World Feature Archive

UPRISING IN ARGENTINA Feb 22 2002

Tens of thousands of Argentines converged last weekend in Buenos Aires to forge alliances and develop alternatives to the economic and political crisis that is gripping their country. Through public meetings and protests, people from virtually every sector of Argentine society are taking matters into their own hands to come up with solutions to problems that their government and economists have failed to resolve.

On Friday, thousands of people converged in downtown to occupy Plaza de Mayo for a cacerolazo and to camp out overnight. On Saturday, an unprecedented gathering of workers and piqueteros occurred downtown. On Sunday, local asambleas from around the country converged in Buenos Aires for a national asamblea. And, in some parts of the country, workers have taken over and are running factories that owners have abandoned.

Once a model student of the International Monetary Fund and promoted as a model for the rest of Latin America to follow, Argentina fell into crisis under the weight of about $140 billion in international debt and has instead become a model of an imploding neoliberal economy. One observer described Argentina as "a laboratory of struggle."

Get regular video updates from Argentina by the German video collective Kanal B

IMC Argentina | Mobile (((i))) | Foto

G8 PROTESTS AFTERMATH Feb 18 2002

Finally, responsibilities seem to be coming out to light in the actions of the police during the G8 protests in Genoa, Italy, last summer. Italy's interior minister revealed that he ordered police to shoot any protesters who breached police security lines and made it inside the "Red Zone". He is now under pressure to resign.

Report 1 | Report 2

ISRAELI CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

A new force of resistance is brewing in Israel as more than 100 Israeli Army reservists signed a statement saying they would refuse to continue serving in the West Bank and Gaza Strip because Israel's policies there involved "dominating, expelling, starving and humiliating an entire people."

The statement, by combat officers and soldiers, amounted to the largest organized refusal by reservists to serve in the West Bank and Gaza in the last 16 months of violence. The letter also states that Army conscripts "were issued commands and directives that had nothing to do with the security of our country, and that had the sole purpose of perpetuating our control over the Palestinian people". Full story... | Images

More Info:
Conscientious Objectors dossier from IMC-Israel.
Indymedia-Israel

GUERILLA WAR IN NEPAL Feb 17 2002

Maoist rebels have been waging a low intensity war against the Government from mountain bases. The root of the unrest lies in the widespread corruption and incompetence of Nepal's fledgling democracy.
Read a report from people who went to Nepal and saw what the mass media won't tell you....

STUDENT PROTESTS IN THE SPANISH STATE

Since October 2001, students in the Spanish State are protesting against the commercialization of education and resisting a new universities law called L.O.U. On the 12th of February 4 students were arrested in Sevilla. The university of Sevilla also excluded 6 student activists from the university. In June thousands of students from across Europe will fill the streets of Sevilla. Full story...

- A brief overview of the Spanish L.O.U.(English)
- Campaign's website(English)

NOBORDER ACTIVIST THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION

LATEST NEWS:
22 Feb - Nico was actually served with a deportation order for 3 years.

An appeal to this decision was made by Nico's layer, although the Spanish immigration authorities stated that they were not aware of such an appeal. It is still not clear how the situation will develop, and it seems that his case is up in the air at the present time. No final date for Nico's deportation has been set yet. Meanwhile Nico has to present himself to the police station once in a forthnight. More...

10 Feb - Nico has a chance to stay. More...

Videos: 1 (protest) | 2 (background)

On January 30th, police violently attacked a peaceful protest camp at the gates of the immigrant detention center in Malaga, Spain. They protested against the deportation of immigrants. Two of the protestors were unlawfully arrested, severely beaten and kept in prison for two days. Currently they are on police bail.

On February 1st, the Spanish Immigration Office notified one of them, Nicolas Sguiglia, that a deportation order will be activated on Saturday 9th of February. The appeal process sets the FINAL DEADLINE on February 15th. Nico would be deported to Italy, as he has dual Italian/Argentinean nationality.

Nico is a permanent resident of Malaga, where he has been studying for several years. He has full legal rights to live anywhere in the European Union, however the Spanish government is using a legal loophole that gives full power to the local Government Representative to deport foreigners without charges being proven in court.

The fax campaign in the Spanish State to prevent Nico's deportation has received international support, for example Barbed Wire Britain and The Voice Jena, Germany, have already expressed their support. Also a new London Social Centre supports the campaign.

Background information | Campaign's contact email | No Border network | Foto

From Thursday 31st January to Tuesday 5th of February, three large events collided to show the 'anti-corporate-globalisation' movement is certainly not dead! New York saw the lastest in a long series of protests against the World Economic Forum, while 3 days of protest against NATO and militarisation happened in Munich, Germany. Meanwhile on the other side of the world in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the World Social Forum saw a gathering of thousands to discuss alterative social and economic models to prove that Another World Is Possible.

NATO SECURITY CONFERENCE Jan 31- Feb 2 2002

More than 7000 people took to the streets in Munich, Germany, on February 2nd despite a total ban on all demonstrations. They protested against the Nato-sponsored "Conference on Security Policy", which brought government members from all Nato states together with high-ranking army officials and war experts to discuss "security" and "peace" issues - i.e. lay out plans for future military interventions, invent new enemies, discuss costly military programmes.

The city council had attempted to silence any criticism of the meeting by declaring all protest illegal. Thousands of police attempted to block demonstrations and arrested 894 people in total. Despite massive respression, large demonstrations and rallies took place from Thursday evening until Sunday.

Timeline of events | Background on the conference and action plans | Call for action | IMC Germany | Stop Nato campaign | Foto

The very same weekend, 20,000 people protested against the World Economic Forum (WEF) in New York, while even more people met at the World Social Forum (WSF) in Porto Allegre, Brasil, to discuss alternatives to corporate globalisation.

For full coverage of events, images and background information see IMC-UK's special feature page.

For the latests Roundups and Timelines of events in New York and Porto Alegre see:
WEF Breaking News - WSF Breaking News

More info: IMC-New York City - IMC-Brazil

Jan 24 2002
Hunger Strike at Woomera Detention Centre

Asylum seekers at the Woomera detention centre in South Australia are protesting against the Liberal government's draconian asylum policies. Many detainees have sewn their lips together and are refusing food, several drank shampoo and 15 have attempted suicide. This comes after 3 days of rioting last December and the death of a woman at the Villawood detention centre in Sydney. More than 30 detainees at the Maribyrnong detention centre in Melbourne are also on a hunger strike in solidarity with those at Woomera.
Read more | Foto

Activists blockade Malaga's Detention Centre

Since Thursday 26th activists from 'Ninguna Persona es Ilegal" are indefinitely camping in front of an immigration detention center near Malaga (southern Spain). Their action is to stop the deportation of 8 out the 31 immigrants who were beaten and arrested in Almer when they were demostrating against their ilegal situation.
Read more.
LATEST NEWS 29th Jan: Police have violently evicted the camp outside the detention centre in Malaga. Two protesters have been seriously beaten. Read more.
Diary of events from Malaga.

Disobedienti occupy Bologna's Detention Centre

Bologna (Italy)- In the morning of January 25th a group of 100 Disobedients occupied and dismantled a deportation centre that was to detain more than a hundred migrants under the new Italian immigration law promoted by the current fascist government. The activists were brutally charged when they were voluntarily leaving the building and a dozen of them were arrested despite the peaceful atmosphere of the protest.
Read more: Report 1 | Report 2 | Photos
Timeline of events from Radio Sherwood (Italian)

For more info, news and campaigns:No Border network

20,000 DEMONSTRATE IN GENOA Jan 20 2002

Sunday the 20th of Jan, was a sombre but inspiring day of rememberance in the city of Genoa. On the city streets more than 20,000 people remembered Carlo Giuliani in a touching and passionate, yet peaceful demonstration.

The global movement still awaits for truth and justice about the events in Genoa that resonate from the dead to touch the lives of the living.

Images from the streets: Pic 1 | Pic 2 | Foto

PEACE DEMOS - KARACHI Jan 07 2002

A peaceful candlelight demonstration at Hasan Square, Karachi was forcibly dispersed by police on Jan 7th 2002. Armed police officers manhandled women and children who were amongst the protesters who had gathered to urge restraint between Pakistan and India. Two demonstrators, Aslam Martin and Javed Iqbal Burki, were arrested.

The vigil was organised under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee for Peace, which includes about 30 non-government organisations and a large number of unaffiliated citizens. Permisson for the rally had been provided by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on the previso that there would be no march.

Full report
From Media Workers Against War
pakistanis4peace.org

Dec 30 2001


Recent events in Argentina, where the collapse of the De la Rua presidency was dipicted as only looting and random violence gave a limited and one sided picture of the deep social unrest. There was scant coverage in the mainstream media of the organised groups that took to the streets in anger and fustration at the corruption of the Argentinian political class and the IMF/WB imposed austerity measures.

The following reports give a deeper personal insight into the need for political change and social justice in Argentina:

- First hand account from the Plaza de Mayo
- Women respond to the crisis in Argentina
- A quick report while we still breath tear gas.
- Statement of the PTS (Workers Party for Socialism)

For more up-to-date coverage see: Argentina Indymedia

Palestinian and Europeans students take direct action at University of Bir Zeit in the West Bank.

On the morning of December 29th about 300 foreign nationals, including fifty Britons defied the Israeli army when they escorted Palestinian students through tear gas and past an army checkpoint into the University of Bir Zeit, in the Occupied Territories. Both students and teachers had been prevented from attending the University by the army checkpoint.

The foreign nationals also linked arms and lined both sides of the road past the checkpoint preventing further army vehicles from entering the area. The fifty Palestinians who were to be escorted through the checkpoint carried banners and were whooping with joy.

Kunle Ibidun, a resident of Bristol amongst the 300 Internationals said "We succeed in getting the students to the University, but it shouldn't take the presence of 300 foreign nationals and the worlds media to allow the Palestinians to exercise their right to an education.

Full report
More on the ongoing conflict: Indymedia Israel | www.palestinecampaign.org

While all eyes are focused on Afghanistan and the Middle East, where the US is currently bombarding the Taliban for its support of Osama bin Laden and his al Qaida terror network, media attention and speculation abounds as to where the US will strike next in its new, perpetual war. Two South American nations in particular are currently being prepped for possible military action. Colombia and Venezuela. Both countries figure prominently in US energy policy through coal (Colombia) and oil (Venezuela more so than Colombia) reserves. The US is already militarily involved in Colombia through its "drug war" via Plan Colombia, a $1.3-billion operation which focuses primarily on the fumigation and eradication of the coca plant (used to make cocaine). some background. MeanwhileArgentina is facing an economic, political and social meltdown whose effects could cause further gloom for the global economy. Hundreds of thousands of Argentineans have taken to the streets in protest at a raft of austerity measures demanded by the IMF to prevent the country's bankruptcy.

Belgium, which has just come to the end of its six-month EU presidency, hosted a crucial inter-governmental conference in Laeken between 13-15 December. EU leaders met to discuss a draft of a European constitution, enlargements of the Union to the East and common policies on privatisation, asylum, unemployment, security, surveillance and definitions of 'terrorism'. Full story, Background and events.
For up-to date information and reports see Indymedia-Belgium.
Radio Bruxxel will bring you the voices of the street, in-depth coverage of the issues and updates on events to come. Listen here | Broadcast schedule.

Latest Information about EU protests in Brussels:
Sat 15th:
- 10.30pm: A people's live gig with bands from Belgium, France and Spain is under way. Live streaming from Radio Bruxxel.
- 6.50: Street party in Porte de Hal is being called off due to increasing police pressure.
- 6.40: Reports of police activity in the streets around the party. Confirmed reports of people being harrassed and arrested in the streets nearby. So far 34 people are confirmed to be detained in today's actions.
- 6.20: Confirmed reports of people identifying some 15 undercover police wearing black clothes and balaclavas amongst the party crowd. People have pushed them away and surrounded them in a street corner. The atmosphere became tense while riot police turned up to rescue the infiltrators and left the scene with them.
- 5.45: People have reclaimed the streets and the diverse street party has now arrived, in excellent spirits, at Porte de Hal. The crowd is still raving in the street to a sound-system, live bands and samba-drumming, and celebrating the fact that the riot police seems to have backed off.
- 5.25: The street party got through the police blockade collectively, and is now moving to its final destination in Porte de Hal. The crowd advances very slowly as riot police seem not to be in the same party mood.
- 5.00: Riot police have now surrounded the 4,000-strong crowd and are blocking people in. Tension is growing but the party continues. Some negotiations with the police are taking place.
- 4.45: The street party has now stopped in a junction in the back streets of central Brussels. Large numbers of riot police have started to take positions surrounding the party. Some warnings have been given to the crowd, but people remain assertive of their right to demonstrate and continue to party.
- 4.30: The street party is still moving through central Brussels. Crowds are dancing to different sounds, and many local people are showing support by coming out of their windows and cheering the crowd. Riot police presence is increasing. Steet Party pics.
- 3.45: The street party has now set off from Zuidstation Midi and is moving around the back streets of central Brussels. Large numbers of police are following the crowd through parallel streets. The party is in full swing with a techno sound-system, a lorry with live bands playing and a large International Samba Collective drumming away.
- 3.15pm: Anarchist demo has arrived to Zuidstation Midi. Around 3,000-4,000 people have converged for the street party. Two sound-systems started playing some minutes ago, and people are ready to party, to celebrate that another Europe is possible!
- 2.45pm: People converging in Zuidstation Midi for the street party. Around 600 people are already dancing to the rhythms of the International Samba Collective. Two sound-systems are getting ready for this afternoon's fun.
- 2.00pm: Anarchist demo, 2,000 strong, is now under way, moving towards central Brussels. Police present in the streets around the march. Reports of undercover police trying to infiltrate the demo. So far no reports of confrontration or police violence.
- 12.30pm: A colourful and joyful Peace march is under way in Brussels. Up to 5,000 people are demonstrating in a carnival atmosphere with a sound-system and drumming bands. At 3.30pm people will converge on Zuidstation Midi for a street party.

Fri 14th:
- Round-up of the day
- 11.30pm: All but three of the 150-odd protesters arrested today have been released. The figure includes 120 people that were held earlier this evening during a protest in solidarity with those arrested in today's d14 demonstrations. Photo reports:1 | 2 | Video here.
- 7.25pm: Unconfirmed reports of police activity around IMC and Cinema Nova buildings.
- 5.15pm: The situation is now calmer in and around the Convergence centre. Police are still keeping the centre cordoned off and are only letting people out in small groups. An imc-uk reporter confirms that the people trapped inside the centre are keeping their spirits high with the help of a sound-system. It is still unclear what the final outcome of this situation will be - and whether people will be able to stay overnight.
- 4.00pm: Several thousand people are still inside the Convergence centre. Police have put up cordons around the centre, trapping people inside. Press are not allowed in; people inside are allowed to leave in small groups, only after being searched. Rhythms of Resistance report.
- 3.20pm: Police are using water cannons to attack people inside the Convergence centre area. Baton charges are continuing against people in the streets around it. The atmosphere is getting tense and fears of heavy police measures are mounting.
- 2.35pm: Police charges into Tour et Taxis.
- 2.15pm: The D14 international demonstration has now arrived back at the Convergence centre where it is starting to disperse. Police are present in force, armed with tear-gas, water cannons anad other riot gear. Several thousand people at the end of the march are currently being surrounded by the police, who are cutting off the streets around the Convergence centre. Fears of a police attack are mounting.
- 1.00pm: The international demonstration for "Another Europe and Another World" from Brussels to Laeken is under way. Around 25,000 people are marching in a carnival athmosphere. Several sound-systems and samba bands are present in the march. Reports that some property destruction has occured but police presence is very low-key at the moment.
D14 photo report: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
- A solidarity picket for Brussels protesters has been called for Monday 17th.

Thurs 13th:
- More than 100.000 people in the streets of Brussels against this anti-social Europe. Photos 1 | 2 | 3
- Drummers from UK Rhythms of Resistance samba band arrived in Brussels.
- Police raided a new squat which had been set up last night for demonstrators. About 30 people were arrested and 20 escaped.
- Several buses travelling to Brussels were stopped at the Belgian border near Aachen/Germany. The German border police (BGS) has now set up a checkpoint consisting of several tents and police vans.

Wed 12th:
- Activists promoting a different globalisation occupy Brussels headquarters of CEFIC, the European lobby group of the chemical industry. Photos.
- The occupation ended with the arrest of 50 protesters.
- On Wednesday evening a solidarity demo with the prisoners of the occupation took place.

Indymedia Radio London special program.
Listen interviews and reports about the issues behind the protests:
- Introduction.
- Interview with Amnesty.
- Interview with a Hackney activist.
- Interview with and activist of No Border network.
- Interview with an activist from the Spanish State.
- Interview with Statewatch.
- Interview with Tony Blair :)
- Rebel music selection.
- The whole programme. 50:04 minutes 45.7 MB.

Practical details - travel, weather etc / Your rights at Belgium's borders

Several days of action, discussion and protest are taking place in Aachen, Germany, this week, culminating in an attempt to collectively cross the German-Belgium border on Friday morning to take part in the anti-EU protests in Brussels.Full story
Latest from Aachen:
Fri 14th:
- The participants of the 3-day Aachen counter-conference have managed to outwit 3000 border police by spontaneously taking the train, and not the bus.Report.

Thurs 13th:
- Situation at the German-Belgian border near Aachen. Full report.
More info on Indymedia-Germany

NO-MAN'S ISLAND IN TUVALU

The small island of Tuvalu in the Pacific Ocean has become the first victim of climate change. The island's 11,000 inhabitants are being forced to abandon their homes as rising sea levels have caused coastal erosion, increased storms and salination of their drinking water. New Zealand has agreed to accept all of the island's residents, although serious concerns have arisen about the cultural and social implications of displacing the entire Tuvalu nation from the land their ancestors have lived on for thousands of years. Tuvaluans are laying the blame on climate change, and especially on the US for their refusal to implement policies to prevent further global warming. Full story

Current estimates reckon that sea levels could rise up to one metre during this century. At the present rate of global warming, sea levels will rise enough to inundate not only several islands in the South Pacific, but also large parts of countries such as Bangladesh, which could create millions of climate refugees.

More info and climate campaigns:
Indymedia-Climate | Rising Tide Coalition | Photo

Nov 17 2001


The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank meet in Ottawa the weekend of 16-22 of November, after postponing their planned gathering in Washington, DC from September. Quickly planned anti-Globalization and anti-Capitalist protests are aiming to disrupt the meetings.

Breaking news from Ottawa | Photos 1 | Photos 2 | Feature Photo
Complete coverage from the Ontario IMC
More info from Global Democracy Ottawa
Listen to audio broadcast

NUCLEAR WASTE TRANSPORT, GERMANY 10-14 Nov 2001

Thousands of farmers, local residents, environmental activists etc. blockaded roads and railtracks in the Wendland region, Northern Germany, as another shipment of nuclear waste was transported from La Hague to the repository at Gorleben. Police carried out violent attacks on protesters to force the transport through against heavy resistance. The trucks carrying the 'Castor' containers ('cask for storage and transportation of radioactive waste') finally arrived in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

For several days, the whole region saw a multitude of actions, including tractor blockades on railtracks and roads leading to the deposit, sit-down protests, vigils, spontaneous demonstrations, tree climbing actions etc.
Read more | Photo

Reports: Sunday night
To find out more about the previous Castor transport check our archives
The whole story is (in German) on IMC Germany.

ANTI WAR PROTESTS IN COLOMBIA 10 Nov 2001


Democracy has been served a fatal blow after the death toll of three protestors shot dead by police and suspected government agents on November 7 and 8 respectively.

Two students were killed only a day after student Carlos Giovanny at the National University in Medellin was murdered by police in a second day of anti-war demonstrations and in the memory of Giovanny on November 8.

The solidarity protest took place in conjunction with other actions at other universities in Colombia. The protest had taken place in defiance of the murder of Giovanny but was again met with violence. Suspected government agents killed pharmaceutical students David Santiago Jaramillo Urrego and Juan Manuel Jimenez Escobar at the University of "Antioquia". Medical student Carlos Giovanny Blanco Leguzamo of Colombia National University was killed when anti-war protest against the US led war against Afghanistan in Bogota on November 7 were met with violence. Students faced the violent confrontation when police invaded a university campus where Carlos was shot at around noon.

The Police commander denies police are responsible for the shooting but witnesses claimed the shot came from behind police lines. Corporate media failed to report both tragedies. [Photo]

WORLD LEADERS AND CORPORATIONS CREATE A NEW COMMODITY: AIR Oct 29-Nov 9 2001


World leaders, multinational business companies and some NGO's, are currently meeting to make a series of important decisions about the World's climate. Crucial agreements on the privatisation of the atmosphere, and the establishment of a global marketplace for the speculation in carbon dioxide emission rights are at stake. This market is to be based on unequal and unfair principles, in which the big lobbies (northern countries, oil and car industries, banks and consultancy firms), are preparing themselves to generate enormous financial revenues Full story | Conference official updates.

Meanwhile, the climate is continuing to change at increasing rates with extreme weather events taking place: global warming, desertification, rising sea levels and flooding. Greenhouse gas emissions - specially CO2 - are causing the temperature of the Earth to rise at an unsustainable levels, making millions of people refugees and leading to the disappearance of animal and plant species.

A call for an international Day of Action for November 6th has been announced by the climate justice grassroots coalition Rising Tide, Earth Crimes and the Mediterranean environmental network MARE.

More info:
- Climate Indymedia
- Rising Tide coalition
Background:
- Bonn agreement