[Onthebarricades] Service delivery protests - food, water, power, etc - November 2008

[global resistance roundup]

SOUTH AFRICA
* de Doorns - Police kill protester as roads blocked, stones thrown
* Johannesburg - "no electricity, no vote" - residents march for free 
service
* Johannesburg - protest at ANC HQ
* Anti-privatisation protests

* DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Power blackout protests block traffic
* GUINEA: Protest over public services leads to blockade of bauxite 
trains; police kill 1
* INDIA: Karnataka - Wave of opposition protests over power crisis
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest for basic rations
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - demos against price rise
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu, Chennai - protest for better amenities
* INDIA: AP - Protest over ration cards
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protests against power cuts
* INDIA: Karnataka - Protests against neglect, "anti-people policies"
* INDIA: Karnataka - Protest for rural electricity
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest for water pipe repairs
* INDIA: Kerala - Protest to save cooperatives
* INDIA: Kerala - Ration dealers observe protest day against neglect
* INDIA: Ghaziabad - Residents stage sit-in for infrastructure
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest against rice short-weighting
* INDIA: Kerala - Protest for Kochi development speedup
* INDIA: Karnataka - Farmers protest water supply schedule
* INDIA: Chennai - Left parties protest for fuel price cut
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Opposition party protests for road repair by begging
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest at failure to complete rail link
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest over drinking water project
* INDIA: Tamil Nadu - Protest over closure of bus terminal
* PHILIPPINES: Locals protest for extra rail stop
* PHILIPPINES: Activists to picket over fertiliser fund mess
* BAHRAIN: Longest protest reaches 250 days, still no houses
* INDONESIA: Mudslide survivors demand compensation
* INDONESIA: Village officials protest for funding increase
* INDONESIA: Lapindo survivors block building work to demand compensation







http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Development&set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=vn20081118054349286C142288

Man killed in service delivery protest

November 18 2008 at 08:40AM

By Caryn Dolley and Natasha Joseph

A de Doorns resident was killed and eight were injured during a service 
delivery protest in which thousands of people blocked the N1 and threw 
stones at police, who fired rubber bullets.

Residents of Stofland, an informal settlement in de Doorns, threatened 
on Monday night to again block the highway until their demands are met 
for electricity and decent housing.

A handful of businesses on de Doorns's Station Road, its main business 
area, were damaged by protesting residents, but they were driven back by 
police before they could move further into the town.

De Doorns, between Touws River and Worcester, was hit hard by floods 
that ravaged the Cape Winelands and Overberg.

Police spokesperson Andre Greyling said nearly 4 000 Stofland residents 
blocked the N1 in de Doorns on Monday afternoon after being addressed by 
Breede Valley Local Municipality mayor Charles Ntsomi.

Greyling said when residents started throwing stones at officers, the 
police retaliated by firing rubber bullets.

One man received head injuries and later died in the Worcester Regional 
Hospital.

Greyling said: "We can't say he was shot because he was injured by 
stones which were thrown as well."

A post-mortem would be performed to determine what had caused the man's 
death. He could not be identified until his next of kin had been 
notified, Greyling said.

Greyling said eight others received injuries that were mostly bruises, 
and were also taken to the Worcester Regional Hospital for treatment.

After being dispersed by police, some of the residents returned to the 
N1 and there were "sporadic stone-throwing incidents" into the evening, 
Greyling said.

He said last night that some officers from Cape Town's Crowd Control 
Unit had "come through to help" and the situation was "under control".

Stofland resident Andrew Claassen said on Monday night that about 600 
people were still gathered near the N1 and would "keep standing on the 
(N1)" until their grievances were met.

"We're unhappy, nothing is happening... there are no houses, no 
electricity," Claassen said.

The mayor's office said the area's municipal manager and a housing 
executive had gone to Stofland late yesterday to speak to the residents.

caryn.dolley at inl.co.za

natasha.joseph at inl.co.za






http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Environment&set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20081119113607164C713209

Service delivery protest turns violent

November 19 2008 at 02:22PM

Related Articles
• 'We will keep blocking the N1'
• N1 protest leaves residents 'shaking'
• Man killed in service delivery protest
• Cape to get 110 000 homes, service sites

By Natasha Prince, Nomangesi Mbiza and Ella Smook

Police quelled sporadic incidents of violence in De Doorns early on 
Tuesday as some angry residents from informal settlements intimidated 
workers and threw stones businesses in the town.

On Tuesday's action continues days of protest over poor service delivery 
that has gripped the Breede River Valley.

Police fired "a few" rubber bullets as stones were hurled at a Pep 
Stores branch and other businesses in the town as tensions flared when 
some residents headed to work earlier on Tuesday, according to police.

By around 7am police had the situation under control and maintained a 
heavy presence in the area.

Standoffs between residents of informal settlements in De Doorns and 
police continued throughout the day as residents vowed to keep up the 
fight for basic services.

Council workers arrived to clear the remains of burnt tyres, slabs of 
concrete and scattered rocks that were strewn across the N1 last night.

At around 7:30pm the community gathered to discuss their grievances with 
Provincial Housing Department authorities. Residents demanded to be 
addressed by Housing MEC Whitey Jacobs.

Authorities told the group they would get houses and asked for patience.

People living in Stofland, Hassie Square, Ekuphumuleni and Maseru 
settlements were warned that police would be patrolling and had deployed 
maximum security in the area, arresting anyone who broke the law.

At around 2pm police arrived and marched toward the protesters, opening 
fire with rubber bullets on residents who were toyi-toying.

The residents scattered quickly, running into their houses, shutting 
doors, closing spaza shops and heading for the mountain as the officers 
moved in.

Stofland resident Noluthando Mkhetsu said: "We were just singing and 
showing our dissatisfaction when they started shooting at us. We were 
not armed and we were no threat to them," she added.

Five residents were arrested and several others injured on Tuesday.

On Monday resident Freddie Louw was killed, 12 people were injured and 
three people were arrested.

Municipal speaker Joe January said residents should address their issues 
to the ward committee, which would inform the municipality.

Themba Mbali, a community leader, said residents were demanding 
electricity, sanitation and housing.

Problems surrounding the housing waiting lists and municipal funding of 
about R152 000, intended for De Doorns settlements that had been "pumped 
into" other settlements in Worcester were also among concerns raised.

Meanwhile, the ANC has laid responsibility for the violent protests in 
De Doorns at the door of its new nemesis, the Congress of the People (COPE).

Cope has denied the allegations, saying it was untrue. Issues raised by 
the community were not political and were about service delivery.

ANC Deputy Provincial Secretary Max Ozinsky told the Cape Argus that the 
new party had distributed pamphlets in the area and that they had 
mobilised people on Sunday evening.

The people organising the march were three former ANC members who had 
joined the new party, said Ozinsky, adding that they would probably be 
standing in the upcoming by-election.

COPE spokesperson Mbulelo Ncedana said: "It is untrue, it is a lie." He 
said ANC president Jacob Zuma had previously visited the area and had 
promised to contact the relevant authorities and send in a team to 
address their issues.






http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081118114714921C313434

N1 protest leaves residents 'shaking'

November 18 2008 at 05:08PM

Related Articles
• Man killed in service delivery protest
• 'If only I had two hands'
• Cape to get 110 000 homes, service sites

By Esther Lewis

De Doorns was still tense on Tuesday and the N1 remained closed after a 
protest about service delivery turned violent and claimed a man's life.

Nine other people were injured during Monday's protest, when residents 
blocked the road with burning tyres and hurled stones at police and 
vehicles.

Police responded by firing rubber bullets at the mob.

The protest involved residents from Stofland, in the eastern part of De 
Doorns, who demanded to speak to Breede Valley Mayor Charles Ntsomi.

Traffic was on Tuesday still being diverted off the N1 and through the 
town to keep vehicles out of harm's way, said police spokesperson 
Inspector Andre Greyling.

"Residents blocked trucks carrying people to work and forced workers off 
the trucks to join their protest," said Ntsomi.

They were unhappy with issues including housing, employment, and because 
refugees had been assisted with relief measures during floods.

They told Ntsomi that money meant for housing development in their area 
had been used in Worcester.

He said he met a group of people - who were not the leaders of the 
protest action - and invited them to select a delegation of 
representatives for a round table meeting today to discuss possible 
solutions.

Leaders of the protest have yet to confirm they would meet with Ntsomi.

"The invitation is still open, because if they are serious about this, a 
meeting is the only solution to the problem," he said.

Ntsomi said he suspected "political games" had been behind the protest, 
and that the community had been fed misinformation.

He denied claims that money had been taken from a De Doorns housing 
development and redirected into Worcester.

Greyling said protesters had thrown rocks at the police who had 
responded by firing rubber bullets into the crowd to disperse them.

"At the moment, we are not sure if the man died from the stones which 
were thrown by the residents or if he died from the rubber bullets fired 
by the police," said Greyling.

The injured were taken to Worcester Hospital.

- Additional reporting by Henri du Plessis






http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081119054952113C217330

'We will keep blocking the N1'

November 19 2008 at 08:09AM

Related Articles
• N1 protest leaves residents 'shaking'
• Man killed in service delivery protest


By Caryn Dolley

Hundreds of De Doorns residents scrambled between their shacks and fled 
up mountain paths when police fired rubber bullets at a crowd of 
protesters for the second day in a row.

Officers opened fire on Tuesday to disperse the crowd.

The protesters are demanding better service delivery. They want access 
to water and electricity to be connected immediately to their homes in 
the Stofland informal settlement.

'We need electricity, more toilets and more taps'
Nearly 4 000 protesters blocked the N1 in De Doorns and threw stones at 
motorists on Monday.

Police responded with rubber bullets. Freddie Louw, 63, was injured and 
died in hospital. Eight other people were injured.

Louw's family said the father of four was a "peace-loving, quiet man".

On Wednesday, shortly before the N1 was cleared of stones and reopened, 
a group of protesters toyi-toyied through Stofland.

They confronted scores of police officers and two armoured vehicles that 
had taken up position on the N1, which is separated from the settlement 
by a fence and sandy strip of land.

'We'll block the N1 every day for seven days'
After police repeatedly warned the crowd to disperse, officers streamed 
through a small opening in the fence to get to the residents.

Two armoured vans entered the area and other vans were seen stationed 
around it.

When the group continued to refuse to disperse, officers began firing 
rubber bullets. Residents ran between the shacks to escape. Others ran 
for the mountain behind the settlement, with officers in pursuit.

Children were heard crying and a woman, her head bleeding, was seen 
running into a shack. "This is unnecessary," she shouted.

Officers walked through the streets shouting at residents to go back to 
their homes.

An hour later, the atmosphere remained tense. Stunned schoolchildren who 
were walking home stared at the armed police officers.

Earlier, residents met Breede Valley council Speaker Joe January. But 
community representative Anton Femboes said they had not been assured 
their needs would be met.

"We need electricity, more toilets and more taps. We'll block the N1 
every day for seven days if we don't get this," Femboes said.

There was one toilet to about eight shacks. People wanted a toilet for 
every shack.

Another meeting had been planned for Stofland community leaders and 
municipal representatives. But Breede Valley municipal manager Allen 
Paulse said residents had not pitched up.

"They want to talk about foreigners coming into the area and taking 
their jobs, (which is a matter for) the Home Affairs Department. They 
also want electricity for their homes."

Paulse said Eskom was willing to provide the area with electricity if 
the shacks remained for three years.

Meanwhile, as the protests continued, Louw's family was in shock.

Louw's son, Freddie jun, was with his father when he was shot.

"He went to listen to the (Breede Valley) mayor (Charles Ntsomi) speak.

"A fight broke out afterwards, when the police captain said the people 
must move away and they didn't. They began throwing stones. That's when 
my father was shot. He wasn't throwing stones."

Louw's daughter, Maria Bezuidenhout, said she had seen her father 15 
minutes before he left.

"The next thing I heard was he was shot. I ran next door and called the 
ambulance. When I got (to him), my father was on the ground with a 
bullet sticking out of his head. He was still breathing."

The De Doorns police said they had received no reports of injuries in 
yesterday's clashes.

caryn.dolley at inl.co.za





http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2428044,00.html

Man killed during protest
17/11/2008 22:33 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A man was killed and nine people were injured during a 
protest in Breedevallei on Monday, Western Cape police said.
Residents of the Stofland informal settlement were protesting over 
service delivery on the N1 at 10:00 when the man was killed.
Residents were throwing stones after the Mayor Clarence Johnson 
addressed them, said Inspector Andre Greyling.
"Police used rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. At the moment we are 
not sure if the man died from the stones which were thrown by the 
residents or if he died from the rubber bullets which were fired by the 
police," said Greyling.
The nine injured were taken to the Worcester hospital with minor injuries.
"We closed the road and we are still monitoring the situation," he said.
No one was arrested and police are investigating a case of public 
violence and murder.
- SAPA






http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Cape%20Argus&fArticleId=4718518

De Doorns still tense after protest on N1
November 18, 2008 Edition 1
ESTHER LEWIS
De Doorns was still tense today and the N1 remained closed after a 
protest over service delivery turned violent and claimed a man's life.
Nine other people were injured during yesterday's protest, when 
residents blocked the road with burning tyres and hurled stones at 
police and vehicles.
Police responded by firing rubber bullets at the mob.
The protest involved residents from Stofland, in the eastern part of De 
Doorns, who demanded to speak to Breede Valley Mayor Charles Ntsomi. 
Traffic was today still being diverted off the N1 and through the town 
to keep vehicles out of harm's way, said police spokesman Inspector 
Andre Greyling.
"Residents blocked trucks carrying people to work and forced workers off 
the trucks to join their protest," said Ntsomi.
They were unhappy with issues including housing, employment, and because 
refugees had been assisted with relief measures during last week's floods.
They told Ntsomi that money meant for housing development in their area 
had been used in Worcester. He said he met a group of people - who were 
not the leaders of the protest action - and invited them to select a 
delegation of representatives for a round table meeting today to discuss 
possible solutions.
Leaders of the protest have yet to confirm they would meet with Ntsomi.
"The invitation is still open, because if they are serious about this, a 
meeting is the only solution to the problem," he said.
Ntsomi said he suspected "political games" had been behind the protest, 
and that the community had been fed misinformation.
He denied claims that money had been taken from a De Doorns housing 
development and redirected into Worcester.
Greyling said protesters had thrown rocks at the police who had 
responded by firing rubber bullets into the crowd to disperse them.
"At the moment, we are not sure if the man died from the stones which 
were thrown by the residents or if he died from the rubber bullets fired 
by the police," said Greyling.
The injured were taken to Worcester Hospital. - Additional reporting by 
Henri du Plessis






http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_General&set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=nw20081030152202533C743404

'No electricity, No vote'

October 30 2008 at 03:47PM

Johannesburg residents demonstrating for free basic electricity 
threatened on Thursday to boycott next year's general election if their 
demands were not met.

"They are failing us, therefore no electricity no vote, and no water no 
vote", Anti-Privatisation Forum spokesperson Silumko Radebe told a group 
of protesters outside Luthuli House in central Johannesburg.

Radebe said that in 1995, the government had promised the people free 
basic services, including water, electricity and housing.

At the Johannesburg Metropolitan Centre in Braamfontein, calls were made 
for Johannesburg City Mayor Amos Masondo to personally accept and sign a 
memorandum of demands.

Instead, a City representative appeared on the mayor's behalf, as 
Masondo was apparently in a city council meeting.

"He is never available when we, the people who placed him in power, want 
to address our problems with him," said an elderly protester who did not 
want to be named.

Refusing to deal with the city representative, Radebe said they would 
wait until Masondo presented himself, to accept and sign their memorandum.

Earlier, at Eskom's offices, a memorandum was accepted and signed by 
director general Bulelani Khoza.

"We accept a memorandum in good faith, we will attend to it seriously, 
we will study the memo and respond in due time," said Khoza, further 
apologising to Gauteng's elderly residents for the lack of electricity.

At the minerals and energy department, a smiling administrator accepted 
and signed the memorandum on behalf of the ministers, drawing sharp 
criticism from Earthlife Africa member Nqobile Tau.

"You are disarming the people with your smiles. We don't want your 
smiles, we want electricity," he said.

The protest was expected to end at the Johannesburg Civic Centre. - Sapa






http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20081030104330960C837717

Protest for free basic electricity in Joburg

October 30 2008 at 10:49AM

The Anti-Privatisation Forum and Earthlife Africa are protesting for 
free basic electricity in central Johannesburg on Thursday morning.

Over 500 people were chanting as they gathered at the Library Gardens. 
Earthlife Africa spokesman Makoma Lekalakala said the marchers would 
make their way to Eskom's and the minerals and energy department's 
offices in Braamfontein. The protest was expected to end at the 
Johannesburg Civic Centre. - Sapa






http://www.worldpress.org/feed.cfm?http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2429016,00.html

Protesters march to ANC HQ
19/11/2008 14:12 - (SA)

Johannesburg - Police had to form a human chain on Wednesday outside the 
ANC's Luthuli House headquarters as protesting Johannesburg inner-city 
residents handed over a memorandum of their grievances.
"We demand that the ANC lobby for debt write-offs, as most debts are 
inherited or caused by administrators and managing agents," the 
memorandum read.
"The ANC must develop a comprehensive strategy to protect the elderly 
and vulnerable from evictions."
The memorandum demanded that a task team be set up to look at the 
evictions, intimidation and high rentals being experienced by community.
Inner-city indaba
The protesters also demanded that he ANC convene an inner-city indaba on 
housing-related issues before the end of January.
The residents gave the ANC 14 days to respond to their grievances.
The march began at the Joubert Park art gallery, and ended at Luthuli 
House.
Residents were protesting against evictions, the private security 
company which carried them out - the so-called Red Ants - intimidation 
by police and water and electricity cuts.
"For the past 10 years we have lived under threat. Different people came 
and claimed to be owners of buildings or flats demanding money," said 
Johannesburg Inner-City Residents Association spokesman Moses Ka Moyo.
He said residents had also received fake court orders.
'We live in a pigsty
"We demand protection from the ANC."
A disgruntled resident, Sifiso Nkomo said: "We pay high rentals but we 
live in a pigsty. We also have rights that are being infringed upon. For 
the past ten years we have lived under unfavourable conditions, this 
must end."
The protesters toyi-toyied and chanted liberation songs. They carried 
placards reading: "Leave Hillbrow Alone"; and "ANC protect our human 
rights".
The First National Bank on Sauer street closed its security gates as 
protesters moved towards its entrance during the march.
Accepting the memorandum, ANC head of security Bongani Zuma assured the 
protesters that the ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe would receive 
their grievances.
"It's not because you (protesters) are being disrespected. The ANC is 
the congress of the people. It is here to listen to you and give you 
platform for your grievances.
"I assure you that I will deliver this memorandum to Mantashe's office".
- SAPA





http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Development&set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=nw20081111095331918C455922

APF to protest against pre-paid water meters

November 11 2008 at 09:58AM

The Anti-Privatisation Forum will march to the Johannesburg mayor's 
office on Tuesday to protest against the installation of pre-paid water 
meters.

"The reasons why the community is opposing water pre-paid meters is 
because they pave the way for privatisation and prepaid water meters 
pervert demand management," said APF spokesperson Silumko Radebe.

The protesters will march from Beyers Naude Square to the mayor's office 
at 10am. - Sapa






http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20081113103238499C398908

APF to protest against housing allocations

November 13 2008 at 10:55AM

Mooiplaas and Kruger Park flats residents gathered at the Pretoria City 
Hall on Thursday in preparation for a protest against corruption in the 
allocation of houses in city.

"Some have already gathered at city hall while we are waiting for others 
to arrive," said Silumko Radebe of the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF).

The protesters were expected to march to the Union Buildings.

"The main thing is that the march is about the RDP housing corruption 
involving the City of Tshwane," he said.

According to the APF, Tshwane 's housing department had in a corrupt 
manner allocated houses to other people and not the Mooiplaas residents 
who were the rightful recipients of the houses. Residents of Kruger Park 
flats - which was set alight in July over evictions - and Schubart Park 
flat residents would join the march.
Radebe said a memorandum calling for a formal inquiry into the city's 
housing department would be handed over at the Union Buildings at around 
noon.

"The memorandum also calls for residents of Kruger and Schubart Park 
flats to be given ownership of their flats," said Radebe. - Sapa






http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/11/8/29997/Protests-continue-in-Dominican-Republic-due-to-blackouts

Local - 8 November 2008, 12:22 AM
Protests continue in Dominican Republic due to blackouts

Santo Domingo.– Protests over an energy crisis are growing violent 
across the Dominican Republic as residents face nearly 24-hour blackouts 
that have snarled traffic and forced businesses to close.
Power companies on average are supplying less than half of the 1,960 
megawatts the country demands daily. According to Radhames Segura, 
administrator of the state-owned power company corporation, the crisis 
is temporary. He blamed mounting debt and faulty equipment.
Privately owned power companies are seeking US$400 million from the 
government and say they cannot afford the petroleum needed to run 
electric plants. Police say at least one person has died and dozens have 
been injured in protests against the crisis.






http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1227450.htm

Guinea bauxite trains restart after protest ends
01 Nov 2008 18:19:23 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds details, background)
CONAKRY, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Trains used by Guinea's main bauxite exporter 
Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee (CBG) resumed work on Saturday after a 
protest that had blocked the line since Friday ended, a company official 
said.
"Traffic has restarted. The first 120-wagon train arrived this 
afternoon," said the official, who asked not to be named.
One person was killed during the protests in which local people in Boke, 
where the world's largest bauxite exporter CBG digs the aluminium ore, 
erected barricades on the railway line to protest over electricity 
shortages.
U.S. metals giant Alcoa <AA.N>, part-owner of CBG, said late on Friday 
that production had not been affected by the protest.
Guinean President Lansana Conte personally intervened to end the 
protests, the company official said.
"He (Conte) brought together the local authorities and they spoke. The 
people understood and agreed to let trains pass," he said.
Protests about poor public services are common in the west African 
country, where most people live in poverty despite Guinea's lucrative 
natural resources.
Demonstrations about inadequate electricity supply often target bauxite 
operations as these tend to generate power for surrounding towns under 
their deals with the government.
In October, one person was killed during a five-day power protest in the 
town of Mambia that stopped trains carrying bauxite for Russian 
aluminium firm UC RUSAL.
Alcoa and Rio Tinto Alcan <RIO.L> control the Halco joint venture that 
owns 51 percent of CBG, and the Guinean government holds the remainder.
In July, the Guinean government said it was replacing Alcoa as manager 
of CBG with an interim committee. [ID:nL18903866]
As well as bauxite, Guinea has large reserves of steel-making raw 
material iron ore. Rio Tinto is majority owner of the $6 billion 
Simandou iron ore project, which the firm says is the world's best 
unexploited resource. (Reporting by Saliou Samb; Writing by Daniel 
Magnowski; editing by Keith Weir)






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/16/stories/2008111652640300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Power crisis: CPI (M) stages protest
Special Correspondent
MYSORE: The Mysore unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged 
a dharna in the city on Saturday to protest against the State 
Government’s administrative “failure”, and its inability to resolve the 
power crisis and protect the common man’s interest. The party activists 
listed various administrative lapses of the State Government and said it 
had earned the wrath of all sections of society, including 
industrialists and hoteliers.
Though the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power on the assurance that 
power would be supplied free of cost to the farmers, it has turned out 
to be a chimera, said the CPI (M). It said the Chief Minister of the 
State has surpassed all his predecessors in issuing promises. He seemed 
to be disconnected with the ground realities and problems plaguing the 
people, they said.
The CPI (M) said different leaders were airing different views on the 
power crisis and creating confusion in the minds of the public. “Instead 
of blaming the Union Government for the power crisis, the State should 
make arrangements to procure power from the Central Grid to tide over 
the crisis,” the party said. The CPI (M) underscored the need to resolve 
the power crisis as it had a direct bearing on industrial production and 
agricultural output.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111452040300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Erode

AIADMK volunteers stage protest against power cut
Staff Reporter
DMK Government challenged to dissolve Assembly and face elections
PHOTO: M.GOVARTHAN

For a cause: AIADMK volunteers stage a demonstration in Erode on 
Thursday against power cut and anti-people policies. —
ERODE: Former Minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 
leader N. Thalavai Sundaram has dared the ruling DMK Government to 
dissolve the Assembly and face elections.
Participating in the protest the party organised here on Thursday 
against power cut and its impact on industry, particularly powerloom, he 
said, if the DMK Government faced the next election they would be 
routed, for such is their performance.
Unprecedented
“The power cut the State is experiencing today is unprecedented.
“The industry is hit and production has come down. As a result, 
labourers are losing jobs.
“And, in agriculture, farmers are not able to water crops, which are 
fast wilting. In short, the industry and agriculture in the State is in 
poor shape.”
Criticism
Mr. Sundaram also criticised the deterioration of law and order in the 
State.
“From law college students to political leaders to the leader of the 
Opposition, nobody is spared,” he said and asked the voters to decide if 
such a Government should continue the next term.
He added that in the ensuing Parliamentary election, the voters would 
give a befitting reply to the ruling DMK, leaders of which are part of 
the Union Cabinet.
Former State Minister Durai Ramasamy said industries in the SIPCOT 
Industrial Estate in Perundurai had been hit so hard because of the 
power cut that there were on the verge of closure.
Former Minister P.C. Ramsamy said, “Investments worth Rs. 1,500 crore 
will go waste and 15,000 labourers will lose jobs, thanks to the power cut.”
He also blamed the Government for not making full use of the windmills, 
which were not running to the optimum.
He added that powerloom industry in Erode, Perundurai, Vellakoil, 
Thandampalayam and neighbouring areas were facing the worst crisis ever.
AIADMK’s Erode south district secretary K.V. Ramalingam said the DMK 
rising Eelam Tamil issue was a ploy to divert people’s attention for 
price rise and power cut.
Thousands of party cadres participated in the meeting.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111452960300.htm

Karnataka - Shimoga

Protest against unscheduled power cuts
Special Correspondent
SHIMOGA: Members of the District Youth Congress Committee staged a 
demonstration in front of the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company 
(MESCOM) office here on Thursday to protest against unscheduled power 
cuts. They said that Minister for Energy K.S. Eshwarappa, who had been 
confusing people by issuing conflicting statements on the power 
scenario, had failed to improve the power situation in the State. They 
said that the confusion on the power scenario could be attributed to the 
lack of coordination between the Minister for Energy and the officers of 
the authorities concerned.
Instead of trying to overcome the crisis by securing power from other 
States, the Government was unnecessarily blaming the Centre for the 
situation, the protesters said.
The demonstrators urged the Government to announce the schedule for 
power cuts. President of the committee N. Ravikumar led the demonstration.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112052500300.htm

Nov 20 2008
Karnataka - Gulbarga

Congress protests against power cut
Special Correspondent
GULBARGA: The Gulbarga District Congress Committee on Wednesday 
criticised the State Government for not ensuring uninterrupted 
electricity supply in the district and for resorting to unscheduled and 
scheduled power cuts in the urban and rural areas for hours on end.
Members of the District Congress Committee (DCC), who took out a 
procession in the city and staged a dharna in front of the office of the 
Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Ltd. (GESCOM), in protest against 
the frequent interruptions in power supply, demanded uninterrupted power 
supply to irrigation pumpsets in rural areas to save standing crops 
dependent on lift irrigation and groundwater irrigation.
DCC president Allamprabhu Patil and leaders of the party, including 
former Mayor and president of the women’s wing of the district unit, 
Chandrika Parameshwar, took part in the procession and the dharna.
In a memorandum submitted to GESCOM managing director, Mr. Patil blamed 
the inept handling of the power situation by the BJP Government for the 
power crisis in the State. Mr. Patil demanded that the Government take 
concrete steps to end the power crisis by purchasing power from other 
States.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/09/stories/2008110954040300.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Protest against power disruption
Staff Correspondent
BIDAR: Hundreds of Gadawathi residents of Humnabad taluk on Saturday 
blocked National Highway 9 for about two-and-a-half hours protesting 
against power disruption in the taluk.
Minister for Public Works C. M. Udasi, Tejaswini Sriramesh, MP, and 
Managing Editor of Vijaya Karnataka Vishveswar Bhat, who were on their 
way to Basavakalayn to attend Sharana Kammta, had to wait for about an 
hour before the way was cleared.
Villagers said that owing to power disruptions, they faced drinking 
water problems and could not irrigate their crops.
A large number of vehicles came to a halt on the national highway. 
Police tried to placate the mob into withdrawing the blockade but they 
did not relent. Later, police took them into custody and cleared way for 
vehicular movement.
Later, at a press conference, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said that 
the State government had taken steps to overcome the power crisis in the 
State. Mr. Yeddyurappa said the State Government had entered into a 
memorandum of understanding with the Chhattisgarh Government to generate 
2,000 MW of power.
Police said the villagers were released after Humnabad MLA and officials 
worked out an amicable solution with the residents.



http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111757910300.htm

Karnataka

Protest against power cut
Staff Correspondent
________________________________________
Sangha wants to know why power cut is longer in rural areas
________________________________________
Davangere: Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Nanjundaswamy faction) will 
launch agitation across the State on November 20. Vice-president G. 
Veeranna and general secretary Basavareddy informed this during a press 
meet in Davangere on Sunday. They said that they will protest against 
the discriminative policy of the State Government with respect to supply 
of power to rural and urban areas.
Mr. Veeranna said that the Government had announced 6-hour 3-phase power 
and 6-hour single-phase power to rural areas while in urban areas 
continuous power supply had been restored. He questioned why the 
Government was following such a policy of discrimination. He demanded 
that proper power supply should be restored in all places immediately.
He said that as power was supplied to rural areas only during the night 
farmers were forced to sacrifice their sleep and work on the farms 
during the night. Irrigation pump sets function only when there is 
electricity supply and only then farmers can water the crops. But, if 
they are forced to work in the night, the farmers risk snake bite and 
attack by wild animals.
Huchavanahalli Manjunath, a farmers’ leader, said that standing 
groundnut crop had been destroyed in Jagalur and other places in 
Davangere district owing to short supply of water due to power cuts. 
Blaming the BESCOM for crop loss, he informed that groundnut was grown 
in 5,250 hectares of lands in the district and the crop in the whole 
area was destroyed. Veeranna said that industries in Bellary were 
supplied large quantity of water from the Tungabhadra reservoir while 
people residing adjacent to the reservoir were deprived of drinking 
water. He said that 4.5 TMC of water was being supplied to Kirloskar, 
four TMC to Jindal and 1.5 TMC to Mukunda and he noted that over 10 TMC 
water was being supplied to industries while not much water was supplied 
for agricultural purposes.
The sangha will launch an indefinite agitation against the Government’s 
discriminative policy in supply of water from November 24 in front of 
the Tungabhadra dam in Hospet.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111454550500.htm

Karnataka

Janata Dal (S) threatens protest
CHIKMAGALUR: H.H. Devaraj, general secretary of the district unit of the 
Janata Dal (Secular), has warned that his party will organise a 
demonstration in front of the Mescom office if the power crisis is not 
set right in a week.
Mr. Devaraj told presspersons here on Wednesday that drinking water 
problems had arisen in rural areas and agricultural operations were hit. 
He blamed the Government for its “negligence” on the crisis.
— Correspondent



http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111159670300.htm

Karnataka - Mangalore

Congress workers stage protest
Staff Correspondent
MANGALORE: Congress workers, led by president of Dakshina Kannada 
District Congress Committee B. Ramanath Rai and Mangalore MLA U.T. 
Khader, staged a demonstration in front of the Mangalore Electricity 
Supply Company (MESCOM) office here on Monday. They were agitating 
against the growing power crisis in the State.
In a memorandum addressed to the Governor and submitted to the MESCOM 
officials, Mr. Rai called for the dissolution of the BJP Government in 
the State. Stating that this was the greatest power crisis in the 
history of the State, Mr. Rai said that the BJP had gone back on its 
election promises wherein it had promised uninterrupted power supply.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Khader called for the resignation of Power 
Minister S. Eshwarappa alleging that the Minister’s mismanagement had 
led to the present crisis.
Warning that the party would intensify its struggle against the 
“anti-people” policies of the BJP Government, Mr. Khader said, “We are 
giving the State Government one week’s time to sort out the electricity 
supply issues.”





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111153920400.htm

Karnataka

Protest against erratic power supply
CHICKBALLAPUR: Congress workers took out a procession and blocked 
National Highway 7 in Chickballapur town on Monday to protest against 
the erratic power supply in the district.
Raising slogans against the State Government for not ensuring proper 
power supply, they marched from the Travellers’ Bungalow to the 
Bangalore Electricity Supply Company office and staged a demonstration. 
As the protesters squatted on the road, movement of vehicles was 
affected for some time.
Addressing the protesters, Congress leader Yeluvahalli N. Ramesh said 
the State Government should come out with a special power supply scheme 
for Chickballapur and Kolar districts as farmers in the two districts 
were totally dependent on borewells for irrigation.
The Government should make arrangements for supplying power to 
irrigation pump sets for at least eight hours a day, Mr. Ramesh said. — 
Special Correspondent




http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/13/stories/2008111358080800.htm

Tamil Nadu

Protest over denial of PDS items in Karur
Staff Reporter
KARUR: Residents of Vadivel Nagar and Andankoil East staged a 
demonstration in front of LNS Cooperative Bank on Wednesday protesting 
denial of essential commodities to them under the public distribution 
system.
They also demanded that the authorities look into the erratic supply of 
potable water in the locality. The protest was led by Ward member K. 
Devaraj and included members from all parties and organisations. They 
included P.K. Murugesan (CPI-M), V.N. Veeramani (DMK), K. Selvaraj 
(Congress), and cadres of the DMDK, MDMK and DYFI. The protestors 
claimed that essential commodities was not being supplied at the PDS 
shop, and water was being supplied once in 10 days. They demanded that 
the authorities solve the problems.
They demanded expeditious completion of the storm water drain.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/19/stories/2008111952510300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Salem

Demonstration against price rise
Special Correspondent
Women drink gruel to symbolically suggest the price hike
________________________________________
‘The State which announced groceries for Rs.50 in fair price shops 
couldn’t ensure its steady supply ’
________________________________________
— Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Symbol of dissent: Members of CPI and NFIW staging a novel demonstration 
of drinking gruel in Salem on Tuesday to condemn the price hike in 
essential commodities
SALEM: Members of Salem district units of CPI and National Federation of 
Indian Women (NFIW) staged a demonstration here on Tuesday to protest 
against the price hike of essential commodities.
The members claimed that the prices of vegetables, groceries and rice 
had recorded steep hike of late thus forcing the people to suffer 
heavily. When the centre hiked the prices of petrol and diesel, the Left 
opposed it stiffly. This had led to all round price hike in the country, 
they said.
But when the crude oil price came down, the centre did not bring down 
the prices of the petroleum products. The State which announced 10 
packets of groceries for Rs 50 in fair price shops also could not ensure 
its steady supply to the poor. The members insisted that the Government 
should take immediate action to control the price hike. The women drank 
gruel to symbolically suggest the price hike.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/19/stories/2008111954160300.htm

Tamil Nadu

CPI workers stage demonstration
Staff Reporter
- Photo: N. Bashkaran

Yet another protest: Members of the Communist Party of India staging a 
demonstration near the revenue divisional office in Krishnagiri on Tuesday.
KRISHNAGIRI: Workers of the Communist Party of India staged a 
demonstration in front of the revenue divisional office here on Tuesday, 
condemning the State and Union governments’ failure to control price rise.
State-wide agitation
The demonstration was held as part of its state-wide agitation against 
price rise and wrong economic policies of the State and Union governments.
Slogans
Workers raised slogans against the DMK and Union governments for not 
initiating measures to bring down the rising prices of the essential 
commodities, vegetables and other products etc.
More than 100 workers, including 20 women, participated in the 
demonstration.
CPI District President P. Nagaraja Reddy presided over the demonstration.
CPI State Executive Committee Members D.S. Pandiyan, S. Kannu, N.V. 
Venkateswaran were among those who participated in the protest.




http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/03/stories/2008110358720400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Demonstration against poor civic amenities
Staff Reporter
CHENNAI: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham on Sunday 
organised a demonstration in Tiruvottiyur against the poor civic 
amenities in the Municipality limits. The participants also opposed the 
property tax revision announced by the Municipality and demanded that 
the road from Tiruvottiyur Tollgate to Ernavur Bridge be widened to 65 
feet.
Participating in the rally, AIADMK leader E. Madhusudhanan said bad 
roads, on which accidents were not uncommon, long hours of power cut, 
non-functioning of streetlights and slow pace of implementation of an 
underground drainage scheme were some of the problems faced by the 
residents.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/31/stories/2008103159130300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Protest demonstration
The CPI, under the leadership of its corporator (44th division) P. 
Gowtham Reddy, organised a protest demonstration with applicants for 
white ration cards in front of Maruthi Gas Company in Satyanarayanapuram 
on Thursday to demand issuance of the cards without any delay. Mr. Reddy 
said though 24,000 people had applied for white ration cards after the 
government increased the income limit to Rs.75,000 a year, the officials 
had not started the verification process. CPI activists collected the 
receipts given by the officials to the applicants. The officials assured 
the agitating applicants that verification would be completed in seven days.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/01/stories/2008110154010400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

CPI(M) stages demonstrations
Special Correspondent
— Photo: K. Pichumani

IN Protest: CPI(M) members staging dharna against power cut in Chennai 
on Friday.
CHENNAI: The south Chennai district unit of the CPI(M) on Friday 
conducted demonstrations in 11 centres to urge the State government to 
find ways to tide over the power crisis.
Increase State’s share
Addressing demonstrators at Pallavaram, K. Beemarao, the district 
secretary of the party, said efforts should be made to increase Tamil 
Nadu’s share from the power stations under the control of the Centre.
“Our share is 2350 MW. Currently, we are getting only 1500 MW,” Mr. 
Beemrao added.
Demonstrations were held at Pallavaram, T. Nagar, Saidapet, Porur, 
Villivakkam, MGR Nagar market, Tambaram, Anagaputhur, Medavakkam and 
Ekkaduthangal.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/28/stories/2008112859440300.htm

Karnataka - Udupi

Congress stages protest
Staff Correspondent
Udupi: The Udupi Block Congress Committee held a public meeting and took 
out a torchlight rally here on Thursday to protest against frequent 
power-cuts in the State.
A minute’s silence was observed at the beginning of the public meeting 
to condole the death of former Prime Minister V.P. Singh and the 
policemen who laid their lives in fighting against the terrorists in 
Mumbai.
M.A. Gafoor, president of Udupi district Congress committee, said that 
the power policy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was a 
complete failure. Unscheduled load shedding and frequent power cuts had 
become the order of the day. There was no sector which had been left 
untouched by the power cuts. Students were finding it difficult to 
study. The industrial sector, including small and medium enterprises, 
was hard hit. “People in both the urban and rural areas are suffering 
owing to power cuts,” he said.
After the meeting, the Congress workers took out a torchlight procession.








http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111757210300.htm


Tamil Nadu

Protest against load shedding
Staff Reporter
Tirupur: Members of the women’s wing of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam 
staged a demonstration in front of the Corporation office on Sunday to 
protest against the load shedding and hike in prices of essential 
commodities. The urged the State Government to take steps to as the 
prolonged load shedding enforced in the state had affected industrial 
production considerably.
‘Control price rise’
If the situation continues, many workers might lose their jobs, they said.
Similarly, central and state governments should come out with monetary 
measures to control the rise in prices of essential commodities.
M.S. Sharmila Bharati, district secretary (Coimbatore North) of the 
women’s wing, led the agitation.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/28/stories/2008112853620300.htm

Karnataka - Madikeri

Protest planned against BJP Government
Staff Correspondent
Madikeri: Kodagu district unit of the Congress will stage a protest here 
on December 2 against the “neglect” of the district by the State 
Government, its president Veena Achaiah said here on Tuesday.
She was speaking to presspersons. Erratic power supply, poor road 
conditions, shortage of doctors in government hospitals and confusion in 
distribution of ration cards were the burning issues in the district and 
the State Government had turned blind eye to them, Ms. Achaiah alleged. 
A procession would be taken out on December 2 to the Deputy 
Commissioner’s office in the Fort where a demonstration would be held. 
If anomalies were not set right within a month, the issue would be taken 
to the State level, she added.
The BJP Government had virtually stopped functioning and Chief Minister 
B.S. Yeddyurappa was indulging in “transfer deals”, Ms. Achaiah alleged. 
The Mangalore-Madikeri road was in a pathetic condition. 
Mangalore-Kodagu MP D.V. Sadananda Gowda should resign owning moral 
responsibility, Ms. Achaiah said.
She said that people of the State had now realised the mistake of 
bringing the BJP to power. People in Kodagu were getting less than 12 
hours of power supply every day. People of the district were optimistic 
and believed the BJP Government’s promises. On the other hand, the BJP 
had taken advantage of the innocence of the people, she charged.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111151470300.htm

Karnataka - Shimoga

Congress plans protest against ‘anti-development’ policy
Special Correspondent
Party workers to take part in district-level programme on November 19
________________________________________
Tirthahalli MLA to launch padayatra to villages in his Assembly 
constituency on Friday
Need for expeditious completion of development works in Shimoga district 
stressed
________________________________________
SHIMOGA: The Congress would stage a district-level protest here on 
November 19 against the alleged anti-development policy of the BJP 
Government in the State.
Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa 
said that party workers from the district would take part in the protest.
He said that Tirthahalli MLA Kimmane Ratnakar, who would launch his 
padayatra to villages in his constituency to highlight the power problem 
there on November 14, would join the protest on November 19.
Mr. Thimmappa said a procession would be taken out during the protest 
rally in which a large number of leaders and workers would participate.
He said that the purpose of holding the protest was to draw the State 
Government’s attention to the need for the speedy completion of the 
development works.
He said that Shikaripur taluk was getting a lion’s share in the 
allocation of funds.
Mr. Thimmappa noted that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s love for his 
home constituency of Shikaripur was so intent that he had virtually 
become its district in-charge Minister neglecting the other parts of the 
district.
Many development works were hampered due to the improper utilisation of 
funds, he noted.
He alleged that the police in the district were acting as the agents of 
the BJP going by the way the many “innocent” Congress workers were being 
harassed and “false” cases being registered against them.
He said that politicising policing in the district by the BJP was an 
unfortunate development.
He said that the Congress leaders would meet Superintendent of Police S. 
Murugan in this connection.
On the progress of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme 
(NREGS) of the Union Government, he pointed out that the funds released 
for the district under the project were not utilised properly, though it 
was hailed as a novel project to generate employment opportunity in the 
rural areas.
Mr. Thimmappa said that of the Rs. 26 crore sanctioned for the district 
under NREGS the Government had released Rs. 5 crore this year but these 
funds were not used for the implementation of the scheme.
He said that the zilla panchayat had failed in making the NREGS a 
success in the district. The panchayat officials were not cooperating in 
its implementation.
He alleged that the Chief Minister was also not showing any interest in 
the implementation of the NREGS and other Central projects, as the 
credit would go to the Union Government led by the Congress.
Mr. Thimmappa said that various Union Government-sponsored programmes 
such as the Prime Minister’s Vidharbha model relief package for people 
affected by irrigation projects had not been implemented effectively.
Bhadra canal
He pointed out that even the much publicised Bhadra canal modernisation 
project was not showing any progress.
He said that Union Government programmes such as the Rajiv Gandhi Rural 
Electrification Project, Central Road Projects and others had been 
stalled due to lack of funds.
District Congress Committee president R. Prasanna Kumar, former MLA 
Kariyanna, leaders such as Ismail Khan and Kalgod Ratnakar were present.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111151330300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Mahila Congress stages protest
Staff Correspondent

FOR POWER: Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress staging a protest against 
the BJP Government for its failure to provide regular electricity supply 
in rural areas, in Belgaum on Monday.
Belgaum: The Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress organised a protest 
against the alleged failure of the BJP Government to stand true to its 
promise on providing non-stop electricity supply in rural areas here on 
Monday.
The protest was led by State general secretary of Mahila Congress Laxmi 
Hebbalkar. The Belgaum District Congress Committee members, headed by 
S.S. Bhimmannavar, party workers from Belgaum and Khanapur taluks, and 
Seva Dal workers also participated.
A human chain was formed at Rani Channamma Circle resulting in traffic 
jams for some time. Party MLA representing Belgaum North joined the 
protesters while submitting a memorandum to the Government at the Deputy 
Commissioner’s office. In its memorandum, the Congress criticised the 
Government stating that though Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa took oath 
of office in the name of farmers and had promised regular and free power 
supply to farmers, he had no time to look into their (farmers) problems 
resulting from long hours of power cuts.
Added to it were the hardships due to inadequate supply of fertilizers. 
Standing crops had dried as there was no power supply in rural areas for 
irrigation for the fortnight. Even flour mills were not working for want 
of power supply which was only compounding hardships of the people both 
in the rural and the urban areas.
She said the power supply situation was worst in the urban areas as a 
large number of powerlooms had come to a grinding halt.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/04/stories/2008110459090300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Councillors stage novel protest
Staff Reporter
Mettuppalayam: Five councillors of the Mettuppalayam Municipality on 
Monday staged a novel protest urging the civic body to close the 
trenches dug up for repairing the leaks in drinking water pipelines.
They protested by taking bath in the open using the stagnant water (in 
the trenches dug up for plugging the leaks) near the bus stand on the 
Coimbatore main road.
The councillors who staged the protest included R. Murugesan, R. 
Jagannathan, KMG Murali, P. Subramani and D. Sathish Kumar. The 
councillors alleged that the trenches had remained open for more than a 
week and caused a lot of accidents.
S.T. Rajan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Periyanaickenpalayam; R. 
Arumugam, Vice-Chairman of the Municipality; Commissioner Rajan and 
others held talks with the agitated councillors.
They assured that the leaks will be plugged immediately. Municipal 
authorities also assured that in future such repair works will be 
entrusted to private firms. Following these assurances, the councillors 
withdrew their agitation.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/04/stories/2008110453680300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Protest against cooperative policies
Special Correspondent
Thiruvananthapuram: The Sahakarna Janadhipathiya Vedi, under the 
auspices of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, has decided to stage 
protest demonstrations in front of the offices of the joint registrar of 
cooperatives in every district on November 6 in protest against the 
State government’s policies. In a statement here, Karakulam Krishna 
Pillai, vedi convener, said the State government had adopted vindictive 
measures by disbanding cooperatives controlled by the Congress. . The 
demonstrations would be conducted in all districts.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112253730300.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Ration dealers’ protest
Staff Reporter
Kozhikode: The All Kerala Retail Ration Dealer’s Association will 
observe November 24, the day the Assembly session resumes, as ‘Black 
Day’ in protest against the “neglect of the public distribution system 
by the State and Union governments.”
Addressing a press conference here, Association State president K.V. 
Thomas, MLA, said the association represented over 10,000 retail ration 
dealers out of the total 14,000 in the State.
He said the commission received by the ration dealers had not been 
revised for 20 years.
The association said the government should take measures to reinstate 
the amount of food grains and other necessary goods that had been cut by 
the Union government.






http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-40123.html

Residents on sit-in protest to demand civic amenities
Ghaziabad, Nov 3 : Over 250 residents of Kaushambi, including lawyers, 
doctors and professionals, staged a protest sit-in at the Ghaziabad 
civic corporation office Monday demanding basic infrastructure 
development of the area.
The protesters, representing over 20,000 residents, allege their area is 
neglected by the civic authorities. "We want certain percentage of the 
tax we pay to be spent on development of our area. This will solve the 
problems of the remaining areas," said Vipin Mittal, a resident.

The residents had stopped payment of house tax to the Municipal 
Corporation of Ghaziabad for two years earlier and had agreed to pay it 
on the assurances of the municipal commissioner. "Our demands have not 
been met by the agency as promised," said Arvind Kejriwal, a resident 
and an RTI activist. The residents allege rampant corruption in the 
department.

Municipal Commissioner Ajay Shanker Pandey assured the protesters he 
would look into the matter. However, the protesters are not ready to 
call off their agitation.

They demand 60 percent of the revenue be spent on infrastructure 
development of the area and development of basic facilities be done on a 
priority basis.
--- IANS






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/18/stories/2008111853250300.htm

Nov 18 2008

Tamil Nadu - Salem

Protest against short-weights
Special Correspondent
SALEM: Villagers of Mittapudur near here resorted to a road blockade on 
Monday accusing that they were not being given adequate amount of rice 
under the Re. 1 per kilogram rice scheme as the short-weights were being 
used to weigh the rice.
The villagers, a majority of them women, blocked the traffic and urged 
the District administration to ensure correct amount of rice to the card 
holders who buy rice from the fair price shop in Mittapudur.
Nearly 1500 card holders were attached to the shop where the Rs 1 a 
kilogram rice is supplied along with other essential items.
The women claimed that it had become a regular practice for those in the 
shops to give less rice.
“Instead of one kilogram, it is just 750 grams. How can we survive,” 
asked a woman who insisted on immediate action against those who were 
responsible for this act of negligence.
Officials rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators. They also 
assured the villagers that correct amount would be supplied to the card 
holders.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/16/stories/2008111659860300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Protest over SmartCity delay
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: Thrikkakkara East and West mandalam committees of the Congress 
will observe Sunday as “a lost year” marking the completion of one year 
of the laying of the foundation stone of the proposed SmartCity Kochi 
project.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Benny Behannan will 
place a wreath where the foundation stone was laid on November 16 last 
year. This will be followed by a protest march to the Kakkanad junction 
where KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala will inaugurate a public meeting 
to protest the delay in implementing the project. K. Babu, MLA, will 
preside. District Congress Committee president, V.J. Paulose; United 
Democratic Front district convener, K.P. Dhanapalan; and former 
minister, Dominic Presentation, will speak.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/13/stories/2008111351590300.htm

Karnataka - Bijapur

Farmers to protest against new water supply schedule
Staff Correspondent
‘Tail-end areas haven’t received water for 25 days’
Bijapur: Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal Advisory Committee member 
Panchappa Kalburgi has said that beneficiaries of the Indi Branch Canal, 
on the stretch from 88th km to 172nd km, would stage a dharna in front 
of the Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Limited (KBJNL) office and a rasta roko 
on National Highway19 from Monday to protest against “improper schedule 
of releasing water and inadequate power supply”.
Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, he said that owing to the 
improper schedule of water supply to Indi Branch Canal, the 
beneficiaries on the stretch from Balaganur Tank (88th km) to the 
tail-end villages (172nd km) had not received water for 25 days. If the 
authorities concerned did not take immediate steps to regulate water 
supply, wheat crop on 10,000 acres of land and other crops on 20,000 
acres would be destroyed, he added.
“Instead of following the old schedule of seven days, the authorities 
have introduced a ten-day schedule to release water into the canal. 
According to the new schedule, farmers in the tail-end villages were 
supposed to receive water once in three months, he said. Mr. Kalburgi 
demanded that the officers implement the old schedule of water supply. 
Though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised uninterrupted power 
supply to farmers after coming to power, it failed to supply “even 
minimum power to farmers and the common man in the State”, he charged. 
Instead of blaming previous governments for the power crisis, the BJP 
Government should sign pacts with other States to overcome the problem. 
Mr. Kalburgi said that Indi and Sindagi farmers had withdrawn their 
agitation based on the assurance of the State Government that 
compensation for uncrushed sugarcane for 2006-07 would be released. A 
detailed report in this regard had been submitted to the Government, and 
the compensation would be released in the first week of December, he added.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112759440500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Left parties to stage protest
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: The Left parties will stage a protest on December 2 all over 
the State to condemn the Central government’s failure to reduce the 
price of petroleum products in the wake of the dip in the price of crude 
oil in the international market.
“When we protested the increase, the government rejected our demand, 
saying the price in the international market had gone up. Now the price 
of a barrel has come down to $50 from $150. But the government is 
remaining silent. It is cheating the people,” said CPI(M) State 
secretary N. Varadarajan, CPI State secretary D. Pandian and Forward 
Bloc leader P.V. Kadiravan in a joint statement. The protest would be 
held at the district and taluk headquarters.
Discussions
Earlier in the day, the CPI leaders, including D. Pandian, R. 
Nallakannu, A.M. Gopu and G. Palanisamy, visited the CPI (M) office and 
held discussions on various issues.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/29/stories/2008112955110300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Novel protest by DYFI members
SIVAKASI: Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India staged a 
novel protest of “begging” to highlight the poor state of a stretch of 
State highways road, on Friday. Over 100 members went around the town 
“begging”, the federation Sivakasi town secretary, P. Balasubramanian 
said. The 1.5 km. of road from the bypass junction to Naranapuram was 
unmotorable, he said.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111754130400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

AIADMK plans demonstration in Karur
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: The AIADMK will organise a demonstration on November 18 in 
Karur district to condemn Union Minister of Shipping and Road Transport 
T.R. Baalu for his failure to complete the railway flyover in Lalapet.
In a statement here, party general secretary Jayalalithaa said the delay 
in completing the work had caused enormous difficulties to the people. 
“Whenever the railway gate is closed the traffic comes to a standstill,” 
she alleged.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/13/stories/2008111351650300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Vatal Paksha stages demonstration against Hogenakkal project
Staff Correspondent
Yeddyurappa urged to convene a meeting of leaders of all political parties
— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Raising slogans: Activists of the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha staging 
a demonstration in Mysore on Wednesday.
MYSORE: Activists of the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha (KCVP) staged a 
demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on 
Wednesday in protest against the Tamil Nadu Government’s decision of 
implementing the controversial Hogenakkal drinking water project.
The activists gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and 
raised slogans against the Tamil Nadu Government and Chief Minister M. 
Karunanidhi and burnt an effigy.
They urged Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to convene a meeting of 
leaders of all political parties and an emergency legislature session to 
discuss the issue. They appealed to him to take a delegation to the 
Prime Minister and apprise him of the seriousness of the issue.
Addressing the activists, president of KCVP Vatal Nagaraj said that the 
Tamil Nadu Government had started work on the project and appointed an 
officer for its early completion. The Tamil Nadu Government had changed 
its original plan of providing drinking water to Dharmapuri district by 
including Krishnagiri district in it. If the project was implemented, 
Karnataka would face problems. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 
Government had failed in protecting the interests of the State, he alleged.
He said that the Tamil Nadu Government did not bother to intimate its 
plan of action to the Karnataka Government and the Centre. The Tamil 
Nadu Government had obtained financial assistance from the Japan 
Government for the implementation of the project. The Karnataka 
Government had to pressure the Japan Government against funding the 
controversial project.
Urging the Tamil Nadu Government to make public the project plan, he 
appealed to Mr. Yeddyurappa to act immediately to stop Tamil Nadu from 
implementing the project.
He said that his party would intensify its agitation if the Tamil Nadu 
Government went ahead with its plan, by organising protests and bandhs 
across the State. M. Nanjundaswamy, president of the district unit of 
KCVP, spoke.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111153880400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

AIADMK to hold demonstration today
CHENNAI: General secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra 
Kazhagam (AIADMK) Jayalalithaa has said that her party members will 
stage a demonstration near the Rajapalayam old bus terminus in 
Virudhunagar district on Tuesday to protest against the Dravida Munnetra 
Kazhagam (DMK) government’s decision to close down the old terminus.
In a statement, Ms. Jayalalithaa has charged the government with taking 
decisions that are against the wishes and interests of the people. She 
said the newly constructed bus terminus was situated outside city 
limits. — Special Correspondent






http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20081104-170088/Protesters-bat-for-1-more-LRT-stop

Protesters bat for 1 more LRT stop
By Beverly T. Natividad
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:22:00 11/04/2008

Filed Under: Railway, Local authorities
MANILA, Philippines – Some 100 residents of Bagong Barrio, Caloocan 
City, Monday blocked the northbound lane of Edsa near Balintawak to 
dramatize their appeal to the Department of Transportation and 
Communications (DOTC).
The residents of Bagong Barrio – which is located between the North 
Luzon Expressway and Monumento – asked the DOTC to build one of the 
stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 near their area.
Under the LRT Line 1 north extension project, a 5.71-km elevated railway 
would be constructed to connect the LRT Monumento station to the North 
Avenue station of the Metro Rail Transit. The project is expected to be 
completed by 2010.
According to the protesters, who halted traffic on Edsa shortly before 
noon, they will not benefit from the LRT north extension project because 
the stations that will be built are far from their area.
Caloocan Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri told Inquirer that the Bagong 
Barrio residents wanted the DOTC to implement their original plan for 
the LRT-MRT Loop.
According to him, the DOTC’s original plan called for the construction 
of LRT stations at Roosevelt, Balintawak and Bagong Barrio.
Under the current plan, however, only the Roosevelt and Balintawak 
stations will be retained.
Light Rail Transit Authority Administrator Mel Robles, however, defended 
the agency’s decision.
“Studies show that Roosevelt and Balintawak would have the highest 
ridership. We are in the business of moving people. Where there is high 
density, we will go there,” Robles told Inquirer.
A station, he said, costs around P800 million to build “which is why we 
need to put it up where it could be most profitable. We need to base 
that decision on a study, not on politics.”





http://www.gmanews.tv/story/134149/Group-readies-protests-at-House-fertilizer-fund-mess-hearing

Group readies protests at House fertilizer fund mess hearing
11/18/2008 | 08:38 AM
Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThis
MANILA, Philippines - Militant workers prepared early Tuesday to picket 
the House of Representatives with the expected appearance of former 
Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante at the hearing on the 
P728-million fertilizer fund mess.

Radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported that members of Anakpawis plan to 
make Bolante feel the heat for the effect of the fertilizer scam on 
workers' lives.

Anakpawis deputy secretary general Sammy Malunes said most of the 
protesters will include workers from Central Luzon.

Bolante was scheduled to appear at the House of Representatives Tuesday 
for the fertilizer fund mess, where he had been tagged as the scam's 
architect. During his testimony at the Senate last week, Bolante 
insisted there was nothing irregular in the government's fertilizer 
program. - GMANews.TV







http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=&section=middleeast&xfile=data/middleeast/2008/November/middleeast_November36.xml

Longest Protest in Bahrain

3 November 2008

MANAMA - The longest peaceful protest in Bahrain completed 250 days on 
Friday demanding immediate solution to problems of residents of four 
villages with more than 1400 families waiting for houses from government 
for decades.
In a festival held on Friday to mark the completion of more than eight 
months of sit-in, the residents urged the interference of His Majesty 
the King to solve the problem. They vowed to continue with their protest 
until fulfillment of their demands. The protest was fun for the 
residents with games, pony rides to spice up the longest-ever 
demonstration held in Bahrain.
shamada at khaleejtimes.com







Lapindo mud flow victims demand payment of
compensation

Jakarta -- Victims of the Brantas Lapindo mud flow
disaster in Central Java have again protested
demanding the payment of compensation for their land
and homes.

The action was held in front of the Indonesian Legal
Aid Foundation (YLBHI) offices in Central Jakarta on
Thursday November 13. The protesters, the majority
of whom originate from the villages of Kedung Bendo,
Jatirejo, Siring and Renokenongo, have been staying
overnight at YLBHI since Monday.

During the action, the protesters called on Lapindo
to pay the remaining 80 percent of compensation
money as regulated by Presidential Regulation
14/2007. They also called on the government to force
Lapindo to pay the outstanding monies.





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

Lapindo victims demand to meet the president

Tempo Interactive - November 15, 2008

Anton Septian/Wikipedia, Jakarta -- Lapindo mudflow
victims demanded on Friday to meet President
Yudhoyono in a meeting with presidential advisor
Adnan Buyung Nasution.

Around 250 people from representing thousands of
Lapindo mudflow victim stated their demand saying
"the president should interfere. His ministers
(members of the the Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigatin
Team) have failed to solve this problem."

The meeting took place at an NGO office in jakarta,
The Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation where victim
asked Adnan to faciliate a meeting between the
mudflow victims and the president.

Over 10,000 people in Sidoarjo, East Java have been
forced to leave their homes since mudflow spurred
in 2006 from an oil exploration well run by Lapindo
Brantas.

Victims demanded compensation but the company
controlled by Bakrie & Brothers a holding company
owned by the family of Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie forced the
government to pay the compensation, as the company
argued the mudflow was a natural disaster

The company also acquitted by a Jakarta Court from
environmental damage charges in 2007 which include
PT Energi Mega Persada, Kalila Energy Limited, Pan
Asia Enterprise, PT Medco Energy, and Santos
Australia Limited in the consortium of Sidoarjo
exploration field.

The parliament even declared the mudflow as a
natural disaster, while a group of world geologists
in their recent Cape Town meeting late in October
said the drilling by Lapindo Brantas in May 2006
responsible for the mudflow.

The first meeting between Lapindo mudflow victims
and the president was in April 2007.

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










Village officials besiege parliament, demand funding

increase



Jakarta -- More then 3,000 village officials from

the Archipelago Village People's Union (Parade

Nusantara) held a protest action in front of the

House of Representatives (DPR) in Central Jakarta on

November 17 demanding that 10 percent of the state

budget be allocated for village development

programs. The demonstrators threatened that if their

demands are not met they would boycott the 2009

general elections.



“Certainly there are funds from departments that are

concerned with village development such as the

Agricultural Department and the Department of

Fisheries and Marine Affairs. But this is not

enough, we are asking for 10 percent. If not, we

will boycott the elections”, action coordinator

Slamet Rahardjo told journalists during a break in

the action.



As a result of the demonstration, which was watched

over by around 60 police offices, traffic became

congested from the Semanggi overpass to the DPR

building. Despite this, the action proceeded in an

orderly fashion and protesters demanded to meet with

DPR members to discuss their concerns.







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

Mudflow victims stage sit-in protest over dike
raising

Jakarta Post - November 10, 2008

Ridwan Max Sijabat -- More than 300 mudflow victims
Saturday stopped work to heighten the huge dike in
their village, protesting the suspension of damaged
assets payments.

Children held posters and banners demanding Lapindo
pay the compensation, while many women planted
banana trees on the dike.

Bambang Wuryantoro, head of the Renokenongo
village, said the protesters would not disperse
until Minarak came there and paid 20 percent of the
assets compensation.

"Twenty percent of the total compensation is merely
peanuts for the Bakrie Family, who have
multibillion-dollar assets," he said.

Before working hours, hundred of women and children
launched a sit-in protest on the dike and project
site located east of the hot mud pond.

Meanwhile, hundreds of men, mostly youths, locked
heavy equipment steers with iron wires, and put
boulders and bars on the road leading to the site.

"Any worker daring to operate a crane to drive the
people away is defying us. No worker should come in
to this project site, Sunarto, chairman of the
Renokenongo mudflow victims grouping
(Pagarrekorlap), said.

"We are waiting for the management (of PT Minarak
Lapindo Jaya) to come here and pay the
compensation."

Workers suspended operations for hours, resuming
after several mudflow handling agency (BPLS)
employees came to the site to speak with
protesters.

The BPLS employees demanded the management of
Minarak, a subsidiary of Lapindo Brantas Inc., come
and fulfill their promise of compensation.

The employees asked protesters to go to Minarak's
office, adding that they should not disturb the
project otherwise the mudflow would spread.

BPLS has sped up the dike heightening project in
anticipation of any dike falls and floods on the
eve of the rainy season.

Pagarrekorlap deputy chairman Pitanto said the
victims staged the blockade as a last resort to
press Lapindo to pay the compensation because they
were deceived many times.

"Lapindo's commitment to buying the damaged assets
was signed in the middle of September, and all
victims were given bank accounts. But 14 days after
the signing, nothing happened," he said.

The mudflow victims staged a demonstration at the
Lapindo office last month, demanding the
compensation payment. But they were asked to
exercise patience because the management was
experiencing financial difficulties triggered by
the global financial crisis.

"Until when do we have to remain patient? What is
the global financial crisis? We cannot suspend
hunger because of the crisis. We don't know what
excuses the company will give," Pitanto said.

He said the victims still staying in makeshift
accommodation at Porong market building were in
need of money to pay for a 10-hectare plot of land
where they would resettle permanently.

In a dialogue between BPLS, Minarak and the
regional administration last week, Sidoarjo regent
Win Hendrarso was unable to do much, but told the
victims about the energy company's financial
difficulties.

Win said the acting governor had sent President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a letter, asking BPLS to
provide money in advance. But, he said, the
President had not responded

Sidoarjo legislative council deputy chairman
Djalaluddin Alham protested the proposal. He said
it went against the 2007 presidential instruction
requiring Lapindo to pay the compensation to the
residents of Renokenongo and three other villages
devastated by the disaster.

"The compensation payment for the four villages
cannot be taken from the state budget, which covers
BPLS' operational costs and infrastructure repair
projects," he said.

To avoid floods during the incoming rainy season,
BPLS is constructing a 2.5-kilometer drain along
the nearby railway in the Besuki and Djatirejo
villages leading to River Porong.

"With the drain, rain water will not submerge the
villages, but rather flow directly to the river,"
BPLS spokesman Zulkarnain said, adding construction
would be completed by December.

BPLS and tap water company PT Jasa Tirta I have
worked to reroute river water to the Lengkon Baru
Dam in Mojokerto to prevent the river from flooding
Surabaya.

"The dam has a capacity of 1,500 cubic meters per
second. With the rerouting, Surabaya can be
salvaged from floods during the wet season," Jasa
Tirta I spokesman Wahyudutonoto said.

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