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Protest against Mexican "president" - this Sunday and Monday!

Fradulent Mexican "president" Felipe Calderon is visiting the UK this Sunday and Monday. His first major act since taking office in December, having stolen the vote, has been to crush the social movement in Oaxaca, which has been mobilising against a corrupt and murderous local governor.

Calderon is visiting Britain after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos and will be meeting with Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett on Sunday and will be holding a press conference at Downing Street on Monday.

There will be two protests organised by a variety of groups and individuals, including Hands Off Venezuela - the first one outside the Foreign Office on King Charles St, off Whitehall, this Sunday (28th) 2-5pm, then on Monday (29th) 2-5pm on Whitehall, opposite Downing Street, for the press conference.

It's really important to make an impact and to have as many people as possible at these protests, so please try and make it if you can!

Hands Off Venezuela!
e-mail: london@handsoffvenezuela.org
Homepage: http://www.handsoffvenezuela.org

Additions

18 arrested in Germany - c'mon we can do better

26.01.2007 17:26

What protests are planned ? Where is he going to be and when ? Why aren't the Chiapas groups promting this ?
I'm up for a trip south and an arrest, one of my best friends has just 'disappeared' in Oaxaca.

BERLIN, Jan 25 (Reuters) - German police arrested 18 demonstrators on Thursday after they charged past security lines to protest against an official visit by Mexican President Felipe Calderon, the police said.

The protesters climbed out of a bus near the Bellevue Castle in Berlin, where Calderon was being greeted by German President Horst Koehler with military honours and bolted past a line of police officers.

The police had to chase several of the protesters, who outran them until officers were able to ambush and tackle them.

"They can now expect to be charged with disturbing the peace," the police said in a statement.

The demonstrators carried posters in Spanish and German with slogans like "Calderon murderer" and "Pull out of Oaxaca".

The southern city of Oaxaca, popular with tourists, has been in chaos for over half a year because of protests by striking teachers, Indian groups and leftists demanding the removal of Governor Ulises Ruiz, who they accuse of corruption.

Last month federal police gained the upper hand in Oaxaca, bulldozing barricades that had virtually shut down the city centre during months of often bloody protests.

Critics have accused the police of torture and illegally arresting activists.

Calderon meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel later on Thursday.

Chancer