Clashes between students and police in Palermo

Violent clashes between students and riot police occurred today during a demonstration against education reform outside the front door of Palermo's regional palace. Palermo, Italy. 22/12/2010

http://www.demotix.com/photo/542905/clashes-between-students-and-police-palermo

Striking students threatened with expulsion

Striking students of the Moscow University, faculty of journalism threatened with expulsion

17.12.2010 09:43

Students at Moscow State University, which began an indefinite strike, have been threatened with expulsion by the management of the institution. The coordinator of the protest action, chairman of the All-Russian Student Union Artem Khromov spoke about this to RIA Novosti news agency on December 16. According to him, the students intend to go to court over these threats.

In the strike, in addition to 350 students 30 lecturers teachers are taking part. According to chairman of the University’s union, Alexandra Parushin the work of the Faculty of graphic arts has been completely paralyzed.

The strikers are demanding the resignation of the rector of the university Alexandra Tsyganenko, the cancelling of increased tuition fees, and the reinstatement of two dismissed teachers Vladimir Kosynkina and Vladimir Shishkov.

Earlier, Vice-Rector MGPU Tatyana Markelova agency stated that the University of strikes is not performed. "There are some teachers who violate labor discipline, but it's like everywhere else," - said an employee of administration.

University students began protests print and a half years ago after teaching staff reductions, and reducing salaries. Disagree with management's policy, students and teachers have repeatedly held pickets.

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STUDENTS HAVE BEGUN AN INDEFINITE STRIKE IN MOSCOW

16.12.2010 10:54
Students and lecturers at the Moscow State University faculty of journalism have announced an indefinite strike. Artem Khromov chairman of the All-Russian Student Union told the press the aim of the strike by students and lecturer is to call for the resignation of the university rector Alexander Tsyganenko.
"The conflict between students, lecturers and the faculty of journalism at the University has already lasted a year and a half. The rector is trying to implement his own reforms.
It is to lay off teachers, increase tuition fees, increase the number of paid places "- reminded Khromov.

He also said that the leadership of the university is trying to settle accounts with undesirable teachers and students.

"So, on December 13, two of the leading lecturers of the faculty of “Department Fine and Performing Arts" docents V.P. Kosynkin and V.L. Shishkov were dismissed for daring to file for administration to the court.

Serious pressure on the students involved in protest activities continues. In addition, the university decided to increase tuition fees by 10% ", - said Khromov.

"Today, over 30 lecturers and 350 students participated in the protest and. Their number may increase, "- he added.

According to him, the protesters will be present at the university, but will not participate in the learning process.

Next week, students gather to flashmob in front of the Ministry of Education and Science, to demand the resignation of the rector.

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FROM THE GREEK STREETS

UPDATES ON THE SITUATION IN GREECE

http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2010/12/15/451-images-15102010/

WE’VE GOT THE RAGE ! General Strike in Greece

http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/2010/12/16/weve-got-the-rage-report-from-the-general-strike-in-greece-december-15th-2010/#more-1618

Nationwide report from the General Strike in Greece, December 15th 2010

WE’VE GOT THE RAGE ! General Strike in Greece
Nationwide report from the General Strike in Greece, December 15th 2010

No doubt remains, not even for the most naive, that the State – in close cooperation with all its supporters and mechanisms – has decided to wage a full-scale war against society. They are afraid of the natural social rage, that expressed so far but also the rage to come. The repressive role of the state, as expressed through the murderous mechanism of the Greek Police – and not only them – has now began to spread its tentacles,in an attempt to spread and repress any generalised outbreak in the future. Fascists, undercover cops, peace-loving citizens, obedient householders and other social dregs have been recruited to act like a natural extension of this murderous formation.

It is a fact that it should concern us all, something that was happening before, but is now fully-fledged, in the most indiscriminate, naked and shameless way. It happens right before our very own eyes!

Athens: In a city full of police officers of all kinds in every corner, sample of the transparent effort to terrorize people and to present the city as an inaccessible place, controlled by them. Nevertheless…

Since the early morning of December 15th, huge numbers of people started to flock to the pre-gathering points in the center of Athens. Every part of Patission street, from Areos’ Field to Omonia Square, was full of people, while the sidewalks were becoming increasingly crowded too. It may not be of great value to talk about exact numbers, but some rough estimates talk of about 200.000 people, a number that can only compare to the seminal May 5th General Strike. Before the demonstration started, there where at least three cases in which undercover cops were expelled from the demonstration after the dynamic intervention of comrades. In one case, they attempted to arrest four comrades who were heading to the gathering point with spears and banners, but the forceful intervention of 50-60 people stopped them from doing so.

The demo started in a passionate manner, with slogans vibrating the center of the city. A sample of the size of the demo is that when the first blocks were close to Syntagma square, the latest were still in Patission Ave. During the march, and before this arrived at Syntagma, slogans were written, paints were thrown at governmental buildings, while it became clear that the spirit and the choice of the demonstrators wasn’t to attack during the march, but to give their battle outside the Parliament, with lots of people properly prepared (masks, malox and various self-protection materials), a fact strongly reflecting the confrontational mood of a fairly large part of the demo.

The clashes began when the main part of the demo arrived at Syntagma square. Large numbers of the demonstrators attacked the patrons of the local ruling class and capital. For a long period of time, explosions could be heard throughout the area around Syntagma square. There were attacks with molotov cocktails, stones, dynamite, fire extinguishers etc. against several squads around Syntagma, while in many cases there were melee collisions with the MAT forces (riot police) and the thugs of the DIAS motorcycle police force. The MAT forces responded with tear gas and flash-bang grenades, in this way achieving to cut the demo in various parts and locations – yet in so doing, they spread the conflicts that were now extended in various areas of the city center.


A large part of the demo was directed to Propylaea, attacking the MAT forces, banks and luxury cars, while riot police and undercover cops violated the university asylum, making arrests. At the same time, a large number of protesters that had been cut from the demo because of the cops’ attacks, were attacking the riot squads up to Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, where in one of them the protesters managed to repel the cops and set on fire a police paddy-wagon. At various parts of the center, people successfully faced the brutal raids of the police while at Alexandra avenue sub-humans of DIAS motorcycle police force were beaten by angry demonstrators that burned both their bikes.


cute politician face
Meanwhile, demonstrators attacked the former minister of the conservative New Democracy government Hatzidakis, who escaped thanks to the intervention of his henchmen that accompany him at all times (photo).

All these were taking place while several blocks of the demo had not yet reached Syntagma square. The attacks of the MAT forces were indiscriminate and violent, beating badly unsuspected passers-by and everyone they felt like. At various parts of the center there were vans from which undercover cops were pouring out, hooded and dressed in black.

A spontaneous march by the primary unions and AK (the Antiauthoritarian Movement), moved toward the main building of GSEE (General Confederation of Greek Workers) in order to occupy it. There were melee clashes with the police, however the police’s superiority in numbers managed to deter them. Some cops didn’t hesitate to pull their guns..

Clashes continued around the Polytechnic School for several hours, while scores of people remained inside it, not able to leave since they were trapped there by riot police (MAT) forces.

Behind the University of Economics and around the Polytechnic school in Athens there were scattered clashes with cops in the street and barricades, as well down other streets of Exarchia, with people playing cat and mouse with the police after the end of the main demo. There were reports that the neighborhood of Exarcia has been completely militarized and that the police were stopping people there, arresting them, and harrasing whoever they found on the street. One caller to the 98 anarchist radio station reported witnessing the police stop two people walking down the street in Exarchia, and beat them badly before arresting them. Ten people have been arrested in Victoria square, with reports of other sporadic arrests around the center of Athens throughout the day.

Fresh attacks by MAT caused multiple injuries to demonstrators. Rumors circulated concerning an attempt to violate the university asylum, something that did not eventually happen.

There are 15 people detained so far, of which 8 have been arrested and charged.


In provincial cities there was some powerful atmosphere too, with most people expressing their anger against the corrupt syndicalists and state partner unions. In some cities there were clashes between cops and protesters, while in most there were scores of cops and especially undercovers. P.A.M.E (the syndicalist union of Greek Communist Party) organized separate demos in each city, separating itself from the people’s wrath.

Thessaloniki: Massive demonstration by more than 10,000 workers, unemployed, students, grassroot unions, leftists, anarchists and angry people in general! A large part of demonstrators marched from the gathering point of Kamara toward the Labor Center where there was gathering point and speech by the corrupted unions of GSEE (General Confederation of Greek Workers) and others. Anarchists shouted slogans against these unions,water was thrown to the speakers-representatives, mics and speakers were disconnected, and demonstrators called for a “wild strike”. Along the route of this “intervention demo” texts were distributed to store workers that were not on strike – their bosses had threatened some with dismissal should they strike.

During the powerful demonstration that started at around 11a.m. ATMs, banks, large chain stores, post offices, Mc Donalds restaurants and bank CCTV cameras were smashed while goods from a supermarket and a patisserie were expropriated. When the demonstration arrived at the former ministry of Macedonia-Thrace (and still the region’s main administrative building), cops came out and attacked the demo using tear gas and flash bang grenades with no provocation from the side of the protesters. The demo continued in several pieces while riot cops and undercovers detained around 20 people from the demo’s body but also from building entrances, using an unmarked van. Two or three of those detained were injured were in need of hospital treatment and so the cops turned their detentions into arrests in order to justify the injuries… their usual tactic.

Patras: More than 4,000 people marched through the streets of Patras in massive student, grassroot union, leftist and anarchist blocks. There were attacks with stones and molotov cocktails against the local Courthouse, several banks and a police van. A march of a similar size was also organized by P.A.M.E. (the syndicalist union of Greek Communist Party).

Heraklion (Crete): Massive demonstration in the morning with around 2000 people; various grassroot unions, unemployed, immigrants, leftists, anarchists etc. Some leftists blocked the speeches of the Labor Center’s president and other corrupt labour representatives. During the demo ATMs, bank CCTV cameras and windows were smashed, slogans against the corrupted unions were shouted and written on walls while cops and undercovers followed the demo, without any clashes. In the afternoon an anarchist march was also held in the city’s neighborhoods.

Chania (Crete): Around 1,500 people marched in the city. Blocks of workers, unemployed, students, anarchists and leftist groups but also a block of immigrants that had managed to go on strike participated in the demo. During the demo, slogans were written on the walls, leaflets were thrown and some superstores were sabotaged by throwing “smelly capsules” inside. Demonstrators verbally attacked the local puppet-syndicalists, just like in other cities.

Volos: Very massive demo of about 2,500 people. Before the march begun, speeches of local parties representatives and corrupted syndicalist were blocked. Symbolic attacks against banks and the Prefecture building.

Xanthi: One of the most massive demonstrations the city has seen. 1,500 people marched downtown, slogans were written on walls and paint was thrown at banks.

Ioannina: Powerful demo of about 2000 people with awesome pulse and numerous slogans in the city center. Agricultural tractors also joined in the demonstration.

Similar demonstrations / marches by hundreds of people were held in many other cities of Greece such as Kavala, Veria, Aigio, Zakynthos, Larissa, Corfu, Lesvos, Naxos, Rethymnon, Serres, and Sparta.

FREEDOM TO ALL HOSTAGES

http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/2010/12/16/weve-got-the-rage-report-from-the-general-strike-in-greece-december-15th-2010/#more-1618
contrainfo
Homepage: http://contrainfo.espiv.net/
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/12/470830.html

GREEK GENERAL STRIKE

GREEK GENERAL STRIKE – for workers’ rights against privatisation

A massive strike wave is taking place against the Greek right-wing government this week as workers are staging national strikes, including a general strike this Wednesday 14 December.

All the trade unions in the public enterprises and industries staged a very successful 5-hour stoppage and rally yesterday and are organising for the 48-hour national strike on Wednesday and Thursday

Rallies are to be held in all Greek cities and towns.

The strikes have been called by the GSEE (Greek TUC) and ADEDY (Greek public section workers federation) against a government Bill which takes away hard-won workers’ rights and allows for mass sackings and privatisations in the state owned enterprises (electricity, communications, hospitals, public transport, water, oil refineries, ports and others).

The Bill scraps free-collective bargaining, imposes ‘flexible’ working hours and cuts wages and pensions.

It is a government strategic attack into the heart of the Greek working class.

The government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis intends to destroy workers’ rights and the trade unions in the most solidly organised section of the Greek working class.

The Greek Electricity Board is the top enterprise in Greece and one of the top in the whole of the Balkans with over 100,000 workers in power stations, coal mines, offices and other plants.

Wednesday’s 24-hour general strike is expected to be one of the biggest in the post II World War period.

In April 2001 some half a million workers took over the centre of the capital Athens in protest against a Bill slashing their pensions.
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Italy: Demos, blockades and riots

Italy: Demos, blockades and riots everywhere on 14 December
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/12/470729.html

Today was the 2nd vote of No Confidence in the Berlusconi government. He survived by two votes. Across Italy, students, school kids and workers took the the streets to protest Berlusconi but also against the continuing neo-liberal education reforms. In Rome there were major clashes that saw the most heavy rioting seen in Italy since Genova in 2001. As well as this, economic blockades and occupations were put in place at many train stations, the port of Palermo and even on the runway of an airport in Sicily.



http://www.repubblica.it/scuola/2010/12/14/news/roma_un_giorno_di_guerriglia-10197833/

http://tv.repubblica.it/copertina/la-battaglia-nel-centro-di-roma/58292?video

http://www.repubblica.it/scuola/2010/12/14/foto/roma_gli_scontri_con_la_polizia-10188832/1

http://www.repubblica.it/scuola/2010/12/14/foto/roma_gli_scontri_con_la_polizia_2-10190569/1/

http://www.repubblica.it/scuola/2010/12/14/foto/roma_gli_scontri_con_la_polizia_3-10192900/1

Demonstrations started in the morning and went on till late afternoon. In Rome at least 100,000 protesters have been estimated, from all sorts of groups: students, precarious workers, factory workers, social centres, migrant groups, groups of residents from L’Aquila.

Milan, and Rome in particular, have seen scenes of total urban guerrilla warfare. In Rome protesters tried to break into the Parliament buildings and were violently charged by the police. Riots went on for hours in central Rome and blocked the whole city centre. Italy Indymedia says at least 41 people were arrested and 57 injured among the police. Alemanno, Rome’s right wing mayor, and his close friends from the right wing party Alleanza Nazionale, were seen around enjoying the charges and the beatings. In Milan protesters invaded the Stock Exchange, and attacked banks, party HQ’s and other buildings. Protests have also been held in other European countries by Italian students studying abroad.

Demotix photos

http://www.demotix.com/news/537008/rome-burns-after-protesters-clash-police

More photos on student revolt on 9 december

THE FASCIST STYLE THUGS IN BLUE ATTACK STUDENTS AND WORKING PEOPLE BOTH EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED

After deciding and planning in advance to punish students and working people alike for protesting against austerity and capitalism, the state thugs in uniform, i.e. the hated UK police set up a riot flashpoint on Parliament Square and get “stuck in” to the protestors in the hope of defusing anti-cuts struggle and frighten people from protesting. As we can see in these photos, the people are not afraid of the police and gave them a “run for their money”. Now the UK cops are thrown into confusion as about “what to do” to curtail the people fighting austerity.





Photos from the scene.

http://www.demotix.com/news/532183/student-protest-turns-violence-outside-houses-parliament

Clashes at protest against police violence in Athens

http://www.demotix.com/news/529762/clashes-protest-against-police-violence-athens

video

http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=367:2010-12-07-11-00-43&catid=11:2010-03-26-15-43-01&Itemid=32

Thousands marched today in Athens to mark the anniversary of the murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year-old kid, murdered by a police officer in 2008.

42 people were arrested and many were injured from cops. Athens, Greece. 6/12/2010
There were two different protests scheduled for today as well as a commemoration gathering at the spot Alexandros Grigoropoulos died.
The morning protest was organized by high-school students, about 3,000 participated and some clashes occurred at Syntagma square were children threw stones, sticks, oranges and bottles at police. The police had a defensive stance against them and clashes didn't escalate. (I have no photos from this protest)
The afternoon protest was organized by political parties and youths, some unions and university students. About 6000 participated including a large number of hooded protesters who had come with intention to clash with the police. Minor clashes started early when the hooded protesters started throwing rocks and objects to riot police and the later responded with tear gas. This was going on and on until the protest reached Syntagma square were some protesters had prepared some molotov cocktails for the police. After this point, when the head of the protest was at Propylaia, you could see riot police chasing groups of people here and there and it was very hard to breath from the excessive use of tear gas.
After the protest had ended, riot police were targeting and attacking small groups of protesters, most of them had nothing to do with riots or clashes, many protesters were injured and some needed to be hospitalized.
At 20:00 around 100 protesters were on Athens Polytechnic in which the police had blocked access so no other could go there.
At the spot were Alexis Grigoropoulos died there were around 250 people. The presence of riot police there triggered new minor clashes and the use of tear gas made the air difficult to breathe.
A small number of them, about 30, were clashing with the nearby riot policemen who threw tear gas and stun grenades every now and then until 21:30 when they threw so much tear gas that people had to leave the place. Police had literally surrounded the place, there was three different riot police groups visible from the spot Alexis died.
At about 21:30 police threw so much tear gas that only a few stayed in the spot Alexis died. The clashes stopped completely later at night.
During the protest one protester was attacked in suspicion that he was an undercover and a passenger was seriously injured in the head from object that hooded protesters threw to the police. Also a cameraman was attacked at Exarcheia and his camera was stolen.
Police brutality against photographers marked this protest too. A photographer was attacked by riot police because he was shooting photos and they broke his finger. Also a group of photographers were harassed by riot police.

Clashes in student protest against education reforms in Athens

Greek police clash with students at British solidarity demo

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police fired teargas on Thursday in clashes with protesting university students and at least three demonstrators were injured, Reuters witnesses said.

Over 1,000 students tried to break through a police cordon to march to the British embassy in Athens, in solidarity with British students who oppose plans to increase tuition fees, and against austerity and education reforms in Greece.

Protesters carried a banner reading, in English: "Solidarity to the struggle of British students." The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in Britain plans to almost triple tuition fees to up to 9,000 pounds a year.

Three protesters were detained during the clashes and were later released, a police official said.

More protest rallies are planned on December 6 to mark the anniversary of the police killing of a teen-ager, which triggered the country's worst riot in decades in 2008, and on December 15 during a nationwide anti-austerity strike.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEz5J5ks_Zg&feature=player_embedded



http://www.demotix.com/news/525433/clashes-student-protest-against-education-reforms-athens

Over 2,000 students protested today in Athens against education reforms and in solidarity to British students. Clashes occurred when the police blocked the protesters' way to the British embassy. Athens, Greece.

Police used extensively tear gas and excessive violence. Several protesters were injured and five were arrested. One protester was hospitalised.
After the arrests protest headed to the Police Headquarters to demand the immediate release of the students. Before the protest reached the Police Headquarters the detained were released.

Video from the clash http://qik.com/video/21109031

GENERAL STRIKE IN PORTUGAL

LISBON (AFP) – Portugal's first mass general strike in more than two decades brought the country to a halt Wednesday to protest spending cuts the government says are vital to avoid financial disaster.

Both public and private sector workers joined the one-day strike, which follows similar stoppages in countries such as Greece and France, as governments are forced into unpopular cost-cutting programmes.

The head of the main UGT union, Joao Proenca, said, "It is the biggest strike ever staged," after workers ranging from teachers, train drivers and firemen to doctors and entertainers all walked out.

Manuel Carvalho da Silva, the head of the major CGTP syndicate, estimated the number of strikers at three million, but no official figures were available.

The transport sector was crippled, with no flights taking off or landing at any airport. More than three-quarters of train services and 60 percent of bus services were cancelled, operators said.

Lisbon's metro system was closed for the day, along with the ferries linking the two sides of the Tagus.

The strike, the first time since 1988 that private and public sector workers had come together, also hit banks, media and petrol deliveries, while hospitals were treating emergency cases only and thousands of schools were closed.

Even the police were refusing to issue parking tickets.

Union leaders said the strike had a "massive impact" on the private sector, with less than 10 percent of the workforce turning up at Volkswagen's Autoeuropa plant near the northern city of Porto.

"The mobilisation of workers is enormous," said Manuel Carvalho da Silva, the head of the major CGTP syndicate.

But Labour Minister Helena Andre claimed the impact on the private sector was small, saying that electricity demand had not fallen, while witnesses said small businesses were unaffected.

Earlier Andre told TSF radio, "All Portuguese people understand that the government's margin of manoeuvre to change policy and row back on the proposals in the 2011 budget is practically nil."

"Without the measures we have already taken and those which will come into force next year, the consequences for the Portuguese and the economy will be a great deal worse," she said.

"We are seeing attacks every day on the Portuguese public debt and their negative consequences for the economy, and therefore we are calling on all Portuguese to unite in order to overcome this moment of difficulty."

The strike began on the stroke of midnight with union members setting up picket lines across the country, including outside Lisbon's international airport.

Scuffles broke out between police and union activists at a picket outside a postal sorting office in Lisbon, although no charges were filed.

Two women were injured when the manager of a hypermarket ran his car into a picket line in the north of the country. He was arrested.

However Lisbon metro driver Jose Marques told AFP that the public understood that it was not a strike over wages but to defend "everyone's rights".

The unions' anger has been stoked by government plans for a drastic round of spending cuts and tax rises worth some five billion euros (6.85 billion dollars), which are currently being pushed through parliament.

The package of cuts is intended to reduce the deficit from 7.3 percent of GDP to 4.6 percent next year in a bid to quell growing international unease over the state of Portugal's finances.

The main opposition party said on Tuesday it would not block the government's 2011 budget, paving the way for its adoption on Friday.

But the unions say the cuts are intolerable, particularly from a Socialist government.

"We cannot accept that the first, second and third priority of Portugal is the deficit," UGT chief Proenca said, referring to the country's 10.9 percent unemployment rate, an all-time high.

Portuguese bond yields ticked up seven basis points on Wednesday to 6.799 percent, following sharper rises earlier this week amid concerns over deficit-reduction efforts.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates has rejected suggestions that his country is next in line after Ireland to receive a European Union bailout, saying that Portugal did not need financial aid.

STUDENTS IN LONDON CLASH WITH POLICE

On November 24, students marched and clashed with police in London and other cities today in a national walkout and day of protest against tuition fees and education cuts. Smoke grenades, fireworks and paint/spray cans were set off, and fires lit around parts of London as protestors clashed with police. Later in the afternoon, police on horseback mounted attacks on demonstrators by suddenly charging them at high speed. Police also used gas in their attempts to disperse protestors. Many protestors were held in a police cordon, between police lines, known as a “kettle” for several hours before being released 2 at a time, then 10 at a time later in the evening. A number of protestors managed to break out of that cordon, and have the police surrounded. Protestors understood that keeping mobile and moving about quickly avoided them being kettled by police. Police made repeated attempts to kettle more protestors that arrived in the evening, but the protestors escaped police control tactics and marched unhindered around central London, with angry students lighting fires, and shop windows and cars belonging to the rich being smashed.



Many universities have also been occupied by students and are currently ongoing.

See links for detailed reports and photos:

STUDENT CUTS PROTEST - PICS AND ACCOUNT (PART ONE)
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/6118

STUDENT CUTS PROTEST - PICS AND ACCOUNT (PART TWO)
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/6119

STUDENT CUTS PROTEST - PICS AND ACCOUNT (PART THREE)
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/6121


EXCELLENT PHOTOS FROM DEMOTIX:

http://www.demotix.com/news/517384/london-student-protest-opposed-police

http://www.demotix.com/news/517012/student-protest-takes-over-whitehall-london-uk

http://www.demotix.com/news/517474/students-protest-london-over-fee-hikes

South Korean temporary workers' strike

Temporary workers' strike at Hyundai Motor gains steam with support from labor groups
ULSAN, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- A sit-in strike by temporary workers of Hyundai Motor, the nation's largest automaker, was gaining force as an umbrella union group with nearly 140,000 members pushed Monday for a general strike to join the protest in demanding formal employee status for the workers.

About 550 workers have taken over the automaker's main assembly line in Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, since Nov. 15, clashing with riot police and partially crippling the factory's production. On Saturday, one worker tried to set himself on fire during a rally.

The Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), the country's largest industrial union in the automobile, steel, machinery and shipping sectors, said after a meeting of representatives Monday that it will call a general strike in early December unless Hyundai Motor's management agrees to open negotiations with the striking workers.

A total of 401 KMWU representatives attended the meeting and 302 of them, or 75.3 percent, approved the general strike plan, union officials said.

"If the prolonged strike makes it impossible to operate manufacturing lines normally, the company has no option but to shorten the operation and close the factory," Hyundai Motor's Vice President Kang Ho-don said in a letter to employees.

With the strike gaining momentum, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office vowed to sternly act against the extended walkout.

"The strike by irregular workers of Ulsan factories is illegal," Lee Young-nam, senior prosecutor in charge of public safety, said, expressing concern that the labor dispute could grow into a full-blown and long-lasting one if the temporary workers form an alliance with other labor organizations.

He added that his office is currently preparing criminal proceedings to hold protesters responsible for the damage claimed by the company.

Hyundai Motor filed a suit last week against 27 workers who led the walkout, seeking 3 billion won for financial damage, and Monday filed another suit against them seeking an additional 3 billion won, doubling the compensation amount.

According to the company, the strike is expected to cause more than 100 billion won in production losses by Tuesday morning if the walkout continues throughout the day. It is the biggest loss caused by a non-regular workers' strike, the company noted.

"If the Korea Metal Workers' Union joins the strike, prosecutors will consider a response at a national level accordingly," Lee said.

The dispute began when the irregular workers, hired by a Hyundai Motor subcontractor, urged the automaker to abide by a Supreme Court ruling in July that contract employees who have worked for more than two years should be considered permanent workers. The case was remanded to the high court for further review.

The union of Hyundai Motor's formal employees remains undecided whether to join the irregular workers' move, according to union officials.

While the union of full-time workers at Hyundai Motor had gone on strike almost every year since its establishment in 1987, in 2009, it had a strike-free year after union leaders promised to cooperate to ride out a global financial crisis. The union also agreed to a wage deal in July this year, marking its second year without a strike.

Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors control more than 70 percent of the domestic auto market.



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ANTI-NATO PROTEST LISBON

Reuters) - Portuguese police detained 42 anti-NATO protesters who blocked a road near the military alliance's summit venue in Lisbon on Saturday.

"They are detained for identification. It was an action of civil disobedience. They were blocking an avenue leading towards the venue. There was no violence," a police spokesman said.

Security was tight for the two-day NATO summit and protests by Saturday afternoon were peaceful and small.

Campaigners from Portugal, other European countries and Canada said in a statement: "We are using civil disobedience to highlight the violence committed by NATO in Afghanistan. They are meeting here today to perfect their arsenal of destruction."

Security forces have also barred more than 200 people from entering Portugal since Tuesday, when they revived border checks on the frontier with EU partner Spain for the first time since 2004 to prevent violence during the summit.

In April 2009, hundreds of youths rioted in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, setting fire to buildings as NATO marked its 60th anniversary.

Peace groups planned a peaceful anti-summit rally in central Lisbon later on Saturday.

(Reporting by Andrei Khalip; editing by Ralph Boulton)

World

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53050920101120

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-53054820101121?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a54:g12:r1:c0.577095:b39683442:z3


http://www.demotix.com/search/context/query/ANTI-NATO%20PROTESTS%20IN%20LISBON/sort/relevance

Greece: Thousands March in Thessaloniki to Commemorate 1973 Revolt

Media Summary

See photos on demotix

http://www.demotix.com/news/511314/thousands-march-thessaloniki-commemorate-1973-revolt

Thousands of people marched in Thessaloniki on Wednesday to commemorate a 17th November 1973 student revolt that was crushed by the military junta then ruling Greece. Thessaloniki, Greece. 17/11/2010

Thousands of people marched in Thessaloniki on Wednesday to commemorate a 1973 student revolt against a US-backed junta, but brandishing banners protesting the financial crisis gripping Greece.Around 10,000 demonstrators took part in the annual march, with a large turnout from student groups, workers and leftist party supporters. After at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, riot police fired teargas at groups of stone-throwing protesters.

MORE G-20 PHOTOS AND SIT IN STRIKE BY SOUTH KOREAN WORKERS

On Monday at least 400 "irregular" workers from a Hyundai subcontractor began a sit-in strike at the Ulsan plant demanding that they should be hired on regular contracts. Y'day the strike continued and expanded to assembly lines in Asan and Jeonju...

s1600/74507_130454370345171_100001418267150_174932_4991640_n.jpg">



Meanwhile the Hyundai management hired hundreds of mobsters to attack the struggling workers with the aim to break the strike as soon as possible!!!





See also related articles

http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02

http://worknworld.kctu.org/news/articleView.html?idxno=240001

NATIONAL STUDENTS PROTESTS WED 24TH NOVEMBER

| 18.11.2010 22:46 | Public sector cuts | Liverpool | Manchester
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/468196.html
After the massive recent student protest in London the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) have called for a national day of walkouts and protest on the 24th of November.

NCACF: http://anticuts.com

Facebook event page for the 24th: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134751449911080

London (subject to change):

12noon Trafalgar Square (called by National Campaign Against Cuts & Fees)

1pm Horse Guards Avenue to Parliament (called by Youth Fight for Jobs)

2pm protest at Lib Dem HQ

5.30pm Mass protest at Downing Street to link student action with wider trade union movement

http://anticuts.com/2010/11/15/press-release-24-november-london-event/



Manchester

12 noon Uni Place (tin can)

12.30 March via MMU

13.30 March to town hall

http://standagainstcuts.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177964952219969



Elsewhere:

BOURNEMOUTH: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149671685079025

BRISTOL: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165161463516345

BROCKENHURST COLLEGE (HAMPSHIRE): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162283583810492

BURY: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156816764361244

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123388704388977

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161354780568633

EALING, TWYFORD SCHOOL: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102105446527586

EDINBURGH: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176423545707934

HEREFORD: http://anticuts.org.uk/?p=842

LEEDS COLLEGES: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156282571082392

LEEDS UNIVERSITY: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129466560445230

LEEDS UNIS TEACHIN: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132348860153316

LEICESTER: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123405477720241

LINCOLN: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130118687042933

LIVERPOOL: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100821293322538

LIVERPOOL LJMU: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173585069320186

LONDON KINGSTON UNIVERSITY: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170329922986533#!/event.php?eid=164501303583681

LONDON WEST THAMES COLLEGE LONDON: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=160099844025748&num_event_invites=0

LONDON UCU: http://www.facebook.com/pages/UCA-Walkout-National-Day-of-Action-Against-Cuts/107657832637702?ref=mf

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163619150338046

MILTON KEYNES SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166040690085441&ref=ts

NEW CROSS, HABERDASHER’s ASKE’s HATCHAM COLLEGE: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177738032241069

NEWCASTLE UNI WALKOUT/ TEACHIN: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132467673475881

NEWCASTLE RGS: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123648397695469

NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001901283084

TAUNTON, RICHARD HUISH COLLEGE: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148524455194222

SURREY UNIVERSITY: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159719290733155

WYEDEAN, MONMOUTH & CHEPSTOW: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128881170503266



Planning Meetings

LONDON QMUL PLANNING MEETING: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141182095931912

GLASGOW PLANNING MEETING: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141525512564838

LONDON ULU PLANNING MEETING: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161582350546070

LONDON LSBU PLANNING MEETING: http://savesouthbank.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/lsbu-student-organiser-meeting-wed-17th-november/
ANTICUTS
Homepage: http://ANTICUTS.ORG.UK


-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANGRY MOB HALTS LEWISHAM COUNCIL MEETING IN LONDON
riotact | 18.11.2010 15:02 | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements
An angry mob brought proceedings to a standstill at Lewisham Town Hall last night as Mayor Steve Bullock presented the first round of cuts to public services to be made in the borough.

Around 100 people of all ages and backgrounds gathered outside the Town Hall in a demonstration called by local Unions and Lewisham Anti-Cuts Alliance (1). Impassioned speeches were heard whilst pissed of College students played with the traffic as Lewisham residents demanded No Ifs, No Buts, No Lewisham Cuts.

The protesters then moved inside where some people were admitted to the meetings but around 40 people were refused access by twitchy security. Chants rang out again from buth inside and outside the meeting until eventually the door was opened and the last remaining protesters entered the room to join the noisy crowd inside. Tory lacky Bullock threw several strops at the disruption before halting the meeting all together.

Police were called, a large security presence entered the room and the meeting was reconvened about fifteen minutes later. This allowed petitions containing the names of around 20,000 people to be presented to the Councillors demanding that Lewisham Libraries stay open.

A Lib Dem and Labour councillor were effectively drowned out in the noise as people banged on the walls chanting Shame On You and No Tory Cuts. When Mayor Bullock spoke, chants of Cut Your Wages appeared to leave him visibly shaken.

Councillors will meet on the 29th November to vote on the cuts. Another demonstration is planned then (2) which promises to be much larger as resistance to the cuts grows across the borough.

Meetings, demonstrations and protests are being organised across the Capital as an unprecedented anger sweeps the country at the chinless twats in Government. The students, who aren’t going anywhere (3), showed the way at Millbank and it is quickly becoming clear that it was just the beginning. With all three main political parties lining up against the working class the only meaningful sound left in politics is that of breaking glass.

(1) http://lewishamanticutsalliance.wordpress.com/
(2) http://www.freelondonlistings.co.uk/events-categories/details/26384-stop-the-lewisham-cuts.html
(3) http://anticuts.com/2010/11/15/advertise-for-the-24-november/
riotact
Homepage: http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/
------------------------------------------------------------


POLICE CURRENTLY ON RIOT TRAINING EXCERCISE AT RAF FAIRFORD
18.11.2010 12:37 | Public sector cuts | Repression | Social Struggles
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/468154.html
Police training to deal with riots

300 police are currently in the middle of a two day riot training excercise at RAF/USAF Fairford. Interesting timing. Report from the BBC today, unfortunately it came too late to get over there for any pics or footage of what they're doing whilst dressed up as students being 'dealt with' by their colleagues:

Report here: http://directactionstation.com/?p=2957
Kate
e-mail: ktholcombe@aol.com
Homepage: http://http//:www.directactionstation.com
----------------------------------------------------

TORY OFFICES IN NOTTINGHAM SMASHED
Published: November 18, 2010 11:09 by Tory Scum Hater |
http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/676
The Tory offices in Nottingham were last night visited by individuals who hate Tory scum. We smashed some windows, painted some messages including "Fight the cuts" and "Tory Scum".
We did this because we are sick of politicians attacking common people on behalf of the rich. Politicians who have no idea what the lives of common people consist of, and should have no control over their our lives.
We did this because we believe in acting autonomously with the rage in our hearts. And we did this in solidarity with those arrested for being at Millbank, and all people who are getting fucked over by the cuts and capitalism on a daily basis.

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

SOUTH KOREAN WORKERS CLASH WITH RIOT POLICE

Yesterday's Yonhap reported the following:


Hyundai Motor contract workers taken into custody...

see link CINA
http://blog.jinbo.net/CINA/?m=2006-02


Scores of non-regular workers of Hyundai Motor (factory in Ulsan) were taken into custody Monday during a heavy clash with riot police in a rally to demand formal employee status with the country's largest automaker.


More than 300 unionized contract workers were staging a protest in front of their factories in this city, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Riot police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators after a series of physical confrontations, but the workers reassembled at another factory building and were continuing their protest, according to witnesses.


And here's yesterday's news report by AFP:


Twenty injured in clash at Hyundai car factory


South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor said Monday that 20 people were injured in a violent protest by hundreds of temporary workers.


The company said 20 of its permanent employees were injured in an attempt to drive out temporary workers who have occupied an auto plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan.


Riot police used tear gas to end a violent protest by hundreds of temporary workers inside and outside the factory and detained 50 demonstrators, Yonhap news agency said.


Some temporary workers were injured, it said.


The dispute began when a contractor took over the company's car seat production. Temporary workers have refused to sign contracts with the new company, demanding formal employee status.


South Korea has an estimated 5.3-million "non-regular" or temporary workers, whose bosses are unwilling to employ them on a permanent basis, which would give them greater rights.


The union of Hyundai Motor's full-time workers has a history of militancy, going on strike almost every year since its establishment in 1987.


But in 2009 it had its strike-free year in a decade and a half after union leaders promised to help it ride out the global downturn. The union also agreed a wage deal in July 2010, marking its second year without a strike...

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

Direct action against coaltion and wars-Central London

|Sat 20th NOv

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/11/467985.html?c=on#comments

Revolting | 15.11.2010 13:23 | Public sector cuts | Repression
Everyone to the streets-London24th November. The fightback continues.
March from Hyde Park corner to Trafalger Square and be ready for action.


FIGHT BACK!

Carnival against the coalition of scum!

Central London Saturday 20th November

Enough is enough!

Following the great outburst of anger of students at Millbank we must not lose momentum.

Everyone but the rich and their protectors are being abused by this coalition of scum they call the government. We will not wait months for another fucking union A-B march which achieves absolutely nothing.

We will fight back now! Fuck the rich! Fuck the cops! Everyone to the streets on Saturday November 20! We will party in Parliament Square and if the cops try and stop us with their usual violence-WE WILL FUCKING DEFEND OURSELVES!

Unite against the bastards-whatever you call yourselves-student, worker, poor, Muslim, anarchist, socialist, communist, human-these fucking scum are destroying us and our planet-FUCK THEM!

Fucking politicians come on TV and call a few smashed windows violence. Yet they send a bunch of terrorists called troops to murder and destroy entire countries-all in the name of profit. We protest their violence and are met by armed thugs with batons and shields. Self defence is not violence. Property damage is not violence.

Join the Stop the War march but not as a block-Hyde Park Corner-Noon. Go as groups or individuals. Take different clothes to change into away from the cameras. Hide your face! Be prepared at any stage during the day to take direct action. Ignore the stewards-they work with the cops and Stop the War are a government front to keep the fucking wars ongoing by stopping meaningful Direct Action.

On the march pull down barriers-block the polluting traffic that makes us sick.
Word is spreading – there are many of us going to this and we are ready for real action.

Reclaim Parliament Square and then the streets of London!

GET FUCKING ANGRY-THEY ARE DESTROYING OUR LIVES AND OUR PLANET!

WHEN DARK TARGET THE BANKS! They fund the destruction and wars and steal your money.
This is only the beginning (next 24th Nov, 4th Dec)-RISE UP!
Spread the word!
Feel free to make your own poster, rewrite and circulate. Put it on facebook or twitter or whatever

REPORT ON SMASH SEOUL, SMASH G20 PROTEST IN LONDON

SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY MADCAP SECURITY OFFICIALS’ FIREARMS AT THE READY DURING THE SMASH SEOUL, SMASH THE G20 PROTEST ON FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2010

On Friday 12 November, people from various leftist groups and organizations turned up at the south Korean embassy in London to stand in solidarity with south Korean workers, G20 protestors, prisoners and all anti-G20 activists from across the globe who took part in the G20-protests in Seoul, south Korea on 11-12 November and condemn the Lee Myung Bak fascist style puppet regime of south Korea for it brutal onslaught on south Korean workers and their rights.

Protestors handed out anti-G20 fliers to the passing public highlighting the issues.

However from the very start of the protest, south Korean officials of the embassy took a hostile stance towards the protest being held outside the front door of their embassy. Their armed security personnel immediately came out of the embassy and stood at the front of the entrance looking very uneasy and brandishing firearms in full view of the people lawfully protesting. Thus it appears they are so very worried about protestors handing out a few fliers, they now feel the urgent need to brandish firearms about the place to try and intimidate protestors and keep them away from the puppet embassy.

The British diplomatic police (also armed), as usual, were called in and were soon lording it over the protestors and throwing their weight about in less than 10 minutes, by ordering people to move to the other side of the road to their ‘designated’ protest area (10 metres away). The recent Millbank Tower Tory HQ riots are still fresh in the minds of the UK police force. Hence their fear of a possible repeat of those events at the south Korean embassy had enough people turned up. The police told us that the south Korean puppet officials had said that they were feeling very intimidated and harassed by our presence outside the embassy. That was the UK cops’ pretext to get us all arrested if we didn’t move. Is that also the reason why the south Korean embassy security felt the need to brandish firearms at the protestors? That they felt intimidated by people handing out fliers outside their front door? No, it is because they want to frighten us from protesting in larger numbers outside their puppet embassy in future. They think they can use the same vicious underhanded gangster-style tricks that they use against their own people of south Korean against protestors in Britain. A far cry when one considers how the south Korean puppet authorities use their tried and tested method of tear gas and brutal crackdowns and repressions against south Korean labour activists, civic organisations, or anyone who dare utter a word of sympathy in relation to North Korea. One south Korean member of the organisation ‘Solidarity for Implementing the South-North Declaration’ was inflicted with a 2 year prison term on November 8, on the charge of violating the draconian National Security Law of south Korea. He was sentenced for two years behind bars, charged with possession of ‘enemy-benefiting’ music CD-s praising the North of Korea (DPRK).

We initially refused to move and remained standing right outside the entrance of the embassy on the pavement (public highway) until the very last minute, when we were almost certain we were all going to get arrested under Section 14 (5) of the Public Order Act. At that point, we decided we would shift slowly over to the other side of the road and begin condemning the south Korean regime via a large megaphone so that the embassy staff could hear us loud and clear. Better to be there and piss off the south Koreans for a few hours, rather then give them the full satisfaction of having us removed completely from the embassy area in the back of a police van to the delight of those inside the puppet embassy.

One courageous protestor decided to remain defiant and risking arrest and receiving a Level 3 fine of maximum of 1000 pounds as punishment, refused to obey police orders and continued to stand right outside the embassy and continue handing out anti-G20 fliers. He was being harassed by the cops as usual and threatened with arrest if he did not move to the other side of the road to join the rest of us. But he remained defiant

The protestors condemned the UK cops for their own behavior in general, as well as the government agencies of south Korea for conducting crackdowns on undocumented migrants, during which migrants are brutally arrested, illegally imprisoned and then deported. The authorities of south Korea were also condemned for the detention and expulsion of several Philipino G20 activists. South Korean Police had been carrying out illegal and racist stop and search procedures just before the G20 Summit on whoever they think looked ‘suspicious’ or had ‘dark skin’. The government at the same time is continuing to carry out devastating attacks on south Korean workers, activists, labour unions and civic organisations

The demo called for the release of all south Korean prisoners, jailed under the draconian National Security Law. They condemned the south Korean embassy staff in London for brandishing firearms at the protestors who had the lawful right to be there outside the embassy, and demanded the dissolution of the brutal NIS (south Korean Secret Police) of south Korea. The G20 was condemned by the protestors as a bunch of crooks, by accusing them of attempting to make the world ‘safe’ for neo-liberal capitalism by forcing emerging economies to shoulder part of the burden of the crisis, promoting trade and investment liberalization dressed up in ‘new robes’, negotiating weak financial reforms that largely allow financial speculation to on unchecked and reviving the ailing IMF and other IFI-s, and this agenda being pursued despite the fact that neo-liberal capitalism is clearly a failed model, which only increases poverty and inequality around the globe.

Whilst this was going on, the courageous and defiant protestor handing out fliers and refusing to move to the “designated” protest area on the other side of the road and under threat of arrest or even worse (had south Korean security staff at the embassy opened fire on the protestor), was indeed arrested under section 14(5) of the Public Order Act (causing harassment, alarm or distress) ….i.e. and in this case, also for disobeying a legal order made by a senior police officer. He was driven off in the back of a cop car under the loud megaphone chants of “NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, - FUCK THE POLICE!




At the police station, the police initially told the arrestee that he could be held until Monday 15 Nov if they could not have got him into court on Saturday 13 Nov. At midnight on Friday 12, luckily, he was released after been cautioned. Whilst being held for nearly 10 hours, he was also quizzed by the cops in an interview room, and asked about what happened outside the embassy and who the organizers of the event were in the interests of information gathering.

“NO COMMENT” was the response given to all questions by the brave and trusted comrade.


Well done to everyone who turned up on the day!

GLOBALISE RESISTANCE!
SMASH THE G20!

CAPITAL KNOW NO BOUNDARIES, SO WHY SHOULD WE.

SMASH THE LEE MYUNG BAK REGIME OF SOUTH KOREA!

FREEDOM TO ALL LABOUR ACTIVISTS AND POLITICAL PRISONERS IN SOUTH KOREA AND ACROSS THE GLOBE!!

And finally,
TO ALL SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY PUPPET SECURITY PERSONNEL AND THEIR SOUTH KOREAN NIS AGENTS IN LONDON!

We say,
IN THE INTERESTS OF NOT TURNING UP THE HEAT AND AVOIDING A FLARE UP IN YOUR EMBASSY AREA, YOU HAD BETTER KEEP ALL YOUR FIREARMS AT BAY AND OFF THE STREETS OF LONDON, AND STOP BRANDISHING THEM AT PEOPLE WHO LAWFULLY PROTEST THE FASCIST-STYLE BRUTAL LEE MYUNG BAK REGIME OUTSIDE YOUR PUPPET SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY!

WE ARE NOT INTIMITATED AND WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY FIREARMS BEING BRANDISHED BY A BUNCH OF THIRD RATE CROOKS AND AGENTS OF THE TREACHEROUS LEE MYUNG BAK PUPPET REGIME OF SOUTH KOREA RESIDING IN THE SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY IN LONDON!


SMASH SEOUL, SMASH THE G20

smashg20.blogspot.com

LONDON STUDENTS REVOLT

PHOTOS AND REPORTS FROM STUDENT ANTI-CUTS DEMO CENTRAL LONDON
PHOTOS OF STUDENT ANTI-CUTS DEMO CENTRAL LONDON 10 NOV 2010

http://www.demotix.com/from/europe

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=PHOTOS+OF+STUDENT+RIOT+LONDON+NOV+10&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
During the 40,000 strong student march against tuition fees, a few hundred students stormed the Conservative Party Headquarters on Millbank and occupied the reception area. The 15 foot tall plate glass windows on the ground floor were all smashed.
The police were heavily outnumbered and endured a constant barrage of missiles including placards, bottles and cobble stones dug up from the pavement.
A number of protesters ran past police lines and succeeded in making to the roof of the building to the delight of the crowd below. They let off fire extinguishers before dropping one into the small group of riot police directly below. Fortunately, it seemed to miss. At least eight police and protesters were taken to hospital.



A SMASHING GOOD DAY
More than just a student protest, more of an anti-cuts anti-tory revolt on the streets vy all sections of the population, and a sign of more to come.

Let this usher in the start of more such militant actions.

WELL DONE TO ALL WHO TOOK PART!
GIVE THE TORIES AND THE SYSTEM THE KICKING IT REALLY DESERVES!

SMASH THE CAPITALIST STATE
FOR SOCIALIST REVOLUTION!

FB-AUCPB


VIOLENT: Students smashing windows, London protest over tuition fees at 30 Millbank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGr-dV4Mlac&feature=related

REPORTS

The anger against the assaults on workers, students and the poor crashed down on the Tories on Wednesday. It was the biggest demonstration against the government since David Cameron went into Downing Street. It was brilliant to see so many students and lecturers take the initiative and give a focus for the hatred millions feel about the Tory cuts. Militant protest is the way to push back the attacks. The 50,000 students, lecturers and other protesters who took to the streets were fighting £9,000-a-year tuition fees that will close university education to most working class students. They are also fighting against the cuts in courses and staff, and the ending of the Education Maintenance Allowance. The mood of anger that has swept Europe arrived in London. The lively protest was filled with anger as protestors chanted “Tory scum”. But they were also revolting about much more too. The demo—and the occupation of the Tory headquarters in the Millbank Tower—were a sign of the fury against the Tories pampering the rich while assaulting the poor. And it showed the anger at a society where profit comes before any human need. Tory headquarters at Millbank is the symbol of all that. As the demonstration marched past, a large group broke away into the building’s courtyard. Then some occupied the foyer. More and more joined them until up to 5,000 students and lecturers were protesting against the Tories blocking the road outside. They brushed aside the few police officers defending the Tory tower. Protesters lit bonfires in the courtyard and chanted against the Tories. One student told Socialist Worker, “We got a few police helmets and threw them on the fires.” Some demonstrators smashed several of the building’s front windows—to massive cheers. And protesters on the pavement sat on office chairs, and a sofa they’d removed from the building. Students burned bright red flares in the courtyard. Some demonstrators appeared on the building’s roof, waving banners. It was nearly an hour before a unit of riot police turned up and blocked the doors to stop more people entering the building. But the carnival atmosphere outside continued. The riot police were pushed back on several occasions by the sheer number of protesters. Eventually, using brutal force, the police were able to drive the protesters out.


Reflections on the invasion of Millbank Tower
Last Hours | 11.11.2010 22:08 | Other Press | Public sector cuts | Workers' Movements
During yesterday’s protest against cuts to education crowds stormed Tory headquarters. Windows where smashed and offices destroyed. As a result we can witness the capitalist system bend and buckle in its attempts to dismiss these acts of anger as illegitimate.

Amongst the 1,000s that played some role in the invasion of Millbank Tower, were workers and students from all areas of society. We condemn both the media claim that a small group of anarchist antagonists where responsible (juxtaposed by their own images showing thousands rallying around the building) as well as the notion that the students involved are part of a privileged class. The idea that working class youth are some how exempt from the desire for education is both naive and patronising.

Full text with links and images at http://www.lasthours.org.uk/blogs/refund-our-future-reflections-on-the-invasion-of-millbank-tower/

This is an anonymous report we received

Arriving at the starting point of the demo the energy (and noise) levels were already extremely high. There were thousands of young people from all over the country, but it seemed that the whole event was being carefully controlled by stewards. All the placards had lame reformist slogans (admittedly with a few vaguely funny ones) and we were expecting a pretty tame march from A to B. When we finally found the Anarchist (or “Radical Workers and Students”) block, after fighting our way through Trotskyists and NUS stewards. We were disappointed to see that it was pretty small and not in a very good position in terms of visibility. On the march itself, the only act of civil disobedience we saw was a short lived attempt by about 20 people to sit down and block the road. However, when we passed the Millbank building the anarchists had been split up a little and when we looked back to try and spot some red and blag flags we were surprised to see that they were in amongst a group of probably hundreds of others attacking the building. People were running into the foyer, trying to smash windows and graffiti-ing the walls, with little police resistance. Because we didn’t see exactly how it started we don’t know how true the mainstream media’s claim that a small group of anarchists “hijacked” the peaceful protest by instigating property damage is. One thing though is for absolute certain, that self-identified anarchists were themselves only a small minority of all the people engaged in all the acts of civil disobedience and property damage. Even at this point there were literally hundreds of people either directly pushing against police, throwing stuff at them or smashing things. The NUS claim that there were over 50 000 people in total at the demonstration and only a minority took part in the “violence”. A “minority” of this number would still mean far more people than usually have attended British demos in recent years, let alone taken such militant action.

That first incident seemed to die down quite soon and we assumed it would be easily put down by the Met, based on previous painful experience of their capabilities. Besides, we had already seen more property damage than had happened at the London G20 protests, and of a more suitably symbolic building so it had already been more of a successful demo than we’d been expecting. We walked on and soon came to the end point of the march. Predictably enough for a demo organised by bureaucrats, we were expected to stand around listening to speeches and chanting in a space controlled by security guards and stewards. We decided “fuck this” and were on our way back down towards where we came from, when we noticed smoke coming from the courtyard in the Millbank building. The energy there then was pretty excited and there were virtually no police in sight, there was a small line of cops at the entrance and people were already throwing stuff at them – to a degree rarely seen at demos in Britain. However, we had received a call out to go to the business and innovation centre where apparently something was going down. We never made it there because as we were walking down we saw a crowd of people with a sound system break away from the crowds to the end point. They went down a side street and had a mini Reclaim-The-Streets style party with a line of riot police watching, whilst blocking the way to the Lib-dem headquarters. Amusingly that street was called “Cowley Street” the same name as that of a famous leader of the Brighton squatting movement during the great depression. People danced to dub step for a while and threw stuff at cops before going back toward the Tory hq where the fires were still burning. When we went back there we saw a push-and-shove situation with the cops in front of one of the big glass walls, that was already nearly completely smashed apart.

The stand-off continued for a while, with heightening tensions, amplified by shouts of support from thousands of people behind. Some demonstrators were already inside waving placards and further trying to help break the glass. When the crowds saw that people had got on to the roof and were waving banners, red and black flags and their fists in the air, they screamed encouragement and further energised those at the front lines. Eventually some people started smashing apart a different glass wall and the police didn’t even try to stop them. It came down with a resounding crash and we all piled in to the foyer of the building, there was probably over 100 people in this area, some smashing windows, some pushing against cops to gain to access to the stairs, all shouting “tory scum, tory scum”. There was a tense stand off at the door to the stairs for a while and the very few cops guarding it seemed shit-scared and confused, (not at all the “brave thin blue line” that David Cameron claims) but finally this was resolved and we got the doors open. This enabled many to make their way through the building, smashing what they could and making their way to the roof. Many managed to escape through the fire exit after staying as long as they individually felt necessary, but according to news reports some were still inside hours later, and many later got arrested.
More on the attack on the Millbank building:

The storming of the Tory party HQ occurred about an hour after the organised march had already started gathering at its final destination point to watch important people deliver pre-recorded (largely inaudible) messages on a giant TV screen. A high-spirited spontaneous demo had been occupying the square outside of the building with a bonfire of placards since the march had passed it by en route. This was despite the stewards’ attempts to file everybody by the building unnoticed, and the crowd seemed a broad representation of demo participants (mostly unmasked with a variety of placards and signs); far from the ‘organised contingent of troublemaker anarchists’ that Aaron Porter, the MET and the mainstream media have predictably reported as at the heart of all transgressive action. In fact, the radical student and workers’ bloc called for by Sol Fed and Afed was disappointingly small and disorganised; comprising just a handful of red and black flags amongst other demonstrators, and seemed to get broken apart 2/3 of the way through the march when cops held the crowd back at a roundabout.

When the plate glass windows of the building started getting smashed, the atmosphere within the square was energetic. The entire crowd seemed behind the actions, cheering support for those at the front, calling for people to move in en masse, and continuously pushing forward in an attempt to do so. This action did not seem in any way pre-planned, but happened spontaneously in the midst of a lively and diverse mass demo of students wanting to direct their anger directly at some of those responsible for selling out their futures (continual chants of ‘Tory scum’ and the like).

There were relatively few cops defending the building at this point and the crowd was able to push through at various points using bodymass with minimal physical interaction once the windows had been broken. Many, once in, set about helping others to join them by smashing other windows (lots of them without masks) to open the atrium up to the surging crowd. Greater numbers were only prevented from getting into the atrium (which filled up quickly) by the lifts having been disabled and the stairwell being blocked off by cops with drawn batons. However the police were lacking in numbers and were prevented from forming a solid line by protestors linking arms and using effective bodymass (we witnessed one individual dearrested by the crowd after having been pulled by cops from this group). Eventually the few police defending the door withdrew, enabling many of the crowd to join comrades on the roof.

Physical violence inside was minimal at this stage, consisting mainly just of pushing, with cops outnumbered and therefore unwilling to antagonise, and protestors intent only on getting further into the building. In fact most of the violence named by the news reports seems mainly to refer just to property damage. This consisted mostly of smashed windows and fire hoses/extinguishers set off, although we have also heard reports of a fire extinguisher dropped from the roof, and we left relatively early. The crowd packed into the square remained supportive of those within the building, cheering and waving at people on the roof. After less than half an hour of our having joined the initial group of occupiers on the roof, a decision was taken collectively by a spontaneous meeting of lots of those present to leave the building together as a group, which we did successfully, a small number of people remaining behind. Having locked their doors, the tory offices which occupied the lower floors of the building (and those inside them) remained untouched.