[smygo] Latin America anti-neoliberal protests, October 2007 Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:16:30 -0600 (CST) * COLOMBIA: Workers, indigenous protest Uribe government, clash with police * COLOMBIA: Further unrest over allegations of election rigging * URUGUAY: Fishermen clash with police in Mar del Plata * ECUADOR: Amazon villagers force concessions in oil occupation * COLOMBIA: Man dons iron mask in poverty protest * BOLIVIA: Sex workers protest crackdown, sew lips together; protest wins results * TRINIDAD: Residents demand land deeds http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hIbOXqXj8l2HK7szfPcZ4c0v0JmwD8S6P1300 Colombians Protest Uribe Government Oct 10, 2007 BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Police clashed with hundreds of protesters who blocked roads and burned trucks in Colombia on Wednesday in demonstrations called by unions, farmers and indigenous groups who accuse the government of ties to right-wing militias. Picketers blocked traffic for hours on the Panamerican Highway in the southwestern state of Cauca, where at least 1,600 members of indigenous groups squared off against anti-riot police that came to clear the road, police said. Television images showed at least three trucks burning. Cauca police chief Col. Luis Camacho said at least two police officers and three protesters were injured in the violence, and another eight demonstrators were arrested. The clashes were part of nationwide demonstrations against President Alvaro Uribe's government called the Central Workers Union, Colombia's main labor federation. Tens of thousands of people participated in protests, including nearly 5,000 in Bogota, federation Vice President Fabio Arias said. Uribe has capitalized on his popularity for pushing back leftist rebels and bringing down one of the world's highest kidnapping and murder rates. http://www.narconews.com/Issue47/article2832.html Chronicle of Resistance in Colombia, October 8-10 Police Brutality, Military Offensives and Government Intimidation as Protests Break Out Across the Country By the Human Rights Commission National Coordination of Agrarian and Popular Organizations of Colombia October 12, 2007 Bulletin #1 >From the Human Rights Commission of the National Coordination of Agrarian and Popular Organizations of Colombia To the National and International Community In the departments (states) of Tolima, central Colombia; Putumayo, southwestern Colombia, and Arauca, eastern Colombia, The Colombian state, as part of its strategy of military and paramilitary terror, is illegally and arbitrarily imprisoning, accusing, stigmatizing, terrorizing and attacking humble rural citizens, the indigenous, Afro-Colombians and students - as well las their organizations - who have been taking part in the national agrarian and popular mobilization that will take place on October 10, 11 and 12, 2007, throughout Colombian territory. All these acts of state terrorism are meant to affect the process of mobilization against the current regime of terror and misery to which the great majority of Colombians are subjected. The state is using both legal and illegal actions toward this end. This information is based on reports from the affected communities Events: Tolima Department On October 8, in the municipality (county) of Rioblanco, the High Mountain Infantry Battalion #17, under the command of General Josi Domingo Caicedo, detained brothers Manuel Hernandez and Anselmo Hernandez as they were driving in a private car. The army claims the detained youths must stay with the battalion for their obligatory military service. On October 9, in the municipality of Prado, at approximately 12:30 p.m., members of the Root Battalio detained Hernando Hernandez, Edgar Ruiz, Wilfredo Garcma and Dani Gonzalez, claiming the young farmers all needed to report for military service. At a point on the road to the municipality of Cajamarca known as La Cuchilla, members of the Root Battalion also detained peasant farmers Josi Ocampo and Josi Miguel Quevedo for the purpose of drafting them. Hours later, the two were released on the condition that they not participate in the mobilization. The municipality of Santa Isabel has been completely blockaded and left incommunicado. The people are unable to leave the municipality, and the bus and taxi companies have express orders not to provide service. In the municipality of Saldaqa, at 3 p.m., four cars were detained by soldiers from the 6th Brigade. A similar situation exists in the nearby indigenous reservation, where young men are also currently being drafted into military service. In the municipality of Venadillo, at 4:49 p.m., military forces have blockaded the roads from the villages of La Argentina, La Esperanza and El Salto to the main city of Ibaqui. In the road between Caparral and El Limsn municipalities, members of the Caicedo Batallion detained two cars transporting several peasant farmers to the mobilization. The number of people detained and arrested now stands at approximately 200. In the municipality of Coyaima, in the indigenous reservation of Guayaquil, members of the 6th Brigade of the National Army are carrying out a food blockade of that community. Two cars were detained at 5:00 p.m. on the road between Castilla and Coyaima by soldiers drafting young men who are participating in the mobilization. The detained were indigenous men from the reservations of San Jabonda, Ilarquito, San Diego, Cacique and Calarca. The army also retained several townspeople's identification papers. In the municipality of Purificacisn, a military roadblock has been set up and the police are threatening demonstrators talking of a supposed investigation against them. There is also a military roadblock in the municipality of Cajamarca, with the intent of blocking the farmers from leaving. The community of San Juan de la China, in the municipality of Anzuategui was intimidated by the army and told not to participate in the mobilization. This act was directed most of all at the leaders. In the village of Honduras, members of the army confiscated food and supplies for the mobilization from the townspeople. Putumayo Department On the morning of October 8, in the village of Siberia, Orito municipality, mayor Berta Ligia Pantoja expressed to the peasant-farmer leaders that she was 'receiving pressure to forcibly remove the peaceful concentration of peasant farmers" there. She offered to wait until Wednesday, October 10, for a meeting between national and local government spokespeople and delegates of the protesting communities, hoping to find a way to reach agreements to solve the economic and social crisis in the area. At the school in the village of Santa Lucia, also in Orito municipality, the peaceful rural protest was, beginning at 2 p.m., brutally suppressed by special forces of the anti-narcotics police, counter-insurgency forces, and ESMAD riot police. Arriving by both land and helicopter, they attacked the community using tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds against the demonstrators. This caused an unknown number of injuries, including both rubber and live bullet wounds, gashes from machetes, broken bones and injuries caused by clubs wrapped in barbed wire. Arauca Department On October 8, in the village of Aguachica, Arauquita municipality, at 3 a.m., unknown assailants working in coordination with the 18th Brigade took brothers Josi Aurelio Beltran, 23, and Pedro Josi Beltran, 24 from their homes. According to members of the community, the assailants were driving a truck. At 5:15 a.m., the brothers were brutally murdered. The same day, at 1:30 p.m., assassins from the same group that killed the Beltran brothers murdered Mr. Gratiniano Argote, founder of the village of Aguachica, who had always been known as a humble servant of the community and for his gift for talking to people. These crimes in the department of Arauca are added to the more than five extra-judicial executions perpetrated in the town of Pueblo Nuevo and neighboring villages in the municipality of Tame, murders denounced in a timely fashion by the communities and human rights organizations. The authorities and oversight agencies have done nothing to prevent them. These events have occurred in a department with major military presence (including the 18th Bridage) and the policy of "Democratic Security." Faced with the pressure and attacks of state military and paramilitary groups who apply repressive measures with the goal of affecting the organizational process and political action that the organizations in Tolima, Putumayo and Arauca have been preparing - and with the fact that today, like yesterday, the exercise of civil and political rights will provoke a violent reaction from the Colombian state - we hope that today, unlike yesterday, the peoples of the world break the silence and join in all forms of solidarity available to them against the actions this regime has historically taken against the Colombian people. WE DEMAND OF THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: a.. That it carry out its mandate as overseer of the Colombian state's fulfillment of its constitutional obligations and International Human Rights Law; OF THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT a.. The immediate fulfillment of the repeated recommendations on respect and observance of International Human Rights Law as formulated by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Inter-American Human Rights Commission, and other international organizations, b.. That it cease the repressive measures and attacks to which the communities of Chaparral, Prado, Santa Isabel, Boqueron, Coyaima, Purificacisn, Castilla and Anzuategui, in the department of Tolima, are being subjected by the regular and irregular forces of the Colombian state, c.. That it guarantee the rights to life, physical and psychological integrity, free movement, free association and protest of the citizens of Tolima; OF THE DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNMENTS OF TOLIMA, PUTUMAYO AND ARAUCA a.. That they cease the repressive measures and attacks to which the communities of Chaparral, Prado, Santa Isabel, Boqueron, Coyaima, Purificacisn, Castilla and Anzuategui, in the department of Tolima, are being subjected by the regular and irregular forces of the Colombian state, b.. That they guarantee the rights to life, physical and psychological integrity, free movement, free association and protest of the citizens of these departments; OF THE OFFICE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN a.. That it fulfill its institutional role as overseer of respect by the regular and irregular forces of the Colombian state for the constitutional rights to life and legitimate protest of the communities of the mentioned departments and municipalities. WE REQUEST OF THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: As part of the fulfillment of its mandate, that it take all action possible to ensure that the actions of the Colombian government comply with the internal and external norms that it has committed to respect, and that it begin all necessary investigations into volations of these norms. We appeal to the human rights groups and popular organizations, that they remain ready and alert with respect to the critical human rights situation faced by the Colombian people, and especially to the immanent repression and risk to the communities, organizations and leaders who are participating in the national agrarian and popular mobilization of October 2007. Human Rights Commission of the National Coordination of Agrarian and Popular Organizations of Colombia October 10, 2007 http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/?link=newsPage&story=54 Riots hit Colombia Government buildings in the town of Cienaga de Oro have been burnt down in protest at electoral fraud. Allegations of fraud in Sunday's regional elections in Colombia have caused protests around the country including serious rioting in some towns. Already one protester has been killed and the army has been sent into the streets to restore order. In Sucre department huge protests are being held against alleged vote rigging that ensured that a candidate linked to paramilitary groups was elected as Governor. According to Colombian daily newspaper 'El Tiempo' the protests are aimed almost exclusively at candidates from pro-government parties and particularly those from the 'Party of the U', the political party closest to President Alvaro Uribe. Major protests include: 7 Rioting in Cienaga de Oro in Cordoba department against the election of Plinio D'Paola of the 'Party of the U'. At least 20 people have been injured and 18-year-old Luis Roberto Bedoya was shot and killed. Protesters chanting that the elections were rigged in favour of the pro-Uribe candidate burnt down municipal government offices as well as the home of Mr D'Paola's parents. 7 The army has been sent into the town of Cimitarra in Santander department to quell protests against the election of pro-Uribe Herman Rodriguez Guerrero as mayor. The protesters, who have destroyed the mayor's residence, are also alleging fraud. 7 Government offices have been torched in Alto del Rosario in Bolivar department during protests against the election of Emiro Antonio Carpio of the 'Party of the U'. 7 Clashes with police have also occurred over claims that 'Party of the U' candidates were fraudulently elected in Orocue (Casanare department), Florida and Pradera (Valle department), Castilla la Nueva and San Carlos de Guaroa (Meta department) and Galapa and Alto del Rosario (Atlantico department). 7 In the town of Regidor in Bolivar department, violence also erupted on Sunday when residents confronted politicians who were bringing carloads of voters in from the neighbouring departments of Santander and Cesar to vote in the town. 7 El Tiempo reports (read here) that protests have occurred in at least seven other towns. Perhaps the biggest protests have occurred in Sucre department where serious allegations of fraud have been made concerning the election of Jorge Barraza as the new Governor of the department. Police and soldiers have been firing into the air to try and disperse demonstrators in the city of Sincelejo and the towns of Sucre and La Mojana. Barraza, also of the 'Party of the U', has received the backing of three politicians who are currently in jail for their links with paramilitaries and was listed in a recent investigations as having a 'high risk' of paramilitary connections. The opposition Liberal Party has threatened legal action if his apparent victory is not declared null and void. http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=11589&formato=HTML Thursday, October 11, 2007 Direct Link: http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=11589&formato=html Registered User Log-In E-Mail: Password: Striking fishermen clash with riot police in Mar del Plata Argentine striking fishermen clashed on Thursday with the police following a rampage against fish processing plants in Mar del Plata. Protestors were trying to convince fellow workers of Argentina's main fishing industry city to join the stoppage. Incidents begun when strikers assembled outside the main offices of Coaport, a federation of fishing cooperatives, tried to break in violently. Riot police moved in with batons, tear gas and finally rubber bullets as the occupants of the building resisted with stones and pieces of furniture. A primary police report indicated that several people were slightly injured and one striker arrested for attacking a policeman. Nobel Peace prize winner Adolfo Perez Esquivel who happened to be in Mar del Plata for a Book Show mediated in the incident helping to establish a precarious dialogue, according to local press. Striking fishermen are demanding higher salaries and a full incorporation of part time workers by companies. The ongoing conflict has been particularly violent and last September 27 one of the strikers was shot. On this background and following the announcement of demonstrations schools in the fishing industry district of the city were closed for the day. The demonstrations coincide with the industry-trade unions' talks being held in Buenos Aires under the auspices of Argentina's Labor Ministry which decreed a truce period for the two months conflict. Fisheries Secretary Gerardo Nieto has warned fishing companies that if they don't normalize contract conditions for their workers in processing plants they could be exposed to a non renewal of fishing licences. In related news a visiting delegation from the Xunta of Galicia, Spain confirmed that several of the Spanish companies' plants in Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz province, which were torched by striking fishermen and suffered damages estimated in 100 million Euros, remain mostly inactive. The Xunta's chairman Migule Lopez Sieiro currently visiting Buenos Aires said that although the Argentine government promised compensations "in the medium term", the Galician companies Vieira, Argenova, PEscargen and Santa Cruz have had difficulties in resuming production fearing further incidents. Furthermore it was revealed that the few fishing vessels of those companies that continue to operate are doing most of their catch landings in other ports. http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1843288620071018 Ecuador ends Amazon oil protest, reports losses Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:03pm BST Email This Article | Print This Article | Digg | Single Page [-] Text [+] Market News Congo panel says 61 mining contracts not viable More Business & Investing News... QUITO, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Ecuador reached a deal with protesters in the oil-rich Amazon region to end a three-day protest that cost the country 26,227 barrels of crude and $2 million in revenues, the state company said on Thursday. Petroecuador said in a statement that its daily output was down to 155,364 barrels on Thursday from last week's average of 174,124 barrels. It said it will take eight days to reach normal production levels. Earlier this week dozens of villagers in the Shushufindi region in the Sucumbios province blocked roads leading to key oil fields operated by Petroecuador. The company said the blockage prevented workers and needed fuel to reach oil facilities. Government negotiators late on Wednesday agreed to some of the villagers' demands for more jobs. Repeated oil demonstrations in the poor Amazon jungle have slashed output of both private and state companies in South America's fifth largest oil producer. http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jjTaU-qoPYb0wwYLmiz90D2jZ6bw Iron-masked protest Oct 21, 2007 An unemployed man in Colombia has sewn shut his mouth and locked himself behind an iron mask to demand the government attends to his family's desperate economic plight. Luis Miguel Aldana, 52, said he adopted the peculiar form of protest five days ago after being locked out of his flat in Bogota. Instead of paying two months' rent, Aldana said he bought shoes for his three children. http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Bolivian-prostitutes-suspend-protest/2007/10 /27/1192941371886.html Bolivian prostitutes suspend protest October 27, 2007 - 5:34AM Advertisement The intervention of a legislator led Bolivian prostitutes on Friday to suspend their drastic protest over the closing of brothels in the city of El Alto. Scores of the city's prostitutes started a hunger strike on Monday at a health centre, and three of the women had their lips sewn shut under partial anaesthesia at the clinic on Wednesday in protest. The women also drew blood from their bodies to write protest slogans. They were planning to be buried in caskets in grounds belonging to the municipality of El Alto. "We trust the good faith of legislator Guillermo Mendoza, who is keen on finding a solution," Lily Cortez, the leader of about 500 affected prostitutes in El Alto, said on Friday. Last week, violent protests led to the plundering and arson of the city's brothels. Under pressure from residents, city authorities decided to close all brothels, where women receive clients in exchange for about $US2.50 ($A2.76). City authorities closed about 20 brothels and 30 bars, after angry residents demonstrated for weeks against the brothels on the so-called "Sin Street" in El Alto's red light district. Protesters said the businesses had a bad influence on young men and attracted crime. Prostitutes accused the demonstrators of hypocrisy, saying most of their clients are family men. El Alto Mayor Fanor Nava said Thursday that 370 bars and 20 brothels have been authorised to operate. However, he noted that the city has "over 1,500 clandestine bars and an undetermined number of dating brothels". El Alto, with 870,000 residents, is 4,000 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It is above La Paz, the seat of government in the Andean country. Together, both cities constitute a metropolis of 2.5 million people, the largest region in Bolivia. http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/bolivian-hooker.html Bolivian sex workers sew lips together in protest Prostitutes have sewn their lips together to protest a crackdown on brothels in El Alto, Bolivia, according to Reuters. "We are fighting for the right to work and for our families' survival," Lily Cortez, leader of the El Alto Association of Nighttime Workers, is quoted as saying. "Tomorrow we will bury ourselves alive if we are not immediately heard. The mayor will have his conscience to answer to if there are any grave consequences, such as the death of my comrades." In addition to the 10 women who sewed their mouths shut, the wire service says 30 others are fasting inside a local medical clinic. Last week, AFP reported that the women were threatening to parade nude through the streets of La Paz. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161226244 Las Cuevas residents protest long wait for deeds Kristy Ramnarine kramnarine@trinidadexpress.com Thursday, November 1st 2007 WANT ACTION: A passer-by looks on as a group of Las Cuevas residents display their placards during yesterday's protest in front of UDeCOTT's Port of Spain office on Dundonald Street. A group of Las Cuevas residents protested outside the Port of Spain offices of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) yesterday morning. The residents are upset over a seven-year delay by UDeCOTT in providing them with deeds to lands, which they purchased at Rincon East and North Las Cuevas. "We started paying for out lands in 2001. We are finished paying for it but we are still waiting on our deeds," resident Scipio De Lorme told the Express as he showed his receipts. While the protest action was taking place an official at UDeCOTT called the residents into a meeting. After approximately 45 minutes resident Ignatius Walters came out of the meeting and said an agreement had been arrived at with one of the corporation's managers. "Apparently they have been hearing that we were having a protest and they have decided to resolve the problem," he said. When asked what assurances UDeCOTT gave to them he said: "They are going to give us a written statement saying that the deeds are going to be handed out by (tomorrow)." Walters said the 18 residents who have already completed paying for their lands will receive deeds while the others will receive when they are finished paying for the land. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]