CINA

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THE "top story" in the int'l media since Sunday:

THE UPRISING IN GREECE

Athens is burning. Riots all over Greece.

Violence clashes between riot cops and protesters erupted today for a third day in Greece as anger over the fatal police shooting of a teenager continued to rage through major cities. Riot police fired tear gas at youths attacking a police station in the port city of Thessaloniki...
The city centre of Athens is devasted and burning, all over Greece thousands take to the streets due to the murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, by police.

 
On Saturday 6th of December at around 10pm, two Greek policemen were in patrol in a central street by Exarchia square, in the center of Athens. They had a verbal argument with some young people who were there. During the argument, one of the cops pulled his gun and shot the 16-year-old Alexandros twice. The victim was moved to Evangelismos Hospital to be found dead. According to eye-witnesses, the cop had been swearing against the young man, showing his genitals, before shooting him.

In a spontaneous response, thousands of people gathered in the centers of most of Greek cities. In Athens, people gathered outside Evangelismos Hospital, in order to prevent the cops from entering the building. A little later the riot police attacked in a street in Exarchia resulting to one person being arrested. The evening in Athens evolved with a spontaneous assembly in the Polytechnic University, a lot of riots in the whole center of Athens, including attacks against police departments and banks, until the early hours of the next morning. Meanwhile, a spontaneous demonstration took place, but were confronted by the riot police with tear gas. Three more University building, the Economic, the Pantion and the Law School have been occupied until Monday morning.

Rallies, demonstrations, direct actions and riots took place all around the country. In Thessaloniki, a big spontaneous demonstration took place, while 2 Police Departments were attacked, several bank departments were burnt and Egnatia str., the main street, was block by burning trash bins for hours. Reports have been also posted about actions in Yannena, Iraklio, Chania, Komotini, Mitilini, Xanthi, Serres, Sparta, Alexandroupolis and Volos.

Greek leftwing parties, teachers and students called for strikes and demonstrations for today, heightening pressure on authorities over the police killing.
The Communist Party (KKE) called for a demonstration on Monday afternoon at the main (Omonia) square in central Athens and the "Syriza Coalition" of radical left parties called a separate rally for later today at Athens University.
University and school students will stage a rally in Omonia Tuesday to protest against the shooting of Alexandros. 

Greek teachers and students started a three-day protest strike and several universities and almost all schools in Athens and Thessaloniki were to stay closed for at least two days. 

According to the mainstream media, two Ministers offered their resignation, but it was not accepted by the Prime Minister. The two policemen have already been detained and accused for murder, while they insist that the bullet was shot on the air to keep the young men away, but it was reverted by a metal label towards the stomach of the victim.

Meanwhile in several countries (UK, Austria, Cyprus, Germany..) solidarity activities with the struggle in Greece were/are taking place:

Berlin, 12.8: from the late morning until the afternoon about

50 activists occupied the Greek consulate...

Related articles/pictures:

☞ Greek cities tense after rioting (al-Jazeera, 12.8)

☞ Riots in Greece after police kill teenager (Guardian, 12.8)

☞ 12.7 Riots in Greece (pics, Indy Athens)

☞ Greece's angry youth (Photo Gallery, al-Jazeera)

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"The current economic slowdown is hitting the job market for foreigners, as thousands of foreign workers face being laid off, the Ministry of Labor (MoL) said..", today's Korea Times wrote.

But while the S.K. gov't, i.e. the Ministry of "Justice" in collaboration with the MoL, will continue to deport undocumented migrant workers (K. Times, 12.7), the MoL "will also notify the employers of the government support funds they could receive if they replace their undocumented workers with legal domestic workers..", Korea Herald (12.7) reported.

Related articles:
☞ More Foreign Workers Face Layoff (K. Times, 12.7)

More migrant workers change workplaces (K. Herald, 12.7)

The number of migrant workers who found new workplaces increased by 171 percent to 1,149 in October from 673 in the same month of last year, government officials said yesterday.

The increase mostly resulted from the financial difficulties experienced by their previous companies, the Labor Ministry said.

This indicates that the economic downturn here is most likely to reduce jobs, not only for the domestic workforce, but also for migrant workers who came to Korea to look for better working opportunities.

Although eight out of 10 migrant workers are hired at workplaces with less than 30 employees, those businesses are not exempt from being impacted by the sluggish economy, according to ministry officials.

In reality, the total number of businesses employing migrant workers saw a 6.6 percent drop from 44,667 in 2007 to 41,729 in 2008, ministry officials said.

Meanwhile, it has been discovered that some small and mid-sized firms are suffering from a lack of workforce as the government sent 8,000 foreign workers back to their native countries by force after it started its raid on undocumented workers in October.

The ministry plans to dispatch a support team to the areas populated with undocumented workers to find out the details on the required foreign workforce, said Lee Jae-kap, director-general of the employment policy division at the ministry.

The teams will also notify the employers of the government support funds they could receive if they replace their undocumented workers with legal domestic workers, officials said.

The ministry will grant those enterprises with 1.2 million won per case, said ministry officials, adding that the funds will only be given once per firm.

"We hope this will result in an increase of workplaces, replacing positions filled by undocumented workers with domestic workers, while securing the rights of documented foreign labor living here," Lee said.

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Today's Hankyoreh reported following (*):

Progressives launch coalition focused on

improving social welfare
 

Conference announces ambitious list of policy goals, but having so many different interests represented could be an obstacle

Progressive and reformist elements dispirited since the “candlelight” died down have gathered together again. The “Conference of Political Parties, Civic Groups, and Important Figures from Various Circles for Overcoming the Economic and People’s Welfare Crisis” was officially launched at the National Assembly office building December 4. Some 300 people were in attendance. Park Seok-un of the progressive group Jinbo Corea read a report on developments leading up to the event, and the opening remarks by representatives of various areas of progressivism included comments by Civil Society Organizations’ Network in Korea Chairperson Lee Hak-yeong, Korea Confederation of Trade Union vice Chairwoman Jin Yeong-ok, National Confederation of Farmers Conferences (Jeonnong) Chairperson Han Do-suk, and Korea Youth Corps President Chun Jun-ho.

Five political parties participated in the conference: the Democratic, Democratic Labor, Renewal of Korea, New Progressive and Socialist Parties. Civic groups and organizations in civil society that participated included most of the country’s progressive organizations, including the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society, Korean Women’s Association United, and Green Korea United. Also present were representatives from the KCTU, Jeonnong, the National Union of Media Workers, the National Association of Professors for Democratic Society, and others.

Where to go from here? An Jin-geol, general secretary for policy at the National Congress for the Welfare of the People and Democracy said it is “about being a temporary union for the popular welfare.” It is a policy union, he said, not a political confederation that could be characterized as “anti-Grand National Party” or “Alliance for democracy”.

At the meeting, participants announced “three major directions” and “ten policies.”

The “three major directions” the conference wants are to have the “chaebeol conglomerates and the wealthy share the burden,” have state spending concentrate on “improving the well-being of the common people and the middle class,” and have the conference facilitate the “great awakening of President Lee Myung-bak and the complete reform of the way the country is governed.”

The “ten major policies” include some that are very specific, including “the creation of one million jobs of 20 million won a year by injecting 20 trillion won,” “making unemployment payments go longer than one year and six months and have the amount be more realistic,” an “end to the attempt to extend the period of employment for irregular workers,” provide “guaranteed loans for families that own only one house and an extension of maturity periods on those and educational loans, and lower interest rates,” and “the use of the whole of the 2.3 trillion won surplus at the National health insurance for lowering hospital costs and for greater health insurance guarantees.”

Will it happen? It will not be easy. If policy proposals are to be implemented they need to be reflected in the budget. The success of this “union of policy”, therefore, depends on the Democratic Party, since it forms a “negotiating group” on the National Assembly floor. The party’s chairman, Chung Sye-kyun, in his address to the conference, pledged to “go on a budget struggle until the end of December and definitely block anti-democratic laws” from passing. But there is no knowing how long the party will be able to endure the public relations offensive coming from the ruling Grand National Party and conservative news media, which accuse it of holding the budget hostage and ruining state affairs in the process.

Another obstacle is the fact that the participating parties and groups have different interests. The New Progressive Party wants a “union opposing neoliberalism,” while some elder members of the progressive movement are interested in policy about North Korea.

The road ahead will be a long one if the conference is to have the momentum it needs to implement the progressive and reformist values it seeks to have make a difference. It is also too early to have former President Kim Dae-jung and some in the Democratic Party talking about a “democratic union.”

“This is the first point of departure for inspiring hope, and getting beyond the desperation,” said Park Seok-un.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/325869.html

Related articles, published by Chamsesang and KCTU:
☞ 비상시국회의(연석회의) 개최, 민주대연합 씨앗? (12.4)

☞ '민주대연합'의 트라우마가 부른 과잉 논쟁 (12.5)  

☞ 정당·시민단체·각계인사 "민생대책마련" 한목소리 (12.4)

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 vs.

6 : 1

"America outspends China on defense by a margin of more than six to one, the Pentagon estimates. In another strategic dimension, though, China already holds a six-to-one advantage over the United States. Thirty-six million Chinese children study piano today, compared to only 6 million in the United States. The numbers understate the difference, for musical study in China is more demanding.

   It must be a conspiracy. Chinese parents are selling plasma-screen TVs to America, and saving their wages to buy their kids pianos - making American kids stupider and Chinese kids smarter.." (in "China’s six-to-one advantage over the US", Asia Times, 12.2) ^^ 

PS:
Yesterday's Guardian (UK) published following impressive report:
☞ United States - The Road to Ruin

Bye, bye..

..USA!!

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Yesterday's "top story" in S. Korea:

 "The 12.2 Imjingak Riot"
 

Today's Hankyoreh reported following about the "event":

Leaflet release ends with violence

 
Progressive and conservative groups clash over release of leaflets to N. Korea

One person has been injured and one person has been arrested by police after progressive and conservative groups clashed over the launching of anti-North Korea leaflet balloons.

According to statements by members of both sides, six members from the conservative Fighters for Free North Korea and Abductees’ Family Union had planned to go to “Freedom Bridge” on the outskirts of Paju City on Tuesday to airlift 100,000 leaflets using 10 hot air balloons.

Approximately 40 members of the progressive group Jinbo Corea (Progressive Korea) had already arrived at the site, however, and were holding a press conference denouncing the leaflet offensive. The group members said the “sending of leaflets slandering the North” by “anti-North groups” is “a violation of the agreement to stop mutual slander along the Military Demarcation Line, agreed to after the June 15 Joint Statement” that “is making inter-Korean relations, already poor, even more difficult.”

The conservatives arrived in a truck about ten minutes later and a clash ensued. Park Sang-hak, 40, head of the Fighters for Free North Korea, fired a tear-gas pistol into the air.

Another man from the same organization in charge of the balloon detail swung a wrench at people. Some 50 police officers positioned themselves between the two groups, but one of the progressive activists had already been injured, later receiving six stitches in hospital. The conservative activist who had been swinging the wrench was placed under arrest.

Despite obstruction from the progressives, the conservative groups managed to launch one balloon carrying ten thousand leaflets. Members of the progressive organization made off with some of the leaflets that had remained in the conservatives’ truck.

“The other side incited us first by demanding to know who was kidnapped by North Korea,” said Choi Sung-yong, the head of the Abductees’ Family Union. “We are going to launch leaflets as often as we can until the issue of the abducted is resolved.”

Jeong Yong-jun of Jinbo Corea told a different story.

“We didn’t go there for a clash, but the conservative groups came at us with violence,” he said. “The government needs to stop just saying that it is going to restrain the launching of leaflet balloons and take actual action.”

Jinbo Corea says it is going to file a legal complaint with the police against Park for firing a tear-gas pistol and the member of his organization for swinging the wrench.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/325413.html

And from today's (bourgeois) Korea Herald:

N. Korea leaflets foment ideological clash

An ideological conflict has formed over the sending of anti-North Korea leaflets by South Korean activists into the North's territory.

Dozens of South Korean conservative and liberal activists scuffled yesterday at Imjingak near the western inter-Korean border, as the latter group tried to derail the former's attempt to send the propaganda pamphlets into the North.

A group of North Korean defectors here and family members of South Koreans kidnapped by the North gathered at the venue again earlier in the day to fly balloons that carry 100,000 anti-North leaflets and a thousand one-dollar bills into the communist soil.

However, their plan was blocked by another group of 40 liberal activists who also showed up on the scene to thwart the leaflet flying.

The liberals charged that the spreading of the leaflets would further aggravate inter-Korean ties, which have already deteriorated under the conservative Lee Myung-bak government. Their argument was in line with the liberal Democratic Party's criticism on the leaflet dissemination on Monday. The DP labeled the conservative activists as traitors to South Korea, accusing them of heightening tensions between the South and the North.

Members from both sides were engaged in a fierce physical collision after the liberal members forcefully seized balloons and leaflets belonging to the conservative group from a truck. Conservative members shot blanks from a gas pistol.

Police deployed on scene tried to calm the situation, and the flyer sending was delayed for hours.

"The leaflets would put pressure on the North to return to dialogue with South Korea," said Choi Sung-yong, leader of the union representing family members of kidnapped South Koreans.

Choi said their actions are also taken in retaliation to the communist North's recent measures to tighten up border control against South Korea..

More reports about the "event" you can read/see here:
☞ Groups scuffle with protesters as they send leaflets into N. Korea (Yonhap)

☞ Brawl Near Koreas' Border (WaPo's article)

☞ S. Korean Activists Clash Near DMZ (WaPo, video)  

☞ "다 죽여버리겠어"..가스총 쏘고 스패너로 내리치고 (민중의소리)  

☞ 삐라살포단체, 진보단체 회원들 폭행 (VoP, video)

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Last Sunday (11.30) NepalNews published following article:

CPN(M) introducing 'codes for simple living' for CA members

The Maoists are introducing code of ethics detailing 'simple lifestyle' for its Constituent Assembly (CA) members, reports Kantipur daily.

The daily reports that the codes include restriction on spending in mobile phones, vehicles and clothes.

Henceforth, the Maoist CA members would not be permitted to buy mobile sets worth over Rs 10,000. While central committee members will be allowed to keep three sets, the CA members will have to keep not more than two sets.

The code of ethics prepared by senior leader Post Bahadur Bogati also restricts Maoist CA members from buying foreign clothes. They will have to make do with domestic produce as far as possible.

Regarding the vehicle-type, the code says that they could buy relatively cheaper battery-run Chinese bikes.

The CA members will have to stay in groups and will have to use public transport. They are not allowed to take part in programmes held in star-hotels and not accept expensive gifts, among others.

The codes are being prepared amid criticisms that Maoist leaders were starting to lead opulent lifestyles opposed to their proletarian philosophy.

http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/nov/nov30/news01.php

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As announced last Friday, yesterday afternoon a small protest rally took place in front of Seoul Station to support the struggle of migrant workers in S.K. against the increasing wave of crackdown terror..

MWTV already produced and published a short documentary about the event and you can watch it here!

Almost at the same time a bunch of reactionary idiots (racists!!) demanded from the LMB administration a "stronger crackdown" on migrant workers in S.K.  Just see the following "reports" in the bourgeois media..

..by Yonhap (via today's reactionary daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo):

Migrant workers, civic group hold dueling rallies

Migrant workers hold posters yesterday denouncing the immigration crackdown on illegal workers and calling for full labor rights at a rally at Seoul Station. Around 300 workers attended the rally.
   Meanwhile, a Korean civic group simultaneously held a rally in Daehangno, Seoul, to urge the government to come down harder on illegal workers. The conservative group argued that illegal migrant workers should be deported to protect Koreans’ job security. The two groups denounced each other.

..by Korea Times (11.30):

Searching for a scapegoat?

Economic hard times have cornered migrant workers in Korea. With the jobless rate growing, ultra conservatives have begun to chant for ousting foreign workers, who complain about the escalation of a crackdown.

   In the left photo, a member of the “Alliance for Coping With Foreign Laborers,” a civic group opposing the employment of migrant workers holds a one-man rally Sunday to call for the deportation of foreign employees overstaying their visas, on the plaza in front of Seoul Station, where migrant workers also rallied to denounce the government’s recent crackdown on illegal foreign workers. In the right photo, foreign workers chant slogans calling for the government to stop cracking down on foreign workers.