[Onthebarricades] Ethnoreligious and miscellaneous protests, December 2008

[global resistance roundup]

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 Café, 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 Juárez
12:00 AM CST on Saturday, December 13, 2008
By MONICA ORTIZ URIBE / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
CIUDAD JUÁREZ, 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. Ramón Murrieta, spokesman for the group Physicians Against 
Insecurity in Juárez. "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. Juárez, 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 Díaz

ASUNCIÓN, 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 Itapúa and 
Alto Paraná in the southeast.

The call for the demonstration was issued several weeks ago by the 
Coordinadora Agrícola del Paraguay (CAP), which was joined by two other 
rural associations, the Unión de Gremios de la Producción (UGP) and the 
Asociación Rural de Paraguay (ARP), as well as the Federación de la 
Producción, 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 Héctor Cristaldo, speaking along the highway that runs between 
the towns of Hernandarias and Salto del Guairá, in Alto Paraná. "What is 
needed is a huge national demonstration that brings together all the 
sectors," he added.

Alto Paraná 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 Ibáñez 
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 soirée 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 Dîner 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 Vendée 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 Vendéen 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.
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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.

---------------------------------------------------