The Swiss vote yes to same-sex relationships and "Schengen/Dublin"

The Swiss people have voted a double yes in referenda to the proposals over same-sex partnerships and the Schengen/Dublin bilateral agreements. Overall they voted  58.03% for the same-sex partnerships and 54.60% for Schengen/Dublin.

The referendum of allowing the registration of same-sex partnerships was widely welcomed with the people voting 58.03%  Yes and 41.97% No. Same-sex partnerships are already legal in the cantons of Geneva and Zürich. The partnerships would carry many of the legal rights of marriage, with the exception of adoption rights and fertility treatments.

The referendum of the Schengen/Dublin bilateral agreement was initially accepted, despite growing resentment with the electorate. It was passed through with the people voting 54.60% Yes and 45.40% No. The agreement relaxes existing border controls between other participating nations in concert with the Schengen treaty, which is one of the competences for inclusion in the European Union.

The bilateral agreement also includes participation in the Dublin treaty, which defines a policy for handling asylum seekers within Schengen participating countries. Also stipulated by the agreements is the use of a unified "European Informatic System" for tracking people who are wanted, missing, or are illegal immigrants and also aims to stop traffic of illegal or stolen property.

Out of the big 4 main parties the centre-left Social Democrats, the liberal-right Free Democrats and the centre-right Christian Democrats have said yes to both proposals, however the populist-right Swiss People's Party have said no to both proposals.


Schweizer stimmen über Beitritt zum Schengener Abkommen ab

Bern (Schweiz), 05.06.2005 – 4,7 Millionen Schweizer Stimmberechtigte haben heute in einer Volksabstimmung über den Beitritt des Landes zum Schengener Abkommen und über ein Partnerschaftsgesetz zur Anerkennung gleichgeschlechtlicher Paare abgestimmt.

Sozialdemokraten, die Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei und die Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei unterstützen den Beitritt zum Schengener Abkommen. Die Schweizerische Volkspartei (SVP) lehnt beide Anträge ab.

Durch das neue Partnerschaftsgesetz würden gleichgeschlechtliche Partnerschaften im ganzen Land gesetzlich anerkannt. Die Kantone Genf und Zürich erlauben gleichgeschlechtliche Beziehungen bereits. Die Bischofskonferenz und die evangelischen Freikirchen empfahlen den Wählern das Partnerschaftsgesetz abzulehnen. 58,0 Prozent der Wähler stimmten für das Partnerschaftsgesetz.

Im Schengener Übereinkommen haben mehrere europäische Staaten ihren Verzicht auf Kontrollen des Personenverkehrs an ihren gemeinsamen Grenzen erklärt. Die SVP vertritt die Meinung, Schengen führe zu mehr Kriminalität und bedeute einen Souveränitätsverlust der Schweiz, durch eine Annäherung an die EU. Bei diesem Referendum konkurierte ein westschweizerisch-städtisches „Ja“ mit einem ländlich-konservativen „Nein“. 54,6 Prozent sagten Ja zu Schengen/Dublin. Die Wahlbeteiligung lag bei knapp 60 Prozent.


Résultats des votations populaires suisses sur les accords bilatéraux « Schengen-Dublin » et le « partenariat enregistré »

Les électeurs et la majorité des cantons suisses ont voté en faveur des deux textes qui leur étaient soumis, lors des deux votations populaires (référendums) organisées le dimanche 5 juin 2005.

D'après les résultats officiels, l'accord de Schengen/Dublin a été accepté par une majorité de 54,6 % des suffrages exprimés, soit 1 474 704 voix, tandis que 45,4 , soit 1 226 449 voix, se sont prononcés contre. La participation, pour ce premier scrutin, a été de l'ordre de 56,0 % des électeurs inscrits, soit un taux d'abstention de 44,0 %.

La constitution exigeant une double majorité des électeurs et des cantons, et le projet l'ayant emporté à la fois auprès des électeurs et dans 13 cantons (décompte sur 23 cantons), le projet est donc adopté.

Quant à la loi régissant le « partenariat enregistré entre personnes du même sexe » (dite « LPart », équivalent helvétique du Pacte civil de solidarité (PACS) français), elle a aussi été entérinée, par une majorité de 58 % des suffrages exprimés, soit 1 557 671 voix, tandis que 42 , soit 1 126 578 voix, se sont prononcés contre. La participation, pour ce deuxième scrutin, a été de l'ordre de 55,7 % des électeurs inscrits, soit un taux d'abstention de 44,3 %.

La constitution exigeant une double majorité des électeurs et des cantons, et le projet l'ayant emporté à la fois auprès des électeurs et dans 16 cantons et demi (décompte sur 23 cantons), le projet est donc adopté.


Theresa May calls for June general election

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday her plans to seek a general election for June 8. May accused the opposition parties of threatening the government's Brexit agenda and cited the need for Parliament to unite during the negotiations over the specifics of the Brexit, the UK's exit from the European Union.

Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, members of Parliament must approve the snap election by a two-thirds vote in favor. The vote was held on Wednesday in the House of Commons, with the motion to hold an early election passing 522 to 13.

If her Conservative Party follows pollsters' expectations, May, who became Prime Minister after the resignation of David Cameron in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, would expand her majority in the House of Commons. The opposition Labour party is behind in the polls, at half the support of the Conservatives in a recently released poll by YouGov on behalf of The Times.

The move was a reversal from previous statements, as the Prime Minister said earlier that an early election would not take place.


Theresa May planea llamar a elección general en junio

En la salida del 10 de Downing Street la Primera Ministra del Reino Unido Theresa May anunció el martes su plan de solicitar una elección general para el 8 de junio. May acusó a los partidos de la oposición de amenazar la agenda del gobierno en cuanto al Brexit y citó la necesidad de que el Parlamento esté unido durante las negociaciones sobre los detalles del Brexit, la salida del Reino Unido de la Unión Europea.

En virtud de la ley de parlamentos a fecha fija los miembros del Parlamento deben aprobar la elección extraordinaria por dos tercios de los votos a favor. La votación tuvo lugar el miércoles en la Cámara de los Comunes, aprobándose la moción para celebrar una elección anticipada por 522 a 13 votos.

Si su Partido Conservador sigue las expectativas de los encuestadores, May —quien se convirtió en la Primera Ministra luego de la renuncia de David Cameron tras el resultado de la votación del Brexit— ampliaría su mayoría en la Cámara de los Comunes. El opositor Partido Laborista está detrás en las encuestas, con la mitad de partidarios comparado con los que cuenta el partido Conservador, según una encuesta divulgada recientemente por YouGov en nombre de The Times.

La medida ha sido un cambio completo respecto de declaraciones anteriores, ya que la Primera Ministra dijo anteriormente que no tendría lugar una elección anticipada.


Britse premier kondigt vervroegde verkiezingen aan

De Britse premier Theresa May heeft in een toespraak nieuwe verkiezingen aangekondigd. De vervroegde verkiezingen gaan door op 8 juni. Het kabinet-May geeft er de brui aan.

Volgens May zijn de verkiezingen noodzakelijk om het land de nodige zekerheid, stabiliteit en veiligheid te garanderen voor de volgende jaren waarin de geplande brexit concreet zal worden gemaakt.

In het parlement wordt een motie ingediend. Die heeft een tweederde meerderheid nodig om te worden aanvaard. Jeremy Corbyn van Labour liet al weten in te stemmen met nieuwe verkiezingen en garandeert dat zijn partij "een waardig alternatief zal bieden voor deze regering die er niet in slaagde de economie te doen heropleven en enorme besparingen doorvoerde". Nicola Sturgeon van de Scottish National Party: "May plaast het belang van haar partij boven het belang van het land". Theresa May van haar kant haalde hard uit naar Labour, Liberal Democrats en de SNP: "De keuze gaat tussen een sterk leiderschap van mij, of een zwakke coalitieregering van de LibDems, SNP en Labour".

Volgens Europees parlementslid en tevens Brexit-onderhandelaar Guy Verhofstadt is dit een kans voor het Verenigd Koninkrijk om te bepalen welke relatie ze in de toekomst nog willen hebben met de Europese Unie.


Theresa May to become UK Prime Minister as opposition begins leadership election

2016 UK Labour Party leadership election

Today the Conservative Party, the current governing party of the United Kingdom (UK), announced Theresa May would become the new party leader following the decision by her leadership rival Andrea Leadsom to withdraw from the contest. This announcement was made on the same day it was confirmed a leadership contest has been formally triggered within the UK Labour Party, the official opposition, after Angela Eagle gathered the needed support to challenge Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the party.

Following the withdrawal of Mrs Leadsom from the Conservative Party leadership election, Party official George Brady said he was expecting to appoint Mrs May as the new party leader. Mrs May, the current home secretary, would succeed David Cameron in this role, and it is expected she will also succeed him as Prime Minister.

Mrs Leadsom described a leadership election as "highly undesirable" for the country as she announced her decision to withdraw. She also said she felt she had insufficient support to win a leadership election.

Mr Cameron originally announced his intention to resign following the UK EU referendum, and has now said he intends to offer his resignation following Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

The Labour Party confirmed a leadership election had been officially triggered. Mrs Eagle has announced her candidacy, and it is understood she has the level of support from Labour Members of Parliament to add her name to the ballot.

Mrs Eagle was one of many members of Mr Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet to resign following the EU Referendum. She today said Mr Corbyn "is unable to provide the leadership" needed as she launched her leadership bid.

It is unclear if Mr Corbyn's name will be automatically be added to the ballot as the current incumbent. A decision by the party's executive committee is reportedly to be made tomorrow to decide on the matter.


Theresa May assumirà el càrrec de primera ministra del Regne Unit dimecres

Per veure altres notícies sobre el mateix tema, consulteu Brexit.

12 de juliol del 2016, Regne Unit
La ministra de l'interior del Regne Unit, Theresa May, serà la successora de David Cameron com a primera ministra després que Andrea Leadsom renunciés a la candidatura com a líder del Partit Conservador el matí de dilluns, convertint-se en l'única candidata.

Leadsom en tancar la campanya va dir: “Necessitem un lideratge fort urgentment i cal un nou primer ministre el més aviat possible. Una nova campanya de nou mesos és una cosa gens desitjable a hores d'ara.”

May ara haurà de ser nomenada líder dels conservadors per la Reina Elisabet II, que tornarà a Londres després del seu viatge a Escòcia dimarts.

“Dimecres a la nit hi haurà un nou primer ministre”, va anunciar David Cameron. Cameron va renunciar al càrrec després de la victòria del brexit en el referèndum de la Unió Europea realitzat el passat 23 de juny.


Πρωθυπουργός της Βρετανίας η Τερέζα Μέι

Η Τερέζα Μέι αναλαμβάνει αύριο την πρωθυπουργία της Βρετανίας, καθώς η Άντρεα Λίντσομ αποσύρθηκε από την κούρσα διαδοχής της πρωθυπουργίας. Ενθουσιασμένος δήλωσε ο Ντέιβιντ Κάμερον.

Ο Ντέιβιντ Κάμερον, Πρωθυπουργός της Βρετανίας, δήλωσε μετά την απόφαση των πολιτών της χώρας για έξοδο από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση πως θα υποβάλει παραίτηση, καθώς ο ίδιος ήταν υποστηρικτής της παραμονής της Βρετανίας στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Μετά την ανακοίνωση της ανάληψης της πρωθυπουργίας από την Τερέζα Μέι, ο Κάμερον δήλωσε πως «την Τρίτη θα προεδρεύσω του τελευταίου μου υπουργικού συμβουλίου, την Τετάρτη θα παραστώ στη Βουλή των Κοινοτήτων για επίλυση αποριών και θα υποβάλω στο Παλάτι την παραίτηση μου ώστε να υπάρξει Πρωθυπουργός μέχρι την Τετάρτη».

Από την πλευρά της, η Τερέζα Μέι κάλεσε τον λαό της Βρετανίας να ενωθεί μαζί της και να επιτύχει όσο το δυνατόν συντομότερο την έξοδο της χώρας από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Η Τερέζα Μέι θα είναι ο 76ος Πρωθυπουργός της Βρετανίας και η δεύτερη γυναίκα που αναλαμβάνει το αξίωμα, μετά τη «Σιδήρα Κυρία» Μάργκαρετ Θάτσερ.

12 Ιουλίου 2016


Theresa May asumirá cargo de primera ministra del Reino Unido el miércoles

La ministra del interior del Reino Unido, Theresa May será la sucesora de David Cameron como primera ministra, esto después de que Andrea Leadsom renunciara a la candidatura como líder del Partido Conservador la mañana del lunes y se convirtió en la única candidata.

Leadsom al cerrar la campaña dijo: "Necesitamos un liderazgo fuerte urgentemente y hace falta un nuevo primer ministro lo antes posible. Una nueva campaña de nueve meses es algo nada deseable a estas alturas."

May ahora tendrá que ser nombrada líder del los conservadores por la Reina Isabel II, quien regresará a Londres después de su viaje a Escocia el martes.

"El miércoles por la noche habrá un nuevo primer ministro," anunció David Cameron. Cameron renunció después de la victoria del Brexit en el referendo de la Unión Europea realizado el pasado 23 de junio.


תרזה מיי הושבעה לראשת ממשלת בריטניה

תרזה מיי, שרת הפנים הבריטית, הושבעה הערב (ד') לתפקיד ראשת ממשלת בריטניה בארמון בקינגהאם. זמן קצר לפני כן הגיע דיוויד קמרון, ראש הממשלה היוצא, להגיש את התפטרותו בפני המלכה אליזבת.

עם כניסתה לתפקיד החלה מיי בסבב תיקים: בוריס ג'ונסון, ראש עיריית לונדון לשעבר ומאדריכלי הקמפיין לעזיבת האיחוד האירופי, ימונה במקומו של פיליפ המונד לשר החוץ. המונד ימונה לשר האוצר ויחליף את ג'ורג' אוסבורן, שהתפטר מהממשלה, ואמבר רוד, עד כה שרת האנרגיה, תמונה לשרת הפנים במקומה של מיי. שר ההגנה מייקל פאלון יישאר בתפקידו.

קמרון הודיע ב-24 ביוני שיתפטר עד אוקטובר לאחר שרוב במשאל העם שהתקיים יום לפני כן על הישארות בריטניה באיחוד האירופי הכריע בעד יציאה מהאיחוד. ההחלטה, שהתקבלה ברוב של 51.9%, הייתה מנוגדת לעמדת מחנה ההישארות שאותו הנהיג קמרון.

לאחר שהתפטר החל מירוץ למועמד שיחליף אותו. בסיבוב הראשון התמודדו חמישה מועמדים, ולסיבוב השני העפילו שלושה - מייקל גוב, שר המשפטים הבריטי, תרזה מיי, שרת הפנים, ואנדראה לדסם, שרת האנרגיה. גוב הודח מהמירוץ מכשהגיע למקום השלישי בלבד, ולדסם פרשה שלשום בטענה שאין לה מספיק תמיכה בקרב חברי המפלגה.


德蕾莎·梅伊將成為英國首相

現任英國能源及氣候變化國務大臣安德莉亞·李德森在十一日宣布退出英國執政黨保守黨黨魁選舉，內政大臣德蕾莎．梅伊成為保守黨黨魁唯一候選人。因此梅伊確定接替卡麥隆，成為下一任英國首相。梅伊也是繼柴契爾夫人後，英國第二位女性首相。卡麥隆則表示，將在十三日讓梅伊接任英國首相。


Theresa May's Brexit speech rules out single market membership

UK Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday announced the government's plans for how to proceed with the United Kingdom's exit, or "Brexit" (British exit), from the European Union. May stated the government would not seek to be a member of the European single market and would instead seek a new trade relationship. May said the UK government would seek access to the single market without retaining formal membership in it.

May's speech stressed the need for friendliness between Britain and the EU but also ruled out any deal that did not allow the British government to control immigration, or which would require Britain to continue being bound by decisions of the European Court of Justice. In yesterday's speech, May also ruled out continued membership of the customs union as this prevented Britain from negotiating trade deals with non-EU countries.

Theresa May also said Britain's contributions to the EU budget would cease, although some contributions would be made to some pan-European schemes. In her words, "the days of Britain making vast contributions to the European Union every year will end". The speech also covered the legal status of both UK citizens living abroad and EU citizens living in the UK. May said she wished to guarantee the status of both, but that she also sought "reciprocity" before doing so, and noted "one or two" other countries had not been willing to do so.

Following May's speech the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, echoed the Prime Minister in a speech he gave to Parliament, adding "the final deal agreed between the UK and the EU will be put to a vote in both Houses of Parliament before it takes effect".

Next week, on January 24, the Supreme Court is due to deliver a decision in a case challenging the government's right to issue Article 50—which starts the Brexit negotiations—without the consultation of Parliament.


Theresa May exposa el seu pla per sortir de la Unió Europea

Per veure altres notícies sobre el mateix tema, consulteu Brexit.

17 de gener del 2017

El dia d'avui la primera ministra britànica, Theresa May, va presentar el seu pla perquè Regne Unit surti de la Unió Europea. La primera ministra optaria per un Brexit "dur" en comptes d'un Brexit "suau" en el qual la Gran Bretanya hauria conservat alguns beneficis i obligacions dins de la UE.

Theresa May va exposar un pla de 12 punts. Gran Bretanya no es mantindrà dins el mercat únic de la Unió Europea ja que s'havia exigit que s'hauria de mantenir la llibertat de circulació de persones.

També va assenyalar que no desitja que la UE es desfaci i li desitja el millor però que per obtenir un Regne Unit més global havia d'estar fora de la Unió Europea.


Theresa May expone su plan para salir de la Unión Europea

El día de hoy la primera ministra británica, Theresa May, presentó su plan para que Reino Unido salga de la Unión Europea. La primera ministra optaría por un Brexit "duro" en vez de un Brexit "suave" en el cual Gran Bretaña habría conservado algunos beneficios y obligaciones dentro de la UE.

Theresa May expuso un plan de 12 puntos. Gran Bretaña no se mantendrá dentro del mercado único de la Unión Europea ya que se había exigido que se tendría que mantener la libertad de circulación de personas.

También señaló que no desea que la UE se deshaga y le desea lo mejor pero que para obtener un Reino Unido más global tenía que estar fuera de la Unión Europea.


Brexit: Theresa May anuncia que Reino Unido deixará mercado único da UE

Agência Brasil

17 de janeiro de 2017

A primeira-ministra britânica, Theresa May, anunciou hoje (17), em discurso em Londres, que o Reino Unido seguirá os passos necessários para deixar a União Europeia (UE), o que inclui abandonar o mercado único.

No discurso, May foi otimista, afirmando que a saída da UE é uma oportunidade para o país se tornar ainda mais internacional. Muito criticada nos últimos meses por não ser clara nas propostas para a transição, ela adotou tom conciliador e disse que o Reino Unido quer negociar com os outros países da União Europeia.

“Vamos sair da União Europeia, mas não vamos abandonar a Europa. Queremos um Reino Unido mais justo, tolerante, mais unido do que nunca”, destacou.

May afirmou ainda que a saída da UE tem como consequência o controle da entrada de migrantes. “Vamos continuar atraindo os melhores para estudar e trabalhar no Reino Unido, mas teremos que controlar o número de pessoas que entram”, acrescentou, deixando claro que a imigração tem que servir aos interesses britânicos.


Theresa May's Conservative Party wins UK election but loses majority, leaving Brexit plan in question

While Theresa May remains Prime Minister of Britain, her party, the Conservative Party, won Thursday's general election but lost its majority in Parliament.

The next scheduled general election was not until 2020.  May requested this general election, called a snap election, in April, when polls indicated it would strengthen the then-slight majority the Conservatives held in Parliament.  Talks to establish the specifics of Britain's departure from the European Union are set to begin June 19.  Last year, British voters decided to leave the EU, but many of the specifics of the United Kingdom's new relationship with the rest of Europe have yet to be established.  May and the other Conservatives favor a "hard Brexit", in which Britain would lose its current level of access to Europe's single market and have to deal with higher tariffs and more complicated customs processes but it would regain full control of its borders with respect to trade and immigration.  An increase in the number of Conservative Parliamentary seats would have supported this plan.

"Officially Theresa May is still the partner in Brexit negotiations," said senior German MP Stephan Meyer, "but the political reality is different after this disastrous defeat. I can't imagine that May will be able to remain prime minister."

Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission said, "As far as the Commission is concerned we can open negotiations tomorrow morning at half past nine [...] First we have to agree on the divorce and exit modalities, and then we have to envisage the architecture of our future relations. I do hope that the result of the elections will have no major impact on the negotiations we are desperately waiting for."

A Parliamentary majority requires 326 of the organisation's 650 seats.  The Conservative Party holds 318 outright, including May's own seat in Maidenhead, and the Labour Party holds 262, having gained about 30 in this election.  In Britain, the leader of whichever political party has the most seats becomes Prime Minister, though they are also formally appointed by the monarch.  Theresa May became leader of the Conservative Party on July 11 of last year and was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II two days later.  Cases in which no political party wins outright are called a hung Parliament, and then two or more parties rule together in coalition.  Britain had a coalition government from 2010 to 2015. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party has pledged an unofficial alliance with the Conservatives, which would bring them up to 328.

This would make May the second Prime Minister in a row to call an election with unexpected results.  David Cameron called for a referendum on Britain's EU membership, not expecting the voters would reject it.

May's current ministry said most of her senior officials, including Treasurer Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, and Home Secretary Amber Rudd, will remain in the Cabinet.

May met with Queen Elizabeth II yesterday to request her permission to form a government in her name, a traditional formality.


El partido conservador pierde la mayoría absoluta en las elecciones del Reino Unido

En las elecciones celebradas este jueves, el partido conservador perdió la mayoría absoluta de la que gozaba pasando de los 330 a 317 escaños de las 650 circunscripciones que tiene en total Reino Unido, frente a los laboristas que pasaron de 232 a 263 escaños. Theresa May logró erigirse nuevamente como Primera Ministra.

Con la pérdida de la mayoría absoluta, el partido conservador anunció que formará un gobierno con el Partido Unionista Democrático de Irlanda del Norte el cual también es partidario del Brexit.

Theresa May convocó estas elecciones para reforzar su postura sobre el Brexit frente a la Unión Europea, pensando en obtener la mayoría absoluta el pasado 19 de abril y contar con un "claro mandato".


Conservatieve Partij verliest meerderheid

De Conservatieve Party van premier May is na de verkiezingen van gisteren onverwacht haar absolute meerderheid in het Britse Lagerhuis kwijt. De Conservatieven komen uit op 318 van de in totaal 650 zetels. De Labour Party onder leiding van Corbyn haalt er 261, een winst van 31 zetels t.o.v. de vorige verkiezingen (2015). Het onverwachte verlies betekent dat de Conservatives ofwel een coalitie moeten gaan vormen, of dat er een minderheidskabinet komt.

May heeft al aangegeven dat ze niet van plan is af te treden, ook al wordt er van diverse zijden druk op haar uitgeoefend om dit wel te doen.

De Britse pond is als gevolg van de uitslag vanmorgen in waarde gedaald, op het dieptepunt met ruim 2 procent. De onzekere situatie die als gevolg van de verkiezingsuitslag in het VK is ontstaan kan de onderhandelingen over de Brexit, die volgens de officiële planning reeds over 11 dagen moeten beginnen, bemoeilijken. Er wordt al gepraat over uitstel van de onderhandelingen.


Theresa May ganha eleições na Inglaterra

Agência VOA

9 de julho de 2017

Uma pesquisa de opinião feita nas urnas do Reino Unido após as eleições legislativas desta quinta-feira, 8, apontam para a vitória da primeira-ministra inglesa Theresa May e dos conservadores, mas sem maioria para formar um Governo.

A pesquisa de boca de urna das redes de televisão BBC, ITV e Sky indica que os conservadores devem alcançar 314 assentos no Parlamento, contra 266 dos trabalhistas.

Caso as previsões se confirmarem, os conservadores perdem a maioria absoluta no Parlamento britânico.

Para conseguir formar um Governo sem alianças com outras forças políticas, os partidos britânicos devem obter pelo menos metade dos 650 assentos mais um.

As eleições antecipadas foram convocadas por May para tentar obter uma maioria parlamentar maior do que a atual e assim ter mais margem para negociar a saída da União Europeia.


Third day of 'King Taksin operation' sees Bangkok airport closed

Protests and disruption by Thailand's People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) entered their third day with an invasion and forced shutdown of Bangkok's main international airport. The yellow-shirted demonstrators are reportedly in full control of Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving between 3,000 and 4,000 travellers stranded and incoming flights diverted. The PAD have vowed to remain in the airport disrupting flights until the Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, stands down.

Originally blocking the six-lane motorway approach to the airport, the protesters broke through police lines late on Tuesday night, invaded the terminal buildings, and forced the cancellation of all air traffic. Their aim appears to have been to prevent the Prime Minister returning to the country from the APEC summit in Peru.

Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat expressed concern that the action would have adverse economic effects on Thailand. Confidence of those investing in the country is likely to be dented, and the damage to the tourism industry could worsen the country's situation in the current global economic crisis.

The airport invasion has been accompanied by reports of further bomb blasts aimed at the anti-government PAD protesters. One explosion happened at the airport terminal itself, injuring three. A second explosion was reported at the site of the Don Mueang airport where the PAD are blockading temporary government offices. An additional two attacks, believed to be grenades, have been reported but with no casualties. The PAD have not cooperated with police in investigating these attacks, instead claiming their own bomb squad will deal with the matter.

The protesters have refused a government offer to end the stand-off. "We will stay until the government steps down. This government is not legitimate," said Sunthorn Kaewlai, a retired university lecturer. The PAD has given out leaflets to stranded passengers at the airport, apologising for the disruption, but at the same time saying that "the alliance believes the measure is crucial to bring an end to the traitorous killer government."

Details of which airport the beleaguered PM Somchai will fly into have not been revealed, however The Nation reports his flight will be diverted to U-tapao military airport, approximately 150km southeast of the capital, Bangkok.


Dramatische Lage in Thailand: Demonstranten blockieren Flughafen Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok

Bangkok (Thailand), 26.11.2008 – Die politische Lage in Thailand erfuhr gestern und heute erneut eine dramatische Zuspitzung, als die regierungsoppositionelle Bewegung „People's Alliance for Democracy“ (Volksallianz für Demokratie, PAD) sich zur Durchsetzung ihrer Forderungen zum Rücktritt der Regierung unter dem amtierenden Ministerpräsidenten Somchai Wongsawat dazu entschloss, den internationalen Flughafen Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok zu besetzen. Hunderte Flüge mussten abgesagt werden, tausende Touristen sitzen in Bangkok fest. Das Auswärtige Amt in Deutschland rät deutschen Touristen davon ab, den Flughafen Suvarnabhumi zu benutzen sowie andere symbolträchtige Regierungsgebäude aufzusuchen. In Bangkok müsse in den nächsten Wochen mit weiteren gewaltsamen Demonstrationen gerechnet werden.

Hintergrund der jüngsten Zuspitzung ist der Versuch der PAD, die Regierung durch anhaltenden Druck zum Rücktritt zu zwingen. Dem gegenwärtigen Ministerpräsidenten werfen sie vor, eine Marionette des vom Militär im Jahr 2006 entmachteten ehemaligen Ministerpräsidenten Thaksin Shinawatra zu sein. Somchai ist ein Schwager des im Exil lebenden Thaksin Shinawatra, der vom höchsten Gericht Thailands wegen Korruption zu einer Haftstrafe verurteilt worden war. Die thailändischen Streitkräfte sprachen sich angesichts der politischen Krise für Neuwahlen aus. Unmittelbar vor der Besetzung des Flughafens waren die Streitkräfte von der Regierung gebeten worden, die Polizei des Flughafens bei der Abwehr der drohenden Besetzung zu unterstützen, hatten jedoch keine Antwort erhalten.

Die PAD lehnt Neuwahlen zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt ab. Sie verlangt den sofortigen und bedingungslosen Rücktritt der „Marionetten-Regierung“ unter Somchai Wongsawat. Gestern hatte die PAD eine Erklärung veröffentlicht, die der Regierung ein Ultimatum für ihren Rücktritt stellte. Andernfalls werde man den Flughafen besetzen. Somchai hielt sich zu diesem Zeitpunkt anlässlich des APEC-Treffens in Peru auf. Durch die Besetzung des Flughafens sollte die Rückkehr des Premiers nach Thailand verhindert werden. Inzwischen ist Somchai in Thailand eingetroffen, seine Maschine landete auf einem Militärflughafen im Norden des Landes. Er erklärte, er werde das Sicherheitskabinett einberufen, um die Lage unter Kontrolle zu bringen. Auch die Verhängung des Ausnahmezustandes steht Medienberichten zufolge zur Debatte. Bisher hatte die Polizei auf die Anwendung von Gewalt verzichtet, um den Flughafen wieder in Betrieb zu nehmen. Das Militär hatte erklärt, man plane zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt keinen Militärputsch.

Die Belagerung des Bangkoker Flughafens Suvarnabhumi trifft die thailändische Wirtschaft hart. Der Flughafen gilt als Rückgrat des Tourismus in Thailand, der wesentlich zum Bruttosozialprodukt des Landes beiträgt.

Während des gestrigen Tages kam es in Bangkok zu teilweise gewalttätigen Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Anhängern der PAD und regierungsfreundlichen Demonstranten. Dabei wurden zwölf Menschen verletzt. PAD-Anhänger feuerten der Bangkok Post zufolge gestern früh Schüsse auf wütende Taxifahrer ab, die auf die PAD-Demonstranten mit Knüppeln losgehen wollten.


Thousands flee renewed violence in Congo

Thousands of civilians fled their homes on Saturday amid fierce fighting between local militias and Tutsi-dominated rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the U.N. peacekeeping mission there.

Congolese Army Colonel Delphin Kahimbi said that "very violent attacks" had been reported, and that the fighting was between local militia known as Mai-Mai and rebels loyal to renegade Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda.  Major P.K. Tiwari, a military spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission, said the fighting "started early this morning and ended late this afternoon."  Tiwari said it was not clear who had attacked first.

Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg, a spokeswoman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission, described the suffering of civilians caught in the fighting as "unbearable".  "What I saw was horrendous. It was raining. They didn't know where to go.  Three women gave birth while they were fleeing," she said. "The humanitarian consequences of whatever is happening there are very serious."

Since the beginning of the year, 370,000 people have already fled their homes in the province of Nord-Kivu amid fighting between Congo's army, Rwandan Hutu rebels, and rebels loyal to Nkunda.  Nkunda accuses Congo's army of supporting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a primarily Hutu rebel group that includes soldiers responsible for the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.  The Congolese army consistently denies this charge.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Congolese President Joseph Kabila said the army had been authorized to prepare military operations to disarm Nkunda's rebels, of which there are approximately 5,000.  Kabila has ruled out the possibility of negotiating with Nkunda.


Miles escapan a una renovada violencia en RD del Congo

Miles de civiles abandonaron sus hogares el sábado por el temor causado por los conflictos entre las milicias locales y los rebeldes tutsis en la República Democrática del Congo, de acuerdo a la Misión de las Naciones Unidas en el país.

El Coronel del ejército congolés, Delphin Kahimbi, dijo que se habían reportado "ataques muy violentos" en enfrentamientos entre la milicia local – conocida como Mai-Mai – y los rebeldes tutsis, leales al general Laurent Nkunda. El Mayor P.K. Tiwari, un portavoz militar de la misión de la ONU, dijo que los enfrentamientos "comenzaron temprano esta mañana y terminaron esta tarde". Tiwari además dijo que no era claro quién había atacado primero.

Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg, una portavoz de la misión de la paz de la ONU, describió como "insoportable" el sufrimiento de los civiles a causa de los conflictos. "Lo que vi fue horrendo. Estaba lloviendo. No sabían a dónde ir. Tres mujeres dieron a luz mientras escapaban", dijo la portavoz. "Las consecuencias humanitarias de lo que suceda allí son muy serias."

Desde el comienzo de año, 370.000 personas han abandonado sus hogares en la provincia de Nord-Kivu a causa de los choques entre el ejérctio congolés, los rebeldes hutus de Ruanda y los rebeldes tutsis leales a Nkunda. Los tutsis acusan al Ejército del Congo de apoyar a las Fuerzas Democráticas para la Liberación de Ruanda, un grupo rebelde hutu que involucra soldados responsables del Genocidio de Ruanda de 1994; esto ha sido negado en varias oportunidades por el ejército congolés.

En una conferencia de prensa el miércoles, el Presidente de la República Democrática del Congo, Joseph Kabila, dijo que el ejército había sido autorizado para preparar operaciones militares para desarmar a los rebeldes de Nkunda, que son aproximadamente 5.000. Kabila además descartó la posibilidad de negociar con Nkunda.


Thousands gather in London to protest against government cuts

Hundreds of thousands of people joined marches in London on Saturday against public sector cuts by the British government. One union estimated up to half a million people travelled from across the country to demonstrate as the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition implements wide-ranging spending cuts.

According to reports, a small group of protesters dressed in black threw paint and smoke bombs at the Oxford Street branch of Topshop, and demonstrators in Piccadilly threw smoke bombs at the Ritz Hotel. The protests have targeted the government and a number of retail outlets, following on from the UK Uncut campaign which has demonstrated outside retailers including Vodafone and Topshop to raise awareness of alleged tax system abuses by the businesses.

The violence came to a head on Sunday as police stormed Trafalgar Square and the protesters ran, throwing bricks and bottles at riot officers. "I have never seen such a fast escalation of violence in my life," one witness to the violence in the square said. "Everything just kicked off, glass everywhere, police hitting people, people being dragged across the floor. I just can't believe it." Clashes in the square finally ended in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Senior members of the TUC, the federation of 88 of the country's unions, were quick to dissociate the disruptive actions of the "few hundred" with those of the earlier peaceful protest, claiming that the violence of a minority should not detract from the message behind the main march.

The Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband, addressed hundreds of thousands of peaceful marchers assembled in Hyde Park, and attacked the planned spending cuts. "Our struggle is to fight to preserve, protect and defend the best of the services we cherish because they represent the best of the country we love," he said.

The Metropolitan Police said approximately 4,500 officers were policing the event, and 214 demonstrators were detained. On Twitter, the force reported two significant incidents of violence and that four police officers have been injured; one is being treated in hospital. They also said protesters had thrown light bulbs filled with ammonia at officers on Oxford Street.

Small protests have been ongoing in the U.K. since early this month, mainly in the northern city of Sheffield. In the biggest of these, 5,000 people attended a protest march on March 12 in Sheffield, with demonstrators marching from Devonshire Green, an open space in the city centre, to the venue of the Liberal Democrat spring conference. Barricades were set up after "violent incidents", though only one arrest was made.


تظاهرات در لندن به کاهش هزینه های دولت

ده ها هزار نفر از مردم،در شنبه علیه کاهش های هزینه دولت به خیابان ها ریختند.

بر اساس گزارش ها ، گروه کوچکی از تظاهر کنندگان با پرتاب بمب هایی در خیابان آکسفورد اعتراض خود را ابراز نمودند.آنان  بمب های دودزا به هتل ریتز پرتاب کردند و به سیاست های مالیاتی دولت اعتراض نمودند.

در این جریانات پلیس به خیابان ترافلاگر بورش برد که معترضین با پرتاب آجرو بطری آب علیه پلیس ایستادگی کردند.یکی از ماموران ضد شورش  گفت:

یکی معترضین در این باره گفت:

رهبر حزب کارگر، اد میلیبند، خطاب به صدها هزار نفر از راهپیمایان صلح آمیز از هاید پارک گفت :

پلیس متروپولین اعلام کرد که حدود ۴،۵۰۰ پلیس در حال آماده باش می باشند.همچنین  ۲۱۴ نفر از تظاهرکنندگان بازداشت شدند.در تویتر، چهار افسر زخمی که یکی از آنان در حال درمان می باشند.نیروی پلیس در مرود معترضین گفتند آنان لامپ پر از آمونیاک در خیابان پرتاب می کردند.

این تظاهرات از دونشایر، فضای سبز  به محل برگزاری کنفرانس لیبرال دموکرات بهاری بوده است که با دخالت پلیس مواجه شد.


Thousands in San Francisco protest US wars

Thousands of protesters gathered at San Francisco's Civic Center to protest US wars and foreign policy in Iraq, the Philippines, Cuba and other places.  Domestic issues were also included in the speeches and signs.  The protesters then marched through downtown San Francisco on a pre-planned route.  They passed Glide Memorial Methodist Church to protest President Bush's cutting of programs like Glide's that provide food for needy people.  The march also passed by the Hilton Hotel, where protesters were calling for a boycott in response to the hotel workers union's difficulty in obtaining a new contract.

Pro-Israel counter-protesters gathered across the street from the war protesters, although their number was much smaller.

California Green Party candidate Todd Chretien suggested that there were ten to twenty thousand war protesters present.


У Сан Франциску демонстрације против САД спољне политике

Хиљаде протестаната окупило се данас и јуче у центру Сан Франциска ради протеста против рата у Ираку и америчке спољне политике, посебно у вези са Филипинима и Кубом.

Демонстранти про-израелских конта-протеста окупили су се у близини, али у много мањем броју.

Тод Кретиен из "Зелене странке" ("Green Party") рекао је да се јуче окупило између 10 и 20 хиљада анти-ратних протестаната.


Thousands march against the FARC-EP

Thousands of people in more than 160 cities around the world marched today in protest of the actions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The protests were convoked via the popular social networking website Facebook under the name "One million voices against the FARC" (Spanish: Un millón de voces contra las FARC).

The majority of the protesters gathered in Colombian departments, such as Bogotá, and in the cities of Caracas and Maracaibo, in Venezuela.

The protests kicked off with Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and were followed by Beijing, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, and Paris.

The protests were organized by a movement called "I am Colombia" (Spanish: Colombia Soy Yo), under the motto "No more kidnappings, no more lies, no more deaths, no more FARC."

The FARC is a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla organization, considered a terrorist group by more than 30 countries around the world, and has more than 8,000 members occupying almost 20% of Colombia's territory. It claims to represent the rural poor in a struggle against Colombia's wealthier classes and opposes United States influence over the country.


Manifestantes en todo el mundo marchan contra las FARC

Millones de personas en más de 160 ciudades del mundo tomaron las calles para llevar a cabo una marcha de protesta en contra de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC-EP). La convocatoria a este evento se llevó a cabo inicialmente mediante la red social de Internet Facebook, bautizándolo como Un millón de voces contra las FARC.

La mayor cantidad de personas reunidas se registró en las capitales de los departamentos colombianos, especialmente en Bogotá. Además, grupos manifestantes en Venezuela se movilizaron en las ciudades de Caracas y Maracaibo.

Atlanta fue la primera ciudad que marchó, seguida por lugares como Pekín, Sídney, Tokio, Singapur y París.

El mensaje del movimiento, llamado Colombia Soy Yo, es:


Milhões de colombianos param o país em protestos contra as Farc

Por volta do meio-dia (15h de Brasília), pessoas de diversas faixas etárias tomaram as ruas de Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cartagena e outras cidades colombianas para protestarem contra as Farc, e pedir à guerrilha que liberte seus reféns e não realize mais seqüestros. Enquanto isso em Bogotá, 50 mil pessoas vestidas de branco se concentraram em uma praça do centro da cidade, e gritaram palavras de ordem contra a guerrilha, os seqüestros, o terrorismo e a violência.

A manifestação foi planejada por um grupo de jovens colombianos através da rede social de internet Facebook com o título "Um milhão de vozes contra as Farc". E de um protesto, inicialmente virtual, o mesmo se transformou em realidade e manifestações foram organizadas em mais de 130 cidades no mundo, além das localidades colombianas.


Thousands march in anti-Brexit protest, London

Estimates by event organizers indicate roughly one million people marched in London on Saturday during an anti-Brexit ("British exit") march, protesting the pending exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU).

Protesters, carrying placards asking the government to revoke Article 50 — the EU treaty clause invoked by Brexit — and European Union flags, marched from Hyde Park Corner to Parliament. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, tweeted, "Here in London, thousands of people from across our city and country have come together with @peoplesvote-uk to send a clear message: Enough is enough - it's time to give the British public the final say on Brexit."

There were several speakers at the rally, including First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, Labour MP (Member of Parliament) Tom Watson, and Sadiq Khan. Tom Watson called Prime Minister Theresa May's proposed Brexit deal "lousy" and said he would only vote for it if the British people could also vote for or against it. Nicola Sturgeon said it was "the moment of maximum opportunity" for stopping a no-deal Brexit.

Some of the protesters Wikinews interviewed said they had gone to "defend [their] children's right to live and work in Europe" and "secure [their own] right to work in the EU". One interviewee said people changed their minds and several said they wanted the politicians to stop ignoring them.

Not everyone agreed there should be another referendum. One MP told the BBC, "We know that 16 million people wanted to stay in the EU, and some of those would still like to stay in the EU, and within that quite a few would like to have another go and have another referendum — but it was always a minority".

In 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum on whether to remain part of the European union, which it joined in 1973. About 52% of participating voters voted to leave and 48% to stay.


Reportage: Honderdduizenden mensen demonstreren tegen Brexit in Londen

Honderdduizenden mensen, mogelijk meer dan een miljoen, protesteerden gisteren in de straten van Londen tegen de Brexit. De demonstranten droegen vlaggen van de Europese Unie en borden met daarop teksten die de overheid opriepen om artikel 50 van het Verdrag betreffende de Europese Unie in te trekken. Ze vormden een lange stoet van Hyde Park Corner naar het parlement.

Er waren verschillende sprekers, onder wie de Schotse premier Nicola Sturgeon, de Labour-topman Tom Watson (en) en de burgemeester van Londen, Sadiq Khan. Surgeon zei dat dit 'het moment van de maximale kans' was om een no-deal-Brexit te voorkomen. Watson noemde de deal van premier Theresa May 'lousy' (beroerd) en hij zei dat hij alleen vóór zou stemmen als het Britse volk ertegen zou kunnen stemmen. Kahn roerde zich ook via Twitter: "hier in Londen zijn duizenden mensen samengekomen ... om een duidelijke boodschap te geven: genoeg is genoeg - het is tijd om het Britse volk een laatste uitspraak te laten doen over de Brexit." Volgens een parlementslid in een interview aan de BBC zou echter slechts een minderheid van de voorstanders van de EU nog een referendum willen hebben.

Sommige demonstranten vertelden aan de verslaggever van de Engelstalige Wikinieuws dat ze naar het protest waren gekomen 'om de rechten van mijn kinderen te verdedigen', 'om in Europa te kunnen leven en werken', en 'om mijn recht op werk in Europa zeker te stellen'. Iemand zei dat mensen hun mening veranderen en anderen dat ze wilden dat politici stoppen hen te negeren.


Thousands march on Baghdad in anniversary protest

Tens of thousands of protesters waving national flags marched in Baghdad, Iraq on Saturday, the anniversary of the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Chanting "No, no to the occupiers," they massed at Firdos Square on the site where Hussein’s statue was pulled down two years ago today.

Central Baghdad shut down ahead of the march and Iraqi security searched most protesters before entering the city. US and other peace-keeping forces remained out of sight. The march, sponsored by the cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, passed with no notable violence or arrests, and the crowd was dispersed by early evening.

There were simultaneously another 5000 protesters who marched in Ramadi, a city west of Baghdad.

Calling for the withdrawal of occupation forces, protesters aped the televised images of occupation forces by knocking down their own effigies of George Bush, Tony Blair and Saddam himself. The effigies were clothed in red — a symbolism they have been marked for death.

Iraqi Ali Feleih Hassan told the Associated Press, "No one accepts this. I want them out. They have been here for two years, and now they have to set a timetable for their withdrawal."

The US has been unable to set a timetable and is determined to stay until they believe the country is secure. Muqtada al-Sadr, an opposition negotiator, ultimately ended an uprising after signing a peace agreement with US forces last August.


Marsz w Bagdadzie w rocznicę obalenia Saddama Husajna

Dziesiątki tysięcy protestujących trzymających w rękach irackie flagi narodowe przemaszerowało przez stolicę tego kraju -  Bagdad, w rocznicę obalenia rządów Saddama Husajna.

Śpiewając "Nie dla okupantów" tłum zgromadził się na Placu Firdos, w miejscu, gdzie 2 lata temu został zburzony pomnik Husajna.
Centrum Bagdadu zostało zamknięte dla protestujących. Irackie służby porządkowe zablokowały niektórym z demonstrantów wejście do miasta. Marsz zorganizowano z inicjatywy radykalnego przywódcy szycikiego Muktady as-Sadra. Obyło się bez agresji i aresztowań. Tłum rozszedł się wczesnym wieczorem.

W tym samym czasie pojawiła się też grupa demonstrantów licząca 5000 osób i maszerująca na miasto Ramadi, na zachód od Bagdadu.

Demonstranci wzywali do wycofania wojsk sojuszniczych z Iraku. Protestujący nieśli też podobizny prezydenta USA, George'a Busha, premiera Wielkiej Brytanii, Tony'ego Blaira i Saddama Husajna. Podobizny ubrane były na czerwono - kolor ten symbolizuje śmierć.

"Nikt nie akceptuje takiej sytuacji. Chcę, żeby się wynieśli. Byli tutaj przez dwa lata, a teraz muszą ustalić terminarz wycofania się [z Iraku]" - powiedział agencji Associated Press, Irakijczyk Ali Feleih Hassan, jeden z demonstrujących.


Thousands of Filipinos call for President Arroyo's resignation; former presidents join protest

Tens of thousands of Filipinos called for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's resignation in the streets of Manila in the wake of a corruption scandal. Among the protesters were nuns, farmers, students, and even two former Presidents.

Former Presidents Corazón Aquino and Joseph Estrada, known for being bitter rivals, joined the group in demanding that President Arroyo resign.

"I thought my work was done because I am already old," said Aquino, 75. "But this is what the times ask for, for us to unite so that the deceit will end and we will find out the truth. Thankfully there are still many of us shouting, 'Gloria, enough, resign already.'"

Soldiers and policemen were on high alert, setting up checkpoints at major highways as demonstrators gathered in Manila's financial district. Police estimated there to be about 15,000 protesters, while organizers estimated the crowd at about 80,000.

Aquino was one of Arroyo's most loyal supporters until breaking away in 2005 amid allegations that she had rigged the 2004 election. In a recent survey of inhabitants of the island Mindanao commissioned by an opposition party, 58% of respondents believed Arroyo had rigged the elections.

Arroyo has been criticised because her husband had attempted to influence the approval of a $330 million government contract with the Chinese company ZTE to build a broadband network connecting government offices.


Des milliers de Philippins appellent à la démission de Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Des milliers de Philippins ont appelé dans les rues de Manille, la capitale du pays, à la démission de la Présidente de la République, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo à la suite d'un scandale de corruption. Étaient présents parmi les manifestants des paysans et des étudiants, mais aussi deux anciens présidents du pays. Pourtant rivaux, Corazon Aquino et Joseph Estrada se sont ainsi joints à l'appel à la démission de la présidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

« Je pensais que ma carrière était terminée puisque que je suis déjà âgée », a déclaré Corazon Aquino, âgée de 75 ans. « Mais il est grand temps de nous unir afin que la tromperie cesse et que nous découvrions la vérité. Heureusement, nous sommes nombreux à crier : « Gloria, c'en est assez ! Démissionnez ! ». ». Corazon Aquino, qui a présidé le pays de 1986 à 1992, avait soutenu fidèlement Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, avant de prendre ses distances en 2005, après des allégations de trucages des élections de 2004.

Soldats et policiers sont en état d'alerte, des postes de contrôle ayant été mis en place sur les principales voies d'accès alors que les manifestants se sont rassemblés dans le quartier financier de Manille. La police estime à environ 15 000, le nombre de manifestants, contre 80 000 pour les organisateurs.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo est présentée comme le « diable en personne » depuis que son mari a tenté d'obtenir l'accord du gouvernement pour un contrat de 330 millions de dollars avec la société chinoise Zhongxing Telecom pour construire un important réseau de télécommunications reliant les bureaux du gouvernement.


Thousands protest constitutional decree in Tahrir Square, Egypt

An estimated over 100,000 people protested in Tahrir Square yesterday in opposition to a constitutional decree made by Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi.  Riot police dispersed the crowd with tear gas as clashes began. One fatality has been reported.

The constitutional decree made November 22 by Morsi protected the constitution drafting body of Egypt from dissolution and also protected executive decisions from being overturned.  The decree has sparked protests and strikes reminiscent of protests which eventually toppled the then president Hosni Mubarak.

Earlier this year in September Egyptian courts ruled to dissolve Egypt's parliament. Morsi opposed the ruling, threatening action, but later respected the decision.

Mohamed ElBaradei said Morsi is acting like a "new pharaoh". In a comment to Der Spiegel, he said, "Not even the pharaohs had so much authority, to say nothing of his predecessor Hosni Mubarak. This is a catastrophe, it [is] a mockery of the revolution that brought him to power."

ElBaradei has also said that because of the recent decree "a civil war threatens to erupt in Egypt."

Morsi has stated the decree is temporary.  He met with Egypt's judiciary on Monday.

Counter demonstration planned by the Muslim Brotherhood and Nour Party has been cancelled to avoid possible further violence.


Káhirské náměstí Osvobození opět místem demonstrace

Na káhirském náměstí Osvobození se sešlo přes sto tisíc lidí, aby protestovali proti dekretu prezidenta Muhammada Mursího. Policie dav rozehnala za pomoci slzného plynu přičemž  jeden z demonstrantů zemřel.

Dekret vydaný 22. listopadu chrání prezidenta a posiluje jeho moc. Od okamžiku jeho vydání se v Egyptě objevují protesty připomínající ty, které vedly před necelými dvěma lety ke svržení Husního Mubáraka.

Morsí vystupuje jako aktivní prezident, například se snažil odporovat zářijovému rozhodnutí ústavního soudu, podle kterého se měl rozpustit parlament. Toto rozhodnutí ovšem nakonec přijal. Muhammad Baradej v komentáři pro německé noviny Der Spiegel uvedl, že se Mursí chová jako novodobý faraon a má větší moc než jeho předchůce Mubárak, Výsledná situace je tak prý „výsměchem revoluci, které vděčí za svůj úřad“. Zemi podle Baradeje hrozí občanská válka.[1]

Mursí svůj dekret obhajuje tím, že se jedná o dočasnou záležitost. Má podporu Muslimského bratrstva a Strany světla, které plánovaly protidemonstraci. Ta se nakonec nekonala, údajně aby se předešlo dalšímu násilí.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Thousands protest constitutional decree in Tahrir Square, Egypt na anglických Wikizprávách.


Thousands take to streets protesting 'ratbag's Bedroom Tax

Demonstrations took place across the UK over the holiday weekend, echoing the message personally delivered to Iain Duncan Smith at a Capita-sponsored talk last week. Chants of "Axe, axe, axe the bedroom tax" could be clearly heard throughout Edinburgh's demonstration. At the end of his minute-long tirade at the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Willie Black labelled Duncan Smith a "ratbag"; several people turned up with this printed on their tee shirts.

Wikinews photographed the march from Edinburgh's St. Andrew's Square to the Scottish Parliament. Various estimates put the number in-attendance between 1,200 and 1,600.

Other protests took place in London, with an estimated 1,000 at Trafalgar Square and Downing street. Glasgow saw around 2,500  take to the streets. Those demonstrating equated the package of changes that see benefit rises at a below-inflation 1%, and housing benefit cut by 14% for those with one spare room, 25% if they have two or more spare rooms, with the 'poll tax' which saw riots in England during Margaret Thatcher's time as Prime Minister.

Head of the UK's National Housing Federation David Orr commented: "It's bad policy, it's bad economics, it's bad for hundreds of thousands of ordinary people whose lives will be made difficult for no benefit — and I think it's about to become profoundly bad politics."

With the policy coming into effect now, protesters are intent on a "can't pay, won't pay" civil disobedience campaign.


Тысячи британцев протестуют против «постельного налога», вводимого «мракобесом»

В канун Светлого Воскресенья 30 марта 2013 года тысячи протестующих вышли на улицы Лондона и других британских городов, выступая против введения «налога на спальню» (англ. bedroom tax) и сокращения размера социального обеспечения для малоимущих жителей (англ. welfare).

Около тысячи протестующих собрались на Трафальгарской площади в Лондоне и около 2 500 — в Глазго — крупнейшем городе Шотландии и третьем по численности населения в Великобритании (после Лондона и Бирмингема).

Участник Викиновостей Brian McNeil прошёл вместе с демонстрантами по улицам Эдинбурга от площади Святого Андрея (покровителя Шотландии) до здания Парламента.

Демонстранты скандировали сообщение, лично доставленное министру по делам труда и пенсий Иану Дункану Смиту во время его выступления на прошлой неделе. Распевы «Рубите, рубите, рубите налог на спальню» (англ. Axe, axe, axe the bedroom tax) разносились по улицам города.

Один из организаторов протестного движения Уильям Блэк (англ. Willie Black) произнёс краткую речь, в завершение которой назвал Дункана Смита «карманником» (англ. ratbag), после чего несколько участников акции продемонстрировали аналогичную надпись на своих футболках.

Протестующие сравнили новый законопроект с «подушным налогом» («коммунальным налогом»; англ. Community Charge), введённым Маргарет Тэтчер в Великобритании в конце прошлого века (с 1989 года в Шотландии, а в 1990 году — в Англии и Уэльсе).
Тогда правительственная инициатива привела к массовым демонстрациям и последовавшему правительственному кризису.
Только в прошедшей 31 марта 1990 года демонстрации в Лондоне приняло участие около 70 тысяч человек.
Под давлением общества в 1993 году правительство Великобритании вынуждено было отменить «подушный налог», путём замены его на налог с домовладельцев и арендаторов домов.

Комментируя текущую инициативу британского правительства руководитель Национальной жилищной федерации (англ. National Housing Federation) Дэвид Орр (англ. David Orr) сказал: «Это плохо политически, это плохо экономически, это плохо для сотен тысяч простых людей, которым портят жизнь неизвестно зачем, — и я думаю, что особенно плохими будут политические последствия всего этого».

Напомним, что по законам Великобритании каждый член семьи имеет право на отдельную комнату.
Например, семье с одним ребёнком положена жилплощадь с двумя спальнями (трёхкомнатная квартира), все остальные спальни называются «свободными».

Малоимущим власти Великобритании выплачивают различные субсидии, например, пособие на жильё (англ. Housing Benefit), а также предоставляют социальное жилище.
Кроме того, несостоятельные подданные королевства могут запросить освобождение от весьма ощутимого налога на недвижимость (англ. Council Tax Benefit), в этом случае муниципальный налог будет погашен за счёт государства.

С целью более эффективного использования фондов социального жилья, а также из желания сэкономить 465 млн фунтов бюджетных расходов в год, правительство Великобритании разработало ряд законов, сокращающих дотации.

В частности, в соответствии с так называемым «налогом на спальню» домовладельцы с одной «свободной спальней» потеряют 14 % коммунальных субсидий, а с двумя или более — 25 %.

Новые правила вступают в силу уже сегодня, но несогласные намерены начать кампанию гражданского неповиновения по принципу
«не могу платить, и не буду».

Хочется посочувствовать товарищам из дружественной страны, которые ведут войну с мировым империализмом: «по законам Великобритании каждый член семьи имеет право на отдельную комнату … Малоимущим власти Великобритании выплачивают различные субсидии … пособие на жильё … предоставляют социальное жилище … подданные королевства могут запросить освобождение от весьма ощутимого налога на недвижимость, в этом случае муниципальный налог будет погашен за счёт государства». Как теперь жить тем, у кого не одна комната на человека, а например две. Им же придётся платить целых 25 % от установленных коммунальных платежей. Звери, а не правительство! ... Он знал, он не захотел платить. --cаша (krassotkin) 17:49, 1 апреля 2013 (UTC)

1 апреля 2013 года


Thousands to celebrate twenty years since fall of Berlin Wall

Leaders from around the world are set to join hundreds of thousands of people in Berlin, Germany tonight to celebrate twenty years of the fall of the Berlin Wall, an historic event which contributed to the end of the Cold War.

As the capital prepared for the anniversary of the Wall's fall with festivities planned throughout the city, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for renewed worldwide efforts for freedom for those still living in repressive regimes. "Our history did not end the night the Wall came down," she said last night to influential political figures, past and present. "To expand freedom to more people, we cannot accept that freedom does not belong to all people. We cannot allow oppression defined and justified by religion or tribe to replace that of [communist] ideology."

Celebrations will centre around the Brandenburg Gate, which has become the symbol of German reunification since the peaceful revolution that opened up the Wall in 1989. Much of the Wall has since been demolished, although a section of the 155 kilometre (96 mile) long wall remains serving as an art gallery for graffiti artists.

Host German Chancellor Angela Merkel reminisced that the end of the Cold War came as a total surprise. "The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Wall should remind us all what incredible luck we had with the reunification of Europe and Germany," commented Merkel, who grew up in communist East Germany, in Monday's edition of the Bild newspaper.

Other leaders expected to attend are Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, along with former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, once leader of the Solidarity trade union and former Hungarian Prime Minister Miklós Németh, who decided to open his country's borders, both who were key players in the downfall of communism in Europe.

Berlin's Mayor Klaus Wowereit summed up the feeling of the people. "History is palpable and alive here," he said. "The peaceful revolution of the fall of the Wall 20 years ago paved the way to an unprecedented transformation of Berlin."


Двадесет години от обединението на двете Германии (10 ноември 2009 г., 01:18 ч.)

20 години след събарянето на берлинската стена и демократичните промени

На 9 ноември 2009 се навършиха двадесет години от края на студената война и събарянето на берлинската стена, която беше символ на два свята и два различни мирогледа: този на капитализма и на социализма. Въпреки проливния дъжд, пред Бранденбурската стена честването сьбра 100 000 души.

Хорст Кохлер - президент на Федерална Република Германия и бивш директор на Международния Валутен Фонд, посреща официалните гости сред които бяха и държавните ръководители Браун, Медвев и Саркози. От 18ч. Х. Кохлер  произнесе приветствено слово за историческото събитие. След неговото слово площадът бе огласен за двадесетина минути от музика на Шьонберг, Вагнер и Бетховен, изпълнена от оркестъра Стаатскапеле под диригентството на Даниел Баренбойм.

Учудващо за мнозина, Барак Обама не присъстваше на церемонията и бе представен от държавния секретар на САЩ -  Хилъри Клинтън.

След произнесените слова от Клинтън, Браун, Медведев и Саркози Лех Валенса (някогашен председател на синдиката Солидарност - най-активния синдикат преди началото на демократичните промени) направи символичен жест и актъорите от първите редици  свалиха своите домина от полистеарол. Домината са били изрисувани от немски ученици по графити от някогашната берлинска стена [1].

Медиите по света поместват коментари за настъпилите промени след тази историческа дата. Френският вестник Фигаро отваря два форума за коментари на читатели: "Вие също разбийте стени… с мишката си"  и "Самолетният атентат на 11 септември (срещу World Trade Center, в Ню-Йорк) е по-значителна промяна от падането на берлинската стена".
[2]

Преди 20 години символичното събаряне на берлинската стена бе осъществено с грандиозен спектакъл под звуците на  почти двучасов концерт на Пинк Флойд.

Българските медии също отделят доста място за юбилея.

На 12.11.2009 в. СЕГА
[3]
публикува на страниците си статията "Същността на историческите събития - или баба и внучка в пияния кораб" от Димитър Денков, философ и преподавател в СУ. Авторът разглежда влиянието на  политическите и историческите промени  от последните 20 години върху промените в българския език и прави алюзия със стихотворението на поета Рембо „Пияния Кораб”. Като мото за  края на статията авторът използва цитат от стихотворението на Рембо, в превод на Кирил Кадийски:

На страниците на същия вестник Бойко Ламбовски помества статия, озаглавена "Та какво падна преди 20 г.?". Авторът отбелязва, че с падането на желязната завеса са  паднали режима на Живков и редица забрани и принуди, интронизирани от някогашната БКП. Но авторът посочва, че думата свобода е изгубила прогресивното си значение и "се превърнала в една от най-манипулативните мантри на света" [4]. Думата "свобода", изречена днес от политици "предизвиква опасения" и се асоцира с искане на значителни жертви от народа: финансови лишения или участие в военни конфликти. А сега както и преди човекът продължава да не е господар на труда си. Положителните промени от 20 години Б. Ламбовски вижда в извоюваната свобода на словото и интернет пространството.


Berlin marque le 20ème anniversaire de la chute du Mur

Des leaders politiques et dignitaires du monde entier sont à Berlin pour marquer le 20e anniversaire de la chute du Mur de Berlin. En dépit de la pluie, ils étaient nombreux à se rassembler au pont Bornholm, le premier point de passage du Mur de Berlin à s’ouvrir dans la nuit du 9 novembre 1989.

Pendant trois décennies, le Mur a divisé la ville de Berlin et toute l’Allemagne en Est et Ouest, mais à la fin des manifestations et des révolutions pacifiques dans des pays comme la Pologne ont contribué à sa chute ; ce qui a entrainé la réunification de l’Allemagne et la fin de la guerre froide.

Dans un geste plein de symbolisme, la chancelière allemande Angela Merckel a franchi le pont de Bornholm en compagnie de nombreux invités de marque,  notamment l’ancien président soviétique Mikhail Gorbachev, l’ancien leader syndical et président polonais Lech Walesa, et des militants des droits civiques d’il y a 20 ans.

Il y a une grande joie dans les possibilités qui se sont présentées à ce pont, a-t-elle déclaré, ajoutant que cela était le résultat  d’une longue guerre contre l’oppression. Mme Merkel a remercié Leh Walesa et son syndicat Solidarité en Pologne et Mikhail Gorbatchev, le leader réformateur à Moscou. Tous deux ont ouvert la voie aux événements de 1989 en Allemagne.

Parmi les manifestations organisées à l’occasion du 20e anniversaire de la chute du Mur de Berlin, figurent des concerts en plein air, des feux d’artifices, l’effondrement symbolique d’un mur de dominos géants dans un secteur où se tenait le mur.

Les organisateurs des célébrations disent qu’ils veulent  qu’elles soient la fête des gens ordinaires, pour montrer que c’est le pouvoir du peuple, canalisé par des leaders réformateurs, qui a fait tomber le Mur et changer le cours de l’Histoire.


20. rocznica upadku muru berlińskiego

Stolica Niemiec stała się na jeden dzień centrum zjednoczonej Europy. W 20. obchodach upadku muru berlińskiego uczestniczyć będą delegacje ze wszystkich państw UE.

Nasz kraj reprezentuje premier Donald Tusk oraz Lech Wałęsa (przebywający w Berlinie od niedzieli). Obecni również będą szef Komisji Europejskiej Jose Barrosso oraz szef Parlamentu Europejskiego Jerzy Buzek. W uroczystościach weźmie również udział sekretarz stanu USA Hillary Clinton, która będzie zastępowała Baracka Obamę. Nie zabraknie prezydenta Dimitrija Miedwiediewa, Michaiła Gorbaczowa oraz innych wysokich przedstawicieli z całego świata. Minister spraw zagranicznych Radosław Sikorski już wczoraj w towarzystwie kanclerz Angeli Merkel brał udział w otwarciu Muzeum Historycznego przy Glienicker Brucke.

Angela Merkel  zaznaczyła, że Niemcy po raz pierwszy świętują z taką pompą rocznicę upadku muru. Podkreśliła, że w ramach obchodów nie przewiduje się rozmów politycznych. W niedzielę kanclerz Niemiec spotkała się z Gorbaczowem, który ceniony jest w Niemczech za to, że Armia Radziecka pozostała w koszarach, gdy upadał mur. Przywódca „Solidarności” Lech Wałęsa jest zdania, że Gorbaczow, George Bush senior oraz były kanclerz Helmut Kohl odegrali w wydarzeniach z 1989 roku rolę w znacznym stopniu przypadkową. Były prezydent twierdzi, że zrobili jedynie to, czego domagały się narody.

Kulminacją niemieckich uroczystości będzie upadek kostek domina ustawionych na linii dawnego muru między Reichstagiem i placem Poczdamskim. Pierwsza kostka upamiętnia Jana Pawła II, Okrągły Stół oraz pomnik Poległych Stoczniowców w Gdańsku. Pierwszą kostkę przewróci Lech Wałęsa.


Three explosions in Varanasi, India

At least 15 people are feared dead and at least 60 others are wounded after three explosions in the Hindu pilgrimage town of Varanasi, India.

At approximately 1230 UTC/0730 EST, the first explosion occurred outside the crowded Sankat Mochan temple. The second took place just minutes later at the Cantonment Railway Station, leaving a crater just outside the stationmaster's room, and the third occurred on the Shiv Ganga Express, which had been leaving for New Delhi.

Officials say that the area has been cordoned off and the injured have been shifted to a hospital on the Benaras Hindu University campus. They also report that at least four unexploded bombs were found near a holy site by the Ganges River.

According to media advisor Sanjay Baru, Prime Minister Manmohan "has appealed for peace and calm. He is constantly monitoring the situation."


Inde : Trois explosions à Varanasi.


Tre bombdåd i staden Varanasi, Indien

Minst fjorton omkom och ett hundratal skadades då en bomb detonerade i ett av hinduismens heligaste tempel i Varanesi i Uttar Pradesh och ytterligare två bomber exploderade på en av stadens tågstationer.

Ingen grupp har ännu tagit på sig skulden för attenaten men de beskrivs som mycket välplanerade och uppenbarligen avsedda att spä på konflikten mellan muslimer och hinduer i Indien.

Obekräftade rykten uppger antalet döda till 20.

Den första explosionen i det stora Sankot Mochan-templet vid floden Ganges minuterna innan den stora kvällsbönen skulle äga rum. Tio dog och flera skadades i explosionen, uppger BBC.

Några minuter senare kom ytterligare två explosioner vid centralstationen

Översteprästen vid Sankat Mochan, Veer Bhadra Mishra, uppgav till BBC att explosionen ägde rum kvart över sex.

Några hinduiska grupper har uppmanat till strejk i Varanasi men enligt BBC:s reporter på plats finns öppna affärer i staden och trafik på gatorna. Tågtrafiken flyter på normalt och morgonbönen har ägt rum normallt i stadens många tempel.

Hemlandsministern Shivraj Patil och kongresspartiets ordförande Sonja Gandhi har rest till Varanasi och besökt de drabbade platserna.

I städer runtom i Indien har högsta beredskap utfärdats. Landets premiärminister Manmohan Singh har fördömt dåden och uppmanat till lugn. Uttar Pradesh har en lång historia av sammandrabbningar mellan muslimer och hinduer och regeringstalesmän har sagt att högsta prioritet är att undvika religiöst våld.

I staden Lucknow meddelade polisen att man skjutit en man efterlyst för ett bombattentat i Delhi i oktober som dödade 60 och skadade 210. Mannen uppges ha varit medlem i gruppen Lashkar-e-Toiba som kämpar för få Indien att lämna Kashmir.

Tidigare har muslimska och hinduiska grupper drabbat samman i staden som en fortsättning på de protester som inleddes i samband med statsbesöket av USA:s president George W Bush.

Denna artikel är en kort telegramartikel. Vet du mer om ämnet den beskriver kan du hjälpa till med att utvidga den.

Indien

22 oktober 2008: Indien sänder rymdfarkost till månen
28 april 2008: JAS offereras till Norge och Indien
21 januari 2008: Flera Asienbörser rasar kraftigt
10 januari 2008: Världens billigaste bil presenterades
30 mars 2006: HIV-spridningen minskar i Indien, visar ny rapport
25 mars 2006: Sikhisk busslinje knyter ihop Indien och Pakistan
21 mars 2006: Pakistan testade avancerad kryssningsmissil
20 mars 2006: Mobb halshögg familj för trolldom
9 mars 2006: Kashmir-separatister bakom bombdåd uppger polis
8 mars 2006: Tre bombdåd i staden Varanasi, Indien

• Holi
• Hinduism
• Uttar Pradesh
• Varanasi
• Hinduism
• Holi
• Manhoman Singh
• Benares

• 7 March 2006 Varanasi bombings

Uppdatera denna sida

Händelser 7 mars • mars • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 10

Publiceringar 8 mars • mars • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 10


Three injured in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes

According to reports, multiple Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have injured three children, including one infant.

According to a reporter for Al Jazeera, at least six locations were attacked by the strikes; meanwhile, Palestinian sources told the BBC that there were a total of at least thirteen strikes. A correspondent for the BBC reported that the attacks were the most serious in the area in over a year.

Israel's military commented that it was targeting weapon storage areas in the centre of the Gaza Strip, and that their move was a reaction to rockets fired from Gaza. "Israel will not tolerate terroristic activity inside Gaza that threatens Israeli citizens," read a statement by the armed forces.

According to Palestinian news agencies, Israeli aircraft threw leaflets around areas of Gaza yesterday, cautioning people that there would be retaliation for clashes near Khan Younis last week, which killed two Israeli troops.

Hamas officials and witnesses reported that farms, a milk factory, small areas belonging to the Hamas military, and metal workshop facilities were targeted.


Израел обстрелва ивицата Газа - 2 април 2010 г.

В нощта на 2 април военно въздушните сили на  Израел нанесоха 6 с американски бойни самолети  F-16 „Боен сокол” въздушни атаки над ивицата Газа.  Според говорител на палестинската въоръжена партията Хамас, която контролира ивицата Газа, са уцелени повече от 10 обекта, сред които едно кино и места за трениране на бойци доброволци.

Според медицинските служби в Палестина и говорител на Хамас, са  ранени три деца  близо дo района зоната Кхан Йунес.

Хеликоптери са нанесли два въздушни удара  срещу лагера за бежанци Нюсейрат,  разрушена е малка фабрика за млечни продукти и сирене в град Газа, квартала  Сабра,  една леярна 2 рейда са уцелили лагер на охранители на Бригадите на Езедин ал-Касам – въоръженото крилo на  Хамас, 4-ти рейд е разрушил работилница за механика в лагера за Бежанци.

Говорител на израелската армия заяви, че тези въздушни атаки са в отговор на ракета, която е ударила Ашкелон на юг от Израел няколко часа преди това, която е целяла два оръжейни завода и два оръжейни склада.

При яростни стълкновения между израелските сили и палестински бойци близо до район Кхан Йунес миналия уикенд са загинали двама израелски войника и двама палестинеца. Във вторник израелски обстрели са убили един палестински юноша и са ранили повече от 10 палестинеца.

Oт началото на годината срещу Израел са изстреляни 40 ракети и  миномети, като повечето от половината са били изстреляни през месец март.

Силван Шалм - израелския вице-първи министър предупреди в петък, че армията ще започне засилена офанзива срещу ивицата Газа, ако ислямското движение Хамас не спре да обстрелва Израел.

Това е най-яростният конфликт след  ескалацията на напрежението в ивицата Газа от края на декември 2008 и началото на януари  2009 година, когато загинаха повече от 1400 палестинеца.

Една от главните причини за конфликта между Израел и Палестина, е че  ивицата Газа е основната водоснабдителна област в района.

Среща на върха на страните от Арабската Лига за конфликта между Израел и Палестина


Gaza : trois blessés après des raids aériens israéliens

Selon les rapports, plusieurs raids aériens israéliens sur la bande de Gaza ont blessé, dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi, trois enfants, dont un bébé.

D'après un reporter d'Al Jazeera, au moins six lieux ont été visés par les frappes. Cependant, des sources palestiniennes ont indiqué à la BBC[1] que le nombre d'attaques se portait à au moins treize. Pour un correspondant de la BBC, il s'agit des attaques les plus importantes dans la région depuis un an.

L'armée israélienne[2] a annoncé que ces offensives visaient des entrepôts d'armes dans le centre de l'enclave palestinienne, et qu'elles avaient été effectuées en riposte aux tirs de roquettes lancées depuis Gaza. « Israël ne tolèrera pas une activité terroriste à Gaza qui menacerait les citoyens israéliens », note un rapport des forces armées.

Hier, selon les agences de presse palestiniennes, un avion israélien aurait lâché des feuillets en papier sur Gaza avertissant qu'il y allait avoir des représailles pour les heurts s'étant déroulés près de Khan Younès[3] la semaine dernière, au cours desquels deux troupes militaires israéliennes ont perdu la vie.

Le Hamas et des témoins ont rapporté que des fermes, une fabrique de lait, de petites zones appartenant aux forces du mouvement islamiste et des ateliers de métaux ont été ciblés par les raids.


Israel lança contra Gaza o maior bombardeio desde janeiro de 2009

Agência Brasil

Israel • 2 de abril de 2010

Às vésperas da Páscoa cristã, Israel promoveu ontem (1º) o maior bombardeio à Faixa de Gaza desde janeiro de 2009. Aviões israelenses realizaram uma série de ataques contra a região na noite desta quinta-feira. Quatro dos ataques foram contra a cidade de Khan Younis, onde dois soldados israelenses morreram na semana passada em confronto com militantes palestinos. As informações são da BBC Brasil.

Os demais ataques atingiram alvos múltiplos nas cidades de Gaza e Rafah. Segundo informações de autoridades palestinas, houve pelo menos 13 ataques no total. De acordo com o Exército israelense, os bombardeios foram uma represália ao lançamento de um foguete palestino contra a cidade israelense de Ashkelon, na última quinta-feira (31), que atingiu fábricas e depósitos de armamentos.

Segundo o Hamas, que controla a Faixa de Gaza, delegacias de polícia e centros de treinamento estão entre os alvos dos ataques. De acordo com o grupo, a ofensiva atingiu ainda fazendas e prédios do Hamas na região. Autoridades palestinas também afirmaram que uma fábrica de laticínios foi atingida pelos bombardeios israelenses e que três crianças, com idades entre 2 e 11 anos, ficaram levemente feridas por estilhaços.

O Exército israelense informou que “não vai tolerar qualquer tentativa de ferir os cidadãos do Estado de Israel e os soldados das Forças de Defesa e continuará a agir de maneira forte e determinada contra qualquer elemento que utilize o terror contra o Estado de Israel”.

Na última quinta feira (31), um foguete lançado a partir da Faixa de Gaza atingiu a área da cidade de Ashkelon, sem deixar feridos ou danos materiais. Um morador de Gaza disse que soldados israelenses distribuíram folhetos antes dos ataques aéreos, alertando os palestinos de que haveria retaliação pelas mortes dos militares em Khan Younis.

As tensões aumentaram na região no mês passado após o anúncio do governo israelense sobre o plano para construção de 1,6 mil casas em Jerusalém oriental – onde os palestinos pretendem fundar a capital do seu futuro Estado. O primeiro-ministro palestino, Salam Fayyad, afirmou, em entrevista ao jornal israelense Haaretz, que os palestinos vão declarar um Estado Palestino “independente e soberano” em 2011.

O presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva esteve na região no mês passado e se colocou à disposição para negociar a paz. Para o governo brasileiro, é direito dos palestinos ter um Estado independente.


Three inmates commit suicide at Guantanamo detention facility

Three inmates hung themselves with nooses made from their bedsheets at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. According to the U.S. Military, the time of death is not yet clear; the men were "found unresponsive and not breathing in their cells by guards."  Two of the men are reported to be Saudi, the third being Yemeni.  According to Admiral Harry Harris, one of the prisoners was a mid-to-high level Al-Qaida operative, another belonged to a splinter group, and the other was captured in Afghanistan.

Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, General John Craddock, said the three men had left suicide notes, but Craddock refused to discuss the contents.

Base commander Navy Rear Adm. Harry Harris said the suicides were acts of "asymmetrical warfare". According to Reuters his expressed opinion was that the suicides were an act of war,  "They are smart. They are creative. They are committed. They have no regard for life, neither ours nor their own. I believe this was not an act of desperation, but an act of asymmetrical warfare waged against us," he told reporters. It must be noted however that the concerned officer has not claimed to have the educational qualification to analyse the prisoners in a psychological manner, so his authority to comment on this matter might be questionable.

Ken Roth, Human Rights Watch in New York, said "These people are despairing because they are being held lawlessly". Mr Roth continued "There's no end in sight. They're not being brought before any independent judges. They're not being charged and convicted for any crime."

Moazzam Begg, 37, who was released in 2005 after spending two years under detention at Guantanamo told the Associated Press: "We all expected something like this but were not prepared. It's just awful. I hope the Bush administration will finally see this is wrong."

Barbara Olshansky, of the Center for Constitutional Rights which represents about 300 Guantanamo Bay detainees, said "I think people [detained at Guantanamo] have this incredible level of despair that they will never get justice. Olshansky said the US government "not only failed these people but pushed them on the road to death".

The United Nations recently asked the U.S to close down the detention centre after reports of abuse were made, including the flushing of Quraans down toilets, force-feeding of inmates, sleep deprivation and beatings of underage prisoners.


Guantanamo: Drei Gefangene tot

Guantanamo-Bucht (Vereinigte Staaten), 11.06.2006 – Drei Insassen des US-Internierungslagers in der Guantanamo-Bucht auf Kuba sind gestern gestorben. Zwei der Toten stammen nach US-Militärangaben aus Saudi-Arabien, der dritte aus dem Jemen. Es handelt sich um die ersten Todesfälle in dem Lager, in dem die US-Regierung rund 460 Terrorverdächtige festhält.

In einer Militärmitteilung heißt es, die Gefangenen seien „reglos und nicht atmend von den Wachen in ihren Zellen aufgefunden“ worden. Wiederbelebungsversuche des Wachpersonals scheiterten offenbar. Das Militär geht von Selbstmorden und von der Annahme aus, dass die drei Todesfälle untereinander koordiniert waren und nicht zufällig gleichzeitig stattfanden.

Präsident George W. Bush soll informiert worden sein.

Den Gefangenen werden Verbindungen zum Terrornetzwerk al-Qaida nachgesagt, oder es handelt sich um gefangene Talibankämpfer aus Afghanistan. Das Gefängnis ist international heftig umstritten, weil den Gefangenen keinerlei Rechte zugestanden werden. Zuletzt war die Anlage in die Schlagzeilen geraten, weil eine große Zahl der Häftlinge in Hungerstreik getreten war. Das Militär hat eine Untersuchung der Todesfälle angekündigt.


Three of Serbia's neighbours recognize Kosovo

Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary, all of which border Serbia, announced in a joint statement Wednesday that they will recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

"The decision on the recognition of Kosovo is based on thorough consideration," the statement said.

Croatia and Hungary later confirmed they had officially recognized Kosovo, while Bulgaria is expected to make an announcement Thursday. Yesterday, Bulgaria's security council held a meeting regarding Kosovo. Angel Naidenov, spokesman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, praised Kosovo for their efforts in establishing a "multi-ethnic and democratic country."

The statement says Kosovo's declaration of independence was prompted by the international community's failure to work out a solution between Serbia and Kosovo. "In these circumstances the change of the unsustainable status quo was unavoidable," the statement said.

The three nations express their interest in helping the European Union with stabilizing the region, and they wish to develop ties with a Kosovo that "maintains good relations with its neighbors, enjoys economic growth, and keeps its European orientation."

Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremić criticized their decision. "Every country that decides to recognize the illegally declared state of Kosovo breaches international law," he said, adding that countries who recognize Kosovo "cannot have good ties with Serbia."

"I call on states, particularly those of the region, not to take this step. Do not injure our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty," Jeremić said.

Boris Tadić, Serbia's president, had previously warned Croatia that recognizing Kosovo would have a negative effect on their relations. "We want to have the best possible relations with this country," Tadić said. "But recognition of Kosovo is certainly not an act of goodwill between neighbours."

Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader says he does not expect relations to worsen. "I do understand this is a difficult one for Serbia to swallow. That's one of the reasons we have waited until now. But I don't expect a worsening of political and economic relations because there is no alternative to good neighbourly relations."

Kosovo's deputy prime minister, Hajredin Kuçi said the decision was "very good for the Serbian perception and the people of Serbia that everybody who is in the neighbourhood is recognizing the new reality."


Croacia, Bulgaria y Hungría reconocen la independencia de Kosovo

20 de marzo de 2008Zabreb, Croacia — En una declaración conjunta los gobiernos de Croacia, Bulgaria y Hungría — países vecinos de Serbia — reconocieron la independencia de Kosovo, completando 33 países que han anunciado su reconocimiento oficial entre los que se cuentan Estados Unidos y 16 miembros de la Unión Europea.

Tras el anuncio, el canciller serbio Vuk Jeremic advirtió que los países que reconocen la independencia de Kosovo no pueden "contar con buenas relaciones" con Serbia, insistió en que Kosovo aún "es parte del Estado serbio" y llamó a consultas a los embajadores serbios en estas tres naciones.

Por su parte, el vice primer ministro croata Slobodan Uzela presentó inmediatamente su renuncia como miembro de la minoría serbia en el país, pero esta le fue rechazada por el primer ministro Ivo Sanader.

En Bulgaria se desataron reacciones de todos los matices, pues aunque el presidente Georgi Purvanov afirmó que estaban de acuerdo con "el punto de vista regional", un diario local tituló: "Le hemos clavado el cuchillo a Serbia, los vecinos nos cierran la puerta".

La declaración se produce en momentos de tensión tras las los enfrentamientos registrados en Mitrovika a principios de la presente semana.


Tibetans protest Google on Valentine's Day

Tibetans convened on Tuesday in Dharmsala to protest Google's decision to launch a censored version of its search engine in China.

Demonstrators are protesting the censorship, which disables any searches linked to issues of Human Rights, Tibet, Taiwan's independence and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.  Under China's censored version of the search engine, searches for these topics will produce omitted sites or direct users back to Chinese government websites.

Google had agreed to compromise with Beijing's censorship policies and limit specific searches in order to increase profits.

Teaming with Students for a Free Tibet in order organize a peaceful protest, demonstrators sent out 30,000 e-mails around the world, urging people to boycott Google this Valentine's Day. Tibetans also protested at the Googleplex after Google's announcement to censor their search engine for China.

A popular Tibetan news site run by exiled Tibetans shut itself down on Tuesday, leaving only the message: "We do not have any right to deny you our contents, but we commit this offense to help you realize a fact."

Many people are angry over what they argue is hypocrisy, citing Google's IPO filing:

"Don't be evil. We believe strongly that in the long term, we will be better served--as shareholders and in all other ways--by a company that does good things for the world even if we forgo some short term gains. This is an important aspect of our culture and is broadly shared within the company."


Les Tibétains manifestent contre Google

Des exilés tibétains se sont réunis mardi à Dharamsala pour protester contre la décision de Google de lancer une version censurée pour les recherches en Chine.

Les manifestants protestent contre la censure de Google sur ses résultats qui empêche toute recherche liée aux droits de l'homme, au Tibet, à l'indépendance de Taiwan et au massacre de Tiananmen en 1989. Dans cette version de Google censurée, les utilisateurs seront renvoyés vers des pages d'erreur ou des pages officielles du gouvernement.

Google a donné son accord pour avoir un compromis avec la censure de Pékin et limiter les recherches spécifiques au lieu de laisser libre accès à l'internaute.

L'organisation s'est faite dans le calme avec les étudiants pour un Tibet Libre, les manifestants ont envoyés plus de 30 000 courriels à travers le monde, en demandant aux personnes de boycotter Google le jour de la Saint-Valentin. Des Tibétains ont aussi manifesté devant siège social de Google, après l'annonce de la firme qu'elle briderait certaines recherches faites à partir du territoire chinois.

Categorie:Science et technologie
Categorie:Tibet
Categorie:Asie
Categorie:Politique


Time: 15 Iraqi civilians dead; U.S. Marines under investigation

Time magazine has reported that the U.S. military is investigating allegations of United States Marines killing civilians in response to the death of a U.S. Marine. The Marine was killed when a roadside improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy. His fellow Marines are alleged to have entered homes in a western Iraqi town and shot and killed fifteen members of two families in retaliation, including a three-year-old girl.

Time claims to have a videotape showing the results of the Marines' assault, describing it as "graphic documentation," but has stated that the evidence is inconclusive; it does not prove the guilt of the Marines involved. The military's own reconstruction of events, as well as the eyewitness accounts of residents whom Time interviewed, portrays a violent response by a group of U.S. Marines who believed they were under fire and had lost one of their own.

Last week the U.S. military announced that Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) has been handed the matter to determine whether the troops deliberately targeted civilians and broke the laws of war. Military Officials initially indicated that 15 Iraqi civilians had died when gunmen attacked a convoy with small arms fire, prompting the Marines to return fire. U.S. Marines have also claimed that the civilians were used as shields by insurgents and that the fault lies with the insurgents.

Relatives of the victims have been paid USD $2,500 for each of the 15 dead civilians by the United States.


15 civili iracheni morti: marines statunitensi sotto indagine

La notizia, comparsa sulla rivista Time in un articolo intitolato One Morning in Haditha, ci riporta a quello che parrebbe essere uno degli episodi più spaventosi della guerra in Iraq: il 19 novembre scorso, ad Haditha (Iraq occidentale), almeno 15 civili innocenti - fra cui 7 donne e 3 bambini - sono stati uccisi dai marines statunitensi nelle loro abitazioni.

La versione ufficiale dei fatti, che il Pentagono diffuse dopo la strage, parlava di un ordigno sulla strada che fece saltare un blindato americano, uccidendo un marine e 15 civili; in un secondo tempo un gruppo di insorti avrebbe attaccato e perso 8 uomini. Ma dopo un’inchiesta di dieci settimane Time fornisce un’altra versione: da 15 a 19 civili sarebbero stati freddati nelle loro abitazioni, mentre solo 4 sarebbero morti presso il blindato. Sebbene il Pentagono faccia ricadere le colpe sugli insorti che avrebbero utilizzato i civili come scudi umani, la rivista - dopo aver analizzato un video girato da uno studente ed aver intervistato una bambina di 9 anni per miracolo sfuggita alla morte - sostiene che nelle case ci fossero soltanto famiglie e che nessuna nascondesse armi. Le vittime, inoltre, risultavano colpite da distanza ravvicinata alla testa e al petto. Questo ed altri particolari, hanno spinto i gruppi dei diritti umani a denunciare l’accaduto come un crimine di guerra.

Eman Waleed, la bambina di 9 anni salva per miracolo insieme al fratellino Abdul di 8, racconta così l’accaduto:

«Abbiamo sentito un boato e come sempre ci siamo nascosti. Papà si è recato nella sua stanza a pregare. Io, Abdul e l’altro mio fratello siamo rimasti nella sala con la mamma, il nonno, due zie e due zii. Abbiamo udito spari ma nessuno di noi è uscito. I marines sono entrati urlando in inglese, sono andati nella stanza di papà e l’hanno ucciso, poi sono tornati nella sala e hanno ucciso anche il nonno e la mamma. Io ero in un angolo con i miei fratelli, hanno colpito me alla gamba e Abdul alla spalla. Le zie e gli zii si sono messi davanti a noi e sono morti per proteggerci. Giacevamo a terra nel sangue, piangendo, quando sono arrivati i soldati iracheni. Perché lo avete fatto? - ho chiesto. Hanno risposto non siamo stati noi, ma gli americani.»

Lo stesso sarebbe successo nella seconda abitazione.
Gli Stati Uniti avrebbero versato 2 500 dollari di indennizzo ai familiari delle vittime e un piccolo risarcimento per i feriti.


Tokelau voters reject self-rule

The people of Tokelau have rejected greater independence from New Zealand in a referendum held this week. 60% of the eligible voters voted "yes" to become an independent state in free association with New Zealand, but this failed to reach the two thirds support required to take effect. The turnout for the referendum was high, reaching almost 95% of registered voters.

Tokelau, a 12 square-kilometre archipelago with a population of 1,500, consists of three islands that do not have roads, an airport or a capital. It is a dependent territory of New Zealand, but New Zealand's Prime Minister said Tokelau is already "exercising virtually all the responsibilities of a self governing country". According to the UN and New Zealand, Tokelau would have relied heavily on New Zealand for financial assistance even if independence had been chosen.


Tokelau verwerpt zelfstandigheid

De inwoners van Tokelau hebben de grotere onafhankelijkheid van Nieuw-Zeeland verworpen. In het referendum dat deze week gehouden werd heeft 60% van de stemgerechtigden voor de onafhankelijkheid gestemd. Dit was onder de 67% die voor onafhankelijkheid zou zorgen.

Van te voren was door de bewoners zelf bepaald dat 67% benodigd was voor afscheiding. Van de 584 stemmen die werden geteld, waren 349 voor. Bijna 95% van de kiesgerechtigden had gestemd. Slechts 12 mensen stemden niet.


Tony Blair becomes the Quartet's envoy to the Middle East

On the same day that Tony Blair resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and quit as a Member of Parliament, he was appointed envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet on the Middle East. The Quartet is made up of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia.

The Quartet outlined Blair's duties in a statement:

Tony Blair said, in his final address to Parliament on Wednesday, that "The absolute priority is to try to give effect to what is now the consensus across the international community — that the only way of bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is a two-state solution," Blair continued, "I believe it is possible to do that but it will require a huge intensity of focus and work."

According to the Quartet statement, "Tony Blair will be supported in this work by a small team of experts, based in Jerusalem." Also, he will "report to and consult regularly with the Quartet and be guided by it as necessary."

A statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that as envoy, Blair could "allow for progress in the peace process."

An aide to the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, told reporters that Abbas "hopes [Blair] can help relieve the suffering of our people and provide basic needs".

The Hamas organization who are the de facto rulers of the Gaza Strip said the appointment of Blair "was not helpful in solving the conflict in the Middle East."

Ian Paisley, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, credited Blair's efforts in that nation, saying: "I hope that what happened in Northern Ireland will be repeated and at the end of the day he will be able to look back and say it was well worthwhile."


Tony Blair devient l'envoyé du Quartet au Moyen-Orient

Hier, le jour même de sa démission du poste de Premier ministre du Royaume-Uni et de son siège de parlementaire, Tony Blair a été nommé envoyé du   Quartet pour le Moyen-Orient. Le Quartet est composé des Nations unies, de l'Union européenne, des États-Unis d'Amérique et de la Russie.

Le Quartet a souligné les devoirs de Tony Blair comme envoyé dans une déclaration :
« Comme représentant du Quartet, il aura :

Tony blair a indiqué, dans sa dernière allocution au Parlement mercredi, que « la priorité absolue est de rendre effectif ce qui est à l'heure actuelle le consensus dans la communauté internationale -- ce qui est le seul moyen d'apporter paix et stabilité au Moyen-Orient dans une solution à deux états ». Il a poursuivi en indiquant : « je crois qu'il est possible d'y parvenir mais cela nécessite une grande intensité de concentration et de travail ».

Le bureau du Premier ministre israélien, Ehud Olmert a fait savoir que Tony Blair pourrait, comme envoyé, « permettre le progrès dans le processus de paix. ».
Un attaché du Président de l'Autorité palestinienne, Mahmoud Abbas, a indiqué aux journalistes que Mahmoud Abbas « espérait qu'il pourrait aider à atténuer les souffrances de son peuple et à contenter ses nécessités de base ».
Le Hamas, organisation considérée comme terroriste par de nombreux pays occidentaux et qui est de facto maître de la Bande de Gaza a indiqué que cette nomination « n'aidait en rien pour la résolution du conflit au Moyen-Orient. »
Ian Paisley, Premier ministre[1] d'Irlande du Nord, citant les efforts de Tony Blair dans cette Nation domestique a déclaré : « j'espère que ce qui s'est passé en Irlande du Nord se répétera et qu'à la fin il pourra se retourner sur le travail accompli en se disant qu'il a été achevé et bien achevé ».