[Onthebarricades] Protests, December 2008 - Food, water, electricity, transport, disasters

[global resistance roundup]

* 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
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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
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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)



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