World Repression Newswire Archive

Activism Labeled “Blackmail,” UK Animal Activists Sentenced to 4-11 Years in Prison

Three days of solidarity saw activists from all areas of the UK travel to HLS Wooley and Harlan on Monday, Back to harlan and HLS Occuld on Tuesday. Sequani, Arrowmight Biosciences and Barclays on Wednesday.

Following is an extremely urgent letter from Leonard Peltier's sister.

Please consider doing anything you can to help stop Leonard Peltier's murder in prison.

Tuesday, 20th January

Activists found guilty of 'conspiracy with persons unknown to blackmail' Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) were today sentenced to terms from 4 to 11 years.

We expected the worst, so it is no surprise that massively disproportionate sentences were handed down today after the SHAC trial ended.

On Tuesday 20th of January 2009 the Cageprisoners "Two Sides, One Story -- Guantanamo From Boths Sides of the Wire Tour" -- a tour to mark seven years of unlawful detention, abuse and torture, came to Sheffield. Christopher Arendt (former Guantanamo guard, Iraq Veterans Against War,  http://ivaw.org ), Moazzam Begg (former Guantanamo prisoner, spokesperson for Cageprisoners,  http://cageprisoners.com/ ) and Omar Deghayes (former Guantanamo prisoner,  http://www.save-omar.org.uk/ ) were introduced by Jillian Creasy on behalf of the Sheffield Guantanamo Campaign. It was an outstanding and very moving event and the audio of the meeting is attached and some photos follow.

Israeli media reported Monday that Israeli children from the town of Sderot have returned to school and normalcy. Meanwhile, children in every part of the Gaza Strip are either bleeding in overcrowded hospitals or sifting through the rubble of what used to be their schools, mosques and homes.

When Barack Obama started praising Ronald Reagan the candidate's apologists claimed he was just paying respect to a dead president. Now it's clear that Obama's affection for the raging old reactionary was heartfelt. With his latest pronouncements on cutting "entitlements," Obama "has proven himself to be a true believer in the Reagan revolution."

This was published by Herbivore Magazine in one of their mini-books a while back. I realized I hadn't posted it here, and it's not available anywhere else online. Hope you enjoy it.

PFLP statement on the so-called ''ceasefire'', 18/01/09.

The following images and text were posted on Professor Norman Finkelstein's web site -- however at the moment his ISP appears to have suspended his site. An interview with him published today contains his justification to publishing these images:

turkishny.com: On your Web site, there is an argument that the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors are doing to the Palestinians exactly what was done to them by the Nazis. Do you agree with that?

Norman Finkelstein: I think Israel, as a number of commentators pointed out, is becoming an insane state. And we have to be honest about that. While the rest of the world wants peace, Europe wants peace, the US wants peace, but this state wants war, war and war. In the first week of the massacres, there were reports in the Israeli press that Israel did not want to put all its ground forces in Gaza because it was preparing attacks on Iran. Then there were reports it was planning attacks on Lebanon. It is a lunatic state.

turkishny.com: But do you agree with the characterization?

Norman Finkelstein: Look at the pictures and decide for yourself. I am not going to tell people what they should think about it. But what I say is they should look at the pictures and decide for themselves. (For the pictures go to:  http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=2510 )

Today "Molodaya Gvardiya Edinoy Rossii" (Young Guard of United Russia - one of the several, competing pro-Kremlin youth organizations) attempted to organize an action "Our money to our people". Concept was to meet a train from Central Asia 2:10 PM in Kazan railway station of Moscow with anti-migrant placates, with text such as "Work legally!", "Illegal = thief!" and "Want to work? Pay taxes!". Action was protected by a plenty of OMON riot police and own security of Young Guard.

South Wales Anarchists are targetting Baillie Gifford, the Edinburgh finance company which invests in some of the world's worst corporate polluters.

About 40 students have occupied a lecture theatre in the London School of Economics on Thursday 15th January. Since then, our numbers have doubled. They have six demands for the school and are in discussion with the administration now.

17th January 2009, Beit Lahiya, Gaza:
UNRWA school in Beit Lahiya shelled by the Israeli Army
( http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=35047)

Several hundred Tamils packed the pen in Whitehall, London - opposite Downing Street - for a demonstration on Saturday afternoon, 17 Jan 2009 against the genocide of the Tamil people being carried out by the Sri Lankan government. Many carried 'Tamils 4 Eelam' placards. Pictures Copyright (C) 2009 Peter Marshall, all rights reserved.

The former BART police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man early New Year’s Day pleaded not guilty Thursday to a murder charge during a brief but tense court hearing, at which his attorney said he planned to seek a bail reduction that could allow his client to be released from jail before trial.

"There are many ways to “light” a battle field. In Gaza, no such area exists anyway. There are just people’s hovels, holes and “homes.” Such as they are after years of blockade and bombardment by Israeli forces. The White phorpous is a terror weapon perfect for driving people away, “never to return.” The Zionist dream is and has always been for many, at least, to remove the native Arab population and posses all of “Greater Israel.” This inhuman weapon nicknamed “Willie Pete.” is perfect for the effort. When it comes into contact with human flesh it moves down toward the bone, tissues evaporate. Victims may survive for some time before vital organs are compromised, effecting death. Parents may be forced to end their children’s wild sufferings by shortening their lives in “other ways.”

Short texts & updates from the blogger -
9:45 am GMT/11:45 Gaza time:
Families from neighbouring buildings trying to run to safety to hospital from fire & gunfire. Most staff wearing masks due to fear of phosphorous gas attack.

9:04 am GMT/11:04 Gaza time:
fire out window 10 yards from babies in incubators, putting out fire with pots and pans as hose does not reach.