Bangladesh
S26 Solidarity Actions in Dhaka Bangladesh (english)
by posted by rabble 3:22am Tue Sep 26 '00
see also Domestic Workers Struggle
Everything is set in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, for two separate demonstrations and protest rally in solidarity with protest programmes worldwide against World Bank and IMF. On 26 September morning Left Front comprising different left parties of the country will hold a protest meeting and they will try to take procession to the World Bank Dhaka office. On the same day different organizations including Democratic Revolutionary Alliance, Revolutionary Unity Front, Platform against sexual harassment, movement against oil-gas plunder by the MNCs, environment movement, students, workers, writers and intellectuals will hold another rally in the afternoon. That will also proceed towards World Bank office.
In Bangladesh, although a myth is always being nurtured by the media- state- education system that the WB and IMF are working for development of the country but this is increasingly getting clear that from poverty, pollution, destruction of industry, sex crime and sex trade, destruction of bio-diversity, plunder of gas resources, militarism, rise of Mafia, to arsenic etc everything has a 'golden' touch of WB-IMF-WTO. A country of free flow of water has become a country of water-logged country just for the projects funded and supported by the World Bank. 30 million people are under the risk of arsenic poisoning just because WB supported 'green' revolution. Education, health all are in a mess. Poverty alleviation Progarmmes and Structural Adjustment Programmes together producing and reproducing poverty for many and affluence for the few. These are few examples. So, for Bangladesh people protest against these institutions, resisting Imperialism and their allies is not a matter of only solidarity but a matter of life and death. This is true for people of every country. So, this is local as well as global resistance.
This needs no mention that, globalized capitalist-imperialist hegemony and crime is creating path for globalized resistance.
Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, for two separate demonstrations and protest rally in solidarity with protest programmes worldwide against World Bank and IMF. On 26 September morning Left Front comprising different left parties of the country will hold a protest meeting and they will try to take procession to the World Bank Dhaka office. On the same day different organizations including Democratic Revolutionary Alliance, Revolutionary Unity Front, Platform against sexual harassment, movement against oil-gas plunder by the MNCs, environment movement, students, workers, writers and intellectuals will hold another rally in the afternoon. That will also proceed towards World Bank office.
In Bangladesh, although a myth is always being nurtured by the media- state- education system that the WB and IMF are working for development of the country but this is increasingly getting clear that from poverty, pollution, destruction of industry, sex crime and sex trade, destruction of bio-diversity, plunder of gas resources, militarism, rise of Mafia, to arsenic etc everything has a 'golden' touch of WB-IMF-WTO. A country of free flow of water has become a country of water-logged country just for the projects funded and supported by the World Bank. 30 million people are under the risk of arsenic poisoning just because WB supported 'green' revolution. Education, health all are in a mess. Poverty alleviation Progarmmes and Structural Adjustment Programmes together producing and reproducing poverty for many and affluence for the few. These are few examples. So, for Bangladesh people protest against these institutions, resisting Imperialism and their allies is not a matter of only solidarity but a matter of life and death. This is true for people of every country. So, this is local as well as global resistance.
This needs no mention that, globalized capitalist-imperialist hegemony and crime is creating path for globalized resistance.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLES' MOVEMENTS
e mail:admin
sanjay.ilbom.ernet.in
WIDE SPREAD DEMONSTRATIONS IN INDIA DURING S26 and O2
TO SUPPORT PRAGUEB ACTION AGAINST IMF,WB and GLOBALISATION
National Alliance of Peoples' Movements(NAPM) umbrella organisation/front of more than 150 movements,organisations and institutions all over India who are fighting against unjust Globalisation, Social Descrimination and striving for Pro people Alternative Development Paradigm, organised wide spread action all iover the country in support of S26 Prague action.Demonstrastions in front of Macdonald type shop malls, gherao (blockade) of WB office, sit in dharana, rallies of workers and other affected persons, issuing statements/ memorendums to officials etc.were the kind of actions took place in different parts of country,like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore,etc. Thusands of pamphalets were distributed to people during these programmes.Local food items were sold/distributed as against Mac Junk Food!
Ms. Medha Patkar,and Rehemat Bhai of Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement)represented NAPM in Prague action.
THOMAS KOCHERRY SANJAY M.G.
National Coordinator National Co-coordinator
Human Rights-Tamil Nadu Initiative,Jubilee-2000,Tamilnadu womens collective,Citizens for freedom of expression jointly organised a protest in front of Tamil Nadu government guest house at chepauk in Chennai the capital city of Tamil Nadu state in India for 3 hours starting from 10am to 1pm on Sep 26,2000 shouting slogans against IMF World Bank conference at Prague.450 persons including 402 women folk joined the protest.Banners with "Stop IMF and World Bank" were raised by the protesters. TSS Mani,Co-Convenor of Human Rights-Tamil Nadu Initiative presided over the protest.Sheelu,Convenor of Jubilee-2000(Indian Chapter)gave the main speech.Kousalya,Chandra,Josephin of Tamil Nadu Womens collective gave speeches against world bank dealings against poor countries. The role of World Bank and IMF against the people of developing countries on debt,unbalanced trade,patent laws,environmental degradation,brain drain,intellectual property right were exposed in the speeches and slogans given by the participants. TSS Mani Co-Convenor,Human Rights-Tamil Nadu Initiative.
Bangalore Photos
Calcutta, India supports prague protestors (english)
by Nilanjan Dutta 10:07pm Thu Sep 28 '00
On 26 September, about 500 people from various workers and activist organisations held a rally in Calcutta under the banner 'Prague Solidarity 2000'. They echoed the concerns expressed by the thousands of demonstrators who demonstrated in Prague during the day against the World Bank-IMF summit.
The small but spirited rally at a busy street corner went on for seven hours. Various speakers declared unequivocal support to the worldwide movement against capitalist globalisation. They called for building a struggling unity with the people in many parts of the world who were fighting the capitalist onslaught on humanity and environment.
The protest was organised by a forum named 'Initiative Against Capitalist Globalisation, West Bengal'. Participants included Hawker Sangram Committee, Kshet Majoor Samity, All Bengal Sales Representatives Union, Nagarik Mancha, trade unions of Blue Star, Indo-Japan Steel, Beni Engineering and other units, Mazdoor Mukti Committee, Inquilabi Communist Sangathan and Asia-Pacific Workers Solidarity Link, among others.
A long stretch of the street was decorated with banners and placards. The speaches, songs and street dramas drew a large audience. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister of India was submitted to the Governor's secretariat. It demanded that the Indian government must not submit to the anti-people economic policies dictated by the World Bank-IMF-WTO regime. The rally ended with the determination that the struggle must go on.
Protest in Delhi India (english)
by Vimal Bhai 10:25pm Thu Sep 28 '00
address: National Alliance of Peoples Movements, Delhi
At least 60 people from different organisations staged protest in front of the World Bank office in Delhi on the occasion of the 55th summit meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund starting from today in Prague. All the members present assembled there from different directions on the World Bank gates and blocked the entrance for more than two hours.
At least 60 people from different organisations like Jagrati Mahila Samiti, Kislay, Nirman Majdoor Panchayat Sangam, JOHAR and others associated with the National Alliance of People's Movements staged protest in front of the World Bank office in Delhi on the occasion of the 55th summit meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund starting from today in Prague. All the members present assembled there from different directions on the World Bank gates and blocked the entrance for more than two hours.
The demonstrators were shouting slogans such as "World Bank Go Back", "World Bank Agents Down Down", "World Bank Quit India", "IMF Down Down" and "Structural Adjustment Down Down". The slogans were pasted on the windows and the gates of the World Bank office here. Vimal Bhai addressing the demonstrators said "The World Bank, the money lender, could never be trusted", and that today in the process of privatisation the World Bank has become an agent of the western countries. He stated that the Adivasi people of Madhya Pradesh do not want any interference in their forests by the World Bank. He said that we believe that only people's movements can stop privatisation. Quoting an example of Narmada struggle, which stands as an illustration of the failure of the SSP Project. Alok Aggarwal from Narmada Bachao Andolan condemned the World Bank's move towards encouraging free trade and venturing into different areas. Shri Sugreev from Mangole Puri, Sri Saine working in the slums with Jagriti Mahila Samiti, all also condemned the Government of India and the World Bank for its venturing into structural adjustment programmes. The speakers also reminded that when the British came to India in 1770 they came with only one company for trade, The East India Company. But today there are hundreds and hundreds of foreign companies are invited for investments to the country. It was also said the Adivasi who fought against British for the protection of their traditional land rights, thus the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act were made, today they are being amended for enabling the foreign and private companies to make investments in the Adivasi lands said Bineet Mundu, the representative from Jharkhandis Organisation for Human Rights (JOHAR) which is in solidarity with NAPM.
From today in Prague till 28th the 55th annual summit of the IMF and the World Bank meeting is the first of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. The delegates are meeting to propose a scheme of further liberalisation of the world economy by defining new loan priorities and structural adjustment conditions.
Within the framework of the Structural Adjustment Programmes, the IMF and World Bank strengthen the position of the capital but worsen the situation of the majority of the world's population.The removal of social and environmental regulations, and cuts in public spending, result in the inaccessibility of healthcare and education, sharp increases in living cost, job losses, unemployment and curtailment of union rights. The impact on atriculture is especially devastating, since production aimed at local self-sufficiency is uspended and the countries are compelled to grow single cash crops for export, which leads to food shortages and in some countries even to famine. The impact of theIMF and World Bankactivities on the environment are also devastating- the megalomaniac project of the World Bank result in the destruction of local ecosystems as well as in the forced displacement of millions of people.
National Alliance of People's Movements stands for people's rights and opposes any attempt by the IMF and the World Bank, which is against people's rights over their resources.
Action on the Streets from Mumbai India (english)
by Nikhil Anand 12:59pm Tue Sep 26 '00
phone: 22-375 9657 nikhilanandmail.com
Activists from Mumbai India gathered in front a new shopping mall (also the home of a very new McDonalds) to demand the government to reverse the destructive and polarizing trend of economic globalisation (pictures to be posted soon!)
For Immediate Release:
Report: Global Day of Action September 26, 2000, 4.30 pm at Crossroads Shopping Mall, Tardeo
We want water, not Pepsi! We refuse to accept the World Bank's dadagiri!
Approximately fifty protestors, armed with a riot of colorful banners, posters, art and food demanded the withdrawal of the government's 'New' Economic Program of economic globalisation. Demonstrating instances in which the government has ceased to be accountable to people and their issues, the activists claimed that the government was increasingly pursuing foreign capital at a tremendous social and environmental cost to the country. The protest was held in conjunction with tens of thousands of people around the world that are demanding that the IMF and World Bank are having a disastrous impact on the people they are ostensibly instituted to benefit.
The event took place outside a controversial shopping mall, Crossroads in South Mumbai, that is only the latest manifestation of the gentrification taking place in a city in which the cloth mills, employing tens of thousands are being closed down to make room for lavish entertainment/ shopping complexes. The demonstrators also focussed on the McDonalds restaurant housed in the premises, shouting "Dirty Mac, Go Back" and "We want food, not burgers, first give us water before you feed us CocaCola!" The protests come at a particularly relevant time as politicians, in collusion with the World Bank refuse to let excess food stocks into the Public Distribution System (for fear of price 'distortions'). Instead the grains rot in granaries and the poor starve. Asking whether development was only a means to oppress the poor, Sanjay MG, of the National Alliance of Peoples Movements pointed to the proposed marine expressway being planned for the city. "The government does not hesitate to sanction Rs. 3000 crores (US$ 700 million) for a bridge to benefit less than ten percent of the population (motorists). Nevermind the tremendous harm it will cause Mumbai's fishing community, or the ten million users of public transit that will be even more ignored than before". The government's ostentatious plan comes at a time when, on account for a shortage of state finances, the poor now have to pay for not only medicines but also essential health services.
The day of action was endorsed and supported by over ten different city organisations, including the environmental groups, exploited people's movements, national youth groups, labor groups and human rights groups. The activists had a dynamic interaction with the curious public who not only supported but also joined in the protest. There were even (unofficial) words of support from the local police who were taken unawares by the spontaneity of the event. School children were quite excited by the pouha being served in front of the McDonald's and agreed to take the messages back to their schools.
"It was an exhilirating, rewarding experience", said Urmila Salunkhe of the demonstration, "the public was already well aware of the issues that were being talked about, they know that globalisation is having an adverse affect on their lives, today that became that much clearer", said NBA activist Yogini Khanolkar.
Tel Aviv While the main radio broadcasting service channel interviewed live one of our 30 member delegation in the demo in prague, we assembled in the center of town for a three hour activity. About thousand or more participants assembled for street theater and other protest art, and then marched (very slowly) through the banking street. The continuous work of a small anti capitalist comity - mainly of anarchists and green, got a momentum. 30 came to the N30 demo, 120 to the A16, more than 1000 today...
contact gshalifnetvision.net.it
Dear fellow anarchists
sorry for this late report..
I thought there's not much to report about s26 in seoul, korea.
But someone asked me to publish a report on here so that other anarchists could picture what it was like..
Sender: worker-a-infos-enlists.tao.ca
Precedence: list
It was not like a real demonstration, I mean, just about 14 people participated and cops seemed to give no damn about us..
I had took part in many street protests against the government since 1991, and there always were thousands of cops with riot gear and they'd shoot tear gas and even water canon on us and then violently started to arrest us...
Anyway, we anarchists in Seoul planned to do s26 action twice. One in the afternoon for part-time workers, youngsters and college students and , and the other in the evening for full-time daytime workers and others...
6 people showed up in the first demo, we went to the stock market and did a sit-in protest with a black flag, reaflets and a big placard saying "no more IMF, stop neo-liberalism" on them. Many people on the street didn't even know that IMF/WB meeting was going on in Prague.
We had some rest and then moved to Apkujung-dong area, the most consumptive and luxurious area full of rich folks... At 8 pm we joined with other young anarchists. !4 of us started marching along the repugnantly wealthy street, ranting and almost screaming.
We found no cops lurking around, so we made our voice louder to make sure our rallying words and catchphrase can be delievered clearly.
I've got some pics uploaded in
http://anarclan.net/action/s26pics.htm
It was a great chance for us to let our demand for anarchy be heard.
More info on Korean anarchists can be found at http://anarclan.net
Thank you.
Nepal
Please notice first:
The action in Nepal is not covered by the PGA's Hallmarks !
14 deaths have nothing to do with nonviolence
International solidarity actions in Nepal
The people's guerilla army Captured Dolpa district HQ
Kathmandu, Nepal/ Sept 25 - At the same time when the people of the world gathered and protested against the IMFand World bank annual summit in Prague, The people's guerilla army in participation of thousands of people attacked government and police offices in Dunai Bazaar, the district headquarters of Dolpa, killed 14 and left 40 injuring policemen. Twelve policemen guarding the local jail were still reported missing.
The office of the Chief District Officer, the district police headquarters, Land revenue office, the district jail, the Land reform office(working in favour of feudal and landlords) and several government-owned offices were destroyed in the attack.
This is the most exploited place in the world. Dolpa is a very remote and neglected place in side the second poorest country of the world. Now the people aware who are the real exploiter of them. So not only the centres like bank but police who protects the looters and the administrative centres where the policy adopted from Coloung and Prague implemented and the prison where those people who oppose imprisone are broken by the people's Guerrillas in participation of thousands of masses.
Similarly, the night of 26th just after the police in Prague arrested thousands of demonstrators and sexually harrased the women, the people's Guerrila army raided a police station in Lamjung, the central part of Nepal. This police office was killed a young lady after gang raped a month ago. The local people who were gathering to paid tribute her in thousands numbers asked the guerillas to take neccessary actions against the rapists and killer. The political workers and guerilla member promissed there if the government don't punish them, they will take action just after the a week when the world wide people protest against the looter of the world. And same day raided police station where 8 police lost their life and other 7 injured were released after some instructiuons to go their home. These are the solidarity actions with the international campaign in our own way because we don't have right to raise peacefully. On 21st of september there was a nationwide general strike and 20th of Septemer tourch rally nationwide but the government restricted by using black law which was made 45 years ago and even the parliament rejected three times to make laws to restrict the peacefull gatherings and demonstrations. So compelled to find our way from the poor of the poorest country in the world.
The captured of prison and freed of prisoners
The people's guerillas army also destroyed the local jail with grenades, socket bombs and pipe bombs, making free 17 prisoners. Two of them returned to the police headquarters and gave themselves up. But whereabouts of 12 jail guards who were missing is remaining unknown. Five of the prisoners who were trapped in forged charges were went away with guerilla army.
About Rs.60 million captured in a Bank raid
The only the bank in the district, the branch of Nepal Bank Limited was captured by the guerillas at about 3.00 O'clock Monday morning on 25th of September. The guerillas at first destroyed three offices and buildings chief district administrative office, district police headquarter and jail then they brought the manager of bank and the chief cashier from their residence to the bank and seized all the cash and ornament thereof. Just a last evening Rs.35 millions of cash was brought in to the Dunai from the regional branch of state bank to pay the government officials. About Rs.10 millions cash was deposited by the foreign projects (so-called development projects) by the imperialist looters and some ornaments deposited there. They also set fire on the loan negotiation papers. Altogether according to the news papers reports referred to the bank and police authorities about Rs.57 millions of cash and Rs.3 millions of ornaments they seized. It is noteworthy that the Maoists returned the hundreds of people's deposited ornaments about a month ago which was captured during the last year's raid without taking interest only with the main amount.
Seizure of weapons and armaments
In the beginning, the Guerrillas attacked at the same time in district police headquarter, the office of the chief district officers and the jail. The battle continued until 6.30am. from 12.45am. Still Monday evening, some of the destroyed offices were smouldering in the fire that began when the people's guerillas blasted them with hand-made "grenades" and bombs. From the prison and district police headquarter they seized the weapons and ammunition thereof. They also captured the weapons of the guards of the chief district officer. According to the reports coding to the police sources 14 rifles, 7 shotguns, 1 revolver,1 gas gun and communication sets thereof captured by the Guerrilla Army. They also seized those weapons of prison guards who are missing still. The guerillas also captured 2 American made rifles and a gun with ammunition from the bank security guards.
Who were in the district police HQ
According to the chief district officer and some ministers and MPs reporting in mainline media, they had previous information of Maoist attack which they informed to the home ministry and police headquarter. Just before 8 hours the attack about 50 special commandos recently trained by the army were reached in the Dunai district police headquarter. It is also reported that the home ministry was received information that there are only 8 Maoists. But police reports saying there were more than 1000 Guerrillas in attacked. Just 3 kilometres near of the fighting spot a Royal army barrack is situated. But the two bridges to come Dunai also destroyed by the guerillas the same time when the attack stated.
Among the killed are a assistance inspector, 2 sergeants and 11 policemen. Three of them were killed at the office of the chief district officers and others 10 were killed in police district HQ. One was died in police hospital at Kathmandu. There are several injured who might already died and may waiting the long way. At the time of attack there were about 200 policemen in Dunai. Even the government received pre-information but not maintained to protect themselves. It is far to counter attack. It shows the in a certain level the all the other measures have been defeated except remaining Royal army by the guerillas. It well known that the government wanted to mobilise the army since 1998.
Just after a week of the announcement of government against the "terrorist" the people's guerilla army attacked in Dunai. Before the attack the guerillas informed that evening all the neighbours not to come out from their house. The people not only obeyed but helped by giving the shelters and other neccessary informations and things during, before and after the attack. It shows the police is not popular and excluded from the people and guerillas are getting support from the masses. This is the burning reality even the government is saying that they wanted to create peace and security by killing innocent civilian wheather they can not fight with the people's army in real fight even they got information 5 days before the attack.
The secretary general of CPN (Maoist) Comrade Prachanda issued a press statement the next evening and informed that they wanted to sit in dialogue but the government instead of create conducive atmosphere started state terror and killings, disappearances and police reppression, so they are forced to resist. The consequences of these conditions should taken by the government. He asked other parties to pressurise the government and to come into unite to fight the fascist Girija government.
Janak Sharma, Nepal
Awami (People) Caravan in Pakistan. 23 September to 22 October 2000
see also AWAMI People Struggles
We are in the way with CARAVAN. We are in Two Mini Buses. In this CARAVAN that we are 48 persons belonged from 30 organizations. We have passed five towns, and deliver speeches in different public meetings. In every meeting we found 300 to 500 persons. We are giving speeches on our local problems related with WORLD BANK AND IMF polices. Because before the both institutions our country was getting good development but after when they enter in our country after the AFGHANISTAN was our people life standard has gone down. Now we are facing more and more poverty problems.
This CARAVAN will cross the more than 31 towns and cities in coming days till finish. Through our way we will also demonstrate in different place against the IMF and WB. We are also raising awareness for restoration of democracy in our country.
We are motivating people against these both institutions.
This is a productive CARAVAN, which is producing good results. On 24 and 25 we have demonstrate with big gathering people against the IMF AND WB in three cities Multan, Bawalpur and Khanewal.
To day 28 September 2000 a group of organizations is demonstrating in the front of the Building of WB with the solidarity of demonstrator who are bearing violence on their bodies. We read in newspapers and saw in media that Police is making violence on demonstrator in Prague.
We are also issuing press release against the violence of police.
We are with you and our demonstrator who are fitting for people and shutdown of Globalization.
contact "asif Rasheed" asif35hotmail.com
Solidarity actions from Turkey (english)
by YavuzSarp 5:27pm Wed Sep 27 '00
yavuzsarpabout.com
Turkish socialist parties and youth organisations along with peasents and unions have staged ptotests against globalisation and capitalism, in support of the comrades in PRAHA
Istanbul: Unions, socialist parties and youth organizations declared their support for the protesters in Praha in a demonstration near the Taksim Square, city centre. 150 people attending the demo shouted slogans. Police did not let the protestors walk to the square.
Istanbul, S26 - Several activists described to me how brutal the Turkish police are and how broad their right to abuse extends. The police here lined up in doubled rows, with others on the outskirts armed with automatic weapons. I was warned to stay with the press and not look like a protester in case they were to begin beating people.
Bergama (a small town on the west coast): Peasents who have been carrying on a successful resistance to a gold mining company from Canada for 10 years have protested the IMF and World Bank in Bergama town center.
Ankara: Protests in two university campuses; Ankara University and Middle East Technical University with 150-200 participants and also protests at the city center. At METU students gathered around the Mc Donalds -which was the target of earlier attacks- and shouted "go home IMF". In the city center 400 people from the 'Ankara anti-globalisation platform gathered, they shouted the slogan "GLOBAL RESISTANCE AGAINST GLOBAL EXPLOITATION"- "Kuresel somuruye karsi kuresel direnis"
(another Ankara Report:)
Global resistance is growing... In Ankara (the capital city of Turkey) there was a solidarity protest with Prag on 26th Sept. Firstly there was a protest in front of the WB & IMF offices. Another protest took place in the city center. There was street theatre, music, etc. and we informed people about what is happening in Prag.
Izmir: Demonstration in the Konak Square with participation from 'Platform against global capital' and health workers union. # of particioants unknown.