-against-gaza-assault.html Several thousand protest in Ramallah against Gaza assault Posted : Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:33:04 GMT Author : DPA Ramallah - Some 3,000 Palestinians marched in the West Bank city of Ramallah Friday to protest Israel's offensive in Gaza, waving Palestinian flags, chanting "the blood of the martyrs will not go to waste," and holding up signs calling for West Bank-Gaza unity. Women holding up copies of the Koran chanted slogans in support of Hamas, as Palestinian police in uniform walked behind but did not try to stop them. Plain-clothes security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party is locked in a bitter power struggle with Hamas, had beaten and arrested marchers shouting pro-Hamas slogans during similar demonstrations over the past two Fridays. But organizers - of an umbrella group representing various factions including the two rival parties - then threatened to cancel all planned West Bank demonstrations against the Israeli assault in Gaza. They withdrew their threat after acting Palestinian Interior Minister Abdul Razzaq Yahya, in a meeting with the group, promised no longer to use force against Hamas demonstrators. As part of a compromise, the parties agreed not to carry Hamas and Fatah, but only Palestinian flags during Friday's protest. Tensions between the two groups have remained high since they peaked in June 2007, when Hamas seized sole control of Gaza by violently overpowering the headquarters throughout the strip of Fatah- dominated security forces answering to Abbas. Since then, Hamas has cracked down on Fatah supporters in Gaza, while also Abbas, fearing a similar violent take-over in the West Bank, has acted heavy-handedly against Hamas members. The tensions have led to a relatively low turn-out in the West Bank protests against Israel, despite widespread outrage among Palestinians over the surging death toll in Gaza, where more than 1,100 people have been killed and 5,000 wounded over the past three weeks. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1055557.html Pro-Gaza demonstration in Ramallah canceled for a lack of protesters By Avi Issacharoff , Haaretz Correspondent Tags: hamas, west Bank, gaza RAMALLAH - It's quiet in Ramallah. At the northern entrance to the city, not far from the mall, a new fountain spouts water. Next to it lies a sign in English: "Gaza under fire." But it seems the Gaza Strip has never been so far away. Tel Aviv, meanwhile, feels closer than ever. Almost every day at 1 P.M., a demonstration leaves Manara Square in the city center, expressing support for the residents of the Gaza Strip. The number of participants has declined, however, on a daily basis, and on Wednesday the demonstration was called off for a lack of protesters. Dozens of men sit in cafes near the square playing cards. In the background, the television blasts the voices of Al-Jazeera reporters, who provide continual updates about the events taking place in the Strip. But even the dramatic reports do not stop the card players for a moment. Occasionally one of them glances up at the screen, but then gets back to business. The offices of the Al-Jazeera television network overlook Manara Square. Walid Omari, the bureau chief for the Palestinian Authority and Israel, explains that "the residents of Ramallah are filling the cafes, the restaurants, watching Al-Jazeera, cursing the situation, expressing anger and then continuing with their own affairs." Omari explains that the quiet all over the West Bank in the face of the events in Gaza stems mainly from disappointment and frustration with the leadership of Hamas and Fatah. "The residents of the West Bank lost a great deal in the course of the last Intifada, but saw no achievements. They are very afraid of more losses, mainly in light of the crisis of confidence between the Palestinian street and its leadership." He refrains from accusing the PA of suppressing the protest demonstrations, a claim that quite a few of his colleagues have made. "The PA is not preventing people from demonstrating, it is stopping them from coming to points of friction and raising flags other than Palestinian ones. At the moment, there is a state of despair in light of the intra-Palestinian disputes, but make no mistake. In the 1980s, the despair was even greater because of the leadership vacuum, and nevertheless the first Intifada broke out." Beneath the Al-Jazeera building, a protest tent for Gaza has been set up. The PA Ministry of Youth and Sports has set up such tents all over the West Bank, possibly in a non-violent attempt to channel the people's frustration with the conflict in Gaza. City residents have brought various items to transfer to the Strip: blankets, clothing, food, medicines, et al. There is no unusual activity at the site. A pamphlet bearing the slogan: "One homeland, one nation, we are all Gaza" is being distributed to passersby. But it is difficult not to get the impression that the relative apathy of the Palestinians in the West Bank stems from several reasons that the public does not like to bring up, certainly not in times like these. First and foremost, the historical gaps between the residents of the West Bank and the Strip. The residents of Ramallah and other West Bank cities have always looked down on their brethren in Gaza. Second, the Hamas coup in the Strip about a year and a half ago left behind quite a few scars. To see innocent Palestinian citizens killed in bombings is sad, but for quite a number of Fatah supporters, Hamas brought this upon itself. Mohammed, a 46-year-old businessman, offers another reason for the apathy: "We're afraid to see the tanks outside the house again." Third Intifada? Not anytime soon Within this relative quiet, many voices are being heard in opposition to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah. One of the surveys conducted recently in the territories indicated a dramatic decline in Fatah's strength. The violent crack-down of the Palestinian security forces against Hamas-identified demonstrators, as witnessed last Friday in Ramallah, also increased the criticism against Abbas. The PA chairman and his followers are accused of collaborating with Israel in a war waged against the Palestinian people. The security cooperation between Israel and the PA is continuing in full force, and that is also one of the reasons for the relative quiet in the West Bank. Although since the start of the fighting there has been an increase in disorderly conduct, there have not been many attempted terror attacks. Apparently a third Intifada will not break out here soon, thanks in large part to the PA. http://www.myantiwar.org/view/168834.html Demonstrations erupt across West Bank; clashes in East Jerusalem as Palestinians protest Gaza violence Date: 27 / 12 / 2008 Time: 16:49 Demonstration in Nablus, 27 December [Ma'anImages] Bethlehem ? Ma?an ? Palestinians poured into the streets Saturday after news of a massive Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip hit media outlets. Clashes broke out in Hebron and East Jerusalem as demonstrators met Israeli troops. Spontaneous demonstrations took place in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem, and the Ad-Duheisha refugee camp, while organized rallies marched in Hebron and Bethlehem. East Jerusalem Violent clashes erupted between Palestinian youth and Israeli forces in Shufat refugee camp, Qalandia, Ar-Ram and Al-Isawiya as Palestinian youth hurled stones at the Israeli soldiers and set fire to car tires. Dozens of injuries and arrests were reported. The youth gathered after a call came from Fatah leader Demitri Deliani calling for a reaction to the Gaza violence. He called the demonstration a normal response to the Israeli massacres, and announced a blood drive would be organized in an effort to help wounded Gazans. Black flags were hung around the city and a commercial strike was declared. Hebron At least 40 students suffered from tear-gas inhalation as hundreds of protesters in Hebron clashed with Israeli troops on Hebron streets and several were taken to hospital for treatment. Dozens threw stones at Israeli soldiers at the military checkpoint installed on Ash-Shuada Street. Hundreds of students from Hebron University, Al-Quds Open University and the Polytechnic University in Hebron rallied in the city calling for an end to the violence. They chanted anti-occupation slogans and called for Palestinian rivals to unify under Israeli pressure. The group marched to the Bab Az-Zawiyah neighborhood where confrontations erupted between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces at the entrance to Ash-Shuhada (martyrs) street. Tulkarem Tulkarem Governor Talal Duweikat and PLC member Hasan Khriesah joined hundreds of Palestinians marking in the streets protesting the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Participants called for the international community to pressure the Israeli government into halting its military ongoing operations. The city declared a day of mourning. Ramallah The Fatah party in Ramallah organized a rally for hundreds of people Saturday, and called a general strike that saw all shops in the city close for the day. Demonstrators and international community institutions lifted banners and slogans saying ?one blood, one nation, Gaza we are with you.? One Palestinian official in the ministry of Prisoners Affairs Ziyad Abu Ein said the event showed that Palestinian unity can oppose Israeli aggression, and called on all Palestinians to unite in dark days. Palestinian Legislative Council member Mustafa Barghouthi attended the rally and called the latest Israeli violence ?their harshest crimes against Palestinians,? and condemned other Arab states for their silence. PLC member for the Change and Reform Bloc Ayman Daraghmeh called on the Palestinian Authority to halt peace negotiations with Israel immediately. Bethlehem Protests spontaneously erupted in the Ad-Duheisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem as news of the Israeli attacks spread, and information of a larger protest in the center of Bethlehem began to circulate through the city almost immediately. Palestinian Civil Society organizations called on all ?people of conscience in the Bethlehem area,? to gather at the Nativity Church Saturday evening to protest the Israeli violence. ***Updated 19:02 Bethlehem time http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/03/2458426.htm Protests continue Meanwhile, violent protests in Jerusalem and the West Bank over Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza have continued overnight. In Jerusalem, the Muslim quarter of the Old City was locked down and all men younger than age 50 were stopped from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, prayers ended with a call to keep up the struggle against Israel. Worshippers then marched through Ramallah, chanting that they would sacrifice their souls and blood to protect Gaza. Palestinian youths threw rocks at Israeli police, who responded with tear gas and rubber coated metal bullets. But there was also tension among those who rallied, with supporters of the rival factions of Hamas and Fatah turning on each other during the march. - ABC/BBC/Reuters http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hEkt_Efgka0UBrYr0CM6BZIpQ-7w Clashes at West Bank, Jerusalem protests over Gaza Jan 9, 2009 RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) ? Supporters of the Hamas movement on Friday clashed with members of the rival Fatah party during protests in the West Bank city of Ramallah against the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. The clashes erupted after the Hamas rulers of Gaza had called for a second week in a row for Palestinians to mark a "day of wrath" against the Israeli bombardments. Fist fights erupted and security forces used teargas and batons to disperse the demonstrators who had taken part in rival protests. Thirteen people were taken to hospital and several others were detained, witnesses said. Simmering tensions between Hamas and the Fatah party of secular Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas burst into all-out street warfare in June 2007, when the Islamists seized the Gaza Strip and ousted forces loyal to the Western-backed president, who now only holds sway in the West Bank. In the West Bank city of Hebron, some 3,000 people took part in a protest march on Friday, with some hurling stones at Israeli soldiers who fired rubber-coated bullets and teargas. Local medics said eight people were wounded by rubber bullets and dozens more suffered from tear gas inhalation during the clashes. In Jerusalem, police fired teargas at dozens of young Palestinians who threw stones at them. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230456521714 Dec 29, 2008 22:41 | Updated Dec 30, 2008 9:30 Jerusalem-area Arabs step up riots, protests By ABE SELIG Parts of Jerusalem were tense Monday as Arab riots and protests against the ongoing IDF operation in Gaza erupted at various locations in and around the capital. Israeli riot police [file]. Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World For the second day in a row, dozens of youths rioted near the entrance to the Shuafat refugee camp in east Jerusalem, burning tires and throwing rocks at the border policemen and IDF soldiers stationed at the checkpoint that leads in and out of the area. By nightfall, the rioters had been dispersed, but the marks of two days of violence were visible from the camps' entrance. Large rocks, pieces of glass and other debris were scattered across the road, and a boosted Border Police presence - including Arabic-speaking officers wearing black face masks - were congregated in larger numbers than usual. "They were throwing rocks and burning tires, you know, the usual stuff," said one border policeman, who declined to give his name. "They did it yesterday and they'll probably do it again tomorrow, but that's what we're here for." Shuafat residents' reactions to the riots ranged from complacency to talk of starting a third intifada. In a nearby auto garage, mechanics were transfixed by their television set, as it broadcast Al-Jazeera's seemingly nonstop coverage of Operation Cast Lead. "Is that Rafah or Gaza City?" one of them asked the other, pointing at the images of black smoke rising above the dense urban sprawl. "Rafah," another of the mechanics answered. "It's the border with Egypt." But when it came to speaking with the press, the mechanics seemed less interested. "It's angering," one of them said. "It makes us all angry, but we don't pay any attention to the kids who come out here and cause trouble. We have work to do." Others were more forthcoming. "There is talk of starting the intifada again," said Marwan, a young man returning home from work. "And it's not just here in Shuafat, nor is it just in east Jerusalem. It's in Ramallah, it's in Nablus, it's in Jenin. People are very upset about what's going on, and I think that right now, the Palestinians feel very unified - no more Fatah and Hamas, it's Palestinian blood that's being spilled." Still others said they had no interest in the situation at all. "I was sleeping all day," another young man said. "I don't care what these kids do, just leave me out of it. I like to sleep and I like to watch TV." Shuafat was not the only place that experienced unrest on Monday. The Jerusalem suburb of Har Adar was the site of a smaller, less intense disturbance, as youth from the neighboring Palestinian village of Bidu approached the small crossing set up for laborers in Har Adar and began burning tires and throwing rocks at border policemen. But that demonstration ended quickly, as the small force of Border Police and private security officers that responded were able to disperse the group of between 20 and 30 young men with what they called "relative ease." "They ran back to the village," one of the Border Police commanders told The Jerusalem Post. "It was just a few of them; they came down here and set some tires on fire." However, the commander stressed, a large number of the village's residents work construction in Har Adar, and had no interest in causing any trouble. "It was just some kids," he said, looking back up the hill towards the village. Other incidents across Jerusalem on Monday served as a clear reminder that tensions in the capital were on the rise. A fire in a Jerusalem area forest caught the attention of border policemen on patrol. The officers began searching the area on suspicion that the fire had been deliberately set. "The officers apprehended two Arab suspects near the forest, who admitted to setting the fire in connection with the ongoing events in Gaza, and the protests in and around Jerusalem," a police spokesman told the Post. A loud but mostly peaceful protest was held at the Old City's Nablus Gate in the afternoon, as dozens of east Jerusalemites carried signs and shouted slogans decrying the Gaza operation. That protest was dispersed by police after one of the protesters tried to incite the crowd to riot, but another protest was held in the same spot later in evening, which was attended by even more Arab residents. Other disturbances occurred in the east Jerusalem neighborhoods of Isawiya and Silwan on Monday, police said, but all of the demonstrations were dispersed by police and Border Police units, with minimal use of force. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/158272 Anti-IDF Protests in Cities, Universities by Maayana Miskin (IsraelNN.com) Violent protests against IDF operations in Gaza continued in Jerusalem, Haifa and elsewhere in Israel on Monday. University students joined the fray with protests and counter-protests in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Jerusalem: Rocks, Arson, Graves Vandalized In Jerusalem, riots continued for the third day in a row in Arab neighborhoods of the city. Twenty policemen were lightly wounded in confrontations with rioters armed with stones. Approximately 60 rioters were arrested. Pro-Arab students in the foreground wave PA Flag while pro-Israel students wave Israeli Israeli flags at a Hebrew University student standoff on Monday. Police stand between the two sides. In the Jerusalem neighborhood of Nebi Samuel, Arab residents protested the Cast Lead operation in Gaza with arson attacks. Arsonists set fire to a local forest at three different points. Firefighters succeeded in extinguishing the blaze. Two suspected arsonists were later arrested. Riots were reported in Shuafat, Har Adar and the Old City in Jerusalem as well, and in the village of Kalandia north of the capital, and Rachel's Tomb (Kever Rachel) south of the city, in Bethlehem. On the Mount of Olives (Har Zeitim), overlooking the Old City, Arab rioters smashed headstones on Jewish graves in the local cemetery. Haifa U.: 'Barak Murders' vs. 'Death to Terrorists' At Haifa University, hundreds of Arabs and a handful of extreme-left Jewish students and professors faced off against supporters of Cast Lead on campus. Arab students held signs saying ?Barak murders? and ?State terror,? while those supporting the IDF called out ?Death to terrorists? and called for Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh to be killed. Police kept the sides apart, but minor disturbances were reported as protesters broke free to argue and occasionally throw objects at each other. Some students serving in the IDF reserves argued with their leftist professors, who were protesting against the Gaza operation. Senior university administrators said both the pro- and anti-IDF demonstrations had been approved. Students must be allowed to exercise their freedom of speech, they said. The Haifa student union published a statement in support of the IDF and the Cast Lead operation. Hebrew U.: 'With Blood and Fire We Will Liberate You, Palestine' Next to the Hebrew University campus on Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, hundreds of Arab students held Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) flags and yelled, ?Gaza, Gaza, do not despair,? ?Allah is great,? and ?With blood and fire we will liberate you, Palestine.? Jewish students from the Zionist ?Im Tirtzu? (If You Will It) student group held a counter protest. The students held Israeli flags, sang the national anthem HaTikva, and shouted ?We love the IDF? and ?See you in the reserves.? Tel Aviv: Three Arrested Protests and counter-protests took place near the Tel Aviv University campus in Ramat Aviv. A scuffle broke out between protesters, and three were arrested. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050645.html Last update - 01:56 29/12/2008 Israeli Arabs protesting Gaza campaign clash with police By Yoav Stern and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents, and Haaretz Service Tags: gaza, israel, israel news Violent clashes erupted on Sunday between Israel Police officers and Israeli Arabs in the town of Umm al-Fahm, where protesters have been staging a mass demonstration against the Israeli campaign in Gaza, which has so far killed more than 280 Palestinians and wounded scores more. The confrontation was sparked after protesters began throwing stones at police forces. nother protest by Israeli Arabs has been taking place near the Dir al-Assad junction on route 85. The demonstration there turned violent after activists began hurling stones at police forces, who responded with tear gas. Massive police forces have been deployed to the area. A senior official in the Northern Israel police said the protests were authorized under the condition that the demonstrators refrain from rioting and don't disrupt traffic. "Any lawbreakers will be treated decisively," said the official. Israeli troops earlier on Sunday shot dead a Palestinian man and seriously wounded another during a violent protest against Israel's deadly air campaign, the army and a Palestinian medic said. The medic, Basem Abu Sheikh, said 22-year-old Arafat Khawaja was hit in the chest by live fire in the village of Na'alin, near Ramallah. Residents said some demonstrators were hurling rocks at Israeli forces, but it was not immediately clear if the dead man had been among them. Abu Sheikh and the Israeli military said another man was also shot during the protest and was in critical condition. The military said troops stationed near the village were attacked with a hail of rocks and only used live ammunition after other crowd control methods failed to halt the barrage. A spokesman said the incident was being investigated by military authorities. Meanwhile Sunday, an eight-month-old Israeli baby was moderately wounded as Palestinian protesters hurled stones at vehicles south of Mount Hebron. Earlier Sunday, a one-year-old baby sustained injuries as shards of glass from a car window, shattered by stone throwers, in the same area. Two other cars sustained damage, also as a result of stone hurling near Dir Al-Assad junction. The passengers were not hurt. The incident was reported to the Carmiel police, who proceeded to comb the area. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230456503064 Dec 28, 2008 21:18 | Updated Dec 29, 2008 8:57 Protests flare up in Arab Israeli sector over Gaza By BRENDA GAZZAR AND YAAKOV LAPPIN Israeli Arabs closed their schools and shops on Sunday in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, and some rioted as the IDF operation in the Strip continued for a second day. An explosion is seen during an IAF missile strike in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: AP SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World The general strike was called late Saturday night by the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee, which includes political representatives from the national and local levels. "We are part of the Palestinian people as well and our people are going through a tough time. There is a lot of suffering because of the casualties there," said MK Hanna Sweid (Hadash), a member of the committee. "It's our way of showing our sympathy with them and our solidarity. It is also an objection to the policies of Israel, which is pursuing the issue with force and not by negotiations." As they did on Saturday, police in the North dealt with a series of rock-throwing attacks and demonstrations held by Arabs against the IDF operation in Gaza. Forty-one Israeli Arabs were arrested by Sunday afternoon across northern Israel, police said. Two Jews who entered Umm el-Fahm were reportedly attacked by a mob on Monday evening and lightly wounded. There were also reports of rock-throwing and tire-burning in Wadi Ara. In addition to calling for demonstrations throughout the country, the monitoring committee has decided to send letters to diplomats worldwide asking them to intervene and is requesting that people donate blood on behalf of those injured in Gaza, said committee member Ayman Odeh, who is also Hadash general-secretary. Members of the committee also met on Sunday night in Haifa. The committee has called for an immediate halt to the IAF attacks and believes that negotiations are the only way to resolve the conflict, Sweid said. Otherwise, "shelling will continue on both sides." Demonstrations were held in several cities on Sunday, including in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Umm el-Fahm. In Umm el-Fahm, Ayman Igbaria, who lectures on education at the University of Haifa, said that as far as he could tell, everything was shut down in the city, including small stores not on the city's main thoroughfare. Sunday's strike, he said, did not necessarily reflect an acceptance of Hamas policies or behavior, but rather was a call for Palestinians to resolve their political differences and unite to oppose the Israeli military operation as well as the blockade of Gaza. "People are showing solidarity with the Palestinian people because they don't think that it is only Hamas that is being targeted, it's also the entire Palestinian people," Igbaria said. In the Galilee, youths threw rocks at passing vehicles at the Deir el-Asad junction on Route 85, near Karmiel. Two cars were lightly damaged, though no injuries were reported. Police closed off the road in both directions as officers brought the disturbance under control. The road was reopened after a few hours. Also in Umm el-Fahm, one man fired a gun during a rally, accidentally injuring two children aged 10 and 11. The children were evacuated to the Emek Medical Center in Afula with light injuries to their legs. In Daburiya, east of Nazareth, youths burned tires during a demonstration. Police have launched a dialogue with village elders across the Arab sector in an effort to prevent youths from rioting. http://www.myantiwar.org/view/168920.html Police chief doesn't foresee return to October 2000 riots Arab-Israelis hold dozens of rallies in protest of IDF offensive in Gaza; 'Arab leaders must convey a message of calm and restraint,' Dudi Cohen says Sharon Roffe-Ofir Following dozens of protests staged by Arab-Israelis on Sunday against the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen held a security assessment at the Northern District, after which he asked Arab leaders to call for restraint and cooperate with the police. Two children were lightly injured when a demonstrator fired into the air during one of the rallies in Umm al-Fahm. A 57-year-old resident of Afula was lightly injured from stones thrown at him in the Arab-Israeli city, and two Jews were rescued by police after being attacked by locals. During the rally in Umm al-Fahm demonstrators waved black flags and PLO flags and shouted, "Jews ? know that Muhammad was here before you" and, "In spirit and in blood we will save Gaza." Arab-Israeli demonstrators in Dir al-Asad were dispersed with water hoses, and three of them were detained. Protestors threw stones at police officers in east Jerusalem and Kfar Qana, while additional disturbances were reported in the south Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Safafa, where youths set tires on fire. In the evening hours some 700 people protested in the northern Arab-Israeli town of Fureidis, and about 400 more held a rally in Haifa. PLO flags were waved in both demonstrations. "We prepared in advance for such scenarios," Police chief Cohen said. "I do not fear a return to the October 2000 riots. Those took place at the beginning of the decade; we've all matured since then. The public has matured, we've learned our lessons; everyone knows this is a completely different situation. The Arab public has responsible leaders." According to him, no less than 12,000 officers have been deployed in the various districts; their presence will be maintained at least for the next 48 hours, when Cohen is expected to hold another security assessment. "I am calling on the leaders of the Arab public to convey a message of calm and restraint; we all want these incidents to end with no casualties, and therefore the cooperation between the Arab leaders and police is crucial," Cohen said. "We live in a democratic country where everyone has the right to be heard, but we will not allow anything beyond the regular protests." Eighteen police officers have been injured and more than 50 rioters have been detained since the IDF launched its aerial attacks on Gaza. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050933.html Last update - 10:32 29/12/2008 Seven Israeli Arabs arrested for hurling stones in protest of Gaza op By Eli Ashkenazi, Yoav Stern, Jack Khoury, and Jonathan Lis Tags: Gaza, Israel, Hamas Police on Monday arrested seven Israeli Arabs, three of them youths, for allegedly hurling stones and setting fire to tires near the entrance to the Mishad municipal council in the north. Authorities have arrested 49 people for disturbing the peace since the Israel Air Force began its aerial offensive in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Police will remain on high alert today to deal with a wave of disturbances among Israeli Arabs and residents of East Jerusalem. There is also concern that Palestinian terror groups might try to carry out attacks in protest against Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Police Commissioner David Cohen held a series of consultations on Sunday to assess the extent of violence in the area of Arab towns known as the Triangle, roughly bounded by Baka al-Garbiyeh, Taibeh and Tira, and in towns with mixed Arab-Jewish populations. Cohen also said that there was little chance that the disturbances would escalate to the level of the October 2000 riots, in which 13 Arabs were killed. A senior police official said Sunday that the police have no intelligence about an expected escalation of violence among Israeli Arabs. The police said they intend to allow demonstrators to "let off steam" and Israeli Arabs could demonstrate as long as they do not endanger life or property. The police are holding talks with Arab community leaders to try to to tone things down and to prevent escalation. The police said yesterday they were optimistic, and that there was no evidence that the Arab community in Israel was headed toward an "intifada" against the state. Meanwhile, police are also preparing for the possibility that terror organizations might launch revenge attacks over the Gaza operation within Israel. Police sources said yesterday that so far there has been no specific warnings of any organization preparing an attack against Israeli targets. "The best evidence of the lack of intelligence data is the fact that the IDF has not placed a closure order on any of the cities in the West Bank, which is what is done when there is significant information about a terror attack, a police source said yesterday. According to police assessments, terror groups will in the near future opt for "relatively simple" and "popular" forms of attack, such as shootings, stabbings and assault with a vehicle, which do not require complex organization. Police also said the terror organizations will have difficulty right now in establishing a system for bringing explosives or suicide bombers into Israel. "The Israeli operation surprised terror elements in the West Bank," a police officer said, adding, however, "It is clear to us that the calls from the heads of Hamas to renew suicide bombings will eventually be heeded by those who will try to put those calls into action." In East Jerusalem public disturbances were renewed following the Gaza operation, and 38 Palestinians were arrested in East Jerusalem for throwing stones at police and vehicles. There were no injuries in the stone-throwing incidents. Three residents of the Jerusalem neighborhood of A-Tur on the Mount of Olives were caught red-handed by under-cover Border Police while throwing stones at a police vehicle. Three Palestinian minors were also arrested for throwing stones at a tour bus in Wadi Joz in northern Jerusalem, breaking the bus windshield, and in Beit Safafa in southern Jerusalem and Beit Hanina north of the city, young demonstrators burned tires in protest over Gaza. http://www.myantiwar.org/view/168819.html Last update - 22:48 27/12/2008 Israeli Arabs react with violence to IDF operations in Gaza By Haaretz Service Tags: IDF, Israel News, Gaza Strip Israeli Arabs on Saturday protested Israel Defense Forces attacks in the Gaza Strip, with demonstrations and clashes with police breaking out in communities throughout Israel. In East Jerusalem, a police officer was lightly hurt by an Israeli Arab who hit him with his car. The driver, who has a criminal record, was arrested by police shortly thereafter. On Salah-a-Din Street in East Jerusalem, dozens of youths lit dumpsters and hurled stones at police. One assailant was arrested by police at the scene. Advertisement In the Shuafat refugee camp, hundreds of Palestinian protestors threw rocks at security forces. In the West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit, a three-year-old boy was lightly hurt after he was hit in the eye by a rock thrower. In the Bedouin village of Rahat in the Negev, around 400 residents protested the attacks, while mosques throughout the town broadcast prayers of mourning. Hadash, the predominantly Arab leftist party, will stage a demonstration on Saturday in Nazareth to protest the IAF operations in Gaza. Hadash chairman Mohammed Barakeh called on the government "to immediately halt the crime in the Gaza Strip." "Escalation will not bring quiet and calm," Barakeh said. "It is inconceivable for the Palestinian people in Gaza to live between starvation and bombardment. The government and the defense minister are trying to gain political capital in an election period on account of the bloodletting of the Palestinian people." MK Jamal Zahalka, who is the chairman of the Balad faction, called for Defense Minister Ehud Barak to be tried for "war crimes" in Gaza. "Barak is trying to win votes in exchange for Palestinian blood," he said. (Haaretz) http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052897.html 06/01/2009 Over 2,000 take to streets of Haifa to protest IDF Gaza operation By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Gaza, Israel News Over 2,000 demonstrators took part in a protest march in Haifa on Monday evening expressing opposition to the Israel Defense Forces offensive in the Gaza Strip. Police deployed significant forces in the area to provide security for the event. There were no reports of any disturbances. The demonstration ended with speeches from political activists and Haifa residents who called on the government to cease "the aggression and the massacre in the Gaza Strip." Participants waved Palestinian flags, brandished photographs of Palestinian children killed during the operation, and chanted slogans denouncing the IDF. Police in Karmiel arrested a resident of the city for allegedly assaulting an officer during a demonstration in support of the IDF operation in Gaza. Haifa University is the site of what is expected to be a large demonstration on Tuesday. The protest is being organized by the Arab student union. It is worth noting that the university administration has banned demonstrations that can potentially ignite clashes with other students or with campus security. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/417186.html Tel Aviv Protest Against the War Gush shalom | 04.01.2009 22:25 | Palestine | World 10, 000 people from all over Israel protested against the war on Gaza on 3rd January, 2009. At the end they were attacked as traitors by right-wingers and abandoned by police who were supposed to protect them. http://zope.gush-shalom.org/index_en.html Saturday 03/01/09 MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE WAR Preparing to start: hoisting the big Gush Shalom transparent photo gallery At the same time as Ehud Barak was ordering the army to start the bloody ground offensive against Gaza, some ten thousand protesters from all over Israel marched in Tel-Aviv in a massive demonstration against the war. All four lanes of Ibn Gvirol St., one of the city's main throughfares, were packed full of demonstrators who marched the two kilometres from the Rabin Square to the Cinemateque, chanting and waving banners all the way. ?One does not build an election campaign over the dead bodies of children!? shouted the protesters in Hebrew rhymes. ?Orphans and widows are not election propaganda!?, ?Olmert, Livni and Barak ? war is no game!?? ?All cabinet ministers are war criminals!!? Barak, Barak, don?t worry ? we shall meet you in The Hague!?, ?Enough, enough ? speak with Hamas!? The written posters were similar. Some of them paraphrased Barak?s election slogans: ?Barak is not friendly, he is a murderer!? (The original Barak slogan says: ?Barak is not friendly, he is a leader!?) Also: ?No to the Election War, 2009!? and ?The six-Knesset-seat war!? ? an allusion to the polls which showed that in the first days of the war Barak?s Labor Party has gained six prospective seats. The demonstration took place after a fight with the police, which tried to prevent or at least limit it, arguing that they would not be able to stop right-wing rioters from attacking it. Among other things, the police demanded that the organizers undertake to prevent the hoisting of Palestinian flags. The organizers petitioned the High Court of Justice, which decided that the Palestinian flag is legal and ordered the police to protect the demonstration from rioters, The demonstration was decided upon by Gush Shalom and 20 other peace organizations, including the Women?s Coalition for Peace, Anarchists Against the Wall, Hadash, the Alternative Information Center and New Profile. Meretz and Peace Now did not participate officially, but many of their members showed up. Some thousand Arab citizens from the north arrived in 20 buses straight from the big demonstration of the Arab public which had taken place in Sakhnin. The organizers themselves were surprised by the large number of protesters. ?A week after the start of Lebanon War II, we succeeded in mobilizing only 1000 demonstrators against it. The fact that today there came 10,000 proves that the opposition to the war is much stronger this time. If Barak goes on with his plans, public opinion may completely turn against the war in a few days.? The giant Gush Shalom banner said in Hebrew, Arabic and English: ?Stop Killing! Stop the Siege! Stop the occupation!? The slogan of the demonstration called for the end of the blockade and an immediate cease-fire. On the day of the protest, the extreme Right mobilized their forces in order to break up the demonstration by force. The police made a great effort to prevent riots, and the one-mile march from Rabin Square to Cinematheque Square proceeded relatively quietly. However, when the protesters started to disperse, in accordance with the agreement with the police, a large crowd of rightists started to attack them. The police, which till then had been keeping the two camps apart, disappeared from the scene. The rioters then encircled the last of the protesters, harassing them, pushing them about and at a certain point started to besiege the Cinematheque building, where some of the last protesters had found refuge. They tried to break into the building, threatening to ?finish off? the protesters, but at the last moment some police arrived and protected the entrance. The rioters stayed around for a long time. Circumstances made it impossible to hold the planned public rally at the end of the march. No speeches were made. Here is a translation of the speech Uri Avnery was about to make on behalf of Gush Shalom: They tell us We are traitors. They tell us We are destroyers of Israel. They tell us We are criminals. But we tell them: The criminals are those Who started this Criminal and unnecessary war! An unnecessary war Because it was possible To stop the Qassams By the government stopping the blockade On the million and a half Inhabitants of Gaza. A criminal war Because, on top of everything else It is openly and shamelessly Part of Ehud Barak?s and Tzipi Livni?s Election campaign I accuse Ehud Barak Of exploiting the IDF soldiers In order to get more Knesset seats. I accuse Tzipi Livni Of advocating mutual slaughter In order to become Prime Minister. I accuse Ehud Olmert Of trying to cover up Rot and corruption With a disastrous war. I call upon them From this tribune, On behalf of this Courageous and decent audience: Stop the war at once! Stop shedding the blood of Our soldiers and civilians for nothing! Stop shedding the blood Of the inhabitants of Gaza! The ground invasion Will cause An additional disaster, A mutual massacre And even more Terrible war crimes! At the end of this war No general Will be able to set foot On European soil Without fear of being arrested For war crimes. We are told That there is no alternative. Not true!!! A cease-fire is possible even now, Yes, this very minute, If we agree to lift The murderous siege, If we allow the Gaza people To live in dignity, If we talk with Hamas. I wish to address The people of the South, The people of Sderot, Ashdod and Beersheba: We know your anguish ? Even though we don?t live with you, We know well. But we also know That this war Will not change your situation. The politicians exploit you, The politicians conduct a war On your back. You too know that! I call upon Olmert, Barak and Livni: Do not send the soldiers into the Strip! All three of you will be accused of war crimes! All three of you will pay the price! The masses in Israel Saluting you now Will punish you tomorrow. That happened in the Second Lebanon War That will happen Again this time! And YOU who are standing here, Women and men, Young and old, Jews and Arabs, YOU who have protested Against this horrible war From the first day, From the first minute, Isolated and cursed ? YOU are the real heroes! You can be proud, Very proud, Because you stand in the middle Of a hurricane of hysteria and ignorance, And are not swept away by it! You are retaining your sanity, Not only at home But here, in the street! Millions around the world see you, Salute you, Salute each one of you. As a human being, As an Israeli, As a seeker of peace, I am proud To be here today. Gush shalom http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1050470.html Last update - 02:26 28/12/2008 Hundreds of activists in Tel Aviv protest IAF strike in Gaza By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: gaza, israel air force, hamas Hundreds of left-wing and human rights activists marched in the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest the massive Israel Air Force offensive in Gaza that left at least 230 dead and hundreds more wounded. The protesters marched from Tel Aviv's Cinematheque toward the Defense Ministry offices. Police, some mounted on horseback, surrounded the protesters, arresting five of them. According to the protesters, Israel's military action in Gaza does not protect Israeli citizens or provide them security. "No one can tell us that slaughtering the citizens of Gaza is meant to protect the citizens of Sderot and Ashkelon," said Matan Kaminer, a student who participated in the march. Some protesters complained of extraneous force on the part of horse-mounted police, but overall the march remained non-violent. Similar protests took place in Arab villages in the Galilee and in Bedouin villages in the Negev. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416431.html 2000 protest in Tel Aviv against the air strikes, 27th Dec Fyn | 30.12.2008 18:28 | Repression | Social Struggles | World Two-thousand Israeli activists demonstrated on 27th December in Tel Aviv against yesterday?s Israeli attacks on Gaza, which killed at least 270 Palestinians and injured some 700. The demonstration, initiated and organized by the Israeli Coalition against the Siege on Gaza, included a march of activists through central Tel Aviv, from the Cinemateque square to the Ministry of Defence. Demonstrators called for an immediate end to Israeli military attacks and the siege on Gaza, and criticized the center-left wing political party Meretz for supporting Israel?s attacks on Gaza. Israeli police officers were particularly harsh with demonstrators, five of whom were detained and subsequently released. AIC Programme Director Sergio Yahni, one of the main organiser?s of the demonstration in Tel Aviv, noted that ?last night?s demonstration was substantially larger than the first demonstration we organized against Israel?s 2006 war on Lebanon. People were truly horrified by Israel?s military attack on Gaza yesterday, and went out to the streets to show this.? The Israeli Coalition against the Siege will be holding another demonstration this evening in Tel Aviv, and will be meeting tomorrow to strategically plan future actions. Demonstrations against Israel?s assault on Gaza also occurred in Jerusalem. Demonstrators gathered in the Mount of Olives, Qalandiya, A-Ram, in Issawiya, on the main street in East Jerusalem ?and in the Shuafat Refugee Camp. The demonstrators blocked roads, called out against the Israeli occupation and attacks on Gaza, and confronted Israeli soldiers who arrived to break up the demonstrations. Israeli soldiers stationed at a checkpoint in the Shuafat Refugee Camp ran away from the demonstrators. At least 3 Palestinians were injured by soldiers during the demonstrations. Fyn Homepage: http://socialist-blogs-news.blogspot.com/2008/12/demonstrations-in-tel-aviv-east.html http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231167264698&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Jan 5, 2009 19:38 Some 2000 Jews, Arabs protest in Haifa against IDF Gaza op By ELANA KIRSH Some two thousand people, including both Jews and Arabs, demonstrated in Haifa against the IDF operation in Gaza Monday evening. They called for a cease-fire, and an immediate halt to the "murder and injuring of Gaza civilians," according to a statement. The protest was organized by a variety of organizations including political parties Balad and Hadash. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230733153924 Jan 3, 2009 19:51 | Updated Jan 4, 2009 21:33 Hundreds protest Operation Cast Lead in Tel Aviv By TALIA DEKEL More than a thousand people demonstrated against the IDF's Operation Cast Lead in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Saturday evening. In response, about 600 activists gathered in the same place to show support for the army and for residents of the South. Witnesses told The Jerusalem Post that many of those demonstrating against the operation wore keffiyehs and waved combined Israeli and Palestinian flags. People supporting the operation, who organized a counter-demonstration upon learning of the left-wing event, chanted "IDF, we are with you!" The group included members of the Im Tirzu student organization, which has a stated aim of "returning Zionism to the Israeli consciousness," as well as Likud activists. Im Tirzu spokesman Erez Tmidor told the Post that police were preventing participants in the counter-demonstration from marching from Rabin Square to the city's Cinematheque. Police had "cornered hundreds of people into an area on the corner of King David and Ibn Gvirol streets near the square" and were refusing to let them join the march, Tmidor said. Police said they arrested four of the counter demonstrators for disturbing the peace. Yaakov Lappin contributed to this report http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230733152340 Jan 3, 2009 17:31 | Updated Jan 4, 2009 7:14 Sakhnin: Over 10,000 protest Gaza operation By YAAKOV LAPPIN AND JERUSALEM POST STAFF Over 10,000 people demonstrated against Operation Cast Lead in the northern town of Sakhnin on Saturday, by far the biggest such protest in Israel so far. An Israeli-Arab holds up a doll as he joins a demonstration of tens of thousands of Israeli-Arabs protesting against Israel's military operation in Gaza, in the northern town of Sakhnin, Saturday. Photo: AP SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World According to organizers, it was the largest protest held by the Israeli-Arab sector in many years. Marchers held Palestinian flags and even a smattering of green Hamas flags. They also held pictures of children said to have been killed during the IDF operation. There were no reports of violence. The protest opened with a minute of silence, in memory of Palestinians killed in Gaza since the operation began. The event was attended by several Arab Knesset members including Muhammad Barakei (Hadash) and Jamal Zahalka (Balad), as well as Arab mayors and other public officials from the Arab sector. Zahalka demanded that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and IDF chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi be tried in an international tribunal for what he called "war crimes in Gaza." The demonstration ended peacefully on Saturday afternoon, Police Northern District chief Cmdr. Shimon Koren said. Koren added that police preparations and the ongoing dialogue between police and Arab communal leaders have "once again resulted in a peaceful demonstration," and called on the dialogue to "continue in the coming days." Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Dudi Cohen, who toured the northern district on Saturday, said, "We approve demonstrations on the condition that they are held with a license and in a peaceful manner." Cohen warned, however, that "all disturbances will be dealt in an uncompromising manner." Meanwhile, Israel Beiteinu activists held counter-demonstrations at four junctions in the North. During the protests at the Megiddo, Mahanayim, Tishbi and Golani junctions, 100 demonstrators held signs and chanted slogans including, "No citizenship without loyalty!" Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman said that "in the same way that the Israeli government knows that it is impossible to stop the operation in Gaza until Hamas is eradicated, [the government] must act against those Israeli citizens who are not loyal to the State of Israel." "The demonstration in Sakhnin in which 10,000 protesters are participating, proves that their loyalty is to Hamas and to those who want to destroy Israel," Lieberman continued. Over the past week, 210 Arabs were arrested in the North for endangering lives, rock throwing, and other offenses. A total of 126 suspects remain in custody, and 16 indictments have already been served. Across the country, 442 Arabs have been arrested for violent disturbances, 149 of those minors. A total of 384 Palestinians who crossed into the country illegally have been arrested since the Gaza operation began. Police remain mobilized in a three-ring formation stretching from the Green Line to city centers, and continue to operated under the Special C level of alert. Twelve thousand officers are patrolling across the country. In the South, police are focusing on protecting lives and reaching all rocket-landing zones. http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=29543 2009-01-03 100,000 Israeli Arabs protest against Gaza offensive Israeli Arabs call for immediate stop to Israel?s offensive on besieged Gaza Strip. SAKHNIN, Israel - Tens of thousands of Israeli Arabs demonstrated on Saturday in the northern town of Sakhnin over Israel's week-old offensive against the Gaza Strip. Organisers estimated that nearly 100,000 people attended the protest rally, which stretched through the city streets. Crowds waving Palestinian flags and brandishing pro-Palestinian placards chanted "Gaza will not surrender to the tanks and bulldozers!" and "Don't fear, Gaza, we are with you!" Thousands of police deployed on the outskirts of Sakhnin and across northern Israel following a number of protests against the Gaza operation in recent days. Following a minute's silence, Sakhnin Mayor Mazem Ghanaim called for an immediate halt to the Gaza offensive which Israel launched last Saturday against the besieged territory. The Israeli offensive has killed more than 440 Palestinians and wounded more than 2,290. According to the UN, one quarter of the Palestinian victims were civilians. "The Israeli occupation forces are conducting crimes in Gaza before the eyes of the international community. We call for an immediate stop to the Gaza offensive," Ghanaim told the crowd. He also called on Gaza resistance fighters to halt their rocket fire against southern Israel, which have killed four people over the past eight days. Israeli Arab MP Mohammed Barakeh said the Sakhnin demonstration was "our answer to the Israeli threats against the Palestinian people in Gaza." "We are determined to stand alongside our brothers in Gaza to stop the bloodshed and massacre," Barakeh said. Israeli Arabs have staged several big demonstrations since Israeli warplanes launched air strikes in Gaza. Some protesters in Sakhnin called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak a "coward" and accused him of "collaborating with the Americans." Israel has often come under international criticism for ?racism? and mistreatment of its Arab minority, who are the original inhabitants of the land and today make up one fifth of its total population. The Arab population is comprised of the descendants of the Palestinians who remained in their land despite being subjected to an Israeli campaign of ethnic cleansing during the creation of Israel. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456532186&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Dec 30, 2008 15:24 | Updated Dec 30, 2008 22:57 Israeli Arabs plan protests in TA, Sakhnin By BRENDA GAZZAR, YAAKOV LAPPIN AND ETGAR LEFKOVITS The Hadash Party plans a massive Jewish-Arab demonstration for Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to protest the IAF offensive in Gaza, while the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee has a smaller protest set for the same day in Sakhnin. Border policemen at a West Bank checkpoint [file]. Photo: AP SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World The protests will call on Israel to "stop the massacre in Gaza," and on feuding Palestinian factions - particularly Fatah and Hamas - to unite, said Aymen Odeh, secretary general of the Hadash communist party and a member of the monitoring committee. Both sides "need to unite against the occupation," Odeh said. "Our enemy is the Israeli occupation, not Hamas, and not Fatah, and not others." Operation Cast Lead was an unprecedented tragedy, exceeding Deir Yassin in 1948, he said. The Sakhnin protest will begin at 1 p.m. on the town's main road, while the Tel Aviv protest will begin at 6:30, at a location yet to be decided. Meanwhile, the monitoring committee is preparing to collect donations on Friday for the people of Gaza, such as food, clothes and blood, Odeh said. On Tuesday evening, 350 Israeli Arabs demonstrated in Haifa. Police were on the scene, and no violence or arrests were reported. There was also a protest in Nazareth. Ninety-three Arab residents of east Jerusalem have been arrested for rioting since the start of the Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza, police said Tuesday. The four-day-old protests appeared to be ebbing on Tuesday, with only one peaceful demonstration reported in east Jerusalem by late-afternoon. The suspects were detained for alleged participation in violent protests in which both stones and firebombs were thrown at police, and included both minors and adults, the police said. About two dozen police officers were lightly wounded in the clashes. Three hundred Israeli Arabs have been arrested during violent disturbances across the country since the start of Operation Cast Lead on Saturday. Some 170 of the suspects remain in custody, and 17 of those will remain behind bars until the end of legal proceedings against them, police said. At the same time, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and police chiefs are holding an ongoing dialogue with local Arab leaders in an effort to stem rioting by youths. Dichter met with Arab communal leaders on Tuesday and urged them help maintain calm "despite the tense atmosphere." He added that police would allow approved protests to go ahead, "as is accepted in a democratic country," but warned that "any attempt to turn a demonstration into a violent incident in which the symbols of the state are attacked, such as flag-burnings, will be treated with the utmost severity." Most of the disturbances have taken place across the North and around Jerusalem. On Tuesday evening, police arrested four boys aged 12 to 14 after receiving reports of rock-throwing at the entrance to Nazareth Illit. No injuries or damages were reported. Two boys aged 15 and 16 from Majd el-Kurum, west of Karmiel, were arrested in a joint Israel Police-Border Police operation. They are suspected of donning ski masks and throwing rocks at cars on Route 85. In Acre, six suspects arrested for rioting have had their remand extended until Thursday, while a further 10 suspects, seven adults and three minors, who were arrested Tuesday night, also had their remand extended. Twelve residents of Wadi Ara were arrested over the past few days after attempting to block roads. In the Galilee, 34 people have been arrested since Sunday for trying to block routes 85 and 70. The suspects come from the villages of Deir el-Asad, Bana, Nahf and Kabul. They were arrested for endangering a transport route, illegally congregating, and rioting. The neighboring Amakim police force has 30 Israeli Arabs in custody for rioting, 12 of them minors. Police have also rounded up 386 Palestinians who entered the country illegally in recent days. On Tuesday, Israel Police chief Insp.-Gen. David Cohen toured the Northern District, stopping off at a number of flash points such as Nazareth and Umm el-Fahm, where he received briefings from police commanders. Earlier this month, police held its largest ever drill, in which thousands of officers simulated the eruption of Arab rioting across the country. http://www.myantiwar.org/view/169740.html Hadash party to protest 'massacre in Gaza' Organizers expect thousands to call for an 'end to IDF assault and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza'; Yisrael Beiteinu: Rally a provocation Sharon Roffe-Ofir The Hadash party is scheduled to hold a rally in the predominantly-Jewish northern Israeli city of Nazareth-Illit on Saturday in protest of the "massacre in Gaza". Organizers expect thousands of people to attend and call for an "end to the (IDF) assault and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza." Nazareth-Illit Mayor Shimon Gafaso turned to Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter and asked that he cancel the event. "I've received dozens of phone calls from residents demanding that the rally be called off. I know activists from Yisrael Beiteinu party are planning to hold a demonstration opposite the Hadash rally and in all of the city's intersections," he said. According to Mayor Gafaso, holding such a rally in a Jewish city may lead to violence. Alex Gadalkin, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu's Nazareth Illit branch, called the planned rally a "provocation", adding "do they not have enough convention halls in Nazareth? Why hold the rally here, and at such a sensitive time? We will not tolerate a rally against the IDF and Israel." Hadash denied the allegations, saying Nazareth Illit was chosen for its large convention hall. Amakim Police said "we will allow any legitimate and lawful protest." http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1230456536477 Dec 30, 2008 22:59 | Updated Dec 31, 2008 11:35 Meretz, Peace Now to push for truce By GIL HOFFMAN Just five days into the war in Gaza, candidates of Hatnua Hahadasha-Meretz will begin a new campaign on Wednesday calling for a cease-fire and opposing a ground incursion. Meretz MK Zehava Gal-On. Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski [file] Slideshow: Gaza op, day V Meretz's campaign will be the first step against the war for the Zionist Left. Peace Now will start a similar campaign on Friday. While the non-Zionist Hadash Party protested outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Meretz and Peace Now say they are holding off against demonstrating for now. "We understand that this war is an inevitable struggle against Hamas," Peace Now secretary-general Yariv Oppenheimer said. "There is no anger and fury at the government yet. There is just hope that the war ends before it gets too complicated and there is concern that it won't, but that concern has not yet persuaded our people to go out and demonstrate." At first, Meretz's campaign will focus on Internet ads. MK Zehava Gal-On said all of her party's Knesset candidates believed that steps had to be taken to end the Gazan rocket fire, but they were divided over the timing of Israel's strike. "I thought there should have been more diplomatic steps before going to war, which should only be a last resort," Gal-On said. During the Second Lebanon War, Meretz was divided over whether to demonstrate against the government. At first it boycotted dozens of rallies that were held because it considered them too left-wing. Gal-On later spoke at a demonstration outside the Defense Ministry, but then-party chairman Yossi Beilin opposed joining the protest. Current Meretz leader Haim Oron urged Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to seek an immediate cease-fire when he met with him on Monday. He said that restoring the "calm" with Hamas was the only way to end bloodshed, bring home St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit and guarantee quiet in the communities around the Strip. In a speech to the Knesset on Monday, Oron warned against the IDF "getting stuck in the Gaza Strip" and said he still did not understand what the goals of the war were. Meretz MKs later voted against a motion endorsing the war. Three authors identified with Meretz - Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua and David Grossman - published separate articles on Tuesday calling for Israel to push for an immediate truce. Grossman, whose son Uri was killed in the Second Lebanon War, wrote that had Israel decided to hold its fire and try mediation after its initial response the reality today might have been different. Grossman wrote in Haaretz that Israel should tell Hamas: "If you hold your fire, we will not renew ours. If you continue firing while we are practicing restraint, we will respond at the end of this 48 hours, but even then we will keep the door open to negotiations to renew the cease-fire, and even on a general and expanded agreement. That is what Israel should do now." http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052995.html The right to express protest By Haaretz Editorial Tags: israel, hamas, israel news In the last few days, the Shin Bet security service questioned dozens of Arab Israelis, while others were subjected to warnings aimed at deterring them from participating in demonstrations against the Israel Defense Forces operation in the Gaza Strip. Those taking part in demonstrations in Jaffa, Sakhnin and Shfaram were brought in for "clarification talks" even in cases when the demonstrations had been authorized. The Shin Bet approved the questioning and explained that, "In recent days a number of violent incidents, with nationalist character, have taken place in Israel. These incidents included arson, stone-throwing and firebombs. As a result of these incidents, arrests were made." In parallel, charges were brought in the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court against left-wing activists who blocked the entrance to the Sde Dov airbase on Friday, in protest of Operation Cast Lead. The activists were charged with unlawful entry into a military area, participation in a forbidden gathering and interfering with a police officer as he tried to carry out his duty. The judge rejected the prosecution's request to keep the defendants in custody until the end of the legal proceedings, something normally done when the court believes that releasing the suspects poses a threat to the public. A democratic society must differentiate, even in wartime, between activities that raise genuine fears of violence or that really incite to violence, like those from October 2000, and the right of every citizen to take part in demonstrations that do not involve serious violence. In a long series of decisions, the Supreme Court has established the freedom to demonstrate as a right "at the highest level of human rights." The right to demonstrate and to protest is part of the freedom of expression and is "one of the loftiest expressions of the idea of human dignity and freedom." This right is not revoked even during war. Today, gatherings and demonstrations are regarded in the democratic world as an acceptable and natural means of manifesting the constitutional right to protest that stems from the freedom of expression. Demonstrations during war are known phenomena even as soldiers are risking their lives. The freedom to demonstrate, like every other constitutional right, is not absolute. It is subordinate to the obligation to obey the law and to act in line with its rules and guidelines. Considerations of public order and public safety are relevant and could justify limits on demonstrations, but not their banning. According to reports, the security services are using intimidation tactics to prevent legitimate protest against the current campaign. Such means are not only excessive but have also been demonstrated as counterproductive. Repressing the freedom of expression normally transforms dialogue into acts of violence that could have been prevented, and it is imperative to prevent this from happening, especially during times of war. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013593232 Israel Trying To Limit Protests Over Gaza Bombardment January 2, 2009 10:57 a.m. EST Linda Young - AHN Editor Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Israel is taking steps to try to limit possible protests around the Friday Muslim prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. It has deployed thousands of police to the area. In addition, Israeli officials are restricting Friday prayers at the mosque to men over the age of 50 who have Israeli identity cards or women of any age, according to CNN news. Those steps go into effect as tensions mount on the seventh day of Israeli air attacks on the Gaza Strip. Some 422 Palestinians have been killed - about 25 percent of them were civilians - and around 2,000 have been wounded, the head of Palestinian emergency services told Bloomberg news. Hamas officials had called for a day of wrath to protest the aerial bombardment. A top Hamas leader was killed in the attacks, Israeli government officials said Thursday. But a Palestinian university professor said not to expect that incident to accomplish much. "Israel is mistaken if it thinks that by killing Hamas leaders it will put an end to the group," Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, told Bloomberg news. "Hamas is a movement that has the support of 35 to 40 percent of the Palestinian people." Overnight air attacks Thursday night on Gaza targeted a mosque, Hamas military headquarters and other targets. On Friday afternoon, three Palestinian children from the same family were killed in an Israeli air attack on the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, according to Ynet news reports. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052261.html 02/01/2009 'Anarchists' block entrance to IAF base in protest of Gaza strikes By Ofri Ilani Tags: IDF, Israel News, Gaza Twenty-one members of the "Anarchists Against the Wall" group were arrested Friday morning after they blocked the entrance to the Sde Dov Israel Air Force base in North Tel Aviv. The protestors, wearing white masks and covered in fake blood, laid on the street and played dead. They said they were arrested after they left the road and were on the sidewalk. Ayala, one of the protestors, said that the protest was meant to "show IAF pilots the results of their actions in Gaza. From thousands of feet in the air, a pilot who aims and presses a button can ignore, forget, or be unable to fathom that at that moment he killed innocent people. We came here to remind them of this." Also on Friday, clashes broke out between police and Israeli Arabs rock-throwers protesting the IAF raids in Gaza. In Tiberias on Thursday, some 15 youths burned tires and a Palestinian flag, in support of the operation in Gaza. http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=42086 Friday, January 2, 2009 Leftist Israeli Jews petition court for right to wave Palestinian flags at protest Leftists petition court for right to wave Palestinian flags at protest Two activists organizing Saturday rally claim police would not approve demonstration unless they promise not to wave Palestinians flags Aviad Glickman YNET Published: 01.01.09, 20:36 / Israel News www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3649004,00.html Two left-wing activists filed a petition with the High Court of Justice Thursday demanding that police be forced to allow them to stage an anti-IDF protest. The activists claim authorities announced they would allow the protest only if they promised not to wave Palestinian flags, a condition the petition said was unlawful and unfeasible. Ayala Maoz and Hagai Matar are two of the organizers of a procession and rally scheduled for Saturday evening. The event is intended to protest the military operation in Gaza. They claim the condition posed by the police lacks logic and legality, and that despite the fact that they were not intending to wave Palestinian flags at the protest, they could not vouch for the other demonstrators in attendance. Maoz and Matar say police were afraid the presence of the flags would anger people of opposing political views and result in possible riots, as the angered parties may become violent. Thus, the petition says, the police's fear is not due to the behavior of the demonstrators, but "criminal passers-by who want to harm the participants." They asked the court to hold an emergency hearing on the petition so the protest would not have to be postponed. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) joined the activists' struggle by sending a letter to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz regarding the arrests of numerous demonstrators who protested the IDF operation in Gaza. The letter warns against adopting policies allowing for numerous arrests and dispersal of protestors, as this constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of speech. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416206.html Sunday 28/12/2008 declared a General Strike in protest of the Israeli Massacres The High Follow Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel | 28.12.2008 17:07 This is the statement issued by the unified leadership of all Palestinian political parties and civil society inside Israel. In an important precedent, the statement explicitly calls for sanctions and boycott against Israel for its "war crimes" and "acts of genocide" in Gaza. The High Follow Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel ____________________________________________________________ 28/12/2008 Urgent Appeal The High Follow Up Committee declares Sunday28/12/2008 a General Strike in protest of the Israeli Massacres committed in Gaza In the presence of all national alliances, an urgent meeting for the Follow up Committee was held today declaring Sunday 28/12/2008 a General strike in protest of the Israeli massacres committed against Palestinians in Gaza. The meeting called for the organization of demonstrations and marches in every Arab town in al Naqab, the Triangle, the Galilee areas and coastal towns as a symbol of the rage and severe grief of the Palestinian nation upon the loss of hundreds of its citizens in Gaza. It was decided that the High Follow Up Committee remains on alert to hold further meetings to take steps in resistance and to stop the consistent aggression and break the siege on Gaza including the opening of all border crossings especially that of Rafah. The following political message stemmed from the meeting: - Considering the Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza an assault against Palestinian People everywhere and our duty is to resist it and break the siege. - Recognizing Israel and its political and security forces as a 'criminal' state committing acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against our people in the Gaza Strip. This with the assurance that the current Israeli parliamentary election campaign is fueled by the Palestinian bloodshed. - Saluting the determination and will of Palestinian people in the face of the aggressive Israeli scheme to break their steadfastness and human dignity. - Condemning the international complicity with the official Israeli aggression, and considering its silence and complicity as partnership in the crime. the meeting also stressed the absolute rejection of holding the Palestinian people or the Islamic Resistance Movement-Hamas- responsible for the situation and while exempting Israel from its total responsibility. - Calling upon the international community to take its legal and moral responsibility, to sanction Israel and boycott it as a state that pursues terrorism, war crimes and crimes against humanity with premeditation. - Condemning Arab Official complicity used by Israel to cover for its predefined aggression and condemning the general Arab weakness and calling them to shut down their embassies in Israel and boycott it. We call Upon Egypt to open all crossings with Gaza and break its siege. - Condemning the complying Arab and Official political voices which held the Palestinian leadership in Gaza responsible for the Israeli aggression and calling the head of the PNA to immediately stop the negotiations with Israel used to further fuel the Palestinian Split in the West Bank and in Gaza. - Assuring the call for national Palestinian unity and its total support of the Palestinian struggle and resistance in the face of Israeli aggression. - Paying tribute to the heroic steadfastness of our people and supporters in the Arab world and elsewhere and the masses in the homeland that stood in the face of the bloody aggression and supported the steadfastness in Gaza. - Calling on the masses of our people to exercise the highest degree of readiness to contribute, on individual and collective levels, in the national relief campaign, which includes the donation of medical supplies, food and blood donation in support of Gaza and in contribution to the breaking of the siege. - Calling on the masses of our people and supporters in the world to share the worry and to have more readiness to escalate the struggle in order to defeat the Israeli aggression and provide protection for our heroic Palestinian nation. The Higher Follow Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel The High Follow Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1231424911169 Jan 10, 2009 23:30 | Updated Jan 11, 2009 9:54 Peace Now, Meretz hold Left's first anti-war protest By GIL HOFFMAN Peace Now organized the first demonstration of the Zionist Left since Operation Defensive Shield began two weeks ago on Saturday night outside the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv. The event marked a change in direction for the organization, which had previously limited itself to calling for a cease-fire via an on-line campaign. Peace Now expressed understanding for the operation when it began, but started calling for a cease-fire six days into the fighting. "Calls for a cease-fire are not anti-IDF," Peace Now secretary-general Yariv Oppenheimer said at the rally. "We just don't want the soldiers to lose their lives in an operation that should not be continuing. The Left was divided at the start of the fighting. But when the choice is between staying in Gaza for years or leaving now, it is clear what we support." Some 600 people attended the rally, including many of the anti-Zionist Hadash activists who have been demonstrating against the operation since it began. RELATED ? "What's left of the Left?" The Hadash activists accepted a request from the rally's organizers not to bring the Palestinian flags that had been a part of their demonstrations. While Hadash MK Dov Khenin and Arab MKs have attended many demonstrations, Saturday night's was the first attended by MKs from Meretz. "Even though we supported initiating the operation after Hamas broke the cease-fire, now we are saying enough," Meretz head Haim Oron said at the rally. "A cease-fire must be reached now. We must do everything possible to reach a peace agreement under the umbrella of the Arab League. Only an agreement between us and the Palestinians can end terror." Meretz released a statement criticizing the security cabinet's decision on Friday to continue the operation, saying that remaining in the Gaza Strip was against Israel's interests and would result in losses on both sides and the loss of international support. http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/010909b.html Anti-War Protests Grow in Israel By TheRealNews.com January 9, 2009 Israel?s attack on the Gaza Strip has prompted public opposition from anti-war elements of the Israeli public ? and counter-measures from right-wing groups and Israeli domestic intelligence agencies. Protesters across the country have turned out in larger numbers than opposed the 2006 war with Lebanon and some have clashed with police in both Arab-Israeli and Jewish cities. (The story summary continues below.) Jesse Rissin Rosenfeld, a freelance journalist based in Tel Aviv and Ramallah, reports that the Israeli intelligence agency, Shabak/Shin-Bet, has been cracking down on dissenters. http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=163515 Palestinian painter protests Israeli attacks on canvas A Palestinian painter living in Turkey has decided to share his feelings about the pain being visited upon his homeland and his perceptions of insensitivity on the part of the United Nations through his paintings. Ali Salim, 68, who lived in Hatay for years, recently moved to Konya to be close to his two daughters and his grandchildren. With the conflict that began recently in the Gaza Strip, Salim has decided to reflect his own emotions on his canvases. Salim notes that his pictures will bring images of the conflict in Gaza to exhibition halls and that foremost in his work is the insensitivity shown by the UN to what is going on in Gaza. He says many members of his family currently live in Palestine and that he has been shedding tears every day over the situation in his home country. Salim left Palestine in 1962. Earlier this year he moved to a retirement home in Konya, though he notes that he was not able to bring all of his works from his home in Hatay. The painter also mentioned a factory that he set up in Turkey earlier in his life, noting that it had gone bankrupt in 2001. After the bankruptcy, Salim decided on his own to move into the Hatay retirement home; he said it was here that he learned oil painting, wood painting, charcoal sketching and traditional arts such as ?ebru.? He points out that he has had 12 exhibitions in Hatay. Salim talks about his move from Hatay to the Konya retirement home. ?Just as I was getting comfortable in Konya, the conflict in Palestine ruined my inner peace. It was then that I began doing paintings of the terror going on there using the techniques I had developed in the other retirement home. I will bring these paintings to an exhibition hall for all to see.? For this Palestinian, Turkey is second home Salim talks about Turkey?s efforts in relation to what is happening in Gaza, noting that while they are admirable, he cannot understand why the UN and the international community are staying silent on the matter. Salim asserts that while he would love to go to Palestine, even aid organizations are not able to enter the region. He says: ?Just as Cyprus is for Turkey, Palestine is also an offspring nation for this country. We now long for the days of the Ottoman Empire.? Salim was born in 1940 in the Palestinian village of Salamah, near the city of Jaffa, but became a Turkish citizen in 1970 when he came to Turkey for business. Salim married a Turkish woman and had a daughter with her, although after his factory went bankrupt, his wife left him. 08 January 2009, Thursday MEHMET DENER HATAY From onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca Sat Oct 31 20:48:03 2009 From: onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca (global resistance roundup) Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:48:03 +0000 Subject: [Onthebarricades] GAZA PROTESTS - America Message-ID: <4AED04F3.5000305@tesco.net> * Wave of protests across America * Obama faces protests in Hawaii, Washington * Protesters target Lockheed Martin * SF Israeli consulate blockaded * Protest at CNN HQ * Local protests across America http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?209545 Widespread protests in US against Gaza attack Israel still at it in Gaza Thursday January 01, 2009 (1208 PST) WASHINGTON: Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in scores of US cities on Tuesday evening to protest against the Israeli military offensive in Gaza. Earlier, a coalition of civil rights and Muslim and Arab activists had urged their supporters to observe Dec 30 as a national day of action to support the people of Palestine. In Washington, about 5,000 people gathered at the State Department and marched to the White House. Those taking to the streets included many children and teenagers demanding an immediate end to the bombing of Gaza. As the night-time march entered the White House grounds, it filled all of Pennsylvania Avenue with young people raising Palestinian flags at the White House fence. Over 10,000 protesters filled the sidewalks in front of and across the street from the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco. In New York City, thousands demonstrated at the Israeli Consulate located on 2nd Avenue and 43rd Street. In Dearborn, Michigan, thousands braved below-freezing weather to demonstrate. In San Diego, 500 people protested. Demonstrations were also held in Anchorage, Alaska; Phoenix, Arizona; Modesto, Sacramento, San Jose, and Santa Rosa, California; Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Ocala, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Chicago, Illinois; Louisville, Kentucky; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Ann Arbour, Flint and Kalamazoo, Michigan; Concord and Portsmouth, New Hampshire; New Brunswick, New Jersey; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York state; Cincinnati, Cleveland and Youngstown, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Knoxville, Tennessee; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Norfolk, Virginia; Bellingham, Seattle and Tacoma, Washington state; and scores of other cities and towns in US. Protesters even lined the street in front of US President-elect Barack Obama?s vacation compound in Kailua, Hawaii. http://www.workers.org/2009/us/solidarity_0115/ Solidarity protests sweep U.S. By Cheryl LaBash Published Jan 7, 2009 5:22 PM Jan. 5?Attention customarily turns away from news of the world during a holiday week when U.S. schools, organizations and workplaces close. But even so, outraged demonstrations to stop the U.S./Israeli bombing of Gaza flared in every major U.S. metropolitan area more than once and in some cases, daily. Contributing to this article were Abayomi Azikiwe, Betsey Piette, Bob McCubbin, Brenda Ryan, Bryan Pfeiffer, Dante Strobino, David Dixon, Dianne Mathiowetz, Eric Struch, Frank Neisser, Gloria Rubac, G. Dunkel, Joan Marquardt, John Parker, Kris Hamel, Lou Paulsen, Martha Grevatt, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Phil Wilayto, Scott Williams, Steven Ceci, and Paul Teitelbaum. Other sources include Al-Awda, Arab American News, the Salt Lake Tribune, IMEMC News, and Indymedia. WW photo: G. Dunkel When U.S.-made Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza, the escalation into a full military ground invasion served to swell the Jan. 3 mass march that snarled traffic in New York City and moved demonstrators to hit the streets again on Jan. 4 in Houston; San Francisco; Anaheim, Calif.; San Diego; Tucson, Ariz.; and Portland, Ore. At Israeli embassies, offices of U.S. senators and representatives and busy street corners, with either just a handful or with tens of thousands, Palestinian and Arab organizations are being joined and supported by anti-Zionist Jewish, anti-war, African-American, Latina/o, Asian and labor organizations. Filled with anguish and anger, 25,000 to 30,000 people rallied in Times Square in New York City on Jan. 3 to protest Israel?s massacre of Palestinians in Gaza. It was one of the largest protests held around the country against Israel. The crowd stretched down Seventh Avenue from 42nd to 36th Street. It swelled in size as people arrived from throughout the region, including busloads from Brooklyn and elsewhere. People marched through midtown Manhattan to the Israeli Mission to the United Nations, where the five-hour demonstration ended with another rally. There were a huge number of children in the protest. One boy about 4 years old sat on his father?s shoulders rousing the crowd as he shouted over and over ?Free, free Palestine!? and ?End the Occupation!? The rally at Times Square was chaired by Raja Abdulhaq of the General Union of Palestine Students; Lamis Deek of Al-Awda; Wael Mousfar, president of the Arab Muslim American Federation; and Sara Flounders of the International Action Center. Speakers denounced the U.S. for its role in the massacre and the billions of dollars in aid it sends to the terrorist state of Israel every year. And they criticized President-elect Barak Obama for failing to speak out against Israel. Samia Halaby, a long-time Palestinian activist and artist, told the crowd that it is time to up the ante and ask the international community to disarm Israel or ?the whole world will go into Intifada and disarm Israel.? Larry Holmes from the Troops Out Now Coalition declared, ?The whole world is with Gaza.? In Houston, over 1,000 came out to the Israeli Consulate on Jan. 2, mostly from the Palestinian and Arab community, but also others from the progressive community, including African Americans, Latina/os and whites. Palestinian youth led the chants and large extended families participated. Each of the daily demonstrations has seen carloads of Palestinian youth, in pickup trucks as well as hanging out of car windows and standing in moon roofs, flying large Palestinian flags and cheering the crowds as they drive up and down the streets. Ester King, a representative of the Black Heritage Society, which is organizing its 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade this month, participated in the Jan. 4 demonstration. He told the leaders of the Palestinian community that not only could they be in the parade for Dr. King, but they should lead the parade. ?If Dr. King were alive today, he would be standing out here on the street with us supporting the people in Gaza. We welcome you to our parade and the Black Heritage Society will be a member of the Houston Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine and be at the next meeting,? he said. Hundreds of people have protested at the Texas Capitol in Austin almost every day for a week demanding an end to the Israeli attacks. In San Antonio there have been two demonstrations, one at the federal building and another in front of the Alamo on Jan. 3, when ground troops entered Gaza. According to longtime activist Johnny Martinez, over a hundred people gathered. Speakers included Tom Keene with the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and John Stanford, a Communist Party organizer for over 40 years. Over a thousand gathered at the federal building in Dallas on Jan. 2 where they expressed their outrage at the attacks on Gaza and marched to Ferris Plaza. The Council on American-Islamic Relations and several mosques organized this rally. On Dec. 30 in Dallas hundreds gathered at Dealey Plaza. Immediate responses came from Arizona on Dec. 30 when 100 gathered in Tucson and 80 in Phoenix demanding a ceasefire. On a rainy Jan. 4 night, 185 people countered a pro-Zionist ?Stand with Israel? event in Tucson chanting, ?End the Occupation Now!? and ?Free Gaza!? An emergency action hit the streets of Anaheim, Calif., just south of Los Angeles, on Jan. 4. It followed large demonstrations at the Los Angeles Israeli Consulate on Jan. 2 and Dec. 30 that forced police to close busy Wilshire Boulevard. More than 1,500 people participated on Dec. 29 in Anaheim. A coalition made up of Al-Awda, Muslim student organizations and many others, including the International Action Center and ANSWER, are mobilizing. The next demonstrations are scheduled for Jan. 6 at the Israeli Consulate and Jan. 10 at the Westwood Federal Building, both in Los Angeles. On Dec. 30 several thousand Palestinians and supporters held a loud and militant march through downtown San Francisco. According to ABC news, the chants could be heard in the Israeli Consulate several floors above the street. On Jan. 4 an impromptu street meeting and literature distribution answered the Israel?s land invasion. In San Diego on Jan. 4, 500 demonstrators responded to the Israeli land invasion of Gaza. The strong and angry demonstration marched through Balboa Park and out-chanted 50 Zionist provocateurs, who were forced to retreat. On Jan. 2 and Dec. 30 large demonstrations targeted the downtown Federal Building. The Palestinian community came out in large numbers for a statewide rally and march held in Columbus, Ohio, on Jan. 5. The demonstration was called by Justice for Palestine, based on the campus of Ohio State University. Around 700 participated, chanting ?Yes, we can free Palestine!? In Cleveland on Dec. 29, with less than 48 hours notice, 250 people came out to a demonstration in the downtown area called by the Middle East Peace Forum. Arab and Muslim representatives asked the crowd if, after Friday prayers in the mosques, they would come to another demonstration. Everyone raised their hand. That protest on Jan. 2 drew, according to organizers, over 1,000 people. A march followed with ?We give our blood and our soul for Palestine!? among the slogans chanted in Arabic. In Dayton, Ohio, on Jan. 2 about 120 people organized by Al-Awda found the most positive responses from passersby came from African Americans. In Chicago, about 5,000 Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims of all ages, joined by supporters from other progressive communities and movements, packed into Pioneer Plaza in front of the Chicago Tribune building on Jan. 2 in solidarity with the struggling people of Gaza. A contingent of 70 traveled from the Milwaukee, Wis., Islamic Center to join this massive gathering. Hit hard since 2001 by U.S. state terror, deportations and frame-up trials, the Arab and Muslim participants were in an enthusiastic mood despite the bitter cold. Activists called it the largest outpouring from Chicago?s Palestinian community in 20 years. Hemmed in by police lines, the tightly packed crowd heard from community speakers and supporters, and then poured across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to continue their protest in front of the Israeli Consulate. This was the fifth Chicago action in support of Gaza in a week. More than 500 people attended the Dec. 28 Chicago rally at the Water Tower Park in the posh North Michigan Avenue shopping area. Palestinian and Arab-American youth proudly displayed Palestinian flags as they denounced U.S.-backed Zionist aggression. The flag of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah was well received by the crowd. One protester brought an Israeli flag attached to a broom with a pair of shoes tied to it, a reference to Muntader Al-Zaidi?s heroic act of resistance to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Many Palestinian, Arab-American and Muslim grassroots and community organizations participated, including Al-Awda. In Minneapolis 40 protesters occupied Sen. Amy Klobuchar?s office on Dec. 30 for two hours until she met with them. On Jan. 3 in Buffalo, N.Y., over 150 demonstrators faced down single-digit cold weather and equally icy police to protest the most recent Israeli bombing of Gaza and assault on Palestinian self-determination. The University of Buffalo Organization of Arab Students, the Lackawanna Discussion Group Commission on Rights, the Buffalo/Western New York International Action Center, the Western New York Peace Center and the University of Buffalo Progressive Alliance called the rally to ?oppose U.S.-Israeli crimes in Gaza? and ?resolutely defend Palestinian rights.? Pushing out into the street from both sides of a busy intersection at Elmwood Avenue and Bidwell Parkway, people shouted in English, ?Stop U.S. aid to Israel!? and in Arabic, ?With our determination and our blood, Gaza, we defend you!? Throughout the two-and-a-half-hour demonstration, car horns blared almost constantly, as passing drivers made known their support for Palestine and many stopped to take leaflets. Toward the end of the rally, as night was falling, police lined the street with their cars and attempted but failed to intimidate the crowd. On Dec. 30 some 200 mostly Palestinian, Yemeni and other Arab youth demonstrated. More than 100 people protested in front of the Federal Building on State Street in Rochester, N.Y., on Jan. 2. At the rally, shouts of ?Long Live Palestine!? overrode the sounds of rush-hour traffic. It was the second rally in front of that Federal Building this week. On Jan. 3 in Boston, about 1,500 people took to the streets to protest the U.S./Israeli genocide in Gaza. Chanting ?Free, Free Palestine!? ?From the River to the Sea, Palestine will Free!? and ?We Support the Resistance!? the demonstrators marched through the main shopping area of downtown Boston, stopping at the U.S. military recruiters office and the Israeli Consulate for minirallies. The demonstration, called by an ad-hoc coalition, was led by a militant contingent of Palestinian youth. The demonstration was co-chaired by longtime Palestinian activists Ahmad Kawash from the International Action Center and Kathy Hanna from Gaza on Our Minds. Kawash called for solidarity and support of the resistance in Palestine. Representatives of local mosques spoke. Stevan Kirschbaum, a Jewish trade unionist from USW 8751 and the IAC, said support for the people of Gaza and their struggle means supporting their organizations and leaders who are conducting that struggle?the Hamas-led resistance. Miya Campbell of FIST saluted Hamas and the resistance in front of the military recruiters and raised Cynthia McKinney?s struggle to bring material support to Gaza on the ship Dignity, which was attacked by an Israeli patrol boat. Earlier in Boston, there was a march of 120 people on Dec. 28 from Park Street to Copley Square with strong Palestinian participation, a rush-hour distribution on Dec. 29 and a demonstration Dec. 30 at the Israeli Consulate. On Jan. 3 around 1,000 people stretched across the steps in front of Philadelphia?s City Hall with a banner ?War is Terrorism with a Bigger Budget?Stop U.S.-Israeli War on Palestinians.? The rally and march targeted U.S. funding for the Israeli war against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Speakers linked budget cuts in Philadelphia that will close 11 libraries to U.S. funding of Israeli bombs being dropped on elementary schools in Gaza. Passing motorists honked in support. A 10-foot banner with enlarged photos graphically illustrating the carnage from Israel?s bombs was presented to FOX camera crews filming the rally since these images are rarely shown by U.S. media outlets. The demonstration was initiated by the Philadelphia International Action Center, with strong support from local Arab, Muslim and Palestinian groups and peace and justice organizations. More than 100 people protested outside the Israeli Consulate in Philadelphia on Dec. 28 and again on Dec. 30. In Baltimore on Dec. 30 some 80 mostly young people attended an emergency demonstration in support of Gaza at the War Memorial Plaza. In Washington, D.C., on Jan. 2 several thousand people rallied at the Israeli Consulate and marched to the Egyptian Consulate, where protesters began beating on the plastic road barriers set up in front. A long standoff between the protesters and the police followed. Chants called Egyptian President Mubarak a Zionist, denouncing his refusal to let in medical supplies and demanding the tearing down of the wall that prevents movement between Gaza and Egypt. Three mothers from the Atlantic Life Community, Heidi Schloegel, Ellen Grady and Clare Grady, were arrested outside the Israeli Embassy. Their organization has been petitioning embassy officials for an end to Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The three approached the embassy gate singing ?Peace, Salaam, Shalom? and holding signs which read ?Peace? ?Stop the killing? and ?Stop the war on the children.? They were held in D.C. jails overnight and finally released the following day. Irish-Americans carried Irish flags comparing the struggles against British colonialism in Ireland to the ongoing occupation of Palestine. Organizers included the Muslim America Society Freedom Foundation, ANSWER, the Arab American Free Palestine Alliance, the National Council of Arab Americans, and Al-Awda?the International Palestine Right to Return Coalition. Over 50 people, mostly Arab youth, caravanned up from Raleigh, N.C. The caravan was organized by Khalilah Sabra of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation. Earlier, on Dec. 30, ANSWER held a demonstration at the State Department. On Jan. 5 more than 400 mostly Palestinian youth and community members, as well as various social justice activists, converged at the steps of North Carolina State University?s Bell Tower on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, N.C., to protest the continuing massacre of Palestinians in Gaza. Chanting ?Resistance is justified when freedom is denied!? and ?Free, Free Palestine!? the swelling crowd demanded an end to the US-supported attacks by Israel and called for an end to the criminal occupation of Palestine. A newly formed student group at N.C. State University called Palestine United organized the demonstration and effectively mobilized the mostly youthful crowd, while also bringing many people from area mosques and Muslim organizations. On Sat., Jan. 3 over 200 people gathered in downtown Durham, N.C., for an event organized by sisters in UBUNTU, a women-of-color, survivor-led organization based in Durham that was formed in response to the Duke Lacrosse rape case. Many organizations and people throughout the Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill area helped to build for the rally, including Raleigh Fight Imperialism, Stand Together (FIST), Black Workers for Justice, Al-Awda N.C. and others. Speakers included Manju Rajendran, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Dannette Sharpley and Beth Brunch from UBUNTU; the Rev. Carl Kenney, founder of Compassion Ministries in Durham; Ajamu Dillahunt from Black Workers for Justice; and Feras Abdelquader, a Palestinian student. On Jan. 3 in Charlotte, N.C., more than 500 people gathered in Marshall Park for a rally and march where protesters, with Palestinian and Muslim youth at the forefront, took over downtown Charlotte with a sea of Palestinian flags and energetic chants. When the march crossed the street and made a U-turn, heading for a street rally at ?The Square,? more than three blocks were filled to both sides of the street with demonstrators. Echoing throughout the downtown area were chants of ?Free, Free Gaza!? ?Free, Free Palestine!? ?Occupation Is a Crime!? ?Shame, Shame Israel!? ?Stop Killing Children!? ?Stop The Killing! Stop The War!? ?Stop Supporting Israel!? and ?Money for Jobs and Education! Not Israeli Occupation!? Public support for the demonstration was overwhelmingly positive with car horns blaring and cheers and waves of support. A small vigil held New Year?s Day at Seventh Street and Pecan Avenue in Charlotte, N.C., got the same kind of public support. Almost every passing vehicle honked or waved in response to a ?Honk for Peace in Gaza? sign. Even some young people going by on bikes repeatedly said, ?Honk, honk, honk.? On Jan. 3 in Atlanta more than 500 people massed in front of CNN, took to the streets in a spirited march and rallied at Woodruff Park with two black caskets draped with Palestinian flags and more than 100 signs with the names of people who have died in the assault. Then the protesters, determined to have their message heard, again filled Marietta Street and returned to the CNN building to continue the demonstration for another half hour. This action was preceded by protests at the Israeli Consulate on Sunday, Dec. 28 and Tuesday, Dec. 30. On Jan. 2 more than 60 people turned out in Richmond, Va., to protest the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people of Gaza. The City Hall protest was initiated by longtime Richmond African-American activist Umar Kenyatta and sponsored by the newly formed Coalition of Conscientious Organizations. Activists in Norfolk and Blacksburg, Va., also organized demonstrations. On Jan. 3 nearly a thousand chanting pro-Palestinian demonstrators lined a busy intersection at Orchard Lake and Maple Roads in Bloomfield Hills, in suburban Detroit. The day before, nearly a thousand who represented varying ethnic and religious backgrounds gathered at the Dearborn, Mich., City Hall braving frigid temperatures and high winds to show solidarity with the Palestinians at a candlelight vigil. At this rally, Michigan Emergency Coalition Against War and Injustice (MECAWI) activist Jerry Goldberg told the crowd, ?As a Jew, I stand here today in solidarity with Palestine.? At the earlier demonstration on Dec. 30, 5,000 people lined an Arab community shopping district along Warren Avenue. A small group of placard-waving pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near U.S. President-elect Barack Obama?s vacation retreat in Hawaii on Dec. 30 to protest the Israeli air strikes in Gaza. Also on Dec. 30 Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Seattle, Bellingham and Tacoma, Wash., protested. In St. Louis, protests began with a vigil on Dec. 28 and continued daily including the Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 holidays with bannering at busy shopping areas and the offices of Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Russ Carnahan. In Portland, Ore., on Jan. 2, 200 people braved the cold and sleet to voice their opposition to the Israeli attacks in Gaza, and called on Sen. Ron Wyden to support equal rights for the Palestinian people. Wyden reportedly cancelled a town hall meeting after protesters announced they would attend. Other Portland protests were held on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29. Demonstrations were hold in Denver at the state Capitol building on Dec. 30 and Jan. 3, and on Dec. 31, New Year?s Eve, in Salt Lake City. ________________________________________ Articles copyright 1995-2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. http://jta.org/news/article/2008/12/31/1001912/pro-palestinian-demonstration-at-obama-hawaii-house Pro-Palestinian demonstration greets Obama in Hawaii December 31, 2008 WASHINGTON (JTA) -- A small group of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested at Barack Obama's vacation home in Hawaii. Carrying signs reading "No U.S. support for Israel" and "Gazans need food and medicine, not war," a dozen or so demonstrators, representing groups including Veterans for Peace, urged Obama to place resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the top of his priority list and to speak out about Israel's strikes in Gaza, according to news reports. Obama has not made any public statement about Israel's operation against Hamas since it began Saturday. He did not acknowledge the protestors when his motorcade drove by them Tuesday. "The president-elect values citizen participation in our nation's foreign policy, but there is one president at a time, and we intend to respect that," Obama spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said. http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/world/mhsncweyojkf/ Israel protest outside Obama holiday home 30/12/2008 - 19:44:43 A handful of pro-Palestinian activists protested outside President-elect Barack Obama?s holiday home in Hawaii today and urged a new approach to the Middle East. Eight activists marched with signs to the edge of the property?s security perimeter, telling reporters that they want the incoming administration to take a fresh look at the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories. They also called for Mr Obama to take a more active role in the conflict, even though he does not take office until January 20. ?We feel there?s a great need for change. We need to stop giving Israel a blank cheque to do what it?s doing,? said Margaret Brown, a 66-year-old Honolulu resident who held a handmade sign that read: ?Yes we can change US policy toward Israel and Palestine.? Israel continued its air attacks on Gaza today and warned that a ground invasion could follow if rocket launches did not stop. The United States has called for the militant group Hamas to stop launching rockets into Israel. Mr Obama and his family are near the end of a 12-day holiday in his native Hawaii. He has maintained no public schedule and has had his aides guard his privacy. Since arriving on the island of Oahu on December 20, Mr Obama has limited his travel mostly to trips to the gym, golf course and dinner with friends. Mr Obama, wife Michelle and their two young daughters are scheduled to return to Chicago on Thursday. http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38580 Protesters assemble near Obama compound Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2008-12-31 03:34. By Star-Bulletin Demonstrators protesting Israel?s bombardment of the Gaza Strip tried to get President-elect Barack Obama?s attention this morning in Kailua. About six demonstrators assembled near the security checkpoint fronting the entrance to the $9 million rental home where Obama and his family are staying. Some carried signs urging Obama to address U.S. foreign policy when he takes office. Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel, wore a T-shirt that read: ?We will not be silent? and carried a sign that read: ?Change U.S. foreign policy. Yes we can.? Wright, 62, of Honolulu, said the demonstrators represented various groups, including her organization Veterans for Peace. Other signs read ?War is Terror? and ?Free Palestine.? The groups issued a press release that stated in part: ?We call on President-elect Obama to place the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the top of his list of priorities of his new administration.? Obama, however, had not left the Kailua compound as of about 8:30 this morning, after a long day of golf and a night out dining in Honolulu yesterday. Yesterday afternoon?s tee time at the Mid-Pacific Country Club marked the second time Obama has golfed at the Lanikai golf course and the third time he has hit the links during his vacation, which began Dec. 20. Obama drew applause and hollers when he walked up to the 18th green. Obama motioned for them to be quiet while others in his party finished their round, touching a finger to his lips. ?That was pretty good, right?? Obama said to more cheers as he walked onto the green. ?It went further than my 20-yard drive.? A woman sitting on a nearby wall shouted, ?Better than your bowling.? The joke referred to Obama?s disastrous bowling outing in Pennsylvania during the presidential campaign when he racked up a terrible score of 37 ? with the assist during two frames from an 8-year-old. Obama wore a red City and County of Honolulu baseball cap, white shirt, khaki shorts and white-and-brown golf shoes. Accompanying him were Bobby Titcomb, a friend from high school in Hawaii; friends Martin Nesbitt and Greg Orme; and aide Eugene Kang. Later in the evening, Obama went out to dinner at a restaurant for the first time this visit. Shortly after 7 p.m., the president-elect, dressed in a buttoned up short-sleeve shirt and slacks, entered Alan Wong?s restaurant on King Street. He also ate at Alan Wong?s during his August visit. At Alan Wong?s, Obama had dinner with his wife, Michelle, his sister Maya Soetoro Ng and her husband, Konrad Ng, Chicago friends Eric Whitaker, Valerie Jarrett and Nesbitt and Punahou classmate Titcomb. Obama?s daughters, Sasha and Malia, did not attend. At 10:11 p.m. the motorcade left Alan Wong?s and passed the apartment where Obama?s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham lived before she died Nov. 2. The motorcade returned to the Kailuana Place rental home at 10:43 p.m. ??? The Associated Press, Star-Bulletin reporter B.J. Reyes and media pool reports contributed to this article. Demonstrators protesting Israel?s bombardment of the Gaza Strip tried to get President-elect Barack Obama?s attention this morning in Kailua. About six demonstrators assembled near the security checkpoint fronting the entrance to the $9 million rental home where Obama and his family are staying. Some carried signs urging Obama to address U.S. foreign policy when he takes office. Ann Wright, a retired Army colonel, wore a T-shirt that read: ?We will not be silent? and carried a sign that read: ?Change U.S. foreign policy. Yes we can.? Wright, 62, of Honolulu, said the demonstrators represented various groups, including her organization Veterans for Peace. Other signs read ?War is Terror? and ?Free Palestine.? The groups issued a press release that stated in part: ?We call on President-elect Obama to place the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the top of his list of priorities of his new administration.? Obama, however, had not left the Kailua compound as of about 8:30 this morning, after a long day of golf and a night out dining in Honolulu yesterday. Yesterday afternoon?s tee time at the Mid-Pacific Country Club marked the second time Obama has golfed at the Lanikai golf course and the third time he has hit the links during his vacation, which began Dec. 20. Obama drew applause and hollers when he walked up to the 18th green. Obama motioned for them to be quiet while others in his party finished their round, touching a finger to his lips. ?That was pretty good, right?? Obama said to more cheers as he walked onto the green. ?It went further than my 20-yard drive.? A woman sitting on a nearby wall shouted, ?Better than your bowling.? The joke referred to Obama?s disastrous bowling outing in Pennsylvania during the presidential campaign when he racked up a terrible score of 37 ? with the assist during two frames from an 8-year-old. Obama wore a red City and County of Honolulu baseball cap, white shirt, khaki shorts and white-and-brown golf shoes. Accompanying him were Bobby Titcomb, a friend from high school in Hawaii; friends Martin Nesbitt and Greg Orme; and aide Eugene Kang. Later in the evening, Obama went out to dinner at a restaurant for the first time this visit. Shortly after 7 p.m., the president-elect, dressed in a buttoned up short-sleeve shirt and slacks, entered Alan Wong?s restaurant on King Street. He also ate at Alan Wong?s during his August visit. At Alan Wong?s, Obama had dinner with his wife, Michelle, his sister Maya Soetoro Ng and her husband, Konrad Ng, Chicago friends Eric Whitaker, Valerie Jarrett and Nesbitt and Punahou classmate Titcomb. Obama?s daughters, Sasha and Malia, did not attend. At 10:11 p.m. the motorcade left Alan Wong?s and passed the apartment where Obama?s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham lived before she died Nov. 2. The motorcade returned to the Kailuana Place rental home at 10:43 p.m. ??? The Associated Press, Star-Bulletin reporter B.J. Reyes and media pool reports contributed to this article. ***** Here's Washington Post's version: By Philip Rucker HONOLULU -- It's a far cry from Cindy Sheehan's tent city near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Tex., but a half-dozen pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated Tuesday morning outside the Kailua compound where President-elect Barack Obama is vacationing with family and friends. Holding signs urging Obama to take a new approach to Middle East policy, the protesters gathered early in the morning just beyond the security perimeter of Obama's estate, hoping the president-elect would see them when he left for his traditional morning workout. But as of 9:20 a.m. Hawaii time, Obama had not left his residence. It was the first time protesters had gathered outside Obama's vacation home during this trip. The activists represented several groups, including Veterans for Peace. They told a pool of reporters traveling with Obama that they want the incoming administration to make a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories a top priority, especially given the current strife in the Gaza Strip. Ann Wright, 62, a retired Army colonel from Honolulu, wore a T-shirt that read, "We will not be silent." She carried a sign that said: "Change U.S. foreign policy. Yes we can." "We feel there's a great need for change," another activist, Margaret Brown, 66, of Honolulu, told the Associated Press. "We need to stop giving Israel a blank check to do what it's doing. ... We just gave them a blank check to oppress the Palestinians, and this is the result." The protesters said they planned to demonstrate later Tuesday at a federal building in downtown Honolulu, about 15 miles from the remote Kailua enclave where Obama is staying. When asked about the demonstrations, Obama's chief national security spokesperson, Brooke Anderson, said, "The president-elect values citizen participation in our nation's foreign policy, but there is one president at a time, and we intend to respect that." http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N30356444.htm Pro-Palestinian protesters at Obama's Hawaii house 30 Dec 2008 22:48:16 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds quote from aide, Washington protest, details) By Ross Colvin KAILUA, Hawaii, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A small group of placard-waving pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's vacation retreat in Hawaii on Tuesday to protest against the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Obama has made no public comment on the strikes, which Israel launched on Saturday. Aides have repeatedly said he is monitoring the situation and continues to receive intelligence briefings but that there is only one U.S. president at a time. But with outgoing Republican President George W. Bush already viewed as a lame-duck, many people, particularly in the Middle East, are looking past him to Obama, who is due to be sworn in on Jan. 20, for leadership. Obama did speak out after the attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai in November in which gunmen killed nearly 180 people, condemning them as acts of terrorism. He has also spoken on the economic problems facing the United States. "He is talking about how many jobs he is going to create but he is refusing to speak about this," said one of the protesters, Carolyn Hadfield, 66. She was one of eight protesters standing with placards reading "No U.S. support for Israel" and "Gazans need food and medicine, not war" near Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua, an upmarket suburb on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where he is in the second week of a vacation with his family. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Obama did not acknowledge the protesters when his motorcade drove past to take him to play basketball at his old school. He stared straight ahead sipping from a bottle of water. "The president-elect values citizen participation in our nation's foreign policy, but there is one president at a time, and we intend to respect that," said Brooke Anderson, his chief national security spokesperson. Obama has in the past called Israel one of the United States' greatest allies and has vowed to ensure the security of the Jewish state. He has also said he would make a sustained push to achieve the goal of two states -- a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state. Israel on Tuesday pressed on with air strikes in Gaza that it says are in response to rocket fire by Hamas militants deep inside the Jewish state. Medical officials put Palestinian casualties at 383 dead and more than 800 wounded. "We are very upset with what is going in Palestine. There is a very great need for change in U.S foreign policy toward Israel and Palestine. We need to stop giving Israel a blank check," said another protester, Margaret Brown, 66. The protesters were rebuffed when they tried to hand a letter signed by dozens of U.S. activist groups to a Secret Service agent guarding the access road to Obama's beachfront compound. The Bush administration has backed Israel's actions in Gaza and demanded the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to a lasting ceasefire. In Washington, several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the State Department, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as "free Palestine" while police looked on but took no action. (Reporting by Ross Colvin; Editing by Chris Wilson) http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090105-181469/Protesters-fans-greet-Obama-in-Wash Protesters, fans greet Obama in Wash. By Alex Ogle Agence France-Presse First Posted 10:29:00 01/05/2009 Filed Under: People WASHINGTON -- About 100 well-wishers and two dozen protesters braved the winter chill to greet President-elect Barack Obama as he arrived in Washington Sunday to prepare his transition. A heavy security presence encircled the historic Hays-Adam hotel near the White House, where the Obamas will stay until January 15, as police set up cement barriers and kept onlookers at a city block's distance. "He waved! That's cool! Awesome!" said Keith Slade, 43, who was having a drink at a nearby bar when he caught a glimpse of Obama passing by in the motorcade. Before Obama departed Chicago, he told reporters: "Well guys, I'm looking forward to seeing you guys in Washington... I gotta say I choked up a little bit leaving my house today." He said a friend of his eldest daughter, Malia, had brought by "an album of the two of them together. They had been friends since pre-school and I just looked through the pages and the house was empty and it was a little tough, it got me," he admitted. Obama left Chicago aboard a Boeing 757 plane piloted by Colonel Scott Turner, who will be his Air Force One pilot, and arrived at Andrews Air Force base at 7:00 pm (0000 GMT) before being driven to downtown Washington. His wife, Michelle, and daughters arrived on Saturday. The girls, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, are to start school at Sidwell Friends on Monday. Louisa Dietsch, 53, came out with her husband and their two daughters to watch the arrival of the man who on January 20 will be inaugurated the 44th US president and the first African-American to ever hold the post. "We are so excited about the change in this country," she said. "It's 'Obama world' at our house. Hard to believe. We cry so much." Her daughter Nora, 22, a student at Montana State University, said she had a chance to meet Obama at a rally when he was running for president. "I was lucky to shake his hand," she said, adding that he will face tough challenges with the struggling US economy and the Middle East conflict. "He must have enormous pressure and it must be the hardest time to come in as president." Her sister, Cheska, 20, agreed. "It must be weird looking at the protesters," she said, noting the presence of around two dozen people gathered on the steps of a church near the hotel where the Obamas are staying to protest Israel's military incursion in Gaza. Some held candles, while others waved Palestinian flags and raised signs that read: "Obama Call for Ceasefire, Please," and "Not in Our Name." "Where is Barack Obama's voice? Has he been muzzled already?" asked protester Medea Benjamin, speaking over a microphone. "We didn't expect Bush to speak out but Barack knows better," said Benjamin, of the women-founded anti-war group Code Pink. "Michelle, if you're in there, there is something called pillow talk. Talk to your husband, tell him to call for a ceasefire," she called out. Matt Varnham, 23, a tourist from Britain, said he was excited to come out and see Obama arrive, despite the 40 degree Fahrenheit (five Celsius) temperature. "It's fantastic, it is a momentous occasion," he said, adding that he was eager to see what Obama will do as president. "His hands are tied because of the system but he'll bring hope, which I think is the most powerful weapon." http://www.ocala.com/article/20081230/ARTICLES/812300297/-1/news?Title=Anti_war_protesters_gather_at_Lockheed_Martin_plant Anti-war protesters gather at Lockheed Martin plant ALAN YOUNGBLOOD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER People, including Marions for Peace members, protest Lockheed Martin's part in the production of Hellfire missles at the Silver Springs Shores plant on Tuesday. By Naseem Sowti Miller Staff Reporter Published: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. OCALA - Close to two dozen protesters, young and old, stood in front of the Lockheed Martin plant, which was closed for the holidays, early Tuesday afternoon to make a statement about the recent unrest in the Gaza Strip. They waved at the cars that honked and shrugged off the few motorists who yelled out obscenities. They chanted "Free Palestine" and "Hey Hey Ho Ho The Occupation's Got to Go." And they held hand-written signs reading "Hellfire = Holocaust" and "Feed the Hungry, Don't Feed the War." "We're here because the war has started in the Middle East again," said Homer Detwiler, a member of Marions for Peace. "We're told that the rockets may have been made here, and we want to bring attention to people." Among the protesters were Muslim women and girls who held banners reading Free Palestine. "I'm ashamed that U.S. backs Israel in all this," said Palestinian-born U.S. citizen Suraida Kamal. "The aid goes to killing women and children, just because people in Israel don't want them there." Across the street, a Lockheed Martin employee who identified herself only as Kathy and her two daughters stood in opposition and shouted: "Support Our Troops" and "God Bless America." "If you're so proud of it, go back to Gaza," she screamed. "I have a father and four brothers who went to war," the woman said in a interview. "Her fiance is in Iraq," she said, pointing toward one of her daughters. "I don't think it's right that our men are dying over there and these people are knocking it," Kathy said, her voice shaking with anger." The protest was one of many around the nation on Tuesday, the fourth day of Israel's airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza in response to rocket attacks from Hamas. More than 350 Palestinians ? about 60 of them civilians ? have been killed, and four Israelis ? three civilians and a soldier ? have died, according to The New York Times. Lockheed Martin's Ocala site provides electronic systems assembly for a variety of space and military programs, according to a company spokeswoman. Lockheed Martin, according to county documents, is proposing an $11 million expansion of its Ocala plant, which primarily produces the Hellfire precision-guided missile system. The project includes $6 million in capital improvements, another $4.8 million in construction or renovation costs and $300,000 in new workstations and furniture. The county approved a $100,000 tax break for Lockheed Martin's Ocala plant as part of total $500,000 economic incentive package that will encourage the company to hire 125 new employees with an annual average salary of $49,327, with full benefits totaling another $23,456. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/15/MNFJ15B2SN.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea 9 arrested at Israeli Consulate protest in S.F. Jill Tucker, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, January 16, 2009 (01-15) 10:56 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco police arrested nine protesters Thursday who had chained themselves together to block the main entrance to the Israeli Consulate on Montgomery Street. Several dozen demonstrators protesting Israel's military actions in Gaza arrived at the consulate about 8:30 a.m. in an action that had been organized on activist Web sites. One group of six protesters went inside the building housing the consulate and blocked the doorway, while several other people chained themselves together outside the doorway. When police arrived they ordered those inside the building to disperse and arrested four who refused, police Lt. Lynette Hogue said. At about 10 a.m., police ordered the protesters blocking the outside of the entrance to leave, and brought in equipment to cut through the ties binding the protesters together. The remaining chained protesters were arrested at about 10:30 a.m., and police used saws to cut locks off the building's doors. Police guarded the cleared doorway as the arrested demonstrators were taken away, amid fellow protesters chanting, "We'll be back." http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418674.html Israel's San Francisco Consulate Closed for War Crimes by Protestors indybay | 15.01.2009 23:04 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Social Struggles | World A group of nine anti-Zionist activists ? Palestinian, Jewish, immigrant rights and prison abolitionists chained themselves to the Israeli Consulate today to protest Israeli apartheid and its current attacks on Gaza. A group of nine anti-Zionist activists ? Palestinian, Jewish, immigrant rights and prison abolitionists chained themselves to the Israeli Consulate today to protest Israeli apartheid and its current attacks on Gaza. Protestors support: an immediate ceasefire; the opening of land, sea, and air borders to allow in emergency supplies; and an end to US financial and political support for Israel. ?For the past sixty years, Israel has tried to eliminate the Palestinian people by forcing them out of their homes and off their lands, starving them, and killing them,? said Maria Poblet, an immigrants? rights organizer. ?The recent blockades and attacks in Gaza are not an exception, but a brutal reminder that killing civilians is a regular part of Israeli strategy.? Linked arm in arm, Bay Area Jews, Palestinians and social-justice activists aim to increase pressure on Israel and its supporters in the face of the 21-day siege on Gaza and the growing humanitarian crisis. This action is one in a series that has moved from Toronto, to New York, to Los Angeles. Organizers assert that the current situation in Gaza is not a conflict between two peoples of equivalent capacities, nor is Israel?s motive self-defense. ?For the past year and a half, Israel has enacted strangling sanctions under the guise of targeting Hamas, collectively starving the entire population of food, water, medicine, and other vital resources,? stated Monadel Herzallah of the United States Palestinian Community Network. ?The recent air and ground strikes are another brutal blow to Gazans who are already trapped in a concentration camp of despair and growing poverty.? Activists also spoke out against the US pledge of more than $3 billion each year in unrestricted aid to Israel. ?Israel?s use of US aid and military equipment violates our own laws. We can choose to uphold US and international laws, or ignore them as we are now doing at the peril of our conscience and our place among all of humanity,? said Nadeen Elshorafa of the General Union of Palestinian Students. Organizer Sara Kershnar of the International Jewish anti-Zionist Network summed up the sentiment: ?Today, as Palestinians, Jews, and our united allies, we make our position clear: we are on one side, the side of justice; Israel, an apartheid state, is on the other.? indybay Homepage: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/15/18563491.php http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/01/03/protest_palestine_israel_atlanta.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13 January 03, 2009 Pro-Palestinian protesters march on CNN headquarters By KRISTI E. SWARTZ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Saturday, January 03, 2009 Protesters calling for Israel to stop its assault on Gaza lined the sidewalk in front of CNN?s headquarters Saturday. ?Gaza, Gaza, don?t you cry, in our hearts, you?ll never die,? chanted the crowd, which numbered about 50 when the protest began at 2 p.m., but more than doubled in size within 30 minutes. Enlarge this image Kristi E. Swartz / kswartz at ajc.com Protestors on Saturday said they considered Israel?s assault on Gaza a ?war crime.? Enlarge this image MIKKI K. HARRIS / mkharris at ajc.com Ghadeer Ramahi (center) marches in the rally along Marietta Street. Enlarge this image Kristi E. Swartz / kswartz at ajc.com The protest, held in front of CNN?s headquarters in downtown Atlanta, was the third since the attacks started. Some held signs calling for Israel to end its attacks on Hamas-occupied Gaza. Others compared the massacre to the Holocaust or to South Africa?s apartheid. ?The perpetual violence has to stop,? said Tim Franzen , who works for the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization. Franzen said the group has staff in Gaza. Reda Mansour, consul general of Israel to the Southeastern United States, said people are being misled by the protestors? message. ?They think it?s a war between Israel and Palentine, and it?s a war between Palestine and Hamas,? he said. ?We also want to free Palestine. The occupier is not Israel, it?s Hamas.? Saturday?s protest is the third in Atlanta this week. The other two were held last Saturday and Tuesday in front of the Consulate General of Israel . The protestors decided to gather in front of CNN to call attention to media coverage of the attacks, which are in their eighth day. ?The media in the U.S. has a tradition of not providing an unbiased message,? said Ziyaad Lunat , one of the protest organizers. ?They dehumanize the Palestinians.? The Emory Advocates for Justice in Palestine; Athens Justice for Palestine; and the International Action Center organized the protest. Similar ones are being held in other cities across the nation and in other countries. ?Every person here is outraged by the military assault in Gaza,? said Dianne Mathiowetz , one of the organizers. ?This, under all international law, is a war crime.? http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292008/news/worldnews/protests_in_gotham__europe_146317.htm PROTESTS IN GOTHAM, EUROPE By TED PHILLIPS and ANDY GELLER, POST WIRE SERVICES RALLY: A boy is hoisted above a crowd at 50th Street and Fifth Avenue yesterday during a protest of the airstrikes. Protesters took to the streets of the Big Apple and major European capitals yesterday to demonstrate against Israel's air attacks on Gaza. In New York, some 300 people held a rally at 50th Street and Fifth Avenue to denounce the strikes. "We're here because we have the freedom to voice our opinion against ethnic cleansing," said Amal Amar, 26, a Staten Island nurse who has relatives in Gaza. "This is terrorism," she said. "What the Palestinians are witnessing is true terrorism." In London, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said this was a "dangerous moment" and called for an immediate cease-fire. Half a dozen people were arrested when 700 protesters descended on the Israeli Embassy in London. A scuffle between police and the protesters broke out when cops tried to remove people so they could reopen a street. Protests in Paris were peaceful. About 1,000 demonstrators turned out in the neighborhood of Barbes, which has a large Arab population. French President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned "the provocations that led to this situation, as well as the disproportionate use of force." He held telephone talks with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who urged Hamas to renew a cease-fire with Israel that ended last week. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, "The unjustified rocket fire by Hamas must stop immediately. For its part, Israel must do everything possible to avoid civilian victims." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement saying he "strongly urges once again an immediate stop to all acts of violence." Pope Benedict XVI called on the international community "not to leave anything untried to help the Israelis and Palestinians exit from this dead end" of violence. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2009/01/01/2003432555 US, UK protests erupt over Gaza strikes GET YOUR SHOES: As the home of 300,000 people with Arab roots, southeastern Michigan saw a high turnout of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protesting the attacks AP, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN Thursday, Jan 01, 2009, Page 7 Close to 1,000 Arab-Americans and others marched through the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans to protest Israeli military strikes against the Gaza Strip. Protesters braving minus 1?C weather on Tuesday evening filled eight blocks of a major thoroughfare in Dearborn, widely seen as the heart of Arab America. Hundreds more gathered in New York City and Los Angeles outside the Israeli consulate, with rallies also reported in two cities in Florida. Since Saturday, at least 374 Palestinians have died in the Israeli air onslaught against Gaza?s Islamic Hamas rulers. Most of the dead were members of Hamas security forces but the UN says at least 64 civilians have been killed. The offensive came shortly after a rocky six-month truce expired. Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets and mortars at Israel before and during the Israeli offensive. Marchers in Dearborn waved flags and carried signs condemning Israel and showing pictures of casualties of the fighting. One group of protesters carried a mock coffin decorated with pictures of dead and injured children and labeled ?US Tax Dollars at Work? and ?Victims of Zionism.? Some marchers chanted in English, ?Gaza, Gaza do not cry, Palestine will never die? and ?Israel is a terrorist state.? Others chanted in Arabic, ?God is Great? and ?a martyr is beloved of God.? One protester carried a sign saying ?Dearborn, take your shoes off!? a reference to the action of an Iraqi protester who threw shoes at US President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Iraq. Southeastern Michigan is home to around 300,000 people with roots in the Arab world, the result of more than a century of immigration. The Tampa Tribune reported that University of South Florida sophomore Jehad Saleh, 19, started a group on social networking site Facebook on Sunday, encouraging Palestinian supporters to gather for a protest. Demonstrators lined a Tampa highway on Tuesday, waving Palestinian and American flags and yelling through megaphones. ?I?ve had cousins in the Gaza Strip who died,? Saleh told the newspaper. ?If their voice can?t be heard, mine will.? Further south in Fort Lauderdale, at least 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and a smaller group of pro-Israel protesters lobbed charges at each other on Tuesday evening at an intersection, the Miami Herald reported. Palestinian supporters yelled: ?You kill our children!? ?No! You kill your own children!? Israel supporters responded. Outside the Israeli consulates in Manhattan and Los Angeles, protesters on Tuesday waved Palestinian flags and chanted ?Free Palestine.? In New York, demonstrator Dalia Mahmoud said she was ?shocked? at Israel?s actions and that it was ?punishing an entire population for the actions of a few.? A few miles south at City Hall, Israeli Consul General Asaf Shariv met with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, displaying for reporters an exploded rocket that killed an Israeli woman out for a walk. ?We are obligated to defend our people, and that is what we are doing,? Shariv said. Bloomberg voiced his support. ?I can only think what would happen in this country if somebody was lobbing missiles onto our shores or across the border,? he said. Meanwhile, the organizers of demonstrations in Britain against Israel?s air strikes on the Gaza Strip urged British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday to end his ?deafening silence? on the bloodshed. In an open letter published on the back page of the Guardian newspaper, the 21 groups told Brown: ?this is your hour with history and we urge you to take the first step.? Protests have been held outside the Israeli embassy in London since Sunday and a national demonstration is planned for Saturday in the city center. The groups said Brown had ?rightly? rushed to New Delhi and Islamabad in the wake of the Mumbai attacks ?in order to calm all parties, avert escalation and further bloodshed.? They asked if he intended to visit Tel Aviv to spell out opposition to Israel ?causing maximum casualties,? and then Gaza to ?console the orphans and widows.? ?We expect nothing less of our government than an unequivocal condemnation of Israel?s actions, as it has condemned similar brutalities committed by various states around the world. We urge you to ensure: an immediate end to Israel?s military assault on Gaza; an immediate end to the blockade and siege on Gaza; an end to Israel?s violation of international law; an end to Israeli occupation.? Those behind the letter included the Stop the War Coalition, the Muslim Council of Britain, the Islamic Human Rights Commission, the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and the left-wing political party Respect. The British government has said it is ?appalled? by the violence in Gaza and has called for an immediate ceasefire from both Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas that it is targeting. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20081231/news/812310368 Protesters raise voices against Gaza attack Several dozen at vigil in Santa Rosa say assault against source of rocket fire is excessive Santa Rosa resident Layla Jabbari, 12, and her family took part in a candlelight vigil Tuesday at Old Courthouse Square. By MARTIN ESPINOZA THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 4:23 a.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 5:17 a.m. Dozens of people gathered Tuesday evening at Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa as part of a nationwide protest against Israeli military strikes that have killed hundreds in the Gaza Strip. Related Links: ? Israel ponders Gaza truce Amir Salamt, a manufacturing engineer who lives in Santa Rosa, joined the local protest with his wife and daughter, standing near the curb on Mendocino Avenue, between Fourth and Third streets, holding candles. Salamt, a U.S. citizen of Iranian descent, called the current conflict a "one-sided war" that's taking innocent lives. "Israel says they are killing Hamas, but they are not," he said. "They are killing civilians." On Monday, U.N. officials said at least 62 of the 370 Palestinians killed up to that point in the Israeli airstrikes were women and children, though they did not yet know how many were civilian men. In a suburb of Detroit widely considered the heart of Arab America, almost 1,000 people filled eight blocks of a major thoroughfare in Dearborn, Mich., to protest the violence. Vigils and rallies in front of Israeli consulates in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco drew hundreds more Tuesday. The Santa Rosa vigil was organized by the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County. Debra Birkinshaw, a board member of the center who carried a sign that read, "War is not the answer," said she hoped for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. "Everyone deserves a safe and healthy place to live," Birkinshaw said. The Israeli offensive came shortly after a rocky six-month truce expired. Hamas fired hundreds of rockets and mortar shells at Israel before and during the Israeli offensive. Therese Mughannam-Walrath, a Palestinian-American who lives in Santa Rosa and whose brother lives in Ramallah in the West Bank, said that at the heart of the problem between the Israeli government and Palestinians are the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced as a result of the U.N. Partition Plan for Palestine of 1947. Although she condemned violence from extremists on both sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Mughannam-Walrath said ordinary Palestinians have endured decades of discrimination, economic hardship and war. "It's like living in a huge jail," Mughannam-Walrath said. "No one should live like the people in Gaza are forced to live." Laure Reichek, a 78-year-old Petaluma activist who has a long history of fighting for liberal causes, said there are "many Jews like me who feel that it's obscene to treat other human beings the way that the Israeli defense forces are treating Palestinians." Reichek, who described herself as a "French Jew," was disappointed that more people like her didn't turn out for the event. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6565527.html Protestors, supporters of Israel's Gaza strikes face off in LA 16:08, December 31, 2008 About 500 protestors and supporters of Israel's ongoing strikes in Gaza faced off on Tuesday near the Israeli Consulate in Beverly Hills, staking out their respective positions. Palestine and Israel supporters began to converge late in the afternoon on both sides of Wilshire Boulevard in the front of the consulate office, chanting slogans and waving signs opposing and supporting Israel's air strikes on the Hamas-controlled area. No arrests were reported in the largely peaceful demonstration, police said. Meanwhile, about 100 demonstrators gathered outside the Federal Building in west Los Angeles to protest against the U.S. government's positions on the Middle East crisis. Earlier in the day, Islamic community leaders in Los Angeles launched a 3-million-dollar fundraising drive to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian victims, and lashed out at Israel for its military operations in Gaza. There are an estimated 650,000 Muslims living in Los Angeles and neighboring areas. Source: Xinhua http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/123008dnmetgazaprotest.210d1c9d.html Protesters at Dealey Plaza call for end to Gaza violence 07:38 AM CST on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 By JOANNA CATTANACH / The Dallas Morning News jcattanach at dallasnews.com Hundreds of protesters chanting "Free Palestine" gathered in downtown Dallas Tuesday to demand an end to what they called terrorism against Gaza Protesters at Dealey Plaza call for end to Gaza violence 12/30/2008 A spokesman for a local Jewish organization denounced the protesters' claims of terrorism and defended Israel's recent strikes as a defensive measure against Hamas, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization. In a peaceful demonstration at Dealey Plaza, men, women and young children held signs with a variety of slogans including "Stop the Holocaust in Gaza" and "Israel is the Real Terrorist." In response to rocket attacks on southern Israel, the government began air assaults Saturday on Hamas-ruled Gaza. Four Israelis have died, and more than 370 Palestinians have been killed. In a speech to the crowd, Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called for an end to the "bombardment" of Gaza. He said residents have been denied food, water and other necessities. "Palestine must be given some hope of freedom from Israeli occupation," he said. The Rev. Charles Stovall, senior pastor of Munger Place United Methodist Church, also appealed for Israel to stop the strikes. "This is not a Muslim issue. This is not a Jewish issue," he said. "This is an issue of humanitarian rights." The crowd cheered at his words and chanted: "Occupation is a crime." Later in the day, in a phone interview, Gil Elan, executive director of the southwest region of the American Jewish Congress, disputed claims that Israel occupies Gaza or that it has caused blockades. He said Israel has allowed trucks of supplies into Gaza. "I absolutely reject any reference to what Israel's doing as any kind of terrorism," Mr. Elan said. The Dallas protest, organized by the Muslim Legal Fund of America and the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, follows similar rallies around the world. "What's going on in the Gaza Strip is an atrocity and it needs to stop," said Noor Elashi, the daughter of Ghassan Elashi, one of five Holy Land Foundation defendants recently convicted of conspiring to send money to Hamas. Amir Memon said he attended the event with his family to do something for victims who are helpless. "It's not enough to feel sorry for all the people who are suffering right now," he said. "I just can't put it into words. I'm sure no one can." At the rally, representatives of Islamic Relief USA, a nonprofit organization, appealed for donations to help victims. They also announced a fundraiser for 8 p.m. Thursday at the Dallas Central Mosque. Staff writer Joanna Cattanach and The Associated Press contributed to this report. http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081231_Phila__marchers_protest_Israeli_attacks.html Posted on Wed, Dec. 31, 2008 Phila. marchers protest Israeli attacks By Art Carey Inquirer Staff Writer Chanting "Long Live Palestine" and bearing signs calling for an end to the bombing, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched on City Hall yesterday to protest recent Israeli attacks on Gaza. The predominantly Arab-American crowd carried Palestinian and American flags, and many wore traditional kaffiyehs around their necks or on their heads. After gathering at the Israeli consulate at 19th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard at 4 p.m, they marched down the boulevard, snarling rush-hour traffic as they circled City Hall and echoed the chants of a man with a bullhorn. On the plaza on the north side of City Hall, several speakers denounced the Israeli air strikes, which have killed more than 370 Palestinians since they began Saturday. "We're trying to call attention to the brutal bombing going on in Gaza and the killing of innocent children," said Sam Kuttab, 49, owner of a security firm in North Philadelphia who described himself as chairman of the Asian Federation of the United States. "We also want to remind Barack Obama that we voted for him because he talked about hope and change, and we want to make sure that he honors our hope for a change in U.S. policy in the Middle East." Israel began its air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza on Saturday in retaliation for rocket attacks on southern Israel, and the Bush administration has said the Israeli actions were justified. Hamas yesterday kept up its rocket barrages, which have killed four Israelis since the weekend. Hamas seized control of Gaza in a June 2006 military showdown with fighters loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas and his Fatah faction still control the West Bank. The internal Palestinian rift has deepened in the last 18 months, and Abbas blamed Hamas over the weekend for provoking the Israeli attacks by not agreeing to renew a six-month cease-fire that brought temporary and relative calm to the area until it expired this month. "I'm here to give moral support and to promote awareness in the city of this humanitarian crisis," said Marwa El-Turky, 25, of Queen Village, who works for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Yesterday's demonstration followed a smaller demonstration Monday. The call went out largely through e-mail and text messages, organizers said, and many of the demonstrators appeared to be in their 20s and 30s. Among the groups represented, besides the Asian Federation, were the Palestinian American National Conference, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Muslim American Society, organizers said. Many demonstrators were of Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian, Libyan and Syrian descent. But the crowd also included Christians and sympathetic Jews, including Matt Ginsberg, 26, a Spanish medical interpreter from Chicago who was visiting friends in Germantown. He was carrying a sign that said "Zionism = Imperialism = Endless War = Genocide." "The bombing needs to stop now," Ginsberg said. "It's not doing anybody any good. To claim that it's about the defense of the Jews is offensive and shameful when innocent people are dying. Until there's justice for the Palestinians, there will never be peace for Israel." Rabbi Linda Holtzman, 56, of Mishkan Shalom, a Reconstructionist synagogue serving Roxborough and Manayunk, addressed the crowd briefly and expressed her support. "I'm here because I love Israel and have high expectations for Israel," Holtzman said later during a brief interview. "And right now I'm seeing Israel behaving in a way that feels immoral, unjust and deplorable by reacting with an enormous amount of violence that is destroying countless lives and whole communities. "I'm also here because Muslims and Jews are children of Abraham. We are all brothers and sisters and we must live together in peace and justice." http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/31/20081231gazarally31.html Activists gather in Phoenix to protest Israeli bombings by Betty Reid - Dec. 31, 2008 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic About 80 Arizona and national activists took to Phoenix's streets Tuesday to urge a cease-fire in Gaza. "We completely denounce violence of any form," said Liz Hourican, a spokeswoman for CODEPINK: Women for Peace. "We need a surge of diplomacy." Her group teamed up with Women in Black and Progressive Democrats of America to share their message of peace to light-rail commuters at Central Avenue and Thomas Road. She urged people to call the State Department and their Congressional representatives to ask them to support an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Israel's deadliest-ever air offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers began Saturday as warplanes targeted government strongholds in an effort to end Gaza rocket fire on Israel. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed in the air attacks. Majd Al-Sayyed, 21, said she was at the rally Tuesday because a number of relatives live in Gaza. Her father, who moved to the United States in 1988, is unable to contact his siblings because of an Israeli blockade, she said. Her father watches national news hoping to catch a glimpse of his brother, she said. "It's the worst feeling in the world not knowing if your relatives are safe," Al-Sayyed said. Bill Straus, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League's Arizona office, blames the Palestinian and Hamas leadership for sabotaging the peace. "Israel has been asking the rocket launches from Gaza to stop for months," Straus said in a telephone interview. "If those attacks don't cease, Israel will respond." http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/dec2008/dear-d31.shtml Protest in Dearborn, Michigan denounces Israeli attack on Gaza By Tom Eley 31 December 2008 On Tuesday, a protest against the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip attracted approximately 5,000 people to Dearborn, Michigan, near Detroit. Another protest in New York City attracted several hundred. The demonstration on Tuesday in Dearborn, Michigan The size of the Dearborn demonstration far exceeded organizers' expectations. Even before its scheduled start time, the protest stretched eight city blocks, completely filling the sidewalk. The demonstration expressed a spontaneous outpouring of anger against the Israeli onslaught. Organizers faced difficulties in containing the crowd, which despite cold temperatures did not disperse after the event's scheduled end. Protesters carried signs opposing the military incursion and waved Palestinian flags, while passing motorists maintained a chorus of honking during the hour-long event. The crowd included many young workers, as well as college and high school students. In addition there were workers of all ages and families with small children. Demonstrators in Dearborn Many of those in attendance were US citizens of Middle Eastern background. The Detroit area has the largest and most concentrated Arab American population in the country, with as many as 350,000 residents in Southeast Michigan of Arab ancestry. The protest was called by the Congress of Arab American Organizations, a coalition of secular and religious Arab American organizations in Southeast Michigan. A team of World Socialist Web Site reporters covered the demonstration, speaking to workers and youth in attendance, and distributing statements from the WSWS (See "The Gaza crisis and the perspective of permanent revolution," and "Washington bears guilt for Gaza war crimes"). Protesters expressed outrage toward Israel's criminal attack on the residents of Gaza. They argued that Israel had provoked the war of aggression through its blockade of the impoverished area. Massemoude Massemoude, a college student, expressed disgust with the Egyptian regime. "They are puppets of Israel and the US. Israel told Mubarak to shut the gates to Gaza, and he did as he was told. This invasion has all been planned for months." MK, a young worker of Palestinian ancestry who has relatives in the West Bank, told the WSWS that people are dying every day. "It is a holocaust," he said. "Big A," a Hip-Hop artist who was born in South Lebanon, said that he was not protesting just because the attack was against Arabs. "My main point is that the invasion is wrong, it's inhumane. Everyone should fight against it whether it happened to Arabs or anywhere else in the world." Hadil Katato Hadil is a member of the group Students for Justice in Palestine at Wayne State University, in Detroit. "Even before the invasion, Gaza was an open-air prison," she said, referring to the Israeli blockade on goods and medicine. She said responsibility for the Israeli attack lies with the US government, which "gives billions of dollars in military aide to Israel." Abe, a student at the University of Michigan, Dearborn, said he did not agree with the Islamist perspective of Hamas. "Israel only wants to destroy Hamas, along with the Palestinians, because they stand in their way," he said. Abe called the Arab states "puppet regimes." He expressed interest in Trotsky's theory of permanent revolution, which explains that even the most basic democratic demands of the masses cannot be carried forward by bourgeois or nationalist movements. When asked if he thought that President-elect Barack Obama would come to the aid of the Palestinians once in office, Abe was emphatic in his response. "No, absolutely not," he said. "Obama is controlled by the same factions that controlled Bush." A group of high school students echoed these sentiments. "American foreign policy never changes," one said. However, many of those the WSWS spoke with expressed hope that Obama would address the plight of the Palestinians. These hopes will be shattered. In fact, Obama has been indefatigable in his advocacy of Israel's predatory aims in the Middle East. His silence in the face of the current bombardment implies more than assent. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that Obama was informed well in advance that the current invasion would take place, and that his top military and diplomatic advisers likely participated in planning it. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10550158&ref=rss Protests erupt in US over Gaza attacks Page 1 of 2 View as a single page 7:10PM Wednesday Dec 31, 2008 Arab-Americans protest in Dearborn, Michigan. Photo / AP ? Aerial attack on Gaza (Warning: some graphic images) Middle East conflict ? Palestinian boat explodes near Gaza Strip ? Netanyahu makes Mideast peace promises Close to 1,000 Arab-Americans and others marched through the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans to protest Israeli military strikes against the Gaza Strip. Protesters braving freezing temperatures filled eight blocks of a major thoroughfare in Dearborn, widely seen as the heart of Arab America. Hundreds more gathered in New York City and Los Angeles outside the Israeli consulate, with rallies also reported in two cities in Florida. Since Saturday, at least 374 Palestinians have died in the Israeli air onslaught against Gaza's Islamic Hamas rulers. Most of the dead were members of Hamas security forces but the United Nations says at least 64 civilians have been killed. The offensive came shortly after a rocky six-month truce expired. Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets and mortars at Israel before and during the Israeli offensive. Marchers in Dearborn waved flags and carried signs condemning Israel and showing pictures of casualties of the fighting. One group of protesters carried a mock coffin decorated with pictures of dead and injured children and labeled "US Tax Dollars at Work" and "Victims of Zionism." Advertisement Advertisement Some marchers chanted in English, "Gaza, Gaza don't cry, Palestine will never die" and "Israel is a terrorist state." Others chanted, in Arabic, "God is Great" and "a martyr is beloved of God." One protester carried a sign saying "Dearborn, take your shoes off!" a reference to the action of an Iraqi protester who threw shoes at President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Iraq. Southeastern Michigan is home to around 300,000 people with roots in the Arab world, the result of more than a century of immigration. About 50 people gathered Tuesday on the University of Michigan-Flint campus to protest the Israeli attacks, The Flint Journal reported. The Tampa Tribune reported that University of South Florida sophomore Jehad Saleh, 19, started a group on social networking site Facebook on Sunday, encouraging Palestinian supporters to gather for a protest. Demonstrators lined a Tampa highway Tuesday, waving Palestinian and American flags and yelling through megaphones. "I've had cousins in the Gaza Strip who died," Saleh told the newspaper. "If their voice can't be heard, mine will." Further south in Fort Lauderdale, at least 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and a smaller group of pro-Israel protesters lobbed charges at each other Tuesday evening at an intersection, according to the Miami Herald. Palestinian supporters yelled: "You kill our children!" "No! You kill your own children!" Israel supporters responded. Outside the Israeli consulates in Manhattan and Los Angeles, protesters Tuesday waved Palestinian flags and chanted "Free Palestine." http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/30/n59864182610-bn30protest/?metro Hundreds in downtown San Diego protest Israeli assault By Dana Littlefield (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer 6:26 p.m. December 30, 2008 SAN DIEGO ? Hundreds of people gathered in downtown San Diego today to call for an end to Israel's repeated airstrikes on Gaza and mounting casualties in the region. By 5 p.m., more than 300 people had assembled at Broadway and Front Street, shouting chants, waving Palestinian flags and holding handwritten signs. One banner read: ?Stop the Massacre in Gaza.? The rally, one of many around the country yesterday, was arranged by several local religious, human-rights and other activist groups, organizers said. The purpose of the event, they said, was to ?protest Israel's aggression against the people of Gaza? and to educate the public about the conflict. The Israeli military began bombing Hamas-ruled Gaza on Saturday. The government has said the goal is to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel. Edgar Hopida, a spokesman for the San Diego Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the attacks are ?a human problem, not a Palestinian problem.? Doris Bittar, a local representative of the American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee, noted many at the rally were of various religious and ethnic backgrounds. ?San Diego's support for a peaceful solution is very broad,? Bittar said. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/31/capitol-protest-decries-israeli-attacks/?partner=RSS Capitol protest decries Israeli attacks By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact) Published December 31, 2008 at 12:05 a.m. Photo by Linda McConnell / Special To The Rocky Demonstrators hold up a Palestinian flag during a protest rally at the state Capitol on Tuesday. Some 200 people participated. Wabl Dokhan worries about relatives who live in a refugee camp in Gaza. He was among nearly 200 people who gathered in front of the state Capitol Tuesday evening to protest recent Israeli attacks on Hamas militants in Gaza. More than 360 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 62 civilians, according to news reports. "We have eight neighbors who have been killed," said Dokhan, 40, who is working on his doctorate in international studies at the University of Denver. "We have a neighbor who is active with Hamas. The entire neighborhood has evacuated. They are afraid of being attacked." On Tuesday, many of the demonstrators carried red and white signs that read "Justice for Palestinians," while a large banner reading "Stop Gaza Massacre" was staked out on the grass. Shemsadeen Ben-Masaud, a youth director with the Muslim American Society, led the crowd in chants: "Hey, hey, ho, ho - the occupation has got to go" as well as "Long live Palestine." "It's important to support our brothers and sisters who are being massacred," said Ben-Masaud, 26, of Denver. "It's important for the American public to see there is support for the Palestinian cause, and there are Americans who are against what Israel is doing." Arnie Voigt, a retired Lutheran pastor, has traveled to Gaza a few times and said he was appalled at the living conditions there, describing it as imprisonment. A few in the crowd disagreed with the protest. Joshua Sharf, a steering-committee member with Americans Against Terrorism, was passing out a two-page statement, defending the actions of the Israeli government. "I think it's morally confusing to equate the victimizer with the victim," he said of the demonstration. "Israel asserted its right of self-defense. It's Hamas' fault if they put civilians in harm's way - it's a violation of the Geneva Convention." Richard Miller, 57, of Federal Heights, didn't want to get into arguments with the protesters, but he identified himself as a Jew who was pro-Israel. "I support Israel defending itself against Hamas and anyone who supports Hamas," he said. "Thousands of Israelis have been threatened by their rockets and missiles." The Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado also issued a statement Tuesday in support of Israel's actions: "While we sincerely regret the loss of innocent lives on both sides of this conflict, we emphatically support Israel's right to defend her citizens - and her sovereign borders - through military force, as has become necessary again." http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/581201.html Tacoma protesters condemn Israeli attacks Enlarge image Sally McClintock, Mark Jensen, Linda Frank and Colleen Waterhouse, from left, stand along Pacific Avenue in front of the U.S. Federal Court House in Tacoma Tuesday during a candle light protest against Israel's attacks in Gaza. (Janet Jensen/The News Tribune) Steve Maynard; steve.maynard at thenewstribune.com Published: 12/30/08 8:08 pm Comments (0) Recommend (0) About two dozen people held signs and candles Tuesday night in downtown Tacoma, protesting Israel?s air strikes in Gaza. Sally McClintock joined the vigil in front of the U.S. District Courthouse on Pacific Avenue because she believes Israel is punishing the Palestinians. ?I need to do something for all the anger and sadness I have for the bombing of the people in Gaza,? said McClintock as two Buddhists drummed nearby. Retired school teacher Nancy Farrell, a member of People for Peace, Justice and Healing in Tacoma, organized the candlelight vigil so Israel will ?stop the violence and resume negotiations.? She said Israel is entitled to defend itself against Hamas rocket fire, ?but not in this exaggerated way.? Farrell criticized Israel for its blockade of Gaza and called the Israeli bombings ?a massacre.? Matthew Weinstein had his hands full clutching a candle, flashlight and a sign protesting U.S. military aid to Israel. ?I?m frightened by Israel?s overreaction, not that Hamas is innocent,? said Weinstein, a Jew who works in Tacoma and attends a congregation in the Seattle area. ?One rocket does not equal carpet-bombing.? Several other local Jews interviewed earlier Tuesday supported Israel?s right to defend itself from the rocket fire of Hamas militants. Tuesday night, down the row of signs that included ?Violence Begets Violence? and ?Israel Stop Violence Now,? Janey Barnhart held a lone Israeli flag and cast a dissenting voice. ?I?m here standing for the Israeli people?s right to defend themselves,? said Barnhart, a Christian who has visited Israel. Nancy Taylor turned out to support Gaza and the Palestinians, but also added her discouragement. ?I?m really, really tired of this conflict,? said Taylor, of Tacoma. ?It just never seems to get any better.? Earlier Tuesday, Temple Beth El member Jack Warnick said Israel?s air attacks are necessary ?to secure the well-being of Israel?s citizens. Hamas must accept Israel?s right to exist or ?suffer the consequences,? said Warnick, a former Tacoma City Council member. ?Destruction of Israel is part of their charter,? Warnick said. To those who criticize Israel for countering with a stronger, disproportionate attack, Warnick asked, ?What is proportional in war?? ?The Jews just want to be left alone and have their own country,? Warnick said. ?They won?t let them.? Rabbi Bruce Kadden said members of Temple Beth El, a Reform congregation in Tacoma of 310 families, support Israel?s right to defend itself. He welcomed a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas if they can reach such an agreement. ?For most Jews, the ideal hope is there will be a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians,? Kadden said. ?But this conflict makes it more difficult to see a path to peace.? Rabbi Zalman Heber, director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Pierce County, said Israel is doing what any other sovereign state under attack from a neighboring state would do: defending itself with any means possible. After the Gaza Strip ?was handed over to them on a silver platter,? Hamas later fired upon Israel, said Heber, who leads an Orthodox group part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. ?There?s no other response but to shock them until they stop,? Heber said. ?This whole thing could stop in one minute if they stopped sending in rockets.? http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=9597150 Vermonters Protest Attack on Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip Burlington, Vermont - December 30, 2008 Local activists spoke out today against Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip. About fifty people marched through downtown Burlington, from Congressman Peter Welch's office to the offices of Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders. They wanted to show their opposition to the attacks that killed nearly 300 people and restricted food, fuel and other humanitarian needs from reaching Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The rally was part of a national day of action -- asking Congress to reduce funding of the Israeli government and military. "There's really a groundswell of support," said Hilary Martin, a member of the activist group Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine and an organizer of the march. "And increasingly people are concerned about the United States' role in two occupations now, the occupation of Iraq and the occupation of Palestine. So the representatives need to hear from the people, and ultimately, as U.S. citizens, we're just as complicit in the bombings of Gaza." At a press conference earlier in the day, Senator Sanders expressed his concerns about the attack. "What you've got there is such a terrible tragedy, it's really unspeakable," he said. "Clearly what's happened in the last four days is only going to make a bad situation even worse. It just increases the hatred both sides feel for each other." Kate Duffy - WCAX News http://www.justnews.com/news/18384762/detail.html?rss=mia&psp=news Mideast Violence Prompts Protests In S. Fla. Pro-Israelis, Pro-Palestinians Gather In Ft. Lauderdale POSTED: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 UPDATED: 8:20 am EST December 31, 2008 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Protests spilled into the streets of South Florida and tensions ran high Tuesday as the fighting in the Middle East prompted a pair of rallies in Fort Lauderdale. The protesters gathered outside the federal building on East Broward Boulevard, staging passionate demonstrations and guarded by police during the evening rush hour. Rallying cries could be heard from both sides of the issue: pro-Israeli supporters and a larger group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Some members of the pro-Palestinian group cried, "Israel is terrorist. Israel is terrorist." The protests were a reaction to four days of violence in the Middle East. Despite international pressure, Israel rejected on Wednesday a call for it to cease the punishing air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza. Some Hamas government buildings were systematically destroyed, and Israeli leaders discussed the use of ground troops. But there was no indication of Hamas backing down, either. Rocket barrages have killed four people in Israel. Women on Hamas television Tuesday said they would welcome Israeli soldiers as suicide bombers. Palestinians in South Florida reacted to the situation. "We are asking for our government to enforce immediate cease-fire," Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout, a member of the American Muslim Association, told Local 10's Janine Stanwood. "Why should 400 kids, wives mothers, children be killed? For what reason?" another protester asked. Israel supporters answered. "Israel has the right to defend itself," said one pro-Israeli woman. "There have been 10,000 rockets coming from Gaza into Israel over the last couple of years. Israel should have done this years ago," said Bob Kunzt, an organizer with Shalom International. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/30/302112/hundreds-gather-protest-israeli-airstrikes-gaza/news-breaking/ Hundreds Gather In Tampa To Protest Gaza Airstrikes By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune Published: December 30, 2008 Updated: 12/30/2008 09:12 pm TAMPA - The thought of his six young nieces keeps Yusuf Dabus awake. The girls, ages 3-7, lived in the Gaza strip and were seeking shelter near a mosque over the weekend as Israeli planes dropped bombs on Hamas targets. But his nieces died in the bombing run, Dabus said, casualties in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, elected government of the Palestinian people. "Basically that whole street was taken out," Dabus of Tampa said. "My aunt's house and all. How can I sleep knowing my family will not be alright tomorrow?" Dabus' story and news reports inspired University of South Florida sophomore Jehad Saleh, 19, to speak out. So he started a group on social networking site Facebook two days ago. He encouraged local Palestinians and Palestinian-Americans to gather at West Spruce Street and North Dale Mabry Highway on Tuesday to protest the violence in the Gaza Strip. Saleh's call was then relayed through text messages and word-of-mouth. By 4 p.m., at least 400 demonstrators had lined up along the busy thoroughfare, waving Palestinian and American flags, holding homemade signs and chanting through megaphones. "More people responded than I invited," Saleh said. "I've had cousins in the Gaza Strip who died. If their voice can't be heard, mine will." Demonstrators chanted "Free, free Palestine" and "Stop the killing." Signs encouraged passing motorists to "Honk 4 Peace." Mike Prysner of civil rights group the ANSWER Coalition, said Tuesday's demonstration was part of a "national day of protest" about the situation in Gaza. Although generally a peaceful, if intense, protest, tensions flared when Benyamin Berke walked through the crowd draped in an Israeli flag. "I wouldn't call it provoking unless being Jewish in this area is a provocation," Berke said. "I wanted to let the people of Tampa know that there's people who support Israel." Jack Ross, speaking in coordination with the Israel consulate general to Miami and Puerto Rico, said Tuesday that the Israel government is protecting its people from Hamas rocket strikes. "This is not an action against the Palestinian people," Ross said. "Israel is doing everything it can to limit civilian casualties. Hamas is doing everything they can to raise civilian casualties. If Hamas is quiet, Israel is quiet." Tuesday marked the fourth day of Israeli airstrikes against the Hamas leadership. More than 370 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed over the weekend. On Tuesday, Hamas rockets killed four Israelis. "I'm angry about this war," said protester Marwan Asadi, 39, a Palestinian who is also an Israeli citizen. "I want us to be able to sit down and solve our problems." http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa081230_mo_protest.21ce5f81.html Hundreds protest Mideast violence at Dealey Plaza 11:15 PM CST on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 By JEFF BRADY / WFAA-TV MIDEAST VIOLENCE PROTEST December 30th, 2008 Jeff Brady reports DALLAS - After four days of air strikes against the Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, Israel is considering a 48-hour truce. With the violence a half a world away, President George Bush consulted with Palestinian leaders by phone Tuesday; and hundreds of Palestinian supporters took their pleas to the streets of Dallas. Several hundred North Texans gathered at Dealey Plaza to protest what they call Israel's immoral and illegal bombings in the Gaza Strip. "This is an issue of humanitarian rights," said Rev. Charles Stovall, Munger Place United Methodist Church. The protestors also criticized Israel's blockade on supplies. "To put it plainly, an empty stomach knows no peace," said Mustapha Carroll, Council for American-Islamic Relations. A handful of speakers called on both the outgoing administration and the Obama team to take a stand. "Failure to take strong steps to end the Israeli attacks will only damage efforts to bring peace with justice to the Middle East, harm our nation's interests worldwide and strengthen the voices of extremism in the region," Carroll said. Dallas police kept watch as Palestinian flags flew alongside the American flags. "We're calling for peace in God's land," Stovall said. A spokeswoman for the American Jewish Committee said that Israel simply cannot tolerate Hamas, a known terrorist organization on its border, and that Palestinian militias have launched 200 separate rocket attacks on Israel over the last two weeks. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/12/29/birmingham-protestors-tell-of-fears-for-relatives-in-gaza-97319-22571472/ Birmingham protestors tell of fears for relatives in Gaza Dec 29 2008 A relative of five young girls killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza joined one of the demonstrations held across Britain today in protest against the bombings. Mohammed Balousha, 30, said his cousins, aged from just two weeks old to 14, lost their lives when Israel?s forces targeted a mosque near their home in Jabalya, one of the territory?s largest refugee camps. He was relayed the news last night in a phone call with his brother, who is in Gaza. Speaking at the demonstration in Birmingham city centre, Mr Balousha said: ?The Israelis were bombing a mosque near the house and the house was destroyed. ?We saw pictures on Palestine television of them lifting one of the surviving girls off the rubble and beneath her were some of her younger sisters, who had died. ?I think they were asleep at the time. It?s awful.? He said the girls, who were second cousins, were members of the Balousha family. They included Sama, four, and 14-year-old Samar. The Birmingham protest lasted for around 90 minutes and attracted up to 700 people, said organisers. West Midlands Police estimated the figure was closer to 200. Protesters chanted ?Free, Free Palestine? and ?Down, Down Israel? as sales shoppers watched. Banners carried the messages ?Stop Israeli Terrorism? and ?Stop Israeli Crimes?. Ali Jafai, 26, who held aloft an effigy of a blood-soaked victim of the strikes, said: ?It really is bad what?s happening in Gaza and the world is just watching. We are looking for peace.? Birmingham University engineering student Ali Afana, 25, has lived most of his life in Gaza. He said: ?It?s a disaster for the whole world. I don?t think Israel will stop now. They will continue attacking Gaza. ?I am very worried for my family in Gaza. I do not know if they are alive or not.? Manzoor Sadaq, from Aston, Birmingham, said he spent seven years in the Gaza Strip, carrying out humanitarian work. ?Innocent Palestinians are being killed by an occupying force and the whole world is doing nothing about it,? he said. The ?vigil? in Birmingham was organised by the Midlands Palestinian Community Association (MPCA) and the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign. MPCA chairman Kamel Hawwash said: ?We condemn Israel?s actions and call on the British Government to do the same and to call for an immediate end to the military operation in Gaza and for the unconditional lifting of the siege.? http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38560 Norfolk VA Vigil to Protest the Israeli Siege Tomorrow Downtown, 4:30 - 6:30 PM Submitted by Chip on Tue, 2008-12-30 04:55. ? Iraq ? Palestine There will be a vigil Tues. Dec. 30 from 4:30-6:30 pm to protest the Israeli Siege of Palestinians (over 350 Palestinians have been killed, over 1,000 wounded in 3 days) in Gaza. The local vigil will be at the corner of City Hall Ave and St. Paul's Blvd (where the usual peace vigil is organized by Catholic Workers) in downtown Norfolk. PLEASE COME. During this season of the Moslem New Year, also Kwanzaa, Hannukah, Christmas, and the New Year Holiday, join us in solidarity for those who struggle this week. Please spread the word and COME! If you have questions about directions or anything email me at choppe4 at gmail.com . http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou081229_mp_prostestors-local.1d3c2c4c.html Protesters take a stand against Israel 10:53 PM CST on Monday, December 29, 2008 Courtney Zubowski / 11 News HOUSTON ? Protesters turned out on Monday to take a stand against the air strikes in Israel. They met outside the Israeli consulate in southwest Houston. Video Protesters take a stand against Israel December 29, 2008 View larger E-mail Clip More Video They believe people in Gaza are dying for no reason. ?There was no motivation behind it. They are just bombing innocent citizens, women and children. We are here to protest, and to let our voices be heard that they need to stop the occupation in Palestine," said Fadi Hamadeh, protestor. Over 200 people gathered in front of the Israeli consulate during rush hour, but not everyone is against Israel. "Israel has to stop the rocket attacks from Gaza against the community and towns nearby. Israel is also reasserting itself in the Middle East that it is a force, and if you are going to attack, there will be consequences," said Randy Czarlinsky from the American Jewish Committee. There are obviously many different viewpoints on the attacks. But while the two sides don't agree on much, they do share a passion for what they believe in. http://www.keyetv.com/news/local/story/Local-peace-group-protests-for-Gaza-at-Texas/vZGPP4ozsk6Q8fpn6ltJOA.cspx?rss=909 Local peace group protests for Gaza at Texas Capitol CBS 42 Reporter: Ryan Loyd Email: rloyd at keyetv.com Last Update: 12/29/2008 11:01 pm Print Story | Email Story Local protest against attacks in Gaza Aftermath of the Israel airstrike attacks on Gaza. Mohammad Al-Bedaiwi looked out across a crowd of people who had gathered for a peaceful protest at the state capitol Monday. He is the chairman of the Austin Network for Islamic Studies. "We celebrate the joy of Christmas here, but thousands of people are being massacred in Gaza," he said. That?s why hundreds of people with a group called Jewish Voice for Peace, along with many others, stood at the steps of the capitol: to voice their outrage caused by a third day of Israeli attacks against Gaza. Similar protests took place across the United States and the world Monday. Israel maintains that the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas, is its intended target, but many civilians are among the casualties. The death toll has grown to more than 300, with thousands injured. "Once the occupation ends, there's no reason for violence,? Al-Bedaiwi said. Another protester, Amani Khamis, joined with her friends and family to stand up to the violence. ?We can't be peaceful anymore. It's time for us to speak up to stop the hate,? she said. Many people at the Austin rally said that each person can make a difference, and that each time groups come together, it?s a step in the right direction. ?Our prayers go to the people who have been murdered in Gaza,? Khamis said. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081230025203.inrnezcbp1&show_article=1 Protesters demonstrate in New Yorks against Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip PREV LARGER VERSION NEXT Protesters demonstrate in New Yorks against Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip. European Union foreign ministers were set to hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday in Paris on the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, the French foreign ministry announced. http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38559 Albuerquerque NM Protests Gaza Strikes Tomorrow at 2 Protests Submitted by Chip on Tue, 2008-12-30 03:21. ? Israel ? Palestine 1. Tu, 12/30, 12-2pm, Lockheed Martin's Dyna Theatre (1801 Mountain Road in Old Town) (Lockheed "benevolently" shows movies to our kids and simultaneously profits from the bombing of kids in Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, and on and on and on), Albuq 2. Tu, 12/30, 5pm, candlelight vigil and press conf at Federal Court Bldg. on Lomas between 3rd and 4th Streets, Albuq 3. Sat, 1/3, 12-1:30pm, vigil at Central and Tulane in Nob Hill, Albuq http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090109/METRO/901090374/1409/METRO January 9, 2009 Metro protesters rally over Gaza invasion Demonstrators trade chants but not blows in Detroit Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News SOUTHFIELD -- Thursday was a day of demonstrations in Metro Detroit as residents reflected the opinions and strong emotions on both sides of the war in the Gaza Strip and Israel, and gathered to act publicly on their consciences. Some 1,700 people rallied in support of Israel at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, where they heard Kenneth Gold, a participant in the Jewish Federation Family Mission to Israel, talk about his concern for the Jewish state, which he visited recently. "Israel would be the last country that would want to go to war," Gold said. "We take no joy in the suffering of our enemies. Every Israeli I know cannot wait for this to be over. Everyone knows what it means to triumph in battle: There is a lot of suffering that comes from this." Advertisement But in downtown Detroit, earlier in the day, a far different view of Israel's intentions was expressed by more than 400 Arab residents and peace activists who gathered first outside of McNamara Federal Building, and then at the historic Central Methodist Church. Abe Suleiman of Canton Township said, "I'm protesting against these Israelis' bombing of Palestine. All they do is kill. Israel starts terrorists by doing this." It was an emotional day for many who have starkly different views of events in Israel and the Gaza Strip, and throughout the generations-old disputes between Arabs and Jews. Local union and human rights activists were out in force. And some of the old lions of non-violence and of efforts to establish and support the state of Israel stepped to new rallying cries. Referring to a statement by President-elect Barack Obama in Israel this summer that he would defend his daughters against rockets from Hamas, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbleton said, "I want all of us to demand that when the next president takes office that he does not just go to Israel, but that he goes to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where children are brought to hospitals, their bodies bent and broken by the bombs." But at Shaarey Zedek, a local supporter of the Israeli Defense Forces, defended what she said is Israel's right to defend itself. "Imagine walking in downtown Birmingham and having a Katyusha rocket land in Shain Park," said Lauren Bienenstock, a member of the Friends of the IDF. "We have had enough! We will defend our country. It cannot matter what the world says, because what the world says is always too little, too late." Despite the high emotions and difficult issues, even when 40 supporters of the Israeli policy and strategy countered the demonstration by the critics of Israel outside of the McNamara building, there were no altercations, even when members of the different sides passed each other in close proximity. Jews criticized the use of the Nazi swastika, equating it with the Star of David, on a few of the signs brandished by the other side. But those who held the signs said they were equally reviled by what they described as a massacre in the Gaza Strip. Gershon Kedar, the second-ranking Israeli official in the Midwest, spoke twice during the day, accusing Hamas of exposing Palestinians to death by using them as human shields in battle and by using schools, mosques and hospitals for the storage of weapons and to fight from. But critics of Israel said the violence began long before Hamas escalated the number and distance of rocket attacks, when Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and later maintained a blockade that deprived Palestinians of a normal life. "We are here from all walks of life marching in unison against the occupation, against the slaughter," said Hasan Newash, a Palestinian-American activist and poet. http://www.roguegovernment.com/index.php?news_id=13625 Protester Calls For Jews To Be Thrown Back In The Oven Published on 01-07-2009 Email To Friend Print Version Source: Fox News Propaganda Like many other protests of Israel's campaign in Gaza, this one ended badly ? police had to cool an ugly fight between supporters of Israel and Gaza, breaking up the warring sides as their screaming and chanting threatened to turn into something worse. But some protesters at this rally in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., took their rhetoric a step further, calling for the extermination of Israel ? and of Jews. Separated by battle lines and a stream of rush-hour traffic outside a federal courthouse last week, at least 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators faced off against a smaller crowd of Israel supporters. Most of the chants were run-of-the-mill; men and women waving Palestinian flags called Israel's invasion of Gaza a "crime," while the pro-Israel group carried signs calling the Hamas-run territory a "terror state." But as the protest continued and crowds grew, one woman in a hijab began to shout curses and slurs that shocked Jewish activists in the city, which has a sizable Jewish population. "Go back to the oven," she shouted, calling for the counter-protesters to die in the manner that the Nazis used to exterminate Jews during the Holocaust. "You need a big oven, that's what you need," she yelled. ? Click here to see video from the protest. Millions of Jews were gassed and burned in crematoria throughout Europe during Adolf Hitler's rule of Germany. The protest organizers, asked to comment on the woman's overt call for Jewish extermination, said she was "insensitive" but refused to condemn her statement. "She does not represent the opinions of the vast majority of people who were there," said Emmanuel Lopez, who helped plan the event, one of many sponsored nationwide on Dec. 30 by the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism ) Coalition. Lopez, a state coordinator for ANSWER, admitted there is a problem with anti-Semitism within his organization's ranks. But then he went on to call the supporters of Israel across the street "barbaric, racist" Zionist terrorists. "Zionism in general is a barbaric, racist movement that really is the cause of the situation in the entire Middle East," Lopez said. The unidentified woman, who protest organizers said was a Muslim, wasn't the only protester who raised hackles that day. Other demonstrators held signs that said "Nuke Israel," and a number made comparisons to the Holocaust, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. More than 670 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians, have been killed in the 12 days of Israel's campaign in Gaza. At least 30 were killed Tuesday by Israeli shelling of a U.N. school that had been housing refugees. (Israel said its forces fired at militants who launched mortars from that location.) "This is absolutely inhumane," said Ahmed Suid, who attended the demonstration, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "This is a modern-day Holocaust." The comparisons of the Israelis to the Nazis has Jewish organizations concerned about a "growing trend" at protests in America, where they say hatred of Israel and Jews is being increasingly preached. "We're worried about hate speech. We're worried because hate speech eventually leads to pain and suffering and death," said Abraham Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, which has been tracking Gaza protests. "Comparisons of Israel to the Nazis are a deeply cynical perversion of history, an attempt to turn the tragedy that befell the Jewish people into a bludgeon against Israel," he said. Even though police had to intercede and break up a potentially violent confrontation between the two factions at the Fort Lauderdale protest, organizers called it a success, saying it drew crowds of new activists. "It was not just an academic exercise . . . not just a protest," Lopez told FOXNews.com. "It's a material force." http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1143977&srvc=rss Protesters arrested at Israeli Consulate in Boston By Jessica Fargen Thursday, January 8, 2009 - Updated 97d 24h ago + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio E-mail Printable (33) Comments Text size Share (5) Rate About 40 people protesting Israel?s military involvement in the Gaza Strip staged a sit-in at the Israeli Consulate this morning and stormed the building, resulting in four arrests, police say. Richard Hess, 49, of Cambridge, Ridgely Fuller, 62, of Waltham, Patrick Keaney, 39, of Boxboro, and Susan Barney, 44, of Arlington were arrested after they laid down in the lobby of 20 Park Plaza, which houses the Consulate. http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_11516025?source=rss Child-size coffins fill UC Berkeley plaza during protest of Israeli invasion By Doug Oakley, Staff Writer Posted: 01/21/2009 01:15:11 PM PST Updated: 01/21/2009 01:15:11 PM PST CT Reddy, a senior at UC Berkeley, holds a sign showing numbers of people killed in the Israeli... UC Berkeley students were treated to the sight of 180 child-size coffin replicas at Sproul Plaza Wednesday morning as part of a protest against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. A coalition of campus groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine, the Muslim Student Association and the Arab Student Union, placed the coffins and plan more protests, including a candlelight vigil on campus this week, organizers said. "To have almost 200 coffins on campus will force students to view the issue in Gaza from a different perspective," said Sohir Albgal, 22, a Cal student from Yemen. "We feel like this is an issue the American mainstream media doesn't depict with the in-your-face facts like how many people are getting killed, and we hope this will." In addition to the coffins, organizers handed out red "Gaza" arm bands and fliers with the headline "The Truth about Gaza. For more information on the groups who held today's protest, check out www.calsjp.org. http://www.14wfie.com/global/story.asp?s=9694157 Tri-State residents protest middle east fighting Jan 18, 2009 10:15 PM Jan 23, 2009 10:09 PM Posted by Sarah Harlan - email EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - Dozens gather in Evansville Sunday to rally against the bloodshed in the middle east. Israel and Hamas militants have been firing at each other for weeks now. Thousands of people have died already, thousands more injured in the Gaza strip. Protesters tell 14 News, it doesn't matter who broke the cease-fire, they say the fighting needs to stop now, before more lives are lost. "It is unfair that women and children are being killed on a daily basis in the name of defense," organizer Mohammad Zeiden said. Although no mutual agreement exists, both Israel and Palestine have decided a unilateral one-week declaration of a cease-fire. We're told many Palestinians are beginning to return to their homes. http://www.startribune.com/local/37774299.html Minneapolis rally protests Israeli attacks, U.S. aid Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Minneapolis to show support for the Palestinians. By ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune Last update: January 17, 2009 - 9:15 PM Featured comment As someone who lived in the South for a long time, what I hear is the Mid-East version of "Hell No, I Ain't Fergittin'!". Until both sides ? read more stop putting MORE emphasis on historical one upsmanship than on solving the problems from the CURRENT starting point, nothing can ever be accomplished. It's one thing to learn from history; it's quite another to let that history hold you back from your goals. Good luck. Shivering under a light snowfall, protesters gathered in Loring Park on Saturday afternoon, chanting for a free Palestine and an end to U.S. aid to Israel as well as the Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. "It doesn't matter how cold it is today ... we need to stand here today with the people of Palestine," said Anh Pham of Minneapolis, who represented the Anti-War Committee. After hearing from several speakers, hundreds in the Minnesota Coalition for Gaza marched over a bridge and south on Hennepin Avenue, carrying Palestinian and peace-sign flags as well as banners reading, "Not one more death, not one more dollar" and "No more U.S. aid to Israeli terrorists." They chanted, "Gaza, Gaza, don't you cry. Palestine will never die." Ziad Amra of the Coalition for Palestinian Rights rattled off a list of dates and places of Israeli attacks on Palestinian people. "When will it end? Will it?" he asked. "I'm wondering if people ever get tired, one massacre after another and nothing changes for the Palestinian people." But he said he hasn't given up hope. "Palestine is still alive," he said. As a new U.S. president who "represents hope" takes office, Amra said he wants change for the Palestinian people and urged supporters to write letters to newspapers and politicians. "Help us. We need your help. This is a battle that doesn't end here today," he said. On Saturday, Israeli leaders announced they would halt the 22-day offensive but said troops would remain on the ground in Gaza. http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/jan/16/local/chi-antizionismjan16 Archive for Friday, January 16, 2009 Gaza protests in Chicago stir charges of anti-Zionism By Manya A Brachear January 16, 2009 Jewish leaders in the Chicago area said they fear placards at two recent pro-Palestinian rallies that twist the Star of David into a Nazi swastika and compare the deaths in Gaza to the Holocaust inspired a string of attacks in the last two weeks on several synagogues and a school. The ?blatant anti-Semitic language? at the rallies, which were held Jan. 2 and Jan. 9, have delayed a collaboration between local Jews and Muslims to draft principles for civil discourse on the Middle East conflict, they said. Organizers of the pro-Palestinian rallies said they don?t condone the vitriol in the placards. Some condemn it. But some say complaining about cardboard won?t solve the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Middle East. ?I think both the protesters who exaggerate the message out of emotion or to draw attention?as well as their critics who jump on it to score a ?gotcha?? are distracting from the real and tragic humanitarian crisis at hand,? said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Council for American Islamic Relations. At a news conference in support of Israel this week, Jewish leaders called attention to the offensive signs and slogans at the rally as well as recent attacks on area synagogues where vandals spray-painted ?Death to Israel? and ?Free Palestine.? ?The organizational sponsors of these rallies have a civic obligation to make sure the imagery, the chanting, the tenor of their gatherings remain prejudice- and bias-free and don?t serve as venues for incitement and further divisive sentiments between communities,? said Jay Tcath, senior vice president of public affairs for the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Anti-Zionism is the new anti-Semitism, Tcath said. ?Rejecting the right of the Jewish people of having a Jewish state is the new and most dangerous form of anti-Semitism,? he said. ?It?s in that context in which these signs are being seen by myself.? In addition to placards, protesters also waved flags of the militant Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the equally militant Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah, which aim to eliminate Israel as part of their mission statements. One banner touted the debunked conspiracy theory that Jews were responsible for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Rehab agrees that rally organizers should have confiscated offensive signs. But he said the point of the rally shouldn?t get lost. ?As hundreds of innocent human lives are crushed in full view of the world by a belligerent Israeli government, I find it appalling that some on the pro-Israeli side are better concerned with cardboard paper,? he said. But like other forms of hatred, anti-Semitism also can transcend words. Jenna Benn, assistant director of the Anti-Defamation League in Chicago and the Upper Midwest, said incidents of vandalism and harassment have dramatically increased in recent weeks?a ripple effect similar to the one seen in 2006 during the Lebanon war. Six Jewish institutions have been vandalized in recent weeks, including one arson attempt. On one college campus, a Jewish student was called a Nazi, Benn said. The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has condemned the synagogue attacks. ?There?s a fine line between what?s anti-Israel and what?s anti-Semitic,? she said. ?If the U.S. were being repeatedly attacked from Canada by rockets, we would retaliate, whereas Israel doesn?t have that right ? Comparing Jews to Nazis [is] problematic.? But Stephanie Weiner, who organized Thursday?s protest of Chicago?s ties to Petach Tikva, one of Chicago sister cities, simply doesn?t want Chicago to support what she believes are war crimes. Seven miles east of Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva was one of the first exclusive Jewish settlements in Israel. Weiner and about five protesters distributed leaflets to guests at a breakfast hosted by Mayor Richard Daley. ?This has nothing to do with religion,? she said. ?People who know and care know it?s a human-rights issue.? http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=52905 Locals Protest War in Gaza Posted By: Dave Marquis DAVIS, CA - About 70 opponents of the intensifying war in the Gaza Strip showed up at the Davis City Council meeting Tuesday night. Carrying signs and asking to speak before the council, the protestors were at first denied a chance to speak by Davis Mayor Ruth Uy Asmundson. Other councilmembers voted to allow them to speak during the time allocated for public comment. "We are all Palestinians and we all come from the same place. It's humanity and it's right for us to protect those," said UC Davis student Dina Wahbe. Protestors want the city council to consider a resolution condemning the war. "We will be back next week and the week after that until our resolution is on your agenda. I thank you again," said UC Davis student Amin Abdelah. On Tuesday afternoon, about 100 opponents of the conflict took their message to rush-hour motorists at 16th and J streets in Sacramento. Many said they were especially outraged at an Israeli attack on a school in Gaza that killed students and other civilians taking refuge there. "Today they shot (the) whole school. They killed about 30 children. It's unacceptable for human beings," said Yusef Marmosh of Sacramento. Mormosh added that he is opposed to acts of war by both Israelis and Hamas. The Israeli military said the school they fired upon was the origin of several rocket attacks on its troops. Dueling protestors shouted and opposed one another outside the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles on Tuesday, shutting down a two-block section of Wilshire Boulevard for several hours. The protests ended without any arrests. http://wnyt.com/article/stories/s732079.shtml?cat=300 01/06/2009 11:50:41 PM By: Kumi Tucker Local protesters rally over Middle East conflict ALBANY - A rally and a counter-demonstration ovre the Middle East conflict took place next to the State Capitol Tuesday. "Ceasefire! Now!" chanted one group. At the same time, across State street, another group chanted, "Jewish blood isn't cheap!" When the two groups met, tempers flared. "However, however what Israel is doing, is self-defense," yelled one protester. "Israel doesn't create hate. Hamas creates hate!" yelled another. On the one side, people spoke out for Palestinian rights; those who call for peace with humanitarian concerns. "Not only stopping the war but stopping the war is not enough, or the genocide. I want them to actually engage in talking to Hamas to find a solution, said Zuhair Alatwi. "Right now, it's the slaughter of the innocents. The average person there is not firing rockets," said Jen Illenberg. "War crimes. Violation of international law," said Joseph Koczaja. "They say it's to stop Hamas rockets, but end the occupation and the rockets will stop," added Alatwi. Those supporting Israel say Hamas has been firing rockets into and terrorizing southern Israel for seven years. "Israel responded, just as America would respond and it's part of the larger terrorist network, whether it be Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah that wants to take on not only Israel and the Jewish people, but all free people everywhere in the west" said Larry Farbstein. "Israel has had enough. I myself missed a rocket four years ago when I was in Steroad. I've seen children scarred with these rockets. Hamas is using their people as human shields," said Jack Lauber. "Every time it doesn't defend itself, it just emboldens them to take more suicide bombings, more rocket attacks, more death and destruction, and the world sits idly by," said Farbstein. International pressure is mounting to end the eleven-day offensive in Gaza. http://www.roguegovernment.com/index.php?news_id=13588 ADL Upset At Protesters Comparing Israel To Nazi Germany Published on 01-06-2009 Email To Friend Print Version New York, NY, January 5, 2009 ? Of all of the recriminations aimed at Israel at scores of demonstrations held across the country in response to its military operation against Hamas, none has been more consistently or emphatically employed than comparisons of Israel to the Nazis, or the situation in Gaza to a "Holocaust." The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said that in-your-face comparisons of Israel's actions to those of Hitler, or signs altering the Jewish Star of David into a swastika, have been a recurring feature at many rallies across the country, including protests held over the past weekend in several major U.S. cities. Some demonstrations have included expressions of support for Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, or for terrorism against Israel in general, according to ADL. And some protesters at rallies have spewed inflammatory anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric. "Freedom of speech is not just a right, it is also a responsibility," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor. "Comparisons of Israel to the Nazis are a deeply cynical perversion of history, an attempt to turn the tragedy that befell the Jewish people into a bludgeon against Israel. "While we have come to expect to see such and hear this type of inflammatory rhetoric in Arab and Muslim capitals overseas, it is deeply disturbing that it is appearing in anti-Israel demonstrations at home," said Mr. Foxman. "Offensive Holocaust comparisons and the use of Nazi imagery are deeply offensive and have no place in a civil society such as ours." ADL is monitoring anti-Israel rallies across the country and is posting updates and visuals to a dedicated Web page. Examples from the more recent rallies include: ? In New York City's Times Square, six city blocks were filled with anti-Israel demonstrators holding signs that read "Israel: The Fourth Reich;" "Holocaust by Holocaust Survivors;" "Stop Israel's Holocaust;" "Holocaust in Gaza;" and "Stop the Zionist Genocide in Gaza." One sign juxtaposed gruesome images of Holocaust victims and Gazans and read, "Nazi Genocide, Israeli Genocide." The January 3 rally was endorsed by Al-Awda, the Muslim American Society, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and several other organizations. ? More than 2,000 individuals demonstrated at Tribune Plaza in Chicago on January 2 before marching across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to the Israeli Consulate. Protesters held mock coffins draped with Palestinian flags and waved signs that included "Stop Israel's Genocide in Gaza" and "Palestinian Holocaust in Gaza Now." ? Demonstrators gathered at the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles waving Palestinian flags and holding signs, including ones that read, "Every Israeli committing the genocide in Gaza is a 'Hitler'." One sign depicted an image of the Israeli flag with the Star of David replaced by a swastika and above the flag, the words, "Upgrade to Holocaust Version 2.0." The December 30 protest was sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition, Al-Awda and several local Muslim organizations. ? Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Tampa, FL, on December 30 carrying signs that compared Israel to Nazi Germany and calling for the dissolution of Israel. One sign declared, "Zionism is Cancer; Radiate it," and other signs featured the word "Nazi" written over an Israeli flag with a swastika. ? Approximately 200 demonstrators gathered at the federal building in San Diego, CA, with signs that read: "Stop the Israeli Third Reich;" "Israel is a Terrorist State;" "Israeli Zionism = Nazism;" "Stop the Israeli Holocaust on Gaza;" "Israel is the old South Africa" and "Stop the Massacre in Gaza." The rally was co-sponsored by Al-Awda, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Muslim American Society, the ANSWER Coalition, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and others. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/06/MNU4153SE1.DTL Pro-Palestinian protest at Federal Building Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer Tuesday, January 6, 2009 ________________________________________ (01-05) 15:23 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- More than 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested Monday outside Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office and the Federal Building in San Francisco, venting anger over Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The demonstrators assembled about 8 a.m. at the intersection of Market and Montgomery streets, near Feinstein's office on Post Street, before heading up Market toward the Federal Building on Golden Gate Avenue. Traffic was stopped at several intersections. Police on foot and on motorcycles monitored protesters but made no arrests. One protester, Yvonne Steffen, 77, of El Cerrito, said she was marching "because I think what Israel is doing is horrible. It's against humanity, and the government needs to talk with Hamas and make real peace." About 10 protesters tried to get into the Federal Building in hopes of gaining entry to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's district office, but were turned away by guards. "Are you denying us entry?" one woman asked. "Ma'am, you can stay out here and get a tent, but you are not going to pass this point," a guard said sharply. Finally, one protester, Nadeen Elshorafa, 26, of San Francisco was allowed inside. She later emerged to say that Pelosi, who was in Washington, was unavailable and that the group would need to make an appointment for later. On Golden Gate Avenue, 15 protesters sat and linked their arms to block three entrances to the Federal Building. People trying to do business inside were told to go to the Turk Street entrance. The protesters dispersed without further incident around noon. It was at least the fifth pro-Palestinian demonstration in San Francisco since Israel began an aerial bombardment of Gaza on Dec. 27. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/nyregion/04march.html?_r=1&em Times Square Rally Protests Fighting in Gaza John Marshall Mantel for The New York Times Protesters rallied in Times Square on Saturday against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Police officers cordoned off a lane and a half of Seventh Avenue for protesters, and that lane was filled for several blocks. A smaller group of anti-Hamas protesters demonstrated across the street. By RAY RIVERA Published: January 3, 2009 Anger over the Israeli assault on Gaza spilled into Times Square on Saturday, as hundreds of protesters condemned the attacks in a demonstration that stretched four blocks and clogged much of the city?s central tourist district for several hours. Skip to next paragraph Related Israeli Troops Launch Attack on Gaza (January 4, 2009) The protest came as Israeli troops began a ground incursion into the Hamas-controlled territory in what officials described as an effort to end Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel. The land campaign followed eight days of Israeli airstrikes that have killed more than 430 Palestinians, many of them civilians. News of the escalation came midway through the demonstration and cast a pall over the crowd as it was announced over loudspeakers and crept across the news tickers nearby. But many protesters said they were not surprised, and some sounded a defiant note. ?As organized as the Palestinian community is here in the United States, we already knew this was going to happen, and I think the Palestinian people in Gaza have expected it,? said Linda Sarsour, 28, a Palestinian-American social worker from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, home to one of the country?s oldest Arab communities. ?Now it?s time for Israel to come in and face the people on the ground. It?s all-out war now, and we?ll see what happens.? Demonstrators waved signs that read ?Stop Massacres in Gaza? and ?End the Siege.? Speakers led the crowd in chants of ?Free, free Palestine.? The protest was made up predominantly of people of Middle Eastern or Arab descent, but also included Jewish groups, students and others who support an independent Palestinian state. Many, whether Palestinian or not, wore black-and-white kaffiyehs, the traditional Palestinian scarf, and waved Palestinian flags. Police cordoned off part of the sidewalk and a lane and a half of Seventh Avenue from 42nd Street to 38th Street to accommodate the crowd. The demonstrators then marched in a slow procession along 42nd Street to the Israeli Consulate on Second Avenue. The protesters drowned out a small counterdemonstration of a few dozen people who gathered across Seventh Avenue from the larger crowd before also moving to the Consulate. They waved Israeli and American flags, and carried banners condemning Hamas, the Islamic group that has been in control of the Gaza Strip since 2007. ?Blame Hamas; Destroy Hamas,? read a banner carried by Buddy Macy, a 52-year-old small-business owner from New Jersey who helped organize the counterprotest. The two groups hurled insults ? each calling the other racists and terrorists ? but mostly kept their distance. The police said there were no arrests. The anger mirrored tensions that have played on a global stage. The Arab world has condemned the attacks, and some United Nations officials have called for a cease-fire. Israel and the Bush administration have defended the attacks, saying Hamas provoked the airstrikes by firing rockets into southern Israel. At least four Israelis had died from Hamas rockets before the ground assault began. ?They may say, sure, this is disproportional and only a few Israelis have died,? Mr. Macy said. ?Why is this disproportional? You have to protect yourselves. If you and your family lived in a home and there was a rocket within a hundred meters of you, wouldn?t you call the National Guard? Wouldn?t you call everyone you could?? Many in the pro-Palestinian crowd brought their children, and came from towns and mosques across the region to be there. Ned Abu Irsid, 40, a gas station owner in Monroe, in Orange County, drove his wife and three children two hours to join the demonstration. His children, ages 10, 8, and 5, were bundled up in down jackets to protect them from the winter chill. Two of them waved small American flags, the other a Palestinian flag. ?The massacre of the Palestinian people is really a horrible thing,? Mr. Irsid said, ?and that?s the least we can do, is to come down and make our voices heard a little bit.? Mr. Irsid, who immigrated from Jordan 23 years ago, said he wanted his children, who were all born in this country, to carry American flags to show them and the nation that support for Palestinians did not mean disloyalty to America. ?First and foremost,? he said, ?we live in this country, and this is who we are.? Told about the ground invasion, Mr. Irsid looked crestfallen. ?I was hoping that this would never happen, because of the simple fact that a lot of innocent people are going to die,? he said. Colin Moynihan contributed reporting. http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090104_Protesters_decry_Israeli_air_strikes_in_Gaza.html Posted on Sun, Jan. 4, 2009 Protesters decry Israeli air strikes in Gaza By Allison Steele Inquirer Staff Writer Carrying signs and hoisting Palestinian flags high in the air, about 200 people gathered outside City Hall yesterday to protest Israel's attacks on Gaza. Organized by the Philadelphia branch of the International Action Center, the rally was one of many demonstrations held across the country and the world yesterday to condemn Israel's air strikes. In Philadelphia, students and activists urged the U.S. government to end its support of Israel, saying the foreign aid funds Israel's military tactics. "The tax money that we pay, to think that it is used that way is a great shame," said Ali Shaath, 25. Shaath immigrated to Philadelphia from Gaza six years ago to run a flooring business. The events of the past week have made it difficult to be away, he said. "I have family. I wish I could be there," Shaath said. The bombings, which began Dec. 27, have been one of the Mideast's most violent clashes in decades. The air strikes have killed more than 400 people and injured at least 1,700. United Nations observers have estimated that a quarter of the Palestinians killed were civilians. Israeli warplanes are targeting the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been responsible for a growing number of rocket attacks in southern Israel. Israeli military planes flying over northern Gaza yesterday morning dropped leaflets warning residents to leave the area immediately, and ground troops and tanks entered Gaza in the afternoon. Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal had promised bloodshed if the Israeli ground troops moved in. In front of City Hall, cars honked their support as members of the rally chanted, "Stop the killing! Stop the war!" Samar Shraim, 19, whose family is from Palestine but moved to Jordan before she was born, said her friends in Palestine and Israel were equally horrified by the attacks. "In the bigger scheme, it affects all of us," said Shraim, who came to the United States 10 years ago and is studying international relations at Community College of Philadelphia. "It's just so hard to believe this is even happening." The conflict in the Mideast is hard to even talk about at times, Shraim said. Often, she said, people oversimplify the issues or focus on fragments of the overall picture. Bert Strieb, 70, a semiretired professor at La Salle University, said America needed to exert some financial muscle over Israel. "As long as Israel has the United States' backing, they have no reason to back down," he said. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008587915_protest04m.html?syndication=rss Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 12:00 AM Seattle protesters call for peaceful end to Gaza Strip conflict Israeli ground attacks in Gaza provided a sense of urgency to a Palestinian-organized demonstration at Seattle's Westlake Park on Saturday, where some 500 gathered to support a peaceful end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. By Emily Heffter Seattle Times staff reporter ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES Chanting "Free, free Palestine," hundreds of protesters opposing the bombing of Gaza by Israel march north on Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle on Saturday. The morning news of Israel's ground attacks in Gaza gave a sense of urgency to a Palestinian-organized demonstration at Seattle's Westlake Park on Saturday, where some 500 gathered to support a peaceful end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Nearly a dozen community groups of various religious, ethnic and political backgrounds co-sponsored the protest. The event drew, among others, Palestinians worried about family members in immediate danger in Gaza; Jewish protesters dismayed by the violence; and supporters of changes in U.S. policy, which they say would create a peaceful and secular state in Israel. At one point, dozens of shoes were scattered around several tarps spread on the pavement as Muslims at the demonstration knelt in prayer. Many protesters held signs and some wore traditional black-and-white Palestinian scarves. "Cease fire now," read some signs. And: "Stop the real terrorists/ US-Israeli war machine," and, "As a Jew, I cannot support attacks on civilians." Demonstrators chanted, spoke and planned to march through downtown to try to bring awareness to an issue they say many Americans misunderstand or ignore. "I'm disgusted. I'm ashamed. I'm very angry at the government here," said Mitra Ziainia, of Seattle. "They think it's going to go away on its own, and it's not." For many at the event, the conflict thousands of miles away was intensely personal. A tearful Mona Marouf spoke from the podium of her fears that she could get a phone call at any moment about her parents and family in Gaza. "It's a disaster, by all means," said her husband, Hussam Marouf. "They are waiting to be killed at any moment ... They don't know where to run or where to go." Neil Fox, who is Jewish, attended the protest with his wife and two daughters, who are 8 and 10. He described his own upbringing as Zionist but said he hopes to pass a different legacy on to his own children. He and his wife send their girls to Middle East Peace Camp for Children in Seattle's Magnuson Park to ensure they have personal connections to Palestinian and Muslim children, he said. American Jews, he said, have a particular responsibility to speak out against the Israeli government's military actions. "As a Jew, I want to tell Israel that they're not doing this in my name," he said. Tens of thousands of people staged similar protests in European cities on Saturday, including some who hurled shoes at the tall iron gates outside the British prime minister's residence in London and waved Palestinian flags. Shoe-throwing has become a popular gesture of protest and contempt since an Iraqi journalist tossed a pair of shoes at President Bush in Baghdad last month. Protests in Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Berlin all drew thousands of people. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/03/BALR153FN7.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea Protesters in S.F. and Europe blast Israel Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, January 4, 2009 (01-03) 21:02 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Since the Israeli offensive against Gaza began a week ago, 18-year-old San Francisco City College student Ahmed Alkhatib can check in with his family only once a day- and that's if the phones work. Otherwise, Alkhatib can only hope that his parents, two brothers and two sisters will stay safe in their Gaza home as they watch bombs fall around them. And, much like tens of thousands of people around the world did today, he can protest. Alkhatib and hundreds of others who flocked to Market Street in San Francisco this evening said they were there to protest the Israeli ground invasion, which began earlier today. But they also had their sights set closer to home: Many said they want to urge American leaders and citizens to oppose any financial support of the Israeli government, by boycotting and divesting from companies that support the Middle East state. "I do feel powerless and guilty, because I am part of the (American) establishment that is financing and supplying the occupation," said Alkhatib, a Pacifica resident who came to the United States three years ago as an exchange student and was unable return to Gaza because of ongoing violence. "But I also feel powerful," he said. "If I wasn't here, there would be nobody to talk about my family, nobody to tell, through my family's story, that the violence is not just compromising one family, it is compromising thousands."The San Francisco rally began with several hundred demonstrators gathering around 5 p.m. at Market and Powell streets. By 6 p.m., the crowd - many of them waving Palestinian flags and wearing head scarves - had swelled to about 500, and marched up Market Street to City Hall. There were no counter protests, as there have been in days past. Many protesters, such as San Francisco resident Ateyeh Ateyeh, were Palestinian. "This is the least we could do to protest our government's action," said the U.S. citizen, who fled the West Bank in 1989 and brought his wife and four children to the rally. "We don't want to say, 'Support the Palestinian's ... cause.' We just want to say, 'Stay neutral, stop sending American planes and our tax dollars.'" Many simply urged peace. Francesca Rosa, a 54-year-old San Francisco resident, held an olive branch in one hand and a Palestinian flag in the other. And Natalie Hrizi, also of San Francisco, garnered loud cheers as she spoke to the crowd through a bullhorn. "Palestine isn't just about Palestine, it's about all of us who stand for peace," she said. "It's about all of us who stand against racism and for justice." The San Francisco rally - the fifth last week - was small and peaceful compared to many elsewhere in the world. In Europe, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in major cities on Saturday against Israel's bombardment of Gaza. In London, at least 10,000 people marched past Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Downing Street residence to a rally in Trafalgar Square. Outside Downing Street, hundreds of protesters threw shoes at the gates that block entry to the narrow road. Shoe-throwing has become a popular way to express protest and contempt since an Iraqi journalist pelted U.S. President George W. Bush with a pair of shoes in Baghdad last month. Rallies also were held in other British cities - including Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. Elsewhere in Europe, protests in Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Berlin all drew big crowds. In Paris, police said 21,000 marched through the streets, shouting "We are all Palestinians" and "Israel assassin." Later, about 500 protesters threw objects at police, burned Israeli flags, overturned and torched cars, and vandalized several shops, police said. Angry protests continued for a second day in Turkey, where about 5,000 demonstrators in Ankara shouted "killer Israel." In The Netherlands, thousands of people marched through Amsterdam. One banner declared: "Anne Frank is turning in her grave. Oh Israel!" In Athens, a few of the 5,000 protesters threw stones and gasoline bombs at police outside the Israeli Embassy. Riot police retaliated with tear gas and stun grenades. More protests are planned, including another in San Francisco at noon Sunday at Powell and Market streets. Next Saturday, there is an 11 a.m. event in San Francisco's Civic Center. The Associated Press contributed to this report. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/03/protesters-gather-baywalk-denounce-gaza-fighting/news-breaking/ Protesters Gather At BayWalk To Denounce Gaza Fighting News Channel 8 photo by ANTHONY ALLRED Dozens of protesters gathered at BayWalk on Saturday night in response to Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip. http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Gaza-protests-in-St-Petersburg/eCy9dGWsik-_3JYcMJWU4Q.cspx?rss=794 Gaza protests in St. Petersburg Reported by: Keith Baker Email: kbaker at abcactionnews.com Last Update: 1/04 10:10 am Protests about conflict in Gaza ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- The conflict in the Gaza strip brought out loud opinions in Pinellas County. About 100 people showed up in support of the Palestinian view while a smaller group stood across the Baywalk area holding signs supporting Israel. St. Petersburg Police were on hand to keep the protest peaceful but it didn't prevent the shouting and the expressing of opinions. Nothing in the demonstration resulted in arrests. Both sides agreed peace is necessary and the fighting needs to end. The protest was organized by groups called ANSWER, Rise up Tampa Bay and St. Pete for Peace while counter protests showed up after publicity of the protest became known. http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/01/04/mn/03gaza.txt Twin Cities protesters urge end to attacks on Gaza By The Associated Press . MINNEAPOLIS ? Hundreds of people marched in Minneapolis to protest Israel?s military offensive in Gaza City. The newly formed Minnesota Coalition for Gaza organized the rally Friday, urging an end to Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. They also called for a restoration of the cease-fire and peace in the Middle East. It?s been a week since the start of the Israeli strikes on Gaza. At least 460 people have been killed and about 1,700 wounded. http://www.katu.com/news/local/37047414.html Nearly 2,000 march through Seattle in protest of Israeli attacks Story Published: Jan 3, 2009 at 5:39 PM PDT Story Updated: Jan 3, 2009 at 5:39 PM PDT By Matt Markovich SEATTLE - The Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in the Middle East are sparking massive protests on the streets of Seattle. A rally kicked off earlier Saturday at Westlake Center, then spread from there as nearly 2,000 Palestinian supporters marched through downtown Seattle in a planned protest. Protesters march through Seattle in opposition to the Israeli attacks against the Gaza strip. Their original intent was to protest Israel's aerial bombing this week of Gaza. But as word spread that Israeli ground troops had just entered the Palestinian territory, the rally's tone grew more intense. "Free free Palestine, free free Palestine," marchers chanted. "Fight the power, fight the tide. End Israeli apartheid." "Please keep going until they stop killing our kids," they chanted. The protest came on the same day as several other rallies across Europe opposing the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The Seattle rally began with a series of speakers who opposed America's so-called blanket support of Israel, as about 200 others participated in noon prayers in the Center Plaza of Westlake Square. Then marchers took to the city streets under gray skies, led by a group of children who held signs saying, "Am I your next target?" "We are marching because we feel morally responsibility for what's going on in Gaza," said Hunza Chaudahry. "Our dollars are the ones that fund Israeli bombs and tanks." The protest had the earmarks of an Arab funeral procession, complete with caskets symbolizing the innocent victims. One casket was carried by a 14-year-old who said she has family in Gaza - and the coffin had their names on it. "This is stupid. My goodness we are all people. We are all the same," said Safaa Darwish. "We lived in harmony for so many years. This needs to stop." Not far away, a mother followed her kids and family members who carried a symbolic dead child. Zeina Askr says, "Would you like your child to pass away at this age by a bomb that comes down when they are sleeping in their house? Is that fair?" Nobody who spoke with KOMO News would justify Hamas' use of rockets on innocent Israelis. And shadowing the crowd was one man carrying the Israeli flag. He said he wasn't even Jewish. "They are trying to defend themselves from ruthless attacks that have been going on ever since Hamas took control of Gaza, so somebody has to stand with them so they can defend themselves," said the lone marcher, George Bentley. The march was loud but peaceful. And organizers say expect more in the future. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008586991_webprotest03m.html?syndication=rss Hundreds in Seattle protest Gaza attacks A Westlake Mall protest Saturday drew about 500 people supporting a peaceful end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. By Emily Heffter Seattle Times staff reporter ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES Chanting "Free, Free, Palestine," hundreds of protesters opposing the bombing of Gaza by Israel march north on Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle Saturday. A Westlake Mall protest Saturday drew about 500 people supporting a peaceful end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. As their protest got underway, Israeli ground troops were moving into the Gaza area. Israel said its continued strikes were in retaliation for sustained rocket fire into its territory from Hamas, the Islamic group that controls the Gaza. Israel's actions have sparked an angry reaction across the Arab world. "Words cannot explain what I feel right now," a tearful Mona Marouf, whose parents and family live in Gaza, said from the podium at Westlake Center. "Every single day I'm imagining myself holding my daughter dying in my arms ... The news is terrible every day." Nearly a dozen community groups from different religious, ethnic and political organizations co-sponsored Saturday's protest, which was organized by Voices of Palestine. Those present included Palestinians anxious to hear news of family members in the path of troops in Israel; Jewish people upset about Israeli government policies, and people who supported peace in the Middle East in general. They chanted, spoke and planned to march through downtown Seattle to try to bring awareness to an issue they say many Americans misunderstand or ignore. "I'm disgusted. I'm ashamed. I'm very angry at the government here," said Mitra Ziainia, of Seattle. "They think it's going to go away on its own, and it's not." http://newsok.com/group-protests-gaza-unrest/article/3335645 Group protests Gaza unrest at Oklahoma state Capitol Demonstrators at state Capitol want state, national leaders to press Israel for cease-fire Comments 25 Buzz up! BY MICHAEL MCNUTT Published: January 6, 2009 America should take immediate steps to end Israel?s "illegal and immoral? offensive against the Gaza Strip?s Hamas rulers, the executive director of the Oklahoma City chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Monday. Malaka Elyazgi of Norman carries the American flag as she marches Monday outside the state Capitol to protest Israel?s military offensive against Gaza Strip?s Hamas rulers. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN "We as Oklahomans and as Americans should be concerned about this conflict because our taxes are going towards Israel,? Razi Hashmi said. "We should not allow our government to give Israel a blank check to allow the destruction of hopes for peace in the Middle East.? More than 200 mostly Islamic Americans demonstrated peacefully Monday outside the state Capitol asking state and national leaders to press Israel for a cease-fire. People walked in a circle during the noon hour by the south steps of the Capitol holding signs and chanting "Stop the killing, free, free Gaza!? and "Free, free Palestine; occupation is a crime!? Michael Barlow, past president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City, watched quietly. "War is unfortunate, but the question is: What is Israel to do, with scores of missiles being shot into Israeli population centers daily?? he said. "How long do you allow missiles to be shot into your country from another country?? Hamas, whose charter specifically calls for the destruction of the state of Israel, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States. Hashmi said as an American citizen he agrees with the U.S. description of Hamas. Barlow said it is difficult for Israel to negotiate with Hamas leaders when they do not recognize its right to exist. At least one Jewish member participated in Monday?s demonstration. Jillian Holzbauer of Stillwater carried a sign saying, "This Jew supports peace in Palestine.? Holzbauer, a student at Oklahoma State University, said she spent the past three summers in the West Bank working with Holy Land Trust, a Palestinian nonprofit group. "I saw that this isn?t really a religious issue, this is an issue about people who are living under military occupation for 40 years and they?re in a very desperate situation,? she said. The Rev. Kristen Brown, a United Methodist minister assigned to the campus of Southwest Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, said she attended the event to bring awareness about the Palestinians? plight. http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/117410/as_attacks_on_gaza_escalate%2C_nyc_protesters_decry_u.s._aid_to_israel/ As Attacks on Gaza Escalate, NYC Protesters Decry U.S. Aid to Israel Posted by Zahra Hankir, Indypendent at 12:18 PM on January 5, 2009. "As Americans, we are demanding that our tax money not be spent on killing innocent civilians." As Israeli ground troops crossed the border into Gaza, rapidly escalating an offensive that has taken the lives of over 460 Palestinians, thousands of New Yorkers gathered at Times Square on Saturday afternoon demanding that Israel end the killing and that the U.S. renounce its support of the Jewish state. "We are demanding that the Palestinians be protected, but as Americans, we are also demanding that our tax money not be spent on killing innocent civilians," said Ayman el-Fawa, an Arab American volunteer at Al-Awda, one of the organizers of the events. In the bitter cold, protesters covered an entire four blocks for hours, spanning 38th St to 42nd St, before marching to the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN on 2nd Ave. Spectators continued to spill into the crowd well into the evening, even after the protest officially ended. The event was the fourth of its kind, and the protests have visibly gained momentum. This time around, the rally brought together the largest number of protestors who heavily criticized the U.S. for its continuous support of Israel. "Innocent civilians are being killed and the American government is giving money to the Israelis, especially the administration of George Bush which has tried to justify the massacre by condemning the Palestinian resistance, who have the right to resist," said Father George Makhlouf, a Palestinian priest who resides in Long Island. The crowd was filled with many Arab Americans but also with anti-Zionist Jews, African American organizations and various other human rights and civil rights organizations. "Not in our names! Not with our money!" read one placard; "Yes We Can! Stop U.S. Military Aid to Israel," read another. Tens of police officers were deployed in the area, some on horses. A few counter-protesters demonstrated across the street, carrying Israeli and American flags and charging Hamas with terrorism, but the loud pro-Palestinian chanting and speeches drowned their voices out. At one point during the protest, the opening verse of the Qur'an was recited, and some Muslim spectators could be seen praying in the middle of the bustling crowds. A young Arab rapper took to the stage to express his rage through rhyme. "To exist is to resist," he rapped, "remember one thing, the bells of freedom will ring." Anti-Bush and anti-Condoleezza Rice placards were in abundance. Rice has blamed Hamas for the offensive, arguing that the conflict will end if the movement ceases its rocket attacks on Israel. Chanters compared the current situation in Palestine to apartheid in South Africa and charged Israel with carrying out genocide. The crowd also voiced opposition to Arab regimes and leaders that have not done enough to end the violence, in particular Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Protestors across the Arab world have expressed outrage against the Arab response, with many demonstrating in front of Egyptian embassies. "I'm ashamed with the Egyptian response," said el-Fawa, who is originally Egyptian. "The Arab nations? have to come together and say that this is enough." During Saturday's protest, hundreds of curious tourists watched and took photos as they passed by, while members of various participating organizations delivered impassioned speeches from a loudspeaker. Some of the speeches called on incoming president Barack Obama to relinquish the U.S.'s support of Israel and for U.S. forces to leave Iraq and Afghanistan. "Enough innocent children have died. Today will let people know that there are many in New York who do not support this sort of destructive response. It will let people know that there is a large number of us who are against war and killing and who understand the unreasonableness and the lack of logic that it took for this response," said John Charles, a New York based attorney. Speakers called on the crowds to continue expressing their outrage as the crisis goes on, and to pledge to continue protesting, lest the plight of the Palestinians be forgotten. "We're doing this and we're going to keep doing this! Tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, we're going to be here. We will keep protesting until they stop these attacks and break the siege on Gaza," said one speaker. A similar protest will be held next Sunday. http://cbs5.com/national/israel.protesters.SF.2.900240.html Jan 5, 2009 5:56 pm US/Pacific Israel Protesters Block Traffic In San Francisco SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5/KCBS/BCN/AP) ? Protesters block Market St. at Montgomery in San Francisco Monday. More than 150 demonstrators succeeded in shutting down the San Francisco Federal Building for a brief time Monday to protest Israel's military action in Gaza. They marched from the Israeli consulate downtown to the Federal Building, then sat with their arms linked and blocked the entrances to the building for about an hour, according to police. No one was arrested. A group of protesters was blocking the entrance to the building around 11:15 a.m., chanting, "Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has to go." They were holding signs that said "Gaza is Warsaw," and "Another Jew for Justice in Gaza: Free Palestine." Others demonstrators were chanting "Stop bombing Gaza. Stop bombing children." "I'm abhorred at the silence of our government," 53-year-old El Cerrito resident Toby Blome said. Blome, who was carrying a rag doll she said symbolized the deaths of young Palestinian children, said demonstrators felt that their rights were being violated because they were not allowed into the building to talk to U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi. A San Francisco police officer at the scene would not say whether there had been any problems or arrests related to the protest. There was a far larger protest over the weekend, as some 600 protesters in San Francisco were among the thousands around the world to protest Israel's military offensive in Gaza on Saturday. At Powell and Market Streets, demonstrators gathered with signs and Palestinian flags to condemn the Israeli air strikes that have lasted for almost a week and killed hundreds. They marched up Market Street to City Hall. Unlike the five previous protests in the city against Israel, there were no counter-protesters Saturday night. "We would like it to end with a cease-fire which is something that Hamas has been pleading for? and it's something that the Israeli government is not open to hearing because they're not open to talking to Hamas, and I think that's really part of the big problem," said East Bay resident Laura Ostrow. About two hours before the march's scheduled start, police were already at the scene prepared with barricades and a command post. While the last several demonstrations have not turned violent, wary officers said they were prepared for the worst. In Europe, tens of thousands of people protested the on-going air strikes in demonstrations that were mostly peaceful. However, some protesters in Athens threw stones and petrol bombs at Greek police outside the Israeli Embassy. In Paris, police said 21,000 people marched through the streets, shouting slogans that included "We are all Palestinians." Later, a small group of protesters set fire to at least three cars and smashed shop and cafe windows. Angry protests continued for a second day in Turkey, where about 5,000 demonstrators shouted "killer Israel" in downtown Ankara. On Saturday, tens of thousands of reserve soldiers were mobilized as the offensive in Gaza widened with the launching of a ground invasion that Defense Minister Ehud Barak said "won't be short" or easy. The Israeli military did not give out specific numbers. But it says it has expanded a call-up of some 9,000 reserves soldiers that began earlier this week. Some of these reservists are being mobilized as a warning to Palestinian militants in the West Bank and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon who fought a monthlong war with Israel in the summer of 2006. Israeli ground troops began pouring into Gaza earlier Saturday. The incursion expanded an 8-day-old operation that had been conducted almost exclusively from the air. It's been a week since the start of the Israeli strikes on Gaza. At least 460 people have been killed and about 1,700 wounded. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/05/1m5b2briefs03599-short-takes/?metro Protesters criticize Israel for offensive in Gaza 2:00 a.m. January 5, 2009 BALBOA PARK: Chanting ?free, free, Palestine!? about 200 protesters yesterday afternoon called for the end of violence in Gaza. Supporters of the more than 1.4 million Palestinian Arabs living in Gaza criticized Israel for its military offensive, which has involved airstrikes and ground attacks. Palestinian civilians, as well as members of the militant group Hamas, have been killed. Israelis say the offensive is in retaliation for rocket attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas fighters and to protect citizens. ?We are here to stop aggression and invasion, and we are looking for justice,? said Imam Sharif Battikhi of the American Islamic Services Foundation. Many among the crowd carried signs reading ?Free Palestine,? ?Support Palestinian Resistance,? and ?No More Deaths.? Other signs carried inflammatory messages. Earlier in the afternoon, several dozen pro-Israeli demonstrators defended the country's actions. San Diego police monitored the demonstrations, which were peaceful. Battikhi said he believes an end to the hostilities can be the start of a process for reconciliation that can result in Muslims, Jews and Christians living peacefully in Gaza. ?R.W.P. http://www.kcci.com/news/18409584/detail.html Iowa Protesters Decry Gaza Violence Picketers Stage Rally Along Jordan Creek Parkway POSTED: 4:29 pm CST January 4, 2009 UPDATED: 4:36 pm CST January 4, 2009 WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- A group of protesters rallied along Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines to call for an end to the invasion of Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip. About 50 people gathered across the street from Hope Lutheran Church on Sunday to take part in the protest. Israel sent ground troops into the Gaza Strip on Saturday after nearly a week of aerial bombardments. Thousands of soldiers advanced through the area Sunday, surrounding its biggest city. Israel has said it's trying to eliminate radical leaders of Hamas. More than 500 people have been killed since the attacks began. http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI108414/ Miami hosts dueling protests over Mideast conflict MIAMI (AP) -- The conflict in the Middle East made its way to South Florida over the weekend, as competing protests became heated and a dozen people were arrested for disorderly conduct. More than 1,000 people lined both sides of Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami on Sunday, outside the Israeli consulate. The two groups yelled slogans at each other, waved flags, and a few demonstrators threw rocks and water bottles. Police officers broke up fights. More than 500 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began more than a week ago. At least seven Israelis have been killed by militant rockets. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09001/939027-84.stm?cmpid=localstate.xml 100 here protest attacks in Gaza Thursday, January 01, 2009 By Sadie Gurman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette About 100 protesters, waving Palestinian flags and holding handmade signs bearing messages such as "End The Occupation," fought biting winds yesterday to protest the Israeli military assault on Gaza. At Liberty Avenue and Grant Street, they gathered during rush hour traffic to show their opposition to the fighting in the territory, namely Israel's air attacks on Hamas targets. Many at the rally -- dubbed the "Stop the War on Gaza! Regional Rally" -- said they were urging residents to tell lawmakers to make halting violence a priority. "It's incredible, the outpouring of solidarity and disgust with what's happening," organizer Kate Daher said after the rally. "We want the bombing to end," said Omar Hijleh, 37, of Regent Square. "We want them to end the siege in Gaza." Mr. Hijleh is a member of Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, one of several peace and justice and student groups who demonstrated in the busy intersection yesterday. He said Israel's punishing air attacks are a "completely disproportionate" response to Hamas' rocket fire. "In reality this is creating a situation on the ground where the Palestinians are completely desperate, they're completely besieged, and they're completely hopeless," he said. Jim Niesen and Barbara Mackenzie-Wood, of Point Breeze, agreed Israel's bombing was "an overreaction." The couple, who held signs more than an hour despite the wind and snow in below-freezing temperatures, also said they believe the fighting is unfairly portrayed in American media, which, they said, tends to take a pro-Israeli stance. Others said they hoped the fighting would stop so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to the Gaza Strip. "The people of Gaza cannot get food or medicine, and they live under constant fear," Ms. Daher said. "We want Congress to condemn these attacks and ask our ally Israel to stop the attacks on Gaza." http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/189586 Group protests Israeli attacks A Blacksburg woman rallied area organizations to speak out for a peaceful resolution to violence in the Middle East. By Lerone Graham 381-8621 Jeanna Duerscherl | The Roanoke Times Autumn Taylor of Blacksburg organized a protest against violence in the Middle East. The protestors gathered near the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg. Sanabil Issa, 5, and her mother, Nadira Issa, attended Wednesday's protest of Israel's attacks on Gaza. CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. -- A small group braved bitter winds, temperatures in the 30s and snow flurries Wednesday afternoon to speak their minds on recent violence in the Middle East. "Stop the killing, stop the war!" they yelled periodically, among other chants. They held signs with messages such as "Free Palestine" and "Humanity is Universal." The purpose of the protest was to raise awareness of the conflict while pushing for a peaceful resolution. "On both sides, innocent lives are being affected by this. Nobody is stepping in with a neutral opinion on the situation," said Autumn Taylor of Blacksburg, organizer of the protest. Taylor said she got the idea from her husband on Sunday, when they both realized that not enough was being done on the issue. She said that the protest was the least they could do, because it is not safe enough to even think about helping directly. The result was a group of about 30 people bundled up, standing along the sidewalk in front of the Olive Garden and Panera Bread restaurants in Christiansburg. Taylor said the group originally wanted to set up in Blacksburg. They decided, however, that the proximity to the New River Valley Mall made the sidewalk an ideal spot because of heavy traffic from shoppers. "Hopefully, people will be out shopping, out having fun and feeling safe and relaxing and enjoying the holidays," so that they can appreciate how fortunate they are, while citizens in Gaza "huddle in bathrooms hoping not to get injured." Taylor reached out to different student organizations and peace coalitions in the area via e-mail to rally their support. Overall, Taylor said that she was satisfied with the turnout. The group protested for two hours, and she estimated that a total of 50 people showed up at some point during the protest. Amine Chigani, a graduate teaching fellow and officer in the Muslim Students Association at Virginia Tech, said he is outraged by the attacks happening in Gaza. "Our blind support to the Israeli government and the military aid has a direct impact on civilian people and I think that's wrong," he said. Chigani said he has written to members of Congress to express his feelings and is glad that the protest has afforded him another opportunity to speak his mind. "When I see injustice, cruelty and massacre on a large scale, I have to do something about it," Chigani said. Originally from Morocco, Chigani said that human rights is one of the most important ideals he has learned since becoming an American citizen. He feels that Americans from all backgrounds should do anything they can to help because innocent lives are at stake. "Israel, like any country, has the right to defend itself, but we need to put that statement in context," he said. "Defending yourself doesn't mean killing civilians by the thousands." Taylor said she realizes that a protest in a small town such as Christiansburg is a small step, but feels that it is more worthwhile than sitting at home complaining about the situation. "We want to put it out there that there are people that are actually caring about the situation and want something to happen," she said. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_605304.html?source=rss&feed=7 Federal Building protest targets air strikes on Gaza By Jason Cato TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, January 1, 2009 A pro-Palestinian crowd of about 100 people gathered Wednesday afternoon outside the William S. Moorhead Federal Building, Downtown, to protest Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. Several Palestinian flags flapped in frigid winds while protesters called for Israel to end bombings and its occupation of Palestinian land in the Middle East. Among dozens of handmade signs were ones that read "Free Gaza," "End the Massacre" and "Pittsburgh Supports Palestine." "I feel I should support justice and peace in the world," said Mohammad Seleem, 32, an Egyptian graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh. "I feel it's extremely unjust for the Palestinian people to be treated in this way." story continues below For the past five days, the Israeli military has carried out air strikes against Hamas and militant targets in an effort to stop rockets being launched from Gaza into Israel. Yesterday, Gaza officials estimated nearly 400 people had been killed and 1,600 injured in Gaza. Four Israelis, including three civilians, were reported to have been killed by militant rocket fire. Jeffrey Cohan, spokesman for Pittsburgh's United Jewish Federation, said Israel would stop its military attacks as soon as the militant bombings ceased. "Israel is only doing what any other country in the world would do if its civilian population was under attack," Cohan said. Philip Khoury, a 2007 Pitt graduate who was visiting from his home in the West Bank, said he was pleased to see support for what is happening to his fellow Palestinians. "It's not surprising to me, because I've been here," said Khoury, 25, of Ramallah, "and I know how welcoming the people of Pittsburgh are to Palestine." The protest was organized by about 20 local groups, including the Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee and the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee. Leon Zionts of Point Breeze watched the protesters but said he does not support their message. "I wonder where these protesters were when Hamas was bombing Israeli civilians for years and years," Zionts said. "I think it's unfair they are asking Israel to accept that which no other country would accept." http://www.olyblog.net/jay-inslee-capitol-theater-confronted-protesters Jay Inslee at the Capitol Theater Confronted by Protesters Submitted by Berd on Sun, 01/11/2009 - 12:53pm. A protest was rapidly mobilized yesterday in order to confront Representative Jay Inslee about his vote in support of HR 34. A sizable group of around 20 protesters assembled at the Capitol Theater, interacted with hundreds of people who were there to see the film documentary Fuel (which is about alternative energy), and eventually got to speak with and directly confront Congressman Inslee about his vote on the one-sided/lopsided bill, HR 34, which basically supports Israeli aggression against Palestinians. Here's an account of the protest, as told by Phan Nguyen, one of the protest organizers and participants. Another participant wrote additionally of the encounter that Inslee's first line of defense was to say that Hamas believies in the destruction of the State of Israel. One of the protesters pointed out that although Hamas held that position years and years ago, that's no longer the case. Hamas has changed it's position on wiping out the State of Israel. Here's Phan's great account of the events last night at the Capitol Theater: I think we mobilized quickly for such short notice about Jay Inslee's appearance. About 20 folks showed up altogether to protest Jay Inslee's pro-war vote. After the film and panel discussion, Inslee agreed to meet with us. I had printed a handbill explaining why we were protesting Inslee, and Inslee admitted that he had read it over dinner. However, instead of directly addressing anything I had written in the handbill, he proceeded to give a long spiel about how he felt pain for both sides of the conflict and that he supported a two-state solution. In other words, just abstract meanderings that did not address the current situation in Gaza or H.Res.34, which he had voted for yesterday. When pushed to explain why he voted for H.Res.34, he explained that he didn't write the resolution (what a cop-out!) and that he was presented with the dilemma of pressing "a red button or a green button" -- which was nonsense, because he could have voted "nay" (like Kucinich), answer "present" (like McDermott), or not do anything at all (like Baird). Instead he voted "yea." He also pulled out the trusty AIPAC talking points and said that if we were being attacked by Tijuana(!), what would we do. Anna replied that he was taking us for fools, and that that argument was so silly that even Jon Stewart made fun of it. I asked Inslee to answer the four questions that were printed in the handbill. He refused to, saying that he had to go. I and others pushed him to answer the four questions, but he kept talking over us about how he had to go and that nothing he said was going to satisfy us. We asked him to answer just one of the questions, but he still refused, turned around and walked away. It was interesting that he didn't even try to defend his vote, instead saying that he had to press "a red button or a green button," as if someone was forcing him to flip a coin. That, plus the fact that he wouldn't answer any questions directly, proves that he knew his vote was indefensible. That makes me respect him even less than if he had tried to defend his vote. He even had to refer to his progressive position on Iraq because he couldn't defend his appalling position on Israel. He clearly knew that H.Res.34 was immoral, but he knew how to toe the line and play the political game. Inslee is indeed progressive on many issues. But when it comes to Israel, he knows how to fall in line like the rest of Congress. It was disgusting to see someone like Inslee epitomize that so clearly. Anyway, below are the four questions to Inslee that were printed on the handbill. These were simple yes/no questions. There was nothing tricky or clever about them, and I wrote them quickly, just before heading over to the Capitol Theater. They were not very challenging questions, and yet Inslee avoided them as if we had caught him in a scandal: 1. Would you agree with the Red Cross, Amnesty International, and UN relief groups that there is a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip caused by Israel?s ongoing blockade? 2. Do you believe that it is unjust to put 1.5 million innocent civilians under siege, supposedly to punish a few ?terrorists?? Do you believe that constitutes collective punishment and is a violation of international law? [okay, this one was a two-parter] 3. Are you willing to stand up for your former colleague, Cynthia McKinney, who was on a humanitarian boat that was attacked by Israel in international waters last week? 4. Amnesty International says that Israel is violating the US Arms Export Control Act of 1976. Will you follow Amnesty International?s call for the US to ?suspend the transfer of weapons to Israel immediately and conduct an investigation into whether US weapons were used to commit human rights abuses?? Thanks, everyone, who came to protest! http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/11/MNK6157880.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea Peaceful S.F. protest of Israel's Gaza bombing Deborah Gage, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, January 11, 2009 (01-10) 14:28 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- People of all ages and on both sides of the controversy rallied in San Francisco's Civic Center Saturday to either protest or support Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip. More than 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and a few hundred pro-Israel demonstrators waved flags and pumped their fists at each other before the pro-Palestinians marched downtown and back to the Civic Center. The pro-Israel demonstrators did not march. Chanting "Free, free Palestine" and "Stop killing children," the pro-Palestinian group carried banners, waved pictures of bloodied children and clutched white helium balloons representing Palestinians killed in Gaza. San Francisco police, holding riot helmets, lined the marchers' route and rode motorcycles ahead of the protest, but the demonstrators were peaceful, with no property damage and no arrests. Many spectators treated it like a show. They took pictures and shot videos as the protesters walked down Market Street, circled back up Mission Street, and then back to Civic Center. Some spectators beat the tops of city garbage cans, like drums, in time to the chants. "I am not worried at all," said Michael Burkett, general manager of Old Navy on Market Street, as he stood outside the store and watched the marchers go by. "I appreciate that in this country we have freedom of speech." Pro-Palestinian organizers from a group called answercoalition.org, which sponsored marches across the country on Saturday, including a march on Washington, held hands to form a human chain so they could keep marchers together along the protest route. They wore neon yellow vests. "We're trying to keep the peace for everyone," said Nabil Fara, who was preventing demonstrators from crossing police tape on Polk Street to approach pro-Israel counter-protesters before the march. Fara said he has friends in Gaza but has not heard from them since the violence began. Standing behind yellow police tape before the march, protesters from the pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups stood across from each other along Polk Street and waved signs in front of San Francisco City Hall. Motorists honked support for one side or the other as they drove by, and tourists riding red open-air buses gaped. Mike Harris, of a group called Stand With Us/San Francisco Voice for Israel, said the pro-Israel demonstrators would not march "to ensure their safety" but felt compelled to attend the protest to counter the Answer Coalition's "anti-Israel agenda." He said the group's purpose was "to ensure Israel's right to exist." Meanwhile, across the street in Civic Center Park, speaker after speaker tried to keep the pro-Palestinian demonstrators pumped up with chanting and patriotic music. Grace Shalhoub, a graduate student at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco who said she has family in Lebanon, wept after her speech. She said she came to the protest because "after 9/11, I feel this is my responsibility and duty" to be involved in Middle Eastern politics. Some of the other protests held around the world on Saturday were far larger and angrier than the protest in San Francisco. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators burned Israeli flags in Sweden and threw shoes at the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland. In central London, three officers were hurt when demonstrators hurled shoes and placards at police outside the Israeli Embassy. One officer was knocked unconscious. Some 180 people were arrested in Paris. In Norway, police used tear gas to try to disperse at least 1,000 protesters after some hurled bottles, rocks and fired fireworks at officers. Two people were injured and two were taken into custody. Protesters in Sweden tried to break through sealed-off areas at Israel's embassy in Stockholm after a march through the city by 3,000 to 5,000 people. More than 60 people were injured during a large demonstration in Algeria's capital on Friday, many by stone throwing, the Interior Ministry said. One journalist was left in a coma. By contrast, San Francisco's protest had a mellow feel. Homeless people sunned themselves in Civic Center Park, families with young children greeted each other, and the Musicians Action Group, a band that has been appearing at Bay Area protests since the war in Vietnam, played horns, woodwinds and drums as the marchers headed out of the park toward downtown. At a post-march rally in Civic Center Park, protesters danced to the beat of drums and sang along with Sellassie, a San Francisco performance artist. Some lay on their stomachs and got massages after the two-mile march. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/10/BAK6157880.DTL Peaceful S.F. protest of Israel's Gaza bombing Deborah Gage, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, January 11, 2009 ________________________________________ (01-10) 14:28 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- People of all ages and on both sides of the controversy rallied in San Francisco's Civic Center Saturday to either protest or support Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip. ________________________________________ More than 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators and a few hundred pro-Israel demonstrators waved flags and pumped their fists at each other before the pro-Palestinians marched downtown and back to the Civic Center. The pro-Israel demonstrators did not march. Chanting "Free, free Palestine" and "Stop killing children," the pro-Palestinian group carried banners, waved pictures of bloodied children and clutched white helium balloons representing Palestinians killed in Gaza. San Francisco police, holding riot helmets, lined the marchers' route and rode motorcycles ahead of the protest, but the demonstrators were peaceful, with no property damage and no arrests. Many spectators treated it like a show. They took pictures and shot videos as the protesters walked down Market Street, circled back up Mission Street, and then back to Civic Center. Some spectators beat the tops of city garbage cans, like drums, in time to the chants. "I am not worried at all," said Michael Burkett, general manager of Old Navy on Market Street, as he stood outside the store and watched the marchers go by. "I appreciate that in this country we have freedom of speech." Pro-Palestinian organizers from a group called answercoalition.org, which sponsored marches across the country on Saturday, including a march on Washington, held hands to form a human chain so they could keep marchers together along the protest route. They wore neon yellow vests. "We're trying to keep the peace for everyone," said Nabil Fara, who was preventing demonstrators from crossing police tape on Polk Street to approach pro-Israel counter-protesters before the march. Fara said he has friends in Gaza but has not heard from them since the violence began. Standing behind yellow police tape before the march, protesters from the pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups stood across from each other along Polk Street and waved signs in front of San Francisco City Hall. Motorists honked support for one side or the other as they drove by, and tourists riding red open-air buses gaped. Mike Harris, of a group called Stand With Us/San Francisco Voice for Israel, said the pro-Israel demonstrators would not march "to ensure their safety" but felt compelled to attend the protest to counter the Answer Coalition's "anti-Israel agenda." He said the group's purpose was "to ensure Israel's right to exist." Meanwhile, across the street in Civic Center Park, speaker after speaker tried to keep the pro-Palestinian demonstrators pumped up with chanting and patriotic music. Grace Shalhoub, a graduate student at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco who said she has family in Lebanon, wept after her speech. She said she came to the protest because "after 9/11, I feel this is my responsibility and duty" to be involved in Middle Eastern politics. Some of the other protests held around the world on Saturday were far larger and angrier than the protest in San Francisco. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators burned Israeli flags in Sweden and threw shoes at the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland. In central London, three officers were hurt when demonstrators hurled shoes and placards at police outside the Israeli Embassy. One officer was knocked unconscious. Some 180 people were arrested in Paris. In Norway, police used tear gas to try to disperse at least 1,000 protesters after some hurled bottles, rocks and fired fireworks at officers. Two people were injured and two were taken into custody. Protesters in Sweden tried to break through sealed-off areas at Israel's embassy in Stockholm after a march through the city by 3,000 to 5,000 people. More than 60 people were injured during a large demonstration in Algeria's capital on Friday, many by stone throwing, the Interior Ministry said. One journalist was left in a coma. By contrast, San Francisco's protest had a mellow feel. Homeless people sunned themselves in Civic Center Park, families with young children greeted each other, and the Musicians Action Group, a band that has been appearing at Bay Area protests since the war in Vietnam, played horns, woodwinds and drums as the marchers headed out of the park toward downtown. At a post-march rally in Civic Center Park, protesters danced to the beat of drums and sang along with Sellassie, a San Francisco performance artist. Some lay on their stomachs and got massages after the two-mile march. http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20090110/VIDEO/901100310?Title=Gaza_Protesters_Take_to_Washington_Streets Gaza Protesters Take to Washington Streets Published: Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. Scores of protesters hold a rally near the White House, lamenting the plight of people in Gaza after the latest skirmish with Israel. Later, the crowd marched to media outlets and businesses felt to be sympathetic to Israel. (Jan. 10) http://www.myantiwar.org/view/169913.html 2 arrests at LA protest for Gaza January 10, 2009 5:50 PM LOS ANGELES (AP) - Authorities say two people have been arrested during a demonstration in Los Angeles against Israel's incursion in the Gaza Strip. Los Angeles Police Officer April Harding says about 1,500 people gathered for the largely peaceful protest at the Federal Building in Westwood Saturday afternoon. She says two men were arrested, one for climbing a power pole and the other for ''creating a disturbance.'' A smaller counter-demonstration was held nearby but Harding says there was no crowd estimate for it. The demonstrations were the latest of several held in the city since the conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza began. In San Francisco, thousands of demonstrators flooded Market Street on Saturday to protest Israel's bombing, waving signs and chanting ''Free, free Palestine.'' A few hundred pro-Israel protesters also appeared at the march. San Francisco police lined the march route, but there were no arrests reported. http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=128171&provider=rss Jacksonville Residents Protest Violence Posted By: Talia Naquin Created: 1/10/2009 1:48:36 PM Updated: 1/11/2009 4:09:20 PM JACKSONVILLE, FL -- About 100 people gathered in Five Points Saturday for a protest against the violence in Gaza, as Israel warned residents in the Gaza Strip it plans to escalate its offensive. The Israeli air force has been dropping leaflets throughout the area today, warning of a "new phase" in its war targeting Hamas militants. The leaflets urge Gaza residents not to help Hamas militants and to keep a distance from its members. Already today, flames and smoke have been rising over Gaza City amid heavy fighting. Meanwhile, southern Israel has been hit by more Palestinian rocket fire. In the day's bloodiest incident, an Israeli tank shell landed outside a home in northern Gaza, killing nine people as they sat in an outside garden. Palestinian officials say more than 800 people have died so far in the fighting. CAIR Jacksonville along with Jacksonville community members demonstrated Saturday to bring attention to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to promote a cease-fire in the Middle East. http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2009/01/conflict-abroad.html January 9, 2009 Gaza protests ripple through Chicago One group chanted in Hebrew. The other chanted in Arabic. One accused Israel. The other accused Hamas. But despite the different languages and varied villains, the message at dueling demonstrations in downtown Chicago Friday was the same: The fighting in Gaza needs to stop?but on their own terms. From a stage at Federal Plaza festooned with giant Israeli and American flags rabbis and Jewish leaders implored a crowd of thousands to understand that Israelis are fighting not Palestinians but the terrorist group Hamas. "Israel acts in self-defense, seeking to hit military targets, and is heartsick if civilians are inadvertently killed," said Steven Nasatir, president of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. "Hamas fires rockets randomly, seeking to hit civilian targets and celebrates when women and children die." A few hours later, pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched from Daley Plaza to the Israeli consulate carrying bloody dolls as props and shouting slogans that decried Israel?s recent military actions in the Gaza Strip as hypocritical and cruel. Thousands of marchers chanted, "Hey Olmert you can?t hide, we charge you with genocide," comparing the military actions in Gaza to the Holocaust that exterminated 6 million Jews and led to Israel?s creation. Ehud Olmert is prime minister of Israel. While Jewish leaders rallied for support of Israel, the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and about 30 other Chicago organizations are calling on the U.S. to pressure Israel to stop its offensive, which Palestinian health officials have said has killed more than 700 civilians. Ten Israeli soldiers and four Israeli civilians also have been killed during the conflict, which has brought calls for a cease-fire from aid groups and the United Nations. "It?s kind of hard to have a cease-fire with folks who won?t be happy until you?re dead," said Linda Haase of the Jewish United Fund. Supporters at the rally said Hamas broke the previous cease-fire by firing more than 6,000 rockets into southern Israel after the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. But starting four years before that, Nasatir said, residents of southern Israel have lived under siege. "Fifteen seconds is all you, your child and your grandmother have to race to a bomb shelter when the ?red alert? alarm signals incoming rockets," he said. "These alarms go off day and night, sometimes several times an hour, making normal life impossible. Israel?s military action is merely a defensive measure, supporters said. "In this case, an ounce of offense is the best defense," said Doron Feinsilber, 30, of Chicago. He said Hamas should be charged with war crimes for putting Palestinian civilians in the line of fire by planting military outposts in densely populated civilian neighborhoods. But protesters at the pro-Palestinian march later insisted that Israel broke the original cease-fire by destroying underground tunnels used by Palestinians to transport food and supplies into Gaza, which had been cut off by the Jewish state. "I come to you not as Hamas, not as Fatah [the Palestinian political parties], only as a Palestinian Arab who believes in the freedom and dignity of his people," said Rev. Nicholas Dahdal, pastor of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero. "For months Israel has sent missiles of hunger on people of Gaza and they are the terrorists." Rami Nashashibi, head of the Inner City Muslim Action Network, reminded the crowd that Dahdal was not the only Christian who supported the cause. He said many Jewish activists also stood in solidarity with the Palestinians. "Brothers and sisters, it is a dark hour," he said. "But it is also a hopeful hour when we can stand in this country with all communities." http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090109/NEWS16/901090370/-1/RSS January 09, 2009 Local contingent joins Gaza protest in D.C. By DAVID YONKE BLADE STAFF WRITER Hundreds of Ohioans will be leaving for Washington by car and bus tonight to take part in a rally outside the White House tomorrow in protest of Israel's attacks on Gaza. Two buses will be departing from Masjid Saad, the Alexis Road mosque, at 11 p.m., said Ziad Hummos who is helping organize transportation for the local contingent. "People are coming from all over the country. We want to save the people of Palestine," Mr. Hummos said. "We've been predicting at least 100,000 people will participate." Among the Toledoans making the trip will be Imam Ismail Azzouni, spiritual leader of Masjid Saad, Mr. Hummos said. Most of the Ohioans heading for D.C. are Muslims but organizers emphasized that they are concerned with a humanitarian crisis, not religious or ethnic issues. "Our community is just heartbroken at the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza," said Julia Shearson, executive director of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR - Council on American-Islamic Relations. She said three buses will be leaving from Columbus, one from Cleveland, one from Pittsburgh, and possibly one from Akron. Ms. Shearson predicted a much larger turnout in Washington tomorrow than the estimated 40,000 to 50,000 who rallied there in July, 2006, to protest the Israeli-Lebanese fighting. More than 700 Palestinians have been killed and 2,000 wounded since Israel began its offensive against Gaza on Dec. 27, according to the latest news reports. Israeli officials have said the military action is in response to rockets being fired by Hamas militants at Israeli territory. "Israel is in a conflict not of its own making - indeed it withdrew every Israeli soldier and all 8,000 Israeli civilians from the Gaza Strip as part of its 2005 disengagement initiative," the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "However, Israel has been forced to act in defense of its citizens, who have been and continue to be deliberately attacked by the Hamas terrorist organization." Ms. Shearson said the rockets are "an act of a desperate people who have been besieged for 18 months. They are being strangled there. Even the Vatican said it is 'slowly becoming a concentration camp' in Gaza," citing a statement by Vatican official Cardinal Renato Martino. Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for CAIR's Washington office, called the situation in Gaza "absolutely unbelievable." "Now we even see that a U.N. driver of an aid truck was killed and the U.N. has suspended relief supplies in Gaza because it can't even provide safety of its personnel," Mr. Hooper said. He said Israel's ban on western media in Gaza has prevented balanced reporting of the fighting. "What are they trying to keep from the public?" he asked. In addition to the Toledoans traveling by bus, many more will be driving their cars, Mr. Hummos said. The protest is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow in Lafayette Park, on the north side of the White House. Ms. Shearson said protesters are hoping President-elect Barack Obama, who is staying at the Hay Adams Hotel overlooking Lafayette Park, will take note. "We hope he will hear our voices in reaction to what we see as his stunning silence," she said. The "Let Gaza Live" rally is being sponsored by a number of organizations and spearheaded by the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism). http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jan/03/crowd-protests-gaza-violence/?partner=RSS Nearly 100 gather for silent Peace Walk in protest of Gaza violence By Jenny Ratledge Saturday, January 3, 2009 Only the hum of the Henley Street traffic could be heard among a crowd of nearly 100 people silently protesting the violence taking place in the Gaza Strip on Friday afternoon. The Prayerful Peace Walk was organized by the Muslim Community of Knoxville to raise awareness about the situation between Palestine and Israel, said Fathi Husain, a member of Masjid Annoor mosque. "We hope that this gathering and this procession will bring attention to the plight that the Palestinians people are going through right now," Husain said. The walk began at the Masjid Annoor mosque, on the corner of Grand Avenue and 13th Street, and continued to the Knoxville Convention Center. Once at the convention center, the group stopped to observe one moment of silence for each of the 430 people who have been killed during the past week. Husain said they are calling upon countries with ties to the Israeli government to persuade them to allow humanitarian aid to cross the currently closed border of Gaza. "It's very hard for (Palestinians) to cope with the lack of food and the lack of medicine," Husain said. Bilal Sheikh, a recent University of Tennessee graduate, said he joined Friday's protest because of its peaceful nature. "This is a chance to show there are other kinds of protests than what you see on TV," Sheikh said. He said flag burning and mayhem are all too commonly associated with protests concerning the Middle East. "We think what's going on (in Palestine) is wrong, but we're not (demonstrating in a violent) manner," Sheikh said. Children, walking with their parents, hoisted handmade signs imploring the end of violence against their peers in Gaza. "We want to tell people that it's not right that the Palestinian children are being showered with bullets and bombs while the children of the world, in this season, are being showered with gifts," Husain said. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/02/BA3B15353M.DTL Hundreds in S.F. again protest Israeli bombings Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, January 3, 2009 ________________________________________ Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators - including several Jews - protested outside of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco for the fourth time this week, venting anger over Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. ________________________________________ The largely peaceful protest was among many public condemnations of the bombing around the world, in London, Manila and throughout the Middle East. In San Francisco, protesters draped in checkered Palestinian head scarves and carrying anti-Israel signs - "End the massacre", "Gaza = Warsaw Ghetto" - marched from Hallidie Plaza to the consulate on Montgomery Street blocking traffic and shouting, "End the occupation now!" "I'm descended from Holocaust victims, and we need to identify with the oppressed - not imitate the oppressors," said protester Jack Fertig, an astrologer by profession and known to San Franciscans a generation ago as Sister Boom Boom. He was among several Jewish protesters opposed to the bombing that began seven days ago in retaliation for rocket fire from Hamas, which killed an Israeli and wounded six people, the Israeli military reported. Israeli air strikes have reportedly killed about 400 Palestinians and wounded some 1,700 people. Hamas has threatened to resume suicide attacks on Israel. Protesters on Friday called Israel the main aggressor. "If you are strangled, you have to fight back," said Buthina Rashid of Concord, who stood in the throng of protesters blocking Montgomery Street between Sacramento and California streets for two hours as police looked on. With Rashid were her 4-year-old niece, Rawan, and her 2-year-old nephew, Nezar, who each astonished the crowd by taking a megaphone and leading the crowd in a chant: "Free, free Palestine!" The demonstrators remained peaceful until around 5 p.m., when a small group carrying Israel flags gathered across from the consulate. Suddenly, anti-Israel protesters screamed, "Murderers!" and tried to push them. Police hustled the pro-Israeli group into the nearest open building. Then, as the marchers headed back up to Market Street, an organizer named Madean Elshorafa took a megaphone and ordered everyone to sit down in the street and admonished them to be peaceful. http://www.ktvu.com/news/18403409/detail.html#- Hundreds Protest Gaza Bombing At S.F. Israel Consulate Posted: 7:53 pm PST January 2, 2009Updated: 8:05 pm PST January 2, 2009 SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- A group of more than 200 people carrying Palestinian flags and protesting Israeli's military violence in the Gaza strip marched in downtown San Francisco Friday afternoon. The march followed a rally organized by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism coalition that started around 2:30 p.m. at Powell and Market streets. Protesters marched to the Israeli Consulate near Montgomery and California streets and continued marching for more than three hours. Around 5 p.m., the group briefly sat down and blocked the intersection of Sutter and Montgomery streets before heading toward Market Street. The protesters of all ages chanted "Free, free Palestine," and, "Stop bombing Gaza." Police, equipped with batons and plastic handcuffs, accompanied the peaceful protesters on foot and in vans. Shortly after 5:30 p.m. the group was marching along the sidewalk of Market Street, heading west toward the U.N. Plaza. Around 6 p.m., the official march was over but protesters lingered, urging people to spread the word about future marches through social networking sites such as Facebook. Organizers assured marches will continue as long as violence in Gaza proceeds. http://english.sina.com/world/2009/0102/208833.html Thousands in Chicago protest against Israel's military actions in Gaza 2009-01-03 02:04:37 GMT2009-01-03 10:04:37 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English CHICAGO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people gathered Friday afternoon in Chicago's downtown, protesting against Israel's recent military actions in the Gaza Strip. About 4,000 people gathered around 3:00 pm in the Pioneer Plaza in downtown Chicago, chanting slogans, waving Palestinian flags and carrying signs that read: "Stop U.S. Aid to Israel Now", "stop the siege of Gaza now" and so on. Protesters later spilled across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to East Wacker Drive in front of the building that houses the Consulate General of Israel. Police there closed off a block-long stretch to vehicle traffic. The protest was one of many recent demonstrations around the world in response to Israel's week-long air strikes on the Gaza Strip, a series of assaults Israel says are meant to deter rocket attacks into southern Israel by Hamas. A smaller group of Israel supporters counter protested outside the consulate. The protest was largely done by about 6:00 p.m. Police said no arrests were reported. Organizers are planning another protest on Saturday in Chicago's Hyde Park. http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/010209kvue-isreael-mw.319af8f9.html Local Muslims protest Gaza strikes 10:26 PM CST on Friday, January 2, 2009 By SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News Dozens of commuters passing the south side of the Texas State Capitol building Friday evening honked their horns in a show of support for protestors who met to denounce the recent attacks from Israel on the Gaza Strip. "We need to tell the whole world, especially Austinites that your tax dollars nowadays are being used to buy F-16'S that will drop 2-thousand, 3-ton bombs on civilians in the Gaza Strip and that is absolutely unacceptable," says Mohammad Al Bedaiwi, a member of the Austin Network for Islamic Studies. Al Bedaiwi was one of close to 100 people who met at the south end of the Capitol to protest and to pray for the dead and injured in the recent conflict between the militant group Hamas and Israel. One woman who came with her husband and three children is especially concerned for many of her relatives who live in the Gaza Strip. "They're living in complete depression and fear and anxiety and they just can't live like normal people basically, that's all," says Ghada Saloha of Austin. On Friday, more than 300 Palestinians escaped the Gaza Strip to safety as aerial assaults from Israel continued pounding the area. More than 20 homes which Israel says belonged to Hamas militants were destroyed as well as a mosque believed to be one of the terrorist group's strongholds. At last count at least 421 Palestinians have been killed in the week-long conflict. Two-thirds of those were militants according to Lisa Goodgame who represents the Jewish Community Relations Council of Austin. "Israel has the right to defend itself against these hostilities," says Goodgame. "Israel has the ability to target very precisely the installations that it will attack, the fact that Hamas has chosen to locate them in these densely populated areas the result is that unfortunately there are going to be civilians that are attacked," she added. Jewish community leaders in Austin are scheduled to meet next week to discuss what show of support if any will be shown locally for Israel. http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=614621 Thousands in Chicago protest against Israel`s military actions in Gaza Posted: 2009/01/03 From: MNN Thousands of people gathered Friday afternoon in Chicago`s downtown, protesting against Israel`s recent military actions in the Gaza Strip. CHICAGO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- About 4,000 people gathered around 3:00 pm in the Pioneer Plaza in downtown Chicago, chanting slogans, waving Palestinian flags and carrying signs that read: "Stop U.S. Aid to Israel Now", "stop the siege of Gaza now" and so on. Protesters later spilled across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to East Wacker Drive in front of the building that houses the Consulate General of Israel. Police there closed off a block-long stretch to vehicle traffic. The protest was one of many recent demonstrations around the world in response to Israel's week-long air strikes on the Gaza Strip, a series of assaults Israel says are meant to deter rocket attacks into southern Israel by Hamas. A smaller group of Israel supporters counter protested outside the consulate. The protest was largely done by about 6:00 p.m. Police said no arrests were reported. Organizers are planning another protest on Saturday in Chicago's Hyde Park. # http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/3591369.php?contentType=4&contentId=3295980 Friday, 02 January 2009 6:39PM Chicagoans Protest Gaza assault; Tie Up Traffic CHICAGO (AP) -- Hundreds have protested in Chicago for and against Israel's air offensive targeting Hamas. Similar protests have been held across the world since Israel launched the bombing campaign last Saturday. The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 400 Palestinians and sparked outrage among the Arab public. Israel says its offensive is aimed at silencing Hamas rockets. The Chicago demonstration, which ended in front of the Israeli consulate, included people from about 30 different organizations. Protesters asked for an end to the offensive and for President-elect Barack Obama to get involved. Earlier Friday, a smaller group of pro-Israeli demonstrators also stood in front of the consulate, waving Israeli flags. The protesters snarled traffic on Wacker Drive through the late afternoon and early evening. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/01/02/ddn010209protestweb.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=16 More than 150 locals protest Israeli fight By Margo Rutledge Kissell Staff Writer Friday, January 02, 2009 DAYTON ? More than 150 people took part in a pro-Palestinian rally at scattered sites in downtown Dayton Friday, Jan. 2, as fighting between Israel and Hamas continued. Among the marchers was Basel Namara, 46, of Dayton, who grew up in the Gaza Strip. He moved to the United States in 1988 as a college student and now works in the Miami Valley. Namara said he still has family living in Gaza, including a sister who cut short her phone conversation with him the other day during the ongoing Israeli assault on the Palestinian territory. "I'm very panicked for them," he said. The marchers protested outside the Dayton Convention Center before making stops near the federal courthouse and Courthouse Square. People held signs, waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans like "Free Palestine." Participant Lamia Ali, 16, of Dayton and her sisters, Yasmin, 14, and Amira, 11, moved here with their family from Palestine five years ago. They are pained watching news footage of innocent children being killed. Yasmin held a sign proclaiming, "Peace for All." When asked if she believes that peace is possible, she said, "I hope so." Israel has been building up artillery, armor and infantry on Gaza's border in an indication the week-old air assault against Gaza's Hamas rulers could imminently expand with a ground incursion, the Associated Press reported Friday. Meanwhile, international pressure has been building for a cease-fire that would block more fighting. http://www.kctv5.com/news/18396682/detail.html?rss=kan&psp=news KC-Area Muslims Protest Israeli Attacks POSTED: 7:31 pm CST January 1, 2009 UPDATED: 8:16 pm CST January 1, 2009 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Protestors on the Country Club Plaza on Thursday hoped their efforts would make people aware of Israel's attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Dr. Mohamed Odah was one of the protestors. Odah, who lives in Overland Park, is from Gaza. His family still lives there, and he said he fears for their lives. Odah said that's why he decided to join more than 500 Muslims protesting on the Plaza. "I heard one of the blasts while I was on the phone with my sister," Odah said. "They don't know when death is coming. There's a constant fear and struggle for basic necessities, the food. There's no food there." Dr. Odah said Israel closed the Gaza borders more than a year ago. No one can go in and out, he said. Recent rocket attacks by Hamas sparked Israel to attack. "When you put 1.6 million people in a jail, what do you expect? Some kind of reaction is going to happen." Odah said. "They're all trapped there. The borders are closed. They're not letting the people go anywhere. It's sad," said Lawrence resident Hazem Chahine. The local chapter of the Muslim American Society organized Thursday's rally. Organizers said they want Israel to cease fire, to stop killing innocent women and children and open the Gaza borders for humanitarian aid. "We want them to let food and medical supplies in. That's why we're here," said rally organizer Jomona Qaddour. "Let's not blame the victims. This has got to stop." Many of the Muslims want the United States to force Israel to stop the attacks, and they said they are hopeful the new Obama administration might be able to bring peace back to the Middle East. http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories/Phoenix-local-news-122808-gaza-strip-attack-protes.175cd6a5.html Local protest against Israel's assault on Gaza strip More Phoenix Local News 05:46 PM Mountain Standard Time on Sunday, December 28, 2008 Valley protesters on 2nd day of attacks PHOENIX ?Protests are being held all over the world as well as here in the Valley against Israel's air assault on the Gaza strip. This is the second day of attacks. Each side blames the other for violating an Egyptian-brokered cease fire. Nearly 300 people have been killed and hundreds of others are injured. Stephanie Jennings, a protester, tells 3TV, ?As a U.S. tax-paying citizen I'm opposed to my tax dollars going to this aggression and this carnage of the Palestinian people.? Hospitals in Gaza are stretching to provide care and medical supplies are running thin. Also, the largest hospital on Israel's southern coast has moved underground for fear of rockets.