23개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.
Class Struggle: "That's Fun!"
Last year's fall French progressive/left activists have found a new way to grab the headlines in protest at the decreasing purchase power of the Euro in their pockets - the picnic protest. The collective "L'appel et la pioche", literally "The call and the pick axe" (a play on words - "Shovel and Pick"), use text messaging to organise flash mob gatherings in targeted supermarkets.
They spread out a picnic in one of the aisles using goods from the supermarket's shelves and invite shoppers to join them until the police or security guards arrive. The collective aim to publicise the situation of low income workers hit by the effects of the credit crunch and France's "Génération Y", possibly the first group of young people in centuries who are likely to face a standard of living lower than their parents'.
Low-income workers have a picnic among shoppers using food taken from the aisles a giant
super market in Bagnolet, near Paris, during a protest action last October..
..several dozen people from "L'Appel et la Pioche" entered a supermarket, selected food items
without paying, and ate a picnic amongst shoppers to protest rising food prices and low salaries.
Last month (1.25) The Observer (UK) published following report about the activities of "L'appel et la pioche":
French left pioneers a radical new tactic: the picnic protest
Activists take food off the shelves and invite shoppers to dine with them to highlight the plight of 'Generation Y'
In exactly a week's time, in a supermarket somewhere in or around Paris, a couple of dozen young French activists are going to choose an aisle, unfold tables, put on some music and, taking what they want from the shelves, start a little picnic. The group "L'Appel et la Pioche" (The call and the pick axe) will have struck again - fruit and veg, dairy or the fish counter will have been transformed into a flash protest against global capitalism, rampant consumerism, bank bail-outs, poor housing, expensive food, profit margins and pretty much everything else that is wrong in the world.
The "supermarket picnic" will go on for as long as it can - before the security guards throw the activists out or the police arrive. Shoppers will be invited to join in, either bringing what they want from the shelves or just taking something lifted lightly from among the crisps, sweets or quality fruit already on the tables.
"L'Appel et la Pioche" have struck four times so far and have no intention of stopping what they claim is a highly effective new way of protesting.
"Everyone is bored of demonstrations. And handing out tracts at 6am at a market is neither effective nor fun," said Leïla Chaïbi, 26, the leader of the group. "This is fun, festive, non-threatening and attracts the media. It's the perfect way of getting our message across."
Linked to a new left-wing political party committed to a renewal of politics and activism, Chaïbi's group represents more than just a radical fringe and has been gaining nationwide attention.
A veteran of fights to get pay and better conditions for young people doing work experience, Chaïbi claims to represent millions of young Frenchmen and women who feel betrayed by the system.
"We played the game and worked hard and got a good education because we were told we would get a flat and a job at the end of it. But it wasn't true," said Victor, 34, another member of the group. "We have huge difficulty getting a proper job and a decent apartment."
Chaïbi, who works on short-term contracts in public relations and is currently looking for work, told the Observer that the group's aspirations were limited. "I am not asking for thousands and thousands of euros a month as a salary or a vast five-room apartment. Just something decent."
In recent years, the problems of France's "Generation Y" or "babylosers" have made headlines. As with many other European societies, after decades of growth, this is the first set of young people for centuries who are likely to have standards of living lower than their parents. According to recent research, in 1973, only 6% of recent university leavers were unemployed, currently the rate is 25-30%; salaries have stagnated for 20 years while property prices have doubled or trebled; in 1970, salaries for 50-year-olds were only 15% higher than those for workers aged 30, the gap now is 40%. The young are also likely to be hard hit by the economic crisis.
New ways of working mean new ways of demonstrating, too. "We are already on precarious short-term contracts, so there's no point in going on strike," said Chaïbi. "But a supermarket is very public and we make sure the media are there to cover our actions."
So far reactions have been good, the group claims. In one supermarket in a suburb of Paris, the activists say they got a spontaneous round of applause from the checkout workers. Elsewhere, security guards have been "friendly". Everywhere in France, the problem of a weakening "pouvoir d'achat" - the buying power of static wages - is a cause for resentment.
The economic crisis is further fuelling anger. Though not yet as badly hit as the UK, thanks to tighter regulation and much lower levels of personal borrowing, French businesses have still been laying off staff amid predictions of a massive rise in unemployment this year. Unions have been largely passive in the face of threatened redundancies, accepting go-slows to preserve jobs.
With the French Socialist party in disarray, alternative forms of political protest on the left, particularly a breakaway communist faction led by charismatic postman Olivier Besancenot, have made inroads. Protests about the homeless or against the expulsion of immigrants have largely taken place independently of the Socialist party, which is mired in feuds and ideological incoherence.
One new group is the Jeudi Noir, which organises heavily publicised squats of vacant buildings in Paris. Named Black Thursday after the day classified advertisements for flats appear, activists recently took over a clinic that has lain empty at the heart of the Left Bank for nearly five years.
"This is not just about finding myself somewhere to live," said Julien Bayou, 28, who is now living in one of the former clinic's offices. "We are making a political point. We just think it is wrong that a building in perfect condition should be empty for years when so many people need somewhere to live."
Chaïbi sat in the kitchen of the former clinic. "It's not just about the supermarkets," she said. "It's about fighting the system."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/25/france-picnic-protests-appel-pioche
The following article in today's Hankyoreh is drawing attention to the "slightly tense relationship" (^^) between the LMB administration (i.e. the prosecution/police) and the Federation Against House Demolition/Jeoncheolyeon (JCY), especially since the Yongsan Massacre and the following - and ongoing - protests. Well, you also might call it simply: The (increasing) State Terror against JCY!!
Prosecution intensifies its investigation into
demolition protest group
Group’s involvement in past demonstrations against redevelopment projects will likely be examined
The prosecution is intensifying its investigation into the Federation Against House Demolition (Jun Chul Yun/Jeoncheolyeon), the organization accused of spearheading the anti-urban development protest in Yongsan last month that left five civilians and one policeman dead following a fire ignited in the course of the protest. The jurisdiction for the probe has been handed off from the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office’s criminal division, which was in charge of investigating the fire, and passed to the public safety division.
In an emergency question and answer session at the National Assembly related to the tragic Yongsan blaze, Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han said, “Prosecutors are investigating Jun Chul Yun, which turned out to be behind (the protest). They will soon uncover every part of the truth.”
Kim Hee-kwan, a prosecutor in charge of the probe, added, “Our public safety team is investigating allegations raised against Jun Chul Yun. Everything deemed to be illegal will be checked.” This means that the prosecution will expand the scope of its investigation to include demonstrations against redevelopment projects with which the federation was involved in the past.
The investigative team will continue its efforts to arrest Nam Gyeong-nam, the head of Jun Chul Yun who is believed to be in hiding, but the public safety division will take over the investigation if Nam is not captured, a prosecutor said.
Yesterday, the prosecution arrested Chung Ju-seok, 47, who was treated at a hospital for injuries from the protest, and it plans to indict him along with Lee Choong-yeon, the head of the Countermeasure Committee for Displaced Tenants in Yongsan.
Also yesterday, civic and human rights groups held an all-night demonstration (in Myeong-dong). The groups called for the government to bring to justice those who are responsible for the deadly blaze. (*)
Before the demonstration began, the Committee Against the Brutal Suppression of the Yongsan Demolition Protest held a press conference at Myeong-dong Cathedral in central Seoul, demanding an immediate apology from President Lee Myung-bak and punishment of Seoul Police Chief Kim Seok-ki and Minister of Public Administration and Security Won Sei-hoon. Kim recently withdrew his name from consideration for the top post at the National Police Agency and Won is under consideration for the position of National Intelligence Agency director. The protest was attended by around 30 people, including Jeong Kwang-hoon, the head of the Korea Alliance for Progressive Movement, and Bae Eun-shim, the mother of the late Lee Han-yeol, the Yonsei University student activist who died during a 1987 protest and came to symbolize South Korea’s democracy movement.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/338354.html
* Related report:
☞ 용산참사 항의 철야 시국농성 돌입 (KCTU, 2.11)
Following (worth reading!!) article was published y'day on IMC S. Korea:
The Murderer Is Not guilty; Guilty Is the Victim?
The weird logic of the S. Korean prosecution
The result of the prosecution’s investigation is full of lies, exaggerations and distortions. They described that the evictee-strugglers acted like terrorists. They said the strugglers shot slingshots (not guns, just slingshots. The police might have been deadly scared of the slingshots, ha!) and they went as far as 160 meters (maybe they had rocket engines), and they set fires by spreading the paint thinner on water. (Does it mean that the strugglers set fire on thelselves???) Also, the prosecution assumed that Jun Chul Yun, or the Federation Against House Demolition maneuvered everything from behind the scene even though they are actually a spontaneous solidarity network of evictees. Based on all of these false allegations, they concluded that the police’s crackdown was reasonable.
As for the cause of the fire, the prosecution repeated that the fire was broken out by a molotov cocktail a protester had thrown. Moreover, they said that a movie they have in which someone is pouring some liquid is a proof that the protesters deliberately spread paint thinner. However, nobody knows who poured the liquid and whether it is paint thinner, or water the police had sprayed toward the strugglers.
Meanwhile, the prosecution announced that the police was not guilty and their operation was not illegal. The construction thugs’ obvious involvement in the murder was also covered up, too, despite the evident record of the conversation with the police by radio transmissions and a movie that shows a guy is spraying water cannons at the operation.
The prosecution distorted obvious facts and denied the truth. Finally they prosecuted 20 evictees for ‘obstructing police in carrying out their duties and causing death’ and no one from the police and was indicted. (A moment ago, the news reported that the Seoul Police Commissioner offered to resign.)
The evictees were ‘killed’ three times. The first time was when they were deprived of their houses, stores and restaurants in the name of “New Town” redevelopment project. The second was when they were killed by the police. Now they were killed again by the Korean prosecution’s lies and bias investigation.
On February 14 in Cheong-gye Square (*), Seoul, there will be another large candlelight vigil to mourn for the evictees’ death and protest against the police murder and forced eviction.
The police will definitely block around the square and crackdown us as they always do. However, they won’t be able to put out all of the candles we are holding with our hands and in our hearts.
http://indymedia.cast.or.kr/drupal/?q=ko/node/30
* ATTENTION: The rally will be in front of Yongsan Stn.!!
Police State Transformer
With President Lee Myung-bak at the helm, the prosecution and the police working from the inside,
and the National Intelligence Service listening in, this Transformer wields a water cannon and a
canister of tear gas. “It’s turning into more of a monster every day,” someone says.
(Hankyoreh cartoon, 2.11)
Related articles:
☞ Protesters to blame for fatal Yongsan fire: prosecutors (JoongAng Ilbo)
☞ Prosecution blames protesters for Yongsan tragedy.. (Hankyoreh)
Latest news:
☞ 용산참사 항의 철야 시국농성 돌입 (KCTU)
☞ "도의적 책임지고 사퇴할 사람은 MB" (VoP)
Before yesterday for the 3rd time since the Yongsan Massacre thousands of political, labour, human right and student activists, together with masses of "ordinary" citizens, protested against the S.K. government...
Today's Hankyoreh reported following about the event:
Police and protesters clash at Yongsan memorial events..
Police and civilians clashed on Saturday during a memorial event for the victims of last month’s police raid on anti-urban development protesters in Seoul’s Yongsan district. The gathering was the third of its kind held in central Seoul following the Yongsan tragedy, which left six people dead.
On Saturday, police arrested six people during the event organized by the People’s Committee to Protest against the Murderous Clampdown on the Yongsan Evictees, including a 25-year-old student only identified by his surname, Park.
Protesters were calling on the government to step up efforts to find and punish those responsible for the Yongsan tragedy.
Police sealed off Chonggye Plaza, where the memorial event was scheduled to be held, leaving protest participants to gather in front of the Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. at around 4 p.m. Approximately 5,000 people joined the event, and over 9,000 police officers were deployed, including members of the riot police. After the memorial event ended, participants attempted to move toward Cheong Wa Dae at around 5:50 p.m., when they clashed with police who were trying to stop them.
In Jongno and Myeong-dong, scuffles between protesters and police also broke out, with police firing water paint at protest participants. The crowd dispersed at around 10 p.m., and approximately 200 college students who had been protesting at Lotte Department store also departed the scene at around 11 p.m..
A memorial event was also held at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the People’s Committee had displayed pictures related to the Yongsan tragedy in central Seoul. The committee said it is planning to organize a large-scale demonstration on Monday, when the prosecution is scheduled to unveil the results of its investigation into the Yongsan incident. (*)
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/337673.html
* Surprise, Surprise! "No police executives will be indicted over the fatal crackdown on squatters in Yongsan last month, according to an investigation the prosecution wrapped up today. But 20 of the demonstrators - all of whom were rallying over what "insufficient compensation" for an urban renewal project - were indicted for obstructing official duties", Korea Herald reported today.
As usual: The victims are always to blame! Just remember the horrible Fire Disaster in Yeosu, where two years ago (**) 10 migrant workers were killed in the local deportation center. Back then the "authorities" (immigration office/ministry of justice..) also ultimately blamed the victims to be responsible for the tragedy.
Related:
☞ DP Calls for Reinvestigating Yongsan Clash (Korea Times)
** Please check out:
☞ 여수참사 2주기 전국 공동행동 (MTU)
Yesterday for the 3rd time since the Yongsan Massacre thousands (according to the police: 2,500, according to the organizers and the independent media: 5,000) of political, labour, human right and student activists, together with masses of "ordinary" citizens, protested in..
..downtown Seoul against the S.K. government.
Last Thursday the gov't already announced a "stern response to demonstrations on Yongsan tragedy", according to Hankyoreh (2.06).
And so the presence of the "security" forces was "slightly"(^^) oversized: From the afternoon until the late night at least 10,000 riot cops infested almost the entire area between Cheongye Plaza, Gwanghwamun/Jong-no and Myeong-dong, in order to inhibit/attack the protesters, to restrict their movements. "Six leading men were arrested and taken by the police for questioning", Korea Herald reported today.
But the "wittiest"(^^) tactic of the riot cops was to spatter citizens (e.g. parents with their children) and journalists with blue-collored water! But the sense escapes me! To mark "extra violent demonstrators" (e.g. parents with their children!!)? Or simply to soil the clothing of protesters (possibly "as a deterrent")??
Source of the pics: OMN
Related reports:
☞ 용산 살인진압 추모 2천여 명 명동 정리집회 (NewsCham)
☞ "검찰 수사발표일은 이명박 정권 명운 다하는 날" (VoP)
☞ "이명박은 물러가라, 사이코패스는 물러가라" (OMN)
☞ "철거민 살려내라" 경찰 포위 뚫고 도심 곳곳 '가득' (TIN)
From NepalNews (2.03):
Maoists for establishing communism through socialism
United CPN (Maoist), whose top leaders have time and again repeated their commitments for multi-party democracy, has said its ultimatum mission is to establish a communist system in Nepal.
A meeting of the Maoist parliamentary party held at Singh Durbar Monday passed its statute deciding to work for establishing communism through socialism.
The statute has been revised after unification with CPN Unity Center (Masal). The statute outlines the dos and don'ts for the party leaders.
It mentions that new constitution will be pro-people which the party believes will help attain communism in the long run.
The Maoist ministers attending the meeting briefed the lawmakers regarding the achievements of their ministries and the future plans.
As per the statute, parliamentary party leader and deputy leader can be removed through the vote of no-confidence. The party must call the parliamentary meeting within fifteen days if one fourth of the MPs make such a demand.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2009/feb/feb02/news13.php
Wow, what a scandal: The United CPN (M) wants to achieve "communism through socialism"!!^^
Hmmm.. But isn't it the ultimate goal of a ("truly") communists party??
So if the United CPN (M) wants to be/remain a communist party(*) it's just their duty to struggle until the achievement of communism(**)!
* Contrary to the revisionism, represented by the former "communist" parties of the one-time Eastern bloc (incl. Albania), the majority of the former "communist" parties in the capitalist states, the countries of the so-called "Third World" and - last but not least - the still ruling "communist" parties in Cuba, China, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea(!!!)..
** I.e. the classless, stateless and oppression-free society where decisions on what to produce and what policies to pursue are made democratically, allowing every member of society to participate in the decision-making process in both the political and economic spheres of life (Marx/Engels: Manifesto of the Communist Party).
Related:
☞ 공산당 선언
Since the Yongsan Massacre almost everyone, especially - surprise, surprise - the bourgeois media, in S.K.(*) is blaming the people/activists who were/are resisting the "redevelopment projects". And frequently the resistance became/becomes militant (occupying and fortifying buildings, hurling stones, bricks and molotov coctails etc.)..
But nobody is asking about the cause why they're becoming militant!
And that's the reason why: For example in Yongsan 4-gu since (at least) last year's fall several so-called "security guards" (i.e. organized gangs of criminals, today's Yonhap called them as "temporary police workers", hired by the construction companies, commissioned with the "redevelopment..") terrorized the entire neighborhood:
Physically..
..by a swath of destruction (i.e. real TERROR!!)
Psychologically..
..by bloody (voiced and written) Terror! Source of pics: Digital Grotto
Related:
☞ 용산 용역직원의 횡포 (ChamsesangTV)
☞ 폭행·영업방해 다반사... 공권력도 비켜갔던 '철거용역' (OMN)
☞ New video footage.. (Hankyoreh)
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