Hundreds detained under emergency rule in Pakistan

Hundreds of people were rounded up by security forces in Pakistan, one day after Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule, effectively martial law. Scores of opposition figures were among those detained.

Javed Hashmi, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party, the party of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was arrested. "Musharraf's days are numbered. The time has come to end the political role of the army," he told reporters in Multan before being taken away by police. Nawaz Sharif said to an Indian news channel: "We have not witnessed such a grave situation in the 60 years of Pakistan's history."

Also arrested were pro-democracy attorney, Munir Malik, and the leader of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Asma Jehangir. Both have been involved in protests against Musharraf in past years. Troops also arrested the staff of the Commission and began to close off and surround government buildings.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who recently returned home, addressed supporters in Karachi. "This is a situation worse than an emergency. The people of Pakistan will not accept this," Bhutto said.

On Saturday, Musharraf laid out his reasons for the emergency rule. "Please do not expect or demand your level of democracy, which you learned over a number of centuries. Please also do not demand or expect your number of civil rights, human rights or civil liberties … Please give us time. For me and every Pakistani, Pakistan comes first," said Musharraf in a statement.

In a "charge sheet" levied against the judiciary, the government said: "... (T)here has been increasing interference by some members of the judiciary in government policy, adversely affecting economic growth, in particular," adding that there was "constant interference in executive functions."

The government further accused the judiciary of having "weakened the writ of the government, the police force ... been completely demoralised and ...fast losing its efficacy to fight terrorism, and intelligence agencies ... thwarted in their activities and prevented from pursuing terrorists."

Parliamentary elections may be delayed. The current Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz said, at a news conference, that the government is still committed to democracy, but "the government is deliberating on the election schedule."

"Now that we have emergency rule, parliament's term can be extended by one year," said Aziz. Pakistan was due to have a general election on January 15, 2008.

Meanwhile, the United States has said it will review the financial aid that is providing Pakistan. United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters, while in Jerusalem: "Obviously we are going to have to review the situation with aid, in part because we have to see what may be triggered by certain statutes."

The US has given an estimated US$10 billion in aid to Pakistan since 2001, primarily for counter-terrorism. This year Pakistan is receiving about $700 million in assistance.

"We have to be very cognizant of the fact that some of the assistance that has been going directly to Pakistan is directly related to counter-terrorism missions. This is a complicated matter," Rice said. She also condemned the declaration of emergency rule, saying "it's highly regrettable that Pakistan's president has declared a state of martial law. The U.S. does not support extra constitutional measures."

US Senator Joe Biden, the chairperson on the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations agreed that a review is needed. "I'm not sure how much good that military aid we're giving him to fight the extremists is doing us anyway," he said on television program, Face the Nation.

Tony Blair, special envoy for the Quartet on the Middle East said on Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer: "The sooner that we return to the pledges to restore democracy that were set out, the better. But it's a very, very difficult situation this indeed, and it's a situation that if it's not resolved in the right way, I think it's extremely worrying for the whole of the world, not just for Pakistan."


Estado de emergência no Paquistão

Declarado estado de emergência no Paquistão, pelo presidente Pervez Musharraf. No estado de sítio, no paquistão, a constituição é suspensa e a Suprema Corte foi substituída por indicação.[1]. Com baixa popularidade e sucessivas crises e ataques terroristas o presidente perde inclusive a apoio dos Estados Unidos.[2] Entretanto, pelo Paquistão ser estratégico para o combate ao terrrorismo os Estados Unidos tem a tendência a manter como um aliado.[3]


Hundreds of Czech far-right activists detained after anti-Roma protests

Rallies against the Roma ethnic minority in eight Czech Republic cities Saturday have resulted in 75 to 100 far-right activists being detained.

Violent clashes occurred between police and the demonstrators, some of who threw stones at the police forces. The largest rally occurred in the city of Ostrava where between 600 and 800 protestors attacked the police and at least 60 were detained. Seven other cities, including Prague, saw similar protests.

Amnesty International confirmed that the demonstrations had been planned in advance and warned the Czech Republic government earlier this month.

“We have seen a deeply worrying trend over the past year with entrenched discrimination against Roma reaching new heights. This is a fundamental issue that the Czech authorities can’t ignore,” Amnesty International’s John Dalhuisen said.

There are between 250,000 and 300,000 Roma people within the Czech Republic. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights conducted a poll in 2011 that found over 80 per cent of the Roma people surveyed had been subject to discrimination in the past year.


செக் குடியரசில் ரோமா மக்களுக்கு எதிராக எதிர்ப்புப் போராட்டம்

ரோமா இன மக்களுக்கு எதிராக நூற்றுக்கணக்கான தீவிர வலதுசாரி ஆதரவாளர்கள் செக் குடியரசின் பல நகரங்களிலும் ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்களில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

ஆர்ப்பாட்டக்காரர்கள் காவல்துறையினர் மீது கற்களை எறிந்து வன்முறைகளில் ஈடுபட்டதை அடுத்து அவர்களைக் கலைக்க காவல்துறையினர் கண்ணீர்ப் புகைக்குண்டுகளை வீசினர். 75 பேர் வரை கைது செய்யப்பட்டனர்.

ரோமா இனத்தவருக்கு எதிராக நடத்தப்படவிருந்த இந்த ஆர்ப்பாட்டங்கள் குறித்து பன்னாட்டு மன்னிப்பகம் ஏற்கனவே எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்திருந்தது. ரோமா மக்களைப் பாதுகாக்குமாறு அரசை மன்னிப்பகம் கேட்டிருந்தது.

செக் சமூகத்தில் ரோமா மக்களே மிகவும் வறுமையானவர்கள். 250,000 முதல் 300,000 ரோமா இனத்தவர்கள் இங்கு வாழ்கின்றனர். தமது இனத்தவர் மீது இனப்பாகுபாடு காட்டப்படுவதாக ரோமா இனத் தலைவர்கள் குற்றம் சாட்டி வருகின்றனர்.

ரோமா இனத்தவருக்கு ஆதரவு தெரிவித்து மனித உரிமை ஆர்வலர்களும் தலைநகர் பிராகில் ஊர்வலங்களை நடத்தினர்.

2010 ஆம் ஆண்டில், வித்கோவ் நகரில் ரோமா இனத்துக் குடும்பம் ஒன்றின் மீது நடத்தப்பட்ட தாக்குதல் ஒன்றில் சிறு குழந்தை ஒன்று பலத்த எரிகாயங்களுக்கு உள்ளானது. இது தொடர்பாக நான்கு பேர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டிருந்தனர்.

ஞாயிறு, ஆகத்து 25, 2013


У Чехії ультраправі провели антициганські марші

У семи містах Чехії відбулись антициганські демонстрації, в яких взяли участь сотні ультраправих активістів. У декількох місцях демонстрації завершилися сутичками правих і поліції. Щонайменше 75 осіб було заарештовано за порушення громадського порядку та непокору поліції.

На початку серпня правозахисна організація Amnesty International висловила стурбованість у зв'язку з запланованими акціями, закликавши владу Чеської Республіки захистити циганську громаду країни. За різними оцінками у Чехії проживають від 250 до 300 тисяч циган. Вони належать до найбідніших прошарків населення держави, а їхні лідери часто нарікають на расову дискримінацію.

Як передає Радіо Прага, наймасовіші сутички ультраправих із поліцією відбулися в містах Острава і Чеське-Будейовіце на північному сході республіки. В обох містах демонстранти відійшли від узгодженого з владою маршруту і спробували потрапити в райони масового проживання циган. В Остраві близько 600 протестувальників почали закидати поліцію камінням, щонайменше 60 людей затримані. Правоохоронні органи в ряді випадків застосували сльозогінний газ.

У місті Плзень, як повідомляють місцеві ЗМІ, на вулиці вийшли приблизно 400 ультраправих, у результаті сутичок із правоохоронцями 15 із них опинилися за ґратами. Великі демонстрації пройшли також і в столиці Празі. У декількох містах активісти правозахисних організацій спробували влаштувати власні демонстрації на противагу націоналістам.

Раніше Amnesty International попередила, що в Чеській Республіці посилюються антициганські настрої. Керівник організації по Європі та Центральній Азії Джон Далусен заявив:

Нагадаємо, у 2010 році суд Острави засудив чотирьох правих екстремістів до тривалих термінів тюремного ув'язнення за підпал будинку, у якому жила циганська сім'я.

25 серпня 2013


Hundreds of Hong Kong district council seats go to pro-democracy candidates

On Sunday, Hong Kongers turned out more than 2.9 million strong to vote in their district-level elections.  Over 80% of the 452 available  district council seats went to pro-democracy candidates, often ousting pro-Beijing candidates, giving them control of 17 out of 18 of the area's districts.

The district council is the only level of Hong Kong government that is, as news sources noted, completely democratic, and the councilors make up about a tenth part of the body that elects the chief executive of Hong Kong.  Most councilors' duties involve action at the neighborhood level, like maintaining parks, arranging trash collection, and dealing with pests, which in at least one case involved wild boars.

Although Hong Kong's district elections are, reportedly, usually quiet, this year not even one district council candidate ran unopposed.  The turnout was about 71%, some 25% higher than last year.

Voter Kitty Mak told The Atlantic, "Today we are trying to do the best we can for Hong Kong right now. Every little step matters [...] It is a protest vote against an authoritarian government; we cannot tolerate this government's policies anymore."

Chinese University political scientist Ma Ngok said the turnout was seen as public support of the protesters who have demonstrated in Hong Kong since June. He noted, "The government and the pro-Beijing camp have always claimed they have public support [...] But now [...] this is a big slap in the face because the public has showed their real position in record numbers."

The city has been home to intense, occasionally violent pro-democracy protests since June of this year, some of which have shut down parts of the city.  The protests began after the Hong Kong government proposed an amendment to a law to allow the government of mainland China to extradite anyone accused of a crime to the mainland to be prosecuted under the Chinese judicial system, but the motivation behind the events have expanded to include demands for investigations into police brutality and a more representative form of democracy within Hong Kong government.

About 2.9 million people voted in Sunday's election.  The total population of Hong Kong is about 7.5 million.


La hongkongaj por-demokratiaj partioj venkis en la loka balotado

La por-demokratiaj Hongkongaj partioj gajnis grandegan venkon en la loka balotado, dimanĉon la 24-an de novembro. Tiom granda nombro da voĉdonantoj, kiom neniam antaŭe, tiamaniere voĉdonis, ke oni taksas la balotadon amasa riproĉo al Pekino. La opoziciaj kandidatoj gajnis preskaŭ 90 elcentojn de la deputitoj, laŭ la publika amaskomunikilo RTHK. La demokratoj nun kontrolos 17 el 18 distriktaj konsilioj, antaŭe kontrolinte nulon.

La balotado estis grava simbola bato de la por-ĉinaj partioj kiuj regas la hongkongan politikon, kaj ĝi estis nova pruvo de daŭra subteno al la por-demokratia movado, kiu estiĝis antaŭ kvin monatoj kaj fariĝas ĉiam pli batalema.

«La hongkonganoj elparolis laŭte kaj klare. La internacia komunumo devas agnoski tion, ke post preskaŭ ses monatoj, la publika opinion NE turniĝis kontraŭ la movado», diris la aktivista studento Joshua Wong ĉe Tvitero.

«Ĉi tio estas vasta venko, multe pli granda ol tio, kion oni atendis», diris David Zweig, emerita profesoro ĉe la Hongkonga Universitato de Scienco kaj Teknologio.

Tamen, la balotado ne signife ŝanĝos la ekvilibron de potenco en la kvazaŭ-demokratia politika sistemo de Hongkongo. La distriktaj deputitoj ne potencas adopti leĝojn. Ili traktas ĉefe tre lokajn aferojn, kiel plendojn pri bruo kaj la lokiĝon de bushaltejoj.

Aliflanke, oni konsideras la balotadon pri la distriktaj konsiloj kiel unu el la plej fidindaj indikiloj de la publika opinio, ĉar ĉi tio estas la sola tute demokratia elektado en Hongkongo.

La pro-Pekina ĉefadministrantino Carrie Lam publikigis komunikaĵon, dirante ke la registaro respektas la rezulton de la balotado, kaj ke ĝi humile aŭskultos la opiniojn de la loĝantaro kaj serioze konsideros ilin.


Hundreds of monks arrested in monastery raids; continue protests

At least 200 monks have been arrested in Myanmar during night-time raids on monasteries not long before sunrise. Government forces began to crack down on protesters after several days of peaceful demonstrations, but despite the violent treatment from military personnel, the monks returned to the streets in the morning.

100 monks were taken by security forces when they raided a monastery at Ngwe Kyaryan. "Only two or three sick monks were left behind", a witness near the monastery said. Some reports state that shots have been fired at demonstrators, with one "collapsing", but it's not known if the individual was shot.

"There are fire trucks, water cannons positioned in a number of places - there are about three of them outside city hall. There are a number of prison vans also to be seen in certain places", said Mark Canning, the British ambassador in Rangoon.

The United States and European Union have said that they are deeply troubled by events, issuing a statement calling on the United Nations Security Council to consider sanctions, but China and Russia do not believe sanctions will "be helpful" and immediately dismissed the call, calling the situation a matter for the "internal government" of Myanmar.

"France will not accept the gagging of Burma's opposition", said Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, who also said that "[the Security Council] expressed their concern vis-a-vis the situation, and have urged restraint, especially from the government of Myanmar."


Myanmar: centinaia di monaci arrestati durante raid nei monasteri, ma la protesta continua

Almeno 200 monaci sono stati arrestati a Myanmar durante raid notturni nei monasteri poco prima dell'alba. Le forze governative hanno iniziato a prendere provvedimenti restrittivi dopo alcuni giorni di manifestazioni pacifiche, ma nonostante il violento trattamento subito da parte del personale militare, i monaci sono ritornati in strada questa mattina.

Cento monaci sono stati presi dalle forze di sicurezza quando hanno fatto irruzione nel monastero di Ngwe Kyaryan. «Soltanto due o tre monaci malati sono stati lasciati liberi», ha detto un testimone nei pressi del monastero. Alcune persone hanno riferito che ci sono stati spari durante le manifestazioni, e una persona è «caduta a terra», ma non si sa se essa è stata colpita.

«Ci sono camion dei pompieri e cannoni ad acqua posizionati in diversi posti - Ce ne sono circa tre appena fuori il municipio. Ci sono diversi furgoni delle carceri», ha detto Mark Canning, ambasciatore inglese a Rangoon.

Gli Stati Uniti d'America e l'Unione Europea hanno affermato di essere profondamente preoccupati dagli eventi, chiedendo una riunione del Consiglio di Sicurezza delle Nazioni Unite al fine di considerare sanzioni contro il regime, ma Cina e Russia non credono che le sanzioni aiuterebbero e hanno immediatamente posto il veto, affermando che la crisi è una questione interna al governo di Myanmar.

«La Francia non accetterà che l'opposizione birmana venga imbavagliata» ha detto Nicolas Sarkozy, presidente della Repubblica francese, che ha anche affermato che «noi [il Consiglio di Sicurezza] abbiamo espresso preoccupazione di fronte alla situazione, e abbiamo chiesto moderazione, specialmente da parte del governo di Myanmar».


Hundreds of thousands protest anti-secession law in Taiwan

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Taipei, Taiwan on Saturday, as several political parties, 500 civic groups, and President Chen Shui-bian voiced their opposition to the "anti-secession" law passed by the People's Republic of China last week.

The Associated Press and the Sydney Morning Herald estimated turnout at close to one million. Police spokesman Tan Szu-huai initially provided an estimate of about 300,000, but AP is reporting a revised police estimate of one million. Reuters news agency reports that organisers had hoped to attract one million people to the march.

"What do we want from China? Peace!" DPP lawmaker Bikhim Hsiao chanted with the crowd.

Hsiao told CNN, "[This law] essentially gives China a blank check to use force against Taiwan, and they are the ones legislating, they are the ones interpreting the law, and executing and implementing the law."

Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian joined the protesters with his family and a security escort at 3pm local time. Chen is not scheduled to make a major speech to the crowd once they assemble at Presidential Office in downtown Taipei City, although he will preside over a ceremony with songs for each of the four major ethnic groups before the rally ends.

Protestors chanted "Oppose war, Love Taiwan" amongst what has been termed a "democratic carnival" in downtown Taipei. The "carnival" consisted of activities on different themes relating to Taiwanese national sovereignty and cross-straits relations.

Protestors attended from all over Taiwan, many braving arduous ten-hour or longer bus rides to Taipei.

Taiwan's former president Lee Teng-hui, the spiritual leader of the pro-independence TSU, and Premier Frank Hsieh, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, are also taking part in the march.

Vice President Annette Lu is expected to make an appearance at the Presidential Office.

Taiwanese television station ETTV on its Taiwan Domestic Newshour and others are providing live coverage as the march and rally progresses.

Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the Council for Advanced Policy Studies in Taiwan, told Bloomberg, "China probably won't respond too strongly to the rally, focusing instead on how to make progress in terms of a peaceful, pragmatic approach."

At the time this story was filed, China's state-controlled Xinhua and People's Daily news agencies had no immediate comment about the march or the planned rally, but earlier today, Xinhua reported that on Friday, a Chinese expert "urged the Taiwan authorities to grasp the 'sincerity and goodwill' expressed in the Anti-Secession Law," stating that "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces had "malevolently distorted" the legislation and "sought to instigate hostility" between the two sides.

China's state-run news agencies also quoted professors from Chinese universities on Friday, who warned that the situation could become "further aggravated" by Saturday's planned event.

"China's Hard Line Stirs Throng in Taiwan." Keith Bradsher. New York Times. March 27, 2005. [1]


Massendemonstrationen in Taipeh gegen „Anti-Abspaltungsgesetz“

Taipeh (Taiwan) / Peking (Volksrepublik China), 27.03.2005 – Der Konflikt um die Unabhängigkeitsbestrebungen Taiwans haben sich durch die Massendemonstration am Samstag in Taipeh verschärft. Peking warf der taiwanesischen Regierung vor, neue Spannungen zu provozieren. Mit ihrer "extremen Unabhängigkeitsbestrebung" habe Taiwans Regierung die Bevölkerung in die Irre geführt und neue Feindschaft gesät, erklärte die Pekinger Führung der staatlichen Nachrichtenagentur „Neues China“ Xinhua zufolge. Die Kräfte der Sezession seien „die größte Bedrohung des Friedens in der Taiwan-Straße“.

Rund eine Million Menschen hatten gestern gegen das am 14. März vom Parlament in Peking verabschiedete Anti-Abspaltungsgesetz protestiert. Das Gesetz droht Taiwan, das von der Volksrepublik China seit jeher als abtrünnige Provinz betrachtet wird, für den Fall weiterer sezessionistischer Bestrebungen mit dem Einsatz „nicht-friedlicher Mittel“. - „Der Unabhängigkeits-Lauf Taiwans ist eine leere Zurschaustellung seiner Stärke“, lautete die Überschrift der Pekinger Morgenpost am Sonntag. Die Zeitungen druckten allerdings keine Bilder der Demonstration; Berichte von CNN und BBC waren Beobachtern zufolge zensiert.

Das nimmt nicht wunder, waren die Demonstranten doch alles andere als zurückhaltend: Grüne Stirnbänder mit der Aufschrift „Demokratie, Frieden, schützt Taiwan“, Stinkefinger-Plakate, Transparente mit der Aufschrift „Fuck China“ und ein großformatiges Banner mit dem Konterfei des chinesischen Premierministers Wen Jiabao auf den Straßen ausgebreitet, das die Teilnehmer des Protestzugs symbolisch mit Füßen treten konnten, waren wohl zu starker Tobak für die Führung in Peking. Auch Taiwans Präsident Chen Shui-bian hatte mit seiner gesamten Familie am „Karneval des Friedens“ in Taipeh beteiligt, hielt jedoch keine Rede. Chen soll damit auch auf Befürchtungen der USA reagiert haben, dass die in Taiwan regierende Demokratische Partei (DPP) die Massendemonstrationen zum Protestmarsch für eine Unabhängigkeit Taiwans umfunktionieren könnte. Bereits am 28. Februar des vergangenen Jahres hatte er zusammen mit einer Menschenkette gegen die mehr als 600 Mittelstreckenraketen demonstriert, die China gegenüber Taiwan installiert haben. Peking lässt dem taiwanischen Verteidigungsministerium zufolge jedes Jahr 75 weitere Raketen aufstellen, was China bislang noch nicht dementiert hat.

Wegen der von Peking forcierten „Ein-China-Politik“ - sie nahm ihren Anfang nach einem Besuch des seinerzeitigen US-Präsidenten Richard Nixon Anfang der 70-er Jahre im damals noch meist als Rotchina bezeichneten Mutterland - erkennen heute nur noch 26 meist kleine Staaten Taiwan diplomatisch an (die Bundesrepublik Deutschland nicht). China versuchte in den vergangenen Jahren vehement, Taiwan international weiter zu isolieren.

Jeder, der den Text des Gesetzes sorgfältig gelesen habe, werde erkennen, das dies ein Gesetz sei, um eine friedliche Wiedervereinigung herbeizuführen und die Beziehungen über die Taiwanstraße hinweg zu verbessern. Es sei ein Gesetz zum "Schutz der Interessen der taiwanesischen Landsleute", so Pekings Sprachrohr Xinhua. Es habe weithin auch „die Anerkennung der internationalen Gemeinschaft gefunden“.

Der EU-Außenbeauftragte Javier Solana kritisierte unterdessen das chinesische Anti-Abspaltungsgesetz. In der Bild am Sonntag erklärte er, dass das Vorgehen Pekings Auswirkungen auf die Pläne der Europäischen Union haben könnte, das Waffenembargo gegen die Volksrepublik aufzuheben.

US-Außenministerin Condoleezza Rice hatte die Konfliktparteien bei ihrem Besuch in Peking unlängst aufgefordert, die Situation nicht „gegenseitig hochzuschaukeln“ und nichts zu unternehmen, was  den Status quo weiter verletzen könnte.


Setki tysięcy protestujących przeciwko "prawu antysecesyjnemu" na Tajwanie

Setki tysięcy protestujących wypełniło ulice Tajpej, stolicy Tajwanu. Przez cały dzień rząd, blisko pięćset organizacji i wielu liderów partii opozycyjnych protestuje, przeciw uchwalonemu niedawno przez rząd w Pekinie tzw. "prawu antysecesyjnemu", które nakazuje chińskim żołnierzom użycia metod siłowych, w celu ponownego zjednoczenia Chin i Tajwanu.

"Czego chcemy od Chin? Pokoju!", krzyczał do tłumu Bikhim Hsiao, jeden z tajwańskich polityków.

Według United Evening News i Associated Press demonstracje przyciągnęły ponad milion ludzi, a Tan Szu-chai, jeden z policjantów informuje o 300 tysiącach zebranych. Agencja Reutera informowała wcześniej, że organizatorzy liczyli na udział w manifestacji ponad miliona ludzi.

Również prezydent Tajwanu, Chen Shui-bian, dołączył wraz z rodziną do protestujących.

Protestujący krzyczą "Przeciw wojnie, kochamy Tajwan" w czasie tak zwanego "karnawału demokratycznego" w centrum Tajpej.

Ten "karnawał" składa się z wielu wydarzeń kulturalnych, związanych z tradycją Tajwanu. Jest on zarazem demonstracją poparcia dla wolności i demokratycznych rządów tego kraju.

Hundreds of thousands protest anti-secession law in Taiwan w angielskim Wikinews


Hundreds of thousands rally in Australia against IR legislation

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

People rallied in 300 locations across Australia today to protest the Federal Government's proposed changes to industrial relations laws, WorkChoices. According to police, around 150,000 people congregated in Melbourne, from where speeches were broadcast throughout the country. In Sydney, thirty thousand gathered in Belmore Park and Martin Place to watch the broadcast before marching to Chifley Square.

Sharan Burrow, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), said that under the changes many working conditions would be under threat, including "penalty rates, public holidays, overtime pay, control over rostered hours, shift penalties, even 4 weeks annual leave." The government has claimed, despite various expert assesment to the contrary, and opposition from major Australian religious and charity organisations and some concern from its own backbench, that the IR changes will improve the economy and ultimately benefit workers, and dismissed the protests as having "little effect".

Ms Burrow said that the union movement was "standing up for the values that shape the way we care for each other," and criticised the proposed legislation, calling it "an attack on living standards, community, family life and wages."

The IR changes were also criticised by a number of church leaders. George Pell, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, said "I'm not a supporter of the radical weakening of the unions," and Anglican Bishop Phillip Higgins called them "disturbing and unwise."

Ms Burrow also criticised the Government's public relations campaign, calling it a waste of money. "They spent $55 million of our money trying to convince us that everything was okay," she said.

Greg Combet, Secretary of the ACTU, linked the struggle to past wars in which Australia has fought. "They fought and died in wars for this country. They do not deserve to have their rights taken away." He said that, for many, workplace changes would come quickly, especially for the most vulnerable. He also argued that some employers would be forced by competition to reduce wages and working conditions. "Even the best employers can be driven by competition to lower their labour costs. We will end up with an army of working poor, like the US," he said.

"We will hold the government to account for the human cost of these laws," Mr Combet said.

Former Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke said that the struggle was about what he called "the essence of Australian character - the fair go." Opposition Labor leader Kim Beazley declared that if returned to government at the next election, Labor would repeal the legislation. "This legislation is gone with the election of a Labor government," he said.

Prime Minister John Howard predicted that the protests would have little effect. "It is my view that after they (the laws) have been implemented for a period of time, most Australians will look back on the criticisms and objections ... with a sense of bewilderment," Howard said.

"The sky will not fall in, weekend barbecues will not be abolished, parents will still be able to spend Christmas Day with their children."

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews, echoed the Prime Ministers sentiments. "Well the Government’s not going to be distracted by rallies and hysterical overreaction," he said. Mr Andrews defended the Government's record, arguing that it has been responsible for an increase in wages over the past ten years.

"Well what I would say to Australians, whether they were the people on the streets today or the probably 95% of Australians who were in their workplaces today working, is that firstly, look at the record of this Government over the last 10 years.  That record speaks for itself.  We’ve seen a 15% increase in real wages and we’ve seen a 1.7 million increase in jobs in Australia," he said. Mr Andrews also said that the industrial relations changes were about creating the conditions for a strong economy.

"So what we’ve been on about is bringing about the economic conditions that we can have a strong economy which ultimately is the only guarantee of jobs and wages in Australia."

The claims of the Government are highly debated and not supported by some independent expert assesment. Professor Mark Wooden from the Melbourne Institute said, "There is no economic sense in it." A report issued by 17 independent experts in industrial relations from Australian tertiary institutions stated that there "is no convincing evidence that the proposals will generate jobs," and that the "claim that individual contracts deliver a higher productivity is highly questionable."

The IMF said in its 2005 review of the Australian economy that "the implementation of this package of reforms to widen employment opportunities and raise productivity by enhancing flexibility in work arrangements" was important for Australia's economic future, contradicting Prof. Wooden's claims.

The OECD also supports reform to the Industrial relations system, claiming in its 2004 Review of the Australian Economy "To further encourage participation and favour employment, the industrial relations system also needs to be reformed so as to increase the flexibility of the labour market, reduce employment transaction costs and achieve a closer link between wages and productivity."

Before marching to the Carlton gardens, a live video hook-up was established between the major state capitals of Australia, plus smaller regional centres.

According to police, some 150,000 marched from Federation Square to Royal Exhibition building to protest the proposed IR legislation and voice opinion, vastly in excess of original union estimates of 60,000. Organisers estimated a crowd up to 245,000 while a report from Sky News from aerial observation estimated 175,000 people attending the protest. The crowd spread through the streets of Melbourne as far as the eye could see - a seemlingly endless mass from the ground. The march stretched eight city blocks; when the first marchers had reached the end at the Carlton Gardens, the tail end was just starting.

For the marchers, the consensus was that the negatives of the legislation outweigh the benefits; that it will affect the poorer working class and the middle class long into the future unless the legislation is rolled back. One issue of concern was that the Government has not accepted that the minimum wage needs to rise with inflation, rather its position appears to be to allow for the possibility that the minimum wage could fall in real terms. Another was the loss of the safety net protecting workers from contacts offering less than award conditions.

Public transport was stretched to capacity and car parking was almost impossible to find. Inclement weather ultimately became fine.
See the photo gallery for more photos

At 10am the estimated 30,000 protestors moved from Belmore Park down Hay St onto George St, chanting slogans and waving union banners.

Led by a fire truck, traditional Korean drummers and the Unions NSW campaign bus, they stretched nearly six city blocks along George Street, chanting their opposition to the changes.

Meeting with the rally from Martin Place, the combined march then moved on to Chifley Square, where another stage was set up, and more speakers were heard, including Peter Garrett, Federal member for Kingsford-Smith.

Garrett spoke mostly about the dispute between Boeing and 28 aircraft engineers at its Williamtown site. The workers are on strike to obtain the right to enter into a collective agreement negotiated by their union, rather than independent agreements. The strike is now in its fifth month.

Up to 100,000 people in NSW took part in 227 separate stopwork meetings throughout the state, linked by a nationwide Sky Channel hook up. The M4 motorway was also blocked off for nearly an hour, by transport workers and police.

More photographs of the Sydney protest can be seen in the Australian Industrial Relations Protest (Sydney) Gallery.

In Brisbane, Queensland, organisers have claimed success after more than 15,000 people turned out to protest against the industrial relations laws. Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley joined the workers, including representatives from 40 unions, who rallied at South Bank before marching to the Queensland office of the National party.

Mr Beazley told the South Bank rally that one of the first things he would do as Prime Minister would be to put in place "a fair system".

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said the State Government will push ahead with its High Court challenge to the Howard Government's proposed changes to industrial laws.

Rallies were also organised for the Gold Coast, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns.

In Adelaide, the SA Premier Mike Rann told a rally, estimated by police at 15,000 workers, that the State Government will fight the proposed new laws all the way to the High Court. "This is the most systematic attack on the values of Australian people that we've seen since the Second World War," Mr Rann said.

SA Unions secretary Janet Giles was ecstatic with the response. "40,000 people in a city of one million . . . a sensational turnout. There are people here from every union, from all industries," she said.

Adelaide images here

In Perth WA commuters experienced transport disruptions today as the city came to a halt for the Rally. Police estimates put the crowd at 10,000. UnionsWA secretary Dave Robinson told those assembled near the foreshore of the Swan River that it was a historic day. Premier Geoff Gallop, WA Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke and federal Labor industrial relations spokesman Stephen Smith also spoke at the rally.

The government earlier today revealed that Solicitor General Robert Meadows, QC, would lead WA's High Court fight, mounted in conjunction with Queensland and NSW. Mr Kobelke said the action would seek to save 100 years of cooperative Australian industrial relations based on conciliation and arbitration. Perth images here

According to the ABC, 4,500 people rallied in the Tasmanian city of Hobart. Unions say 3,000 workers have rallied at Thoroughbred Park in Canberra. In Darwin, nurses, teachers, public servants, construction workers and entire families have turned out to show that not only workers will be affected by the Federal Government's industrial relations reforms. Traffic blocked the roads leading the Fannie Bay Racecourse. Crowds jostled for space to see the satellite fed telecast from the Melbourne rally.

Wellington, NZ also showed solidarity as some 200 people demonstrated outside the Australian Embassy.

Melbourne Gallery

Sydney Gallery

This original work will be also available in french.


Des centaines de milliers d'Australiens ont protesté contre la nouvelle législation du travail

En provenance de près de 300 localités à travers l'Australie, la population s'est réunie pour protester contre les changements des lois régissant le travail  (WorkChoices) proposés par le gouvernement fédéral. Selon la police, à peu près 150 000 personnes se sont rassemblées à Melbourne, depuis laquelle des discours ont été diffusés à travers le pays. À Sydney, 30 000 personnes se sont retrouvées dans Belmore Park et Martin Place pour regarder la diffusion avant de marcher sur Chifley Square.

Sharan Burrow, présidente du Conseil australien des syndicats (ACTU), déclare qu'avec ces changements les conditions de travail vont s'aggraver et cela concerne les congés annuels, les amendes, les jours fériés et le contrôle des heures de travail annuel (en anglais ; « control over rostered hours »). Le gouvernement a déclaré, en dépit des déclarations contraires de divers experts et l'opposition des plus grandes organisations religieuses et caritatives et même quelques critiques de son bord politique que le changement de législation améliorera l'économie et finalement sera bénéfique aux employés et rejette les protestations comme étant de peu d'effet (« little effect »).

Mme Burrow a déclaré que le but du mouvement syndical consistait à « maintenir la cohésion des valeurs qui nous unissent », et a critiqué la proposition de loi, la décrivant comme « une attaque sur la famille, sur la communauté, et sur une vie normale ».

Ces modifications de la loi ont été aussi critiquées par une certain nombre de chefs religieux. George Pell, l'archevêque catholique de Sydney a déclaré : « Je ne soutiens pas cet affaiblissement radical des syndicats », tandis que l'évêque anglican Phillip Higgins les a déclarées « dérangeantes et sans sagesse ».

Mme Burrow a aussi critiqué la campagne de relation publique organisée par le gouvernement, la considérant comme un gaspillage d'argent. « Ils ont dépensé 55 millions de dollar de notre argent à essayer de nous convaincre que tout était okay », selon elle., secrétaire de ACTU, a fait le lien avec les guerres dans lesquelles l'Australie a combattu. « Ils se sont battus et sont mort à la guerre pour ce pays, ils ne méritent pas que leurs droits leurs soient arrachés ». Il a précisé, que pour beaucoup, et spécialement pour les plus vulnérables, le changement d'employeur arrivera rapidement. Il a aussi critiqué le fait que certains employés seront forcés par la compétition de devoir réduire leurs prétentions salariales et leurs conditions de travail. « Même le meilleur des employeurs sera obligé de réduire sa masse salariale pour rester compétitif. Comme les États-Unis, nous aurons notre armée de travailleurs pauvres ».

« Nous tenons responsable le gouvernement du coût humain de cette loi », a déclaré Mr Combet.

L'ancien premier ministre Travailliste, Bob Hawke considère que le mécontentement avait pour origine « l'essence même de l'Australien — le progrès respectueux (« the fair go ») ». Le chef de l'opposition Travailliste Kim Beazley a quant à lui déclaré que s'il retourne aux gouvernement aux prochaines élections, les Travaillistes annuleraient cette loi. « Cette loi sera abrogée dès qu'un gouvernement Travailliste sera élu », a-t-il déclaré.

Le premier ministre John Howard a prédit que les manifestations n'auront aucun effet. « De mon point de vue, une fois qu'elle auront été appliquées [les lois] durant un certain temps, la plupart des australiens reviendront sur leur critiques et leurs objections… avec émerveillement (« bewilderment ») ».

« Le ciel ne nous tombera pas sur la tête, les barbecues du week-end ne seront pas annulés, et les parents pourrons fêter Noël avec les enfants ».

Le ministre de l'emploi et des relations patronales (« Employment and Workplace Relations »), Kevin Andrews, reprend les idées du Premier ministre. « Bon, le gouvernement ne va pas se laisser distraire par des râleurs et des hyper-actifs hystériques ». Mr Andrews a défendu les actions passées du gouvernement en précisant qu'il a été à l'origine de l'augmentation des salaires pendant les 10 dernières années.

« Bon, ce que je dirais aux Australiens, qu'ils soient dans la rue aujourd'hui, ou plus probablement comme 95 % des Australiens, à leur travail faisant leur job, est, premièrement, regardez notre action durant les 10 ans passés. Les chiffres parlent d'eux-même. Nous avons vu le salaire net augmenter de 15 % et le nombre de postes de 1,7 millions en Australie ». M. Andrews a aussi expliqué que ces changements étaient nécessaires pour créer les conditions  préalables à économie forte.

« Ce que nous avons fait amènera les conditions d'une économie forte qui finalement est la seule garante d'emploi et de salaire en Australie ».

Les affirmations du gouvernement sont chaudement débattues et n'ont pas le soutien de quelques experts indépendants. Le professeur Mark Wooden de la faculté de Melbourne a déclaré que « c'est un non-sens économique ». Un rapport rédigé par 17 experts spécialistes indépendants indique « qu'il n'y a aucune preuve convaincante que la proposition créera des emplois » et que « l'affirmation que les contrats individuels [ndlr : conventions collectives] améliore la productivité est une question ouverte ».

Le FMI, dans son rapport annuel 2005 sur l'économie australienne, a indiqué que « la mise en place de cette réforme va augmenter les possibilités d'emploi et augmenter la productivité en augmentant la flexibilité » ce qui est important pour le futur économique de l'Australie, contredisant les dires du professeur Wooden.

L'OCDE encourage les réformes des liens employeurs-employé. Dans son rapport de 2004 sur l'économie australienne, il est noté « que pour encourager la participation et favoriser l'emploi, les conventions collectives doivent être réformées pour améliorer la flexibilité du marché du travail, réduire le coût de l'emploi et avoir une meilleur adéquation entre productivité et salaire ».


Hungary extends fuel price cap

On Saturday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced a three-month extension of a price cap on standard motor fuels in Hungary. The cap came in to effect on November 15 and would have ended on Sunday. The government hopes to undercut inflation and help the economy with this move, but does not indemnify petrol stations for their losses. A general election is scheduled for April 3, for which all opposition parties currently in Parliament but one have united to beat the ruling Fidesz-KDNP alliance, which is now in its twelfth year in tenure.

Orbán announced the extension in his annual speech, claiming "the 'price-stop' proved to be effective in this case too, so we will extend it for an additional three months." ((hu))Hungarian language: Az árstop itt is bevált, ezért három, további három hónappal meghosszabbítjuk. The official gazette, Magyar Közlöny, published the corresponding government resolution No. 39/2022 a day later. A week earlier, deputy finance minister András Tállai said to news agency MTI that tax authority checks on over 2000 fuel stations had found no recurring price cap violations but 12 violators were fined a total of HUF3.2 million (USD10140). "The stations are operating in line with the rules set, which is reflected by the fact no recurring violations have occurred in the past three months." ((hu))Hungarian language: A kutak azonban betartják a szabályokat, ezt igazolja többek között az is, hogy ismételt jogsértés az elmúlt csaknem három hónapban nem történt., Tállai added.

Orbán said "we have the fifth lowest fuel price [in the European Union]. We pay 480 [Hungarian] forints [per liter, but] without the 'price-stop' we would pay well over 500 forints." ((hu))Hungarian language: Az üzemanyag ára nálunk az ötödik legalacsonyabb. Ma 480 forintot fizetünk, árstop nélkül jóval 500 forint felett járnánk. Price-aggregator site holtankoljak.hu put uncapped prices to HUF512 for gasoline, and HUF530 for diesel, and reported that wholesale prices have exceeded consumer prices since February 4. Based on the price aggregator's data, Napi.hu reported three stations had closed permanently in the first week of February because of the price cap. By law, the government can appoint new operators for closed stations.

On November 10 the government had decided to introduce the HUF480 (USD1.52) price cap, and then briefed the press about it the next day. The official gazette published the related act, government resolution No. 624/2021, on the day of the announcement. The follow-up resolution No. 626/2021, published on November 13, detailed the procedure. The cap applies to unleaded 95 and standard diesel, and does not cover liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or premium fuels, but stations have to sell premium fuels at this price, if they do not sell standard ones.

In effect, the losses are incurred by petrol stations as they cannot negotiate wholesale prices. During the November 11 press briefing, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Gergely Gulyás said they do not plan to compensate for these losses, but added "vendors cannot be forced to vend" ((hu))Hungarian language: kereskedőt kereskedelemre kötelezni nem lehet. The following day, the Hungarian Petroleum Association's secretary general Ottó Grád told ATV that owners of small, independent stations may think about closing. In contrast to the press briefing, the detailed resolution dictates that petrol stations cannot close temporarily or shorten their opening hours.

The government does not plan to reduce tax rates on fuel. The oil bulletin of the European Commission showed last week that out of the total consumer price in Hungary, 47% is tax for unleaded 95, and 45% is tax for standard diesel.

Cumulative data for 2021 by the Hungarian Petroleum Association shows that volume-wise unleaded 95 makes up for 79% of all gasoline, and standard diesel makes up for 88% of all diesel sales in the country. Between 2020 and 2021, year-on-year consumer prices for November 8 went up from HUF332 to 506 for unleaded 95, and from HUF341 to 517 for standard diesel, according to price-comparison site holtankoljak.hu. 444.hu reported that the worsening HUF-USD exchange rates caused prices to climb even in July, when crude oil prices were dropping.

The Hungarian Central Statistical Office reported inflation hit 7.9% in January. In his speech announcing the extension, Prime Minister Orbán claimed the fuel price cap lowered inflation by 0.5%.


incubator:Wn/hu/A magyar kormány meghosszabbította a 480 forintos üzemanyagár-stopot

Orbán Viktor, Magyarország miniszterelnöke szombati évértekelő beszédében bejelentette, hogy három hónappal meghosszabbítják a normál üzemanyagokra vonatkozó 480 forintos ármaximalizálást. A szabályozás november 15-étől van életben, és holnap vesztette volna érvényét. A kormány a lépéssel az inflációt kívánja visszavágni, illetve segíteni a gazdaságot, de a töltőállomások veszteségeit nem téríti meg. A rendelkezés így az április harmadikára időzített országgyűlési választások után jár le, amire a tizenkét éve kormányzó Fidesz-KDNP ellen a Parlamentben levő ellenzéki pártok, a Mi Hazánk kivételével egységbe tömörültek.

– Az »árstop« itt is bevált, ezért [azt] három, további három hónappal meghosszabbítjuk - indokolta a lépést Orbán az évértékelőjében.

A Magyar Közlönyben a következő napon, vasárnap jelent meg a kapcsolódó 39/2022. kormányrendelet. Egy héttel korábban a helyettes pénzügyminiszter, Tállai András a Magyar Távirati Irodának (MTI) úgy nyilatkozott, hogy az adóhivatal (NAV) több, mint 2000 töltőállomást ellenőrzött az árszabályozás kezdete óta, s tizenkét esetben szabott ki bírságot, összesen 3,2 millió forint értékben.

– A kutak azonban betartják a szabályokat, ezt igazolja többek között az is, hogy ismételt jogsértés az elmúlt csaknem három hónapban nem történt. - tette hozzá.

– Az üzemanyag ára [az Európai Unióban] nálunk az ötödik legalacsonyabb. Ma 480 forintot fizetünk [literenként], árstop nélkül jóval 500 forint felett járnánk. - hangzott el Orbán évértékelőjében.

A Holtankoljak.hu szerint a jelenlegi árak 512 forinton állnának a benzin, illetve 530-on a gázolaj esetében – kiemelték még, hogy a nagykereskedelmi árak február 4. óta meghaladják az előírt kiskereskedelmi árakat. Az oldal adataira hivatkozva a Napi.hu jelentette, hogy február első hetében három állomás zárt be. A 626/2001. kormányrendelet lehetőséget ad az Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztériumnak arra, hogy a bezárt kutakra új üzemeltetőt nevezzen ki.

A 480 forintos korlátról a november 10-i kormányülésen döntöttek. Másnap arról Gulyás Gergely — a miniszterelnökséget vezető miniszter — tájékoztatta a sajtót, illetve a Magyar Közlöny lehozta a kapcsolódó 624/2021. kormányrendeletet. November 13-án jelent meg a 626/2021. kormányrendelet a részletszabályokkal. Az ársapka a 95-ös oktánszámú benzinre és a normál gázolajra vonatkozik, de az autógázra (LPG) nem. Azok a kutak, amik ilyen normál üzemanyagokat nem forgalmaznak, a prémium kategóriás termékeiket kell ilyen áron adják.

A veszteség lényegében a töltőállomásokon csapódik le, mivel azok a nagykereskedelmi árat érdemben befolyásolni nem tudják. A november 11-i beharangozó sajtótájékoztatón Gulyás Gergely — a miniszterelnökséget vezető miniszter — a Népszava kérdésére kifejtette, hogy bár kompenzációt nem terveznek,  de „kereskedőt kereskedésre kötelezni nem lehet”. November 12-én a Magyar Ásványolaj Szövetség főtitkára, Grád Ottó az ATV-nek elmondta, hogy több kis, független kút tulajdonosa is az ideiglenes bezárást fontolgatja. A tájékoztatón elmondottakkal ellentétben a részletszabályok megtiltották a kutak bezárását, illetve a nyitvatartási idő rövidítését.

A kormány november 11-i álláspontja szerint nem tervezi az üzemanyag-adók csökkentését. Az Európai Bizottság olajügyi jelentése (oil bulletin) a múlt heti kisker árak adótartalmát 47%-ra teszi a 95-ös benzin, és 45%-ra a normál gázolaj esetében.

A Magyar Ásványolaj Szövetség 2021-es összesített adatai szerint az országban eladott benzinmennyiség 79%-a 95-ös benzin, illetve a dízel 88%-a normál fajta. A Holtankoljak.hu gyűjtése alapján 2020. november 8. és 2021. november 8. között a 95-ös ára 332 forintról 506-ra, míg a dízelé 341-ről 517-re emelkedett. Ugyan júliusban a nyersolajárak estek, de az amerikai dollárhoz képest gyengülő forint miatt a magyar árak akkor is emelkedtek.

A Központi Statisztikai Hivatal a januári éves inflációt 7,9%-nak mérte. Évértékelője alapján Orbán szerint az „üzemanyagár-stop” 0,5%-kal mérsékelte a pénzromlást.


IAEA and its director ElBaradei are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a UN agency, and its Director Mohammed ElBaradei have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2005, the committee's chairman Professor Ole Danbolt Mjøs announced today.

In the announcement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasizes the role the IAEA plays in preventing military use of nuclear energy arms proliferation, and ensuring peaceful use of nuclear energy. Furthermore, the Committee notes that IAEA's work is in line with Alfred Nobel's original motivation for the Peace Prize, namely the reduction of standing armies. The committee expressed its belief that the increasing threat of nuclear arms today must be met through the broadest possible international cooperation, as exemplified in the work of the IAEA.

A spokeswoman for the IAEA, Melissa Flemming, said in Vienna: "I never thought we'd see this day. This is the proudest day for the IAEA. We are proud, astonished, elated."

The IAEA, headquartered in Vienna and established in 1957, seeks to prevent nuclear proliferation and promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It is currently involved in efforts to bring DPRK (North Korea) back to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime and verifying the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program. These negotiations have been difficult, and are viewed by some [1] as not very successful.

The 63-year old Mohamed ElBaradei, an Egyptian-born lawyer, heads the agency since 1997 and was recently confirmed for a third term.


Der Friedensnobelpreis 2005 geht an die Internationale Atomenergieorganisation und Mohammed el-Baradei

Oslo (Norwegen), 07.10.2005 – Der Friedensnobelpreis 2005 geht an die Internationale Atomenergieorganisation (IAEO) und Mohammed el-Baradei. Die Internationale Atomenergieorganisation und ihr Generaldirektor, der Ägypter Mohammed el-Baradei, erhalten je eine Hälfte des mit umgerechnet 1,1 Millionen Euro (zehn Millionen Kronen) ausgezeichneten Preises „für ihre Bemühungen um Verhinderung der militärischen Anwendung von Atomenergie und ihre friedliche Nutzung so sicher, wie möglich zu machen“.

„In einer Zeit, in der die Bedrohung durch Atomwaffen wieder einmal wächst, will das norwegische Nobelkomitee die Tatsache unterstreichen, dass dieser Bedrohung durch eine möglichst breite Zusammenarbeit begegnet werden muss“, erklärte das norwegische Nobelkomitee. „Dieses Prinzip findet seinen deutlichsten Ausdruck derzeit in der Arbeit der IAEO und ihres Direktors.“ Zur internationalen Abrüstung erklärte das Komitee: „Dass die Welt bislang so wenig erreicht hat, macht den aktiven Widerstand gegen Nuklearwaffen umso wichtiger“.


Agencia Internacional de Energía Atómica y su Presidente Mohammed ElBaradei ganan el Premio Nobel de la Paz

7 de octubre de 2005Oslo, Noruega — La Agencia Internacional de Energía Atómica (AIEA), con sede en Viena, Austria y su presidente ElBaradei recibieron el Premio Nobel de la Paz 2005.

El comité Nobel noruego ha resaltado la acción preventiva de AIEA en los lugares donde se han presentado crisis nucleares, para evitar su proliferación. El comité resalta igualmente la conexión directa entre las acciones de la AIEA y la idea que tenía Alfred Nobel para el premio de la paz : la reducción de armas. El trabajo internacional de la agencia sería, según el comité Nobel noruego, la única forma para controlar la proliferación.

Un vocero de la AIEA, expresó que este día ha sido «el más bello [para la agencia] (...) Todos estamos orgullosos». El presidente egipcio de la agencia que vela por el cumplimiento del Tratado de no-proliferación (TNP), Mohammed ElBaradei, indicó que el premio lo refuerza en sus acciones contra la proliferación de armas nucleares, particularmente en Corea del Norte y en Irán.


L'Agence internationale de l'énergie atomique et son président Mohammed ElBaradei reçoivent le prix Nobel de la paix

L'Agence internationale de l'énergie atomique, basée à Vienne (Autriche) et son président M.ElBaradei ont reçu le Prix Nobel de la paix 2005.

Le comité norvégien insiste sur l'action préventive de l'AIEA sur des foyers de crise du nucléaire, pour éviter la prolifération. Le comité note également la connexion directe entre les actions de l'AIEA et l'idée qu'Alfred Nobel avait pour le prix de la paix : la réduction des armées. Le travail international de l'organisation serait, selon les juges, la seule manière pour contrer la prolifération.

AIEA, indiquait que ce jour était « le plus beau [pour l'agence] (...) Nous sommes fiers ». Le président égyptien de l'agence qui veille au maintien du Traité de non-prolifération (TNP), Mohammed ElBaradei, a indiqué que le prix le renforçait dans ses actions contre la prolifération des armes nucléaires, notamment en Corée du Nord et en Iran.


ノーベル平和賞は国際原子力機関とエルバラダイ事務局長

7日、オスロに本部を置くノルウェー・ノーベル賞委員会は、2005年のノーベル平和賞受賞者を発表し、国際原子力機関（IAEA、本部・ウィーン）とムハンマド・エルバラダイ事務局長（エジプト）を受賞予定者として公表した。原子力の軍事目的での使用を防止し、可能な限りもっとも安全な仕方で平和利用を確保するための努力が評価された。

IAEAは原子力の平和利用を促進し、軍事転用されないための保障措置の実施をする国際機関である。1957年に創設された。現在の加盟国は137ヶ国。エルバラダイ事務局長はエジプト出身で、1942年生まれ。1997年以来、IAEA事務局長を務めている。また2003年のイラク戦争に先立っては、大量破壊兵器の国際査察団をハンス・ブリックス前事務局長とともに率い、開戦直前まで査察の継続に尽力した。

受賞予定者の発表のなかで、ノルウェー・ノーベル賞委員会は、「核武装の脅威が再び増しているこのときにあたり、この脅威が可能な限り広範な国際協力によって下火になることを願う。この原則は、今日、国際原子力機関とその事務局長の活動においてそのもっとも明白な実現を見ている」と述べた。「核武装の脅威」が具体的にどの国を指すかは明示しなかった。

中日新聞によれば、エルバラダイ事務局長はウィーンのIAEA本部で記者会見を行い、「多国間協調による核不拡散の努力が認められた」と述べた。

賞金1千万クローナは、IAEAとエルバラダイ事務局長が折半する。


IAEA inspectors visit Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine amid shelling, shutdown

A team of fourteen nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeast Ukraine yesterday amid shelling and an emergency shutdown of one of the reactors.

The power plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, has been under Russian occupation since March and is an active combat zone. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said his team were conscious of "increased military activity in the area", but would proceed undeterred. The team's arrival was reportedly delayed by several hours due to shelling in and around the nearby city of Enerhodar.

Energoatom, Ukraine's state nuclear power company, said shelling caused the plant's fifth reactor to shut down, leaving one operating. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused the other of sabotaging operations: Kyiv have accused Moscow of shelling the route taken by IAEA inspectors.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defence accused Ukraine of a failed amphibious assault to wrestle control of the facility early yesterday.

According to Grossi, the team's mission is to "start immediately an assessment of the security and the safety situation", to eventually establish a permanent presence at Zaporizhzhia "to stabilize the situation, and to get regular, reliable, impartial, neutral updates of what the situation is there." In Vienna on Wednesday, Russia's IAEA representative said Moscow would welcome such a presence.

Several inspectors, including Grossi, have since left after seeing "key things", according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti; Energoatom reports five team members are to remain until tomorrow. According to president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian and international journalists were not permitted to accompany the inspectors.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces were reportedly attacking supply lines around Russian-occupied cities, namely Kherson in the country's south.


Guerre en Ukraine : l'AIEA va rester à la centrale nucléaire de Zaporijjia

Publié le 8 septembre 2022  Alarmée par de graves atteintes à la sécurité de la centrale nucléaire ukrainienne de Zaporijjia, l'Agence internationale de l’énergie atomique (AIEA) s'y est déplacée pour en constater les dégâts. Située en zone d'occupation russe à Enerhodar, la centrale ne devait être inspectée pendant qu'une seule journée. Finalement, l'inspection de la centrale par les agents de l'AIEA dont l'Ukraine et la Russie sont membres, a été prorogée.

Le 4 mars 2022, neuf jours après le début de l’invasion de l’Ukraine le 24 février, la centrale ukrainienne a été capturée par la Russie. L’Autorité de sûreté ukrainienne a déclaré que le tir d'un char russe a mis le feu à un bâtiment de formation de la centrale, mais qu'aucune fuite radioactive n’a été détectée. Craignant un second Tchernobyl, le président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky et Rafael Grossi, le directeur de l'AIEA ont déclaré que ce qu'ont fait les Russes, n’était pas acceptable. Préoccupé par la situation, l'AIEA, instance de l'ONU, n'a pas accès à la centrale, alors que le 1er mai, l’Agence France Presse (AFP) a pu visiter la centrale et constater que les bâtiments des réacteurs n'avaient pas de trace de tir ou de bombardement tandis que le bâtiment de formation était calciné et de nombreuses fenêtres avaient explosées.

Les occupants russes ont exigé que l'Ukraine paye l'électricité produite par la centrale sinon la centrale « tournera pour la Russie ». Début août, les employés ukrainiens opèrent toujours dans la centrale contrôlée par l'armée russe. L'envahisseur russe a endommagé plusieurs lignes électriques en préparant la réorientation de la production électrique de la centrale vers son réseau. La centrale fournissait 20 % de l'électricité de l'Ukraine.

Le 5 août, la centrale est de nouveau bombardée, obligeant l'arrêt d'un réacteur. Kiev accuse Moscou de bombarder la centrale afin de poursuivre son invasion, ce que dément Moscou. Le lendemain, l’AIEA a jugé que les informations en provenance de Zaporijjia étaient de « plus en plus alarmante ».

Le 29 août, l'Ukraine a lancé sa contre-offensive dans le sud de l'Ukraine pour reprendre les territoires occupés par les russes, dont la centrale. Partie de Vienne (Autriche) le même jour, une équipe de quatorze inspecteurs de l'AIEA, est arrivée à Kiev pour rencontrer le président ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky.

Le 31 août, à Vienne, le représentant de la Russie auprès de l'AIEA avait déclaré que Moscou accueillait favorablement la présence de l'AIEA. Les autorités russes ont précisé qu'elles limitent l'accès de l'équipe à la centrale et pour une durée d'un seul jour. Après neuf heures de route, le convoi de l'AIEA est arrivé dans la ville de Zaporijjia toujours sous contrôle ukrainien. Le directeur de l'AIEA, Rafael Grossi, a expliqué que la mission de son équipe est de « commencer immédiatement à évaluer la situation en matière de sûreté et de sécurité » afin d'établir une présence permanente à la centrale de Zaporijjia « pour stabiliser la situation et obtenir des informations régulières, fiables, impartiales et neutres sur la situation sur place ».

L'Ukraine a demandé à la Russie d'arrêter de bombarder la route menant à la centrale. Le chef de l'administration ukrainienne de Nikopol, Ievguen Ievtouchenko, a accusé les Russes de bombarder la ville d'Enerhodar, proche de la centrale, pour donner l'impression à l'AIEA que c'est Kiev qui bombarde leurs environs.

Le 1er septembre, l'arrivée des inspecteurs de l'AIEA a été retardée de plusieurs heures en raison de bombardements dans et autour de la ville voisine de Enerhodar. Kiev a accusé Moscou de bombarder la route empruntée par l'AIEA. L'Ukraine et la Russie se sont tout deux accusés l'un et l'autre. Pour leur sécurité, les journalistes ukrainiens et internationaux n'ont pas été autorisés par les policiers et militaires ukrainiens à suivre les inspecteurs dans la zone occupée par les russes.

Après avoir vu des éléments clés de la centrale, neuf inspecteurs, dont Rafael Grossi, sont revenus à Vienne, tandis que cinq membres de l'équipe sont restés surveiller la centrale. Le 2 septembre, l'ambassadeur de la Russie auprès des institutions internationales à Vienne a déclaré que deux inspecteurs de l'AIEA resteront en permanence à la centrale nucléaire de Zaporijjia.

Pendant la nuit du 2 au 3 septembre, les russes ont « bombardé la ligne de contact et réalisé vingt attaques aériennes », a déclaré l'état-major de l'armée ukrainienne, tandis que l'armée de l'air ukrainienne a réalisé « quarante sorties ». Le ministère russe de la défense a accusé l'Ukraine d'avoir tenté vers 22 heures (heure de Paris) un assaut amphibie pour prendre le contrôle de la centrale.

Les combats et les bombardements se sont poursuivis le 3 septembre. L'agence publique ukrainienne de l'énergie nucléaire, Energoatom, a déclaré que les bombardements russes ont provoqué l'arrêt du cinquième réacteur de la centrale, ne laissant plus que le sixième réacteur en fonctionnement. L'AIEA a déclaré que la centrale a pour la seconde fois « perdu la connexion » au réseau électrique mais que le combustible nucléaire de la centrale est refroidi « grâce à une ligne de secours ».

Dans son rapport publié le 6 septembre, l'AIEA a exigé la cessation immédiate des activités militaires à proximité de la centrale.


Inspektorzy MAEA odwiedzają Zaporoską Elektrownia Jądrową w obliczu ostrzału i zamknięcia zakładu

Czternastoosobowy zespół inspektorów Międzynarodowej Agencji Energii Atomowej (MAEA) przybył 1 września 2022 roku do Zaporoskiej Elektrowni Jądrowej w warunkach ostrzału i awaryjnego wyłączenia jednego z reaktorów.

Elektrownia, największy w Europie obiekt jądrowy, od marca znajduje się pod rosyjską okupacją i jest w strefie aktywnych walk. Dyrektor generalny MAEA Rafael Grossi powiedział, że jego zespół jest świadomy "zwiększonej aktywności wojskowej w tym rejonie", ale będzie kontynuował działania bez obaw. Przyjazd zespołu został podobno opóźniony o kilka godzin z powodu ostrzału w i wokół pobliskiego miasta Enerhodar.

Energoatom, ukraińska państwowa firma zajmująca się energią jądrową, powiedziała, że ostrzał spowodował wyłączenie piątego reaktora elektrowni, pozostawiając jeden działający. Zarówno Ukraina, jak i Rosja oskarżyły drugą stronę o sabotowanie operacji: Kijów oskarżył Moskwę o ostrzał trasy, którą pokonują inspektorzy MAEA.

Tymczasem ministerstwo obrony Rosji oskarżyło Ukrainę o nieudany szturm amfibii w celu wymuszenia kontroli nad obiektem.

Według Grossiego misją zespołu jest "natychmiastowe rozpoczęcie oceny sytuacji w zakresie bezpieczeństwa i ochrony", aby ostatecznie ustanowić stałą obecność w Zaporożu "w celu ustabilizowania sytuacji, a także aby uzyskać regularne, wiarygodne, bezstronne, neutralne aktualizacje tego, jaka jest tam sytuacja". W Wiedniu w środę przedstawiciel Rosji w MAEA powiedział, że Moskwa z zadowoleniem przyjęłaby taką obecność.

Kilku inspektorów, w tym Grossi, wyjechało od tego czasu po obejrzeniu "kluczowych rzeczy", jak podała rosyjska państwowa agencja informacyjna RIA Novosti; Energoatom podaje, że pięciu członków zespołu ma pozostać do jutra. Według Wołodymyra Zełenskiego ukraińscy i międzynarodowi dziennikarze nie mogli towarzyszyć inspektorom.


IAEA: North Korea to begin shutting down nuclear reactor next week

According to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, North Korea will begin to shut down their nuclear reactor in Nyongbyon as early as next week, and should be completed with the process in about a month.

"[The whole process will be done in] a month or so. A couple of weeks ago we reached an understanding on the modalities on how to work with the DPRK on shutting down the five nuclear facilities at Yongbyon," said ElBaradei to reporters in Seoul, South Korea during a press conference.

"I expect that operation to move smoothly," added ElBaradei.

South Korea has shipped approximately 50,000 tons of oil to North Korea, and the North said that they will begin to shut down the reactor when it arrives. The oil is expected to arrive in North Korea on July 14.

"We should not delude ourselves. It will take time to have a comprehensive solution," added Elbardei.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, six-party talks with North Korea start on July 18. China will be the host for the talks.


OIEA: Corea del Norte comenzará a cerrar su reactor nuclear la semana entrante

13 de julio de 2007Corea del Norte —

De acuerdo a Mohamed ElBaradei, el director de la Organización Internacional de Energía Atómica (OIEA), Corea del Norte comenzará el cierre de su reactor nuclear en Nyongbyon la semana entrante, y habrá completado el proceso luego de un mes.

"[El proceso estará terminado en] un mes más o menos. Un par de semanas atrás llegamos a un entendimiento en las modalidades de cómo trabajar con la RPDC en cuanto a cerrar cinco facilidades nucleares en Yongbyon", dijo ElBaradei a los reporteros de Seúl en Corea del Sur durante una conferencia de prensa.

"Espero que la operación sea tranquila", añadió ElBaradei.

Corea del Sur ha exportado cerca de 50.000 toneladas de petróleo crudo a Corea del Norte, y ésta dijo que comenzaría a cerrar el reactor cuando llegara el petróleo. El petróleo llegaría el 14 de julio a Corea del Norte.

"No nos dejamos engañar a nosotros mismos. Tomará tiempo llegar a una solución compensiva", declaró ElBaradei.

De acuerdo al Ministro de Relaciones Externas de China, el 18 de julio un grupo de seis países comenzará negociaciones con Corea del Norte. China será el país anfitrión para las negociaciones.


Iceland formally recognises Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders

This Thursday, following a vote two weeks ago in the Icelandic parliament, the country's government granted formal recognition to the state of Palestine. The Althingi's move ratifies recognition of Palestine with borders as-before the 1967 Six-Day War.

In the vote taken by the 63 members of parliament, 38 voted for and 13 abstained. In passing the resolution Iceland became the first Western European state to formally recognise the Palestinian state. In late November Cyprus similarly recognised Palestine with 1967 borders.

The move by the Icelandic government comes as European states such as France, Spain, and Ireland have upgraded their countries' Palestinian missions to full embassies recently.


Islândia reconhece formalmente Estado Palestino com fronteiras de 1967

Na quinta-feira (15), seguindo a votação há duas semanas no Parlamento islandês, o governo do país concedeu o reconhecimento formal para o estado de Palestina. O Althingi movimentou a ratificação do reconhecimento da Palestina com fronteiras como antes de 1967 na Guerra dos Seis Dias.

Na votação realizada pelos 63 membros do parlamento, 38 votaram a favor e 13 se abstiveram. De passagem da resolução da Islândia tornou-se o primeiro Estado ocidental europeu a reconhecer formalmente o Estado palestino. No final de novembro, Chipre similamente reconheceu Palestina com fronteiras de 1967.

O movimento do governo islandês vem como Estados europeus como França, Espanha e Irlanda têm havido atualizado suas missões de países palestinos para completa embaixadas recentemente.


Iceland makes application for membership of the European Union

Iceland has applied to the presidency of the European Union for membership.  The application, made on Friday, followed a 33-to-28 vote (with 2 abstentions) on Thursday in the Alþingi (the national parliament of Iceland) to approve the application, on a motion proposed by the Social Democratic Alliance party.

The application follows a campaign promise to join the EU made by Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir during the recent elections in April.  Should the application be approved by the EU (a process that involves evaluating, among other things, whether Iceland satisfies the Copenhagen criteria), the citizens of Iceland will have to vote in a referendum on whether to join.

Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area, and had a free trade agreement with the European Economic Community prior to the creation of the EEA in 1994.  According to Gylfi Magnússon, Iceland's Business Minister, the two principal benefits to gain from formal entry into the EU itself will be entry into the European Exchange Rate Mechanism and the adoption of the euro as Iceland's currency.  Iceland may choose to seek exemption from the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty that require a two-year wait before the euro can be adopted.

However, the closeness of the Alþingi vote reflects divided opinion within Iceland itself on the matter.  Icelanders have concerns over loss of independence, and over how large their say will be, as a country of just 320,000 people, in the EU as a whole.  The parliamentary vote also split cross-party alliances in the Alþingi.  Five members of the Left-Green Movement, that currently forms a coalition government with the Social Democratic Alliance, voted against the motion.

Other issues to affect the progress of the membership application will include Iceland's whaling, and fishing and agricultural issues in general.  39% of Iceland's exports come from its fisheries, and Einar Mar Thordarson, a political scientist at the University of Iceland, predicts that the hardest part of Iceland's pre-membership negotiations will involve the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.

Should the application be approved by both the EU and Icelanders, Iceland is not expected to become an EU member for several years.  Arni Thor Sigurdsson, chairman of the Alþingi committee for EU issues, predicted that Iceland would not be an EU member until 2013 at the earliest.


Islandia solicita su ingreso a la Unión Europea

Islandia ha solicitado a la presidencia de la Unión Europea ingresar a la Unión. La solicitud, hecha el viernes, tuvo lugar tras una votación en el parlamento islandés (Alþingi) con 33 votos a favor, 28 en contra y 2 absenciones. El proyecto había sido presentado por la Alianza Socialddemócrata.

La solicitud cumplimenta la promesa hecha por la Primera Ministra islandesa, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, quien prometió unirse la UE durante las elecciones del pasado abril. Si la aplicación es aceptada (un proceso que involucra evaluar, entre varios aspectos, si Islandia cumple con los Criterios de Copenhague), los ciudadanos islandeses votarán en un referéndum si aceptan unirse.

El país nórdico ya es parte del Área Económica Europea, y había firmado tratados de libre comercio con la Comunidad Económica Europea antes de que fuera creada la AEE en 1994. De acuerdo a Gylfi Magnússon, el Ministro de Negocios islandés, los principales beneficios de unirse a la UE será ingresar en el Mecanismo de Tipos de Cambio europeo y poder utilizar el euro como divisa. Asimismo, Islandia podría lograr una exención de las provisiones pactadas en el Tratado de Maastricht, que requieren que se espere al menos dos años antes de poder adoptar el euro.

No obstante, la poca mayoría alcanzada en la votación del Alþingi deja como conclusión que existen dos opiniones dividas dentro de Islandia. Los islandeses consideran que podrían perder cierta independencia, y que no se les otorgaría una voz en la UE puesto que su población es de tan sólo 320.000 habitantes.

La votación en el parlamento islandés también dio a relucir una escisión de las alianzas políticas. Cinco miembros del Movimiento de Izquierda-Verde, que actualmente es parte del gobierno de coalición con la Alianza Socialdemócrata, votaron en contra del proyecto.

Otros aspectos que podrían demorar el progreso de la solicitud son los temas relativos a la caza de ballenas en Islandia, junto con otros temas pesqueros y agrícolas en general. El 39% de las exportaciones del país provienen de la industria pesquera, y Einar Mar Thordarson, un politólogo de la Universidad de Islandia, predice que la parte más difícil de sobrellevar durante las negociaciones entre Islandia y la UE será sobre la Política Pesquera Común.

Si la solicitud es aceptada tanto por la UE como por los islandeses, Islandia no podría unirse plenamente hasta dentro de varios años. Arni Thor Sigurdsson, presidente del comité del Alþingi para relaciones con la UE, declaró que Islandia no sería un estado miembro de la UE hasta 2013, como mínimo.


L'Islande demande l'adhésion à l'Union européenne

L'Islande a demandé son adhésion à l'Union européenne vendredi. Cette demande fait suite à un vote de l'Alþingi, le parlement islandais, à 33 voix contre 28 (2 abstentions). Le projet avait été déposé par le parti Alliance social-démocrate.

L'entrée dans l'UE était l'une des promesses faites par la première ministre Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir lors de la campagne pour les élections parlementaires d'avril dernier. Si l'Islande satisfait, entres autres, aux critères de Copenhague et que la demande est acceptée, les citoyens islandais participeront à un référendum pour valider ou non l'entrée de leur pays dans l'Union européenne.

L'Islande est déjà membre de l'Espace économique européen (EEE) et avait des accords de libre commerce avec la communauté économique européenne avant la création de l'EEE en 1994.

Selon le ministre du Commerce Gylfi Magnússon, les deux principaux avantages de l'entrée dans l'Union seront le mécanisme de taux de change européen et l'adoption de l'euro. L'Islande pourrait, par ailleurs, demander une dérogation au traité de Maastricht pour ne pas devoir attendre deux ans avant d'adopter la monnaie unique.

Cependant, le vote serré de l'Alþingi reflète la division des opinions sur l'île. Les Islandais s'inquiètent d'une perte de leur indépendance et savent que 320 000 habitants ne pèseront pas lourds dans les futures décisions de l'Union européenne. Le vote du parlement a aussi vu une division au sein des partis politiques, cinq membres du mouvement des verts et de gauche, qui forme un gouvernement de coalition avec l'Alliance, s'étant opposés à la proposition.

La pêche à la baleine pourrait également freiner l'adhésion de l'Islande, ainsi que d'autres sujets liés à la pêche et à l'agriculture en général. 39 % des exportations islandaises proviennent de l'industrie piscicole, et Einar Mar Thordarson, un politologue de l'université d'Islande, prédit que la partie la plus difficile lors des négociations entre l'Islande et l'UE concernera la politique commune de la pêche.

Si la demande est acceptée à la fois par l'UE et par ses habitants, l'Islande n'intégrera pas l'Union avant plusieurs années. Arni Thor Sigurdsson, président de la commission parlementaire chargée des relations avec l'Union européenne, a déclaré que l'adhésion ne se fera pas avant 2013.

((fr)) – Jean Quatremer, « L'Islande veut adhérer à l'Union ». liberation.fr, 19 juillet 2009.


Iceland's government coalition keeps majority

With 99% of the votes counted, it appears that Iceland's ruling coalition has held on to a majority in parliament by just one seat.

Prime Minister Geir Haarde's Independence Party, picked up two additional seats for a total of 24. However, its coalition partner, the Progressive Party, went from 12 seats to 8.

This will give the coalition 32 of the 63 seats in Iceland's parliament.

Olafur Hardarson, professor of political science at the University of Iceland, told Reuters that there may still be coalition talks ahead, as the Progressive Party may leave the government because of their weak showing.

The leader of the Progressive Party, Jón Sigurðsson, failed to win his seat.

Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir's Alliance Party, would be the second choice for a coaltion partner, said Haarde.

Business and environment were key issues in the election. The pro-business Indpendence Party is in favor of further development of aluminum smelters in Iceland. Aluminum producers take advantage of Iceland's abundant geothermal power. This development has been an economic boon to Iceland.

The social democratic Alliance party has called for a halt on smelter development until the environmental impact is better known. Another key issue for the Alliance is for Iceland to seek entry into the European Union.


Islande : la coalition de centre-droit ne conserve qu'un siège de majorité

Les 221 000 électeurs islandais étaient appelés aux urnes, samedi 12 mai 2007, pour renouveler les 63 sièges de l’Alþing, le parlement monocaméral, selon un mode de scrutin proportionnel plurinominal avec préférences personnelles, dans 6 circonscriptions.

La participation s'est élevée à 83,6 % des inscrits, soit une baisse sensible par rapport au précédent scrutin de 2003, où elle s'était élevée à 87,7 %.

La coalition sortante de droite et centre-droit totalise 48,36 % des suffrages exprimés et 32 sièges sur 63. Les partis d'opposition de gauche et centre-gauche totalisent 48,37 % des voix et 31 sièges.

Les observateurs estiment que le Parti du progrès, en baisse sensible par rapport à 2003, pourrait choisir de quitter la coalition qu'il formait avec le Parti de l'indépendance, du Premier ministre, Geir Haarde, en progrès par rapport à 2003. Son leader, Jón Sigurðsson, n'a d'ailleurs pas été réélu au parlement. Le Parti du progrès pourrait avoir pâti de son soutien marqué à l'utilisation de l'énergie géothermique et hydroélectrique dans le développement des fonderies d'aluminium au profit de la firme américaine Alcoa, deuxième producteur au monde.

Cette sensibilité de l'électorat sur les thèmes environnementaux explique probablement aussi la forte hausse de l'audience du Mouvement Vert de gauche, devenu la troisième formation politique du pays, avec 14,3 % des voix et 9 sièges, ainsi que l'émergence d'une autre formation environnementaliste, le Mouvement islandais - Pays vivant, qui remporte 3,27 % des voix mais ne sera pas représenté au parlement.

Les formations extérieures à l'actuelle coalition étant numériquement dans l'incapacité de constituer elles-mêmes une majorité, et l'un des partis de la coalition sortante manifestant une attirance pour une cure d'opposition, le Premier ministre pourrait donc être dans l'obligation de former une sorte de « grande coalition » avec les sociaux-démocrates de l'Alliance, en dépit d'un léger affaiblissement de ceux-ci.


ICRC: 28 bodies, 19 children, pulled from rubble after Israeli airstrike, Qana

In the deadliest single incident in the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, an Israeli air strike apparently demolished a three-story building in the village of Qana in southern Lebanon, and according to the Red Cross, killed at least 28 displaced civilians, including 19 children, most of whom handicapped or mentally ill, who were sheltering there. The Lebanese police reported at least 56 fatalities, including 37 children.

One rescue worker said "The victims all seem to be civilians, women and children". Abu Shadi Jradi, a civil defence official, said the bodies of at least 27 children were found in the rubble. A few wounded men had been evacuated to ambulances in the aftermath, as seen on CNN and FoxNews footage.

Villager Mohammed Ismail said "We want this to stop. May God have mercy on the children. They came here to escape the fighting. They are hitting children to bring the fighters to their knees."

Jim Muir, a BBC correspondent, said "The three storey building where families have been sheltering in the basement was crushed sideways into an enormous crater by the Israeli bomb strike". He added "Elsewhere in Qana and along the road up from Tyre, many buildings had been similarly crushed."

About nine out of ten residents are estimated to have left Qana, which has been heavily bombarded by Israeli forces in the current conflict. Those without cars, petrol and  other means to leave are left behind. According to Jim Muir who had travelled to Qana along the road from Tyre, the route had been pitted with bomb craters.

Later, Israel agreed to a 48-hour halt in military activities while it investigated the bombing of Qana, while claiming there had been no direct attack on the building at the time of collapse.
However, the Israeli military said it would launch counterattacks in Lebanon if Hezbollah fired more rockets at Israel in the 48-hour period.

Anger spread across Lebanon and the Arab world, several thousand Shiite Muslim protesters gathered in front of the United Nations headquarters in Beirut and some smashed their way into the building. The protesters chanted "Death to Israel, Death to America".

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called it Israel's "heinous crimes against civilians", and called off a scheduled meeting with US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice saying  "There is no place on this sad morning for any discussion other than an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as well as an international investigation into the Israeli massacres in Lebanon now."

The Lebanese Defence Minister Elias Murr commented on the Israeli statement on the Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV station, "What do you expect Israel to say? Will it say that it killed 40 children and women?"

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed "deep regret" for the air strike, but said Israel would not declare a cease-fire until it had reached the targets it had set at the beginning of the war. Olmert, responding to harsh international criticism on the strike, said that Hezbollah had used Qana as a base for launching hundreds of rockets at Israel.

A senior air force commander said Israel had dropped a bomb on the building in Qana on the assumption it was sheltering Hezbollah crews and was unaware civilians were there. The commander said "Had we known there were that many civilians inside, especially woman and children, we certainly would not have attacked it".

According to the Israeli military, the building collapsed eight hours after the attack.

Brigadier General Amir Eshel, Head of the Air Force Headquarters told journalists at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv "the attack on the structure in the Qana village took place between midnight and one in the morning. The gap between the timing of the collapse of the building and the time of the strike on it is unclear".

Eshel and the head of the IDF's Operational Branch, Major General Gadi Eisnkot said the structure was not being attacked when it collapsed, at around 8:00 in the morning.

The Israeli military believes that Hezbollah explosives in the building were behind the explosion that caused the collapse: "It's possible that inside the house, something or other was being stored that caused an explosion - something that we didn't succeed in blowing up in the attack and that perhaps was left over there," Brigadier General Eshel said. "I say this very cautiously, because I currently don't have the faintest idea what the explanation for this gap could be."

Eshel added that Hezbullah rocket launchers were hidden in civilian buildings in the village. He proceeded to show video footage of rocket launchers being driven into the village following launches.

Witnesses at the scene said that the strikes on the building was carried out around 1:00 A.M. After the first strike, some of the building's residents run out to survey the damage. A few minutes later, IAF planes struck the building once again, causing the walls to collapse on the residents who still remained inside, killing most of them them in the process.
The building was located in the Hariva neighborhood of Qana.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said "I think Israeli officials and some American ones should be tried for these sorts of crimes".

Hezbolla leader Hassan Nasrallah said "We will now rig up the fire and retalliate with a venegance. We will send rockets and death to the Zionist enemy, who will pay for this crime. We will hit the US and Britain for supporting this massacre".

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said "The massacre committed by Israel in Qana this morning shows the barbarity of this aggressive entity. It constitutes state terrorism committed in front of the eyes and ears of the world,"

The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said "The Arab Republic of Egypt is highly disturbed and condemns the irresponsible Israeli attack on the Lebanese village of Qana, which led to the loss of innocent victims, most of which were women and children," a statement from the presidency said.

King Abdullah of Jordan said: "This criminal aggression is an ugly crime that has been committed by the Israeli forces in the city of Qana that is a gross violation of all international statutes."

The French president Jacques Chirac, released a statement "The president learnt with concern about the act of violence which cost the lives of numerous innocent victims, notably women and children in Qana." "France condemns this unjustified action, which demonstrates more than ever the need for an immediate ceasefire without which there will only be other such incidents."

United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair has said the "tragedy" in Qana shows the situation in the Middle East "simply cannot continue".

Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Margaret Beckett, called the strikes "absolutely dreadful" and "quite appalling". She said "We have repeatedly urged Israel to act proportionately,"

Pope Benedict said "In the name of God, I call on all those responsible for this spiral of violence so that weapons are immediately laid down on all sides."

Qana became a potent symbol of Lebanese civilian deaths by Israeli military bombings after an earlier incident in April 1996, when  Israeli shelling killed more than 100 civilians sheltering at the base of U.N. peacekeepers in the village during Israel's "Grapes of Wrath" campaign.


Weltweites Entsetzen über israelischen Angriff auf Kana: 54 Tote

Kana / Beirut (Libanon) / Jerusalem (Israel), 30.07.2006 – Mit Entsetzen reagierte die internationale Gemeinschaft auf den Tod von über 54 Zivilisten, die am frühen Sonntagmorgen einem Angriff der israelischen Luftwaffe zum Opfer fielen. Nach Angaben von Reuters sollen darunter 37 Kinder gewesen sein. Der Angriff galt dem libanesischen Dorf Kana. Im Keller eines dreistöckigen Gebäudes hatten etwa 60 Menschen Schutz vor den Bombardierungen gesucht. Das Gebäude wurde bei dem israelischen Angriff jedoch vollständig zerstört. „Hätten wir gewusst, dass dort drinnen viele Zivilisten waren, besonders Frauen und Kinder, hätten wir es sicher nicht angegriffen“, sagte später ein Kommandeur der israelischen Luftwaffe gegenüber Reuters. Ein Sprecher des israelischen Militärs erklärte, die Bewohner seien vorher zum Verlassen des Dorfes aufgefordert worden. Amir Eshel, der Chef der israelischen Luftwaffe, begründete den Angriff auf Kana damit, dass von dort in den letzten 20 Tagen etwa 150 Raketen in Richtung Israel abgefeuert wurden. Gegenüber Reportern sagte Amir Eshel, die Hisbollah habe ihre Abschussrampen im Dorf Kana zwischen zivilen Gebäuden versteckt. In einer Pressemitteilung der israelischen Verteidigungskräfte heißt es, die Hisbollah benutze die Einwohner des Libanon als menschliche Schutzschilde. Der libanesischen Regierung wird in der Pressemitteilung vorgeworfen, diese Praktiken der Hisbollah nicht zu verhindern.

Die Hisbollah kündigte Vergeltung an.

Der libanesische Präsident Fuad Siniora sprach im Zusammenhang mit dem heutigen Angriff von „israelischen Massakern“ und forderte eine Untersuchung. Er verlangte nach dem Angriff einen sofortigen und bedingungslosen Waffenstillstand. Vorher werde es auch mit der US-Außenministerin Condoleezza Rice keine Verhandlungen geben. Ein für heute geplantes Treffen mit Rice sagte Siniora ab.

Der israelische Verteidigungsminister Amir Peretz sagte, er habe das Ministerium angewiesen, den heutigen Vorfall genau zu untersuchen.

International wurde der Angriff von mehreren Ländern scharf verurteilt, darunter von der Europäische Union, Frankreich, Jordanien, Ägypten und Syrien. Frankreich nannte das israelische Vorgehen „unberechtigt“, Papst Benedikt XVI. unterstützte die Forderung nach einer sofortigen Waffenruhe ebenso wie der deutsche Bundesaußenminister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, der daran erinnerte, dass er Israel wiederholt darauf hingewiesen habe, dass auch im Rahmen des Rechts auf Selbstverteidigung jede Anwendung militärischer Gewalt verhältnismäßig sein müsse.

Etwa 2.000 Menschen demonstrierten in Beirut vor dem UN-Hauptquartier. Bei dem gewaltsamen Vorgehen der Demonstranten gingen Scheiben zu Bruch und Mobiliar wurde zerstört. Die Demonstranten riefen: „Tod für Israel, Tod für Amerika. Wir opfern unser Blut und unsere Seelen für den Libanon!“

Unterdessen ist die internationale Hilfe für den Libanon angelaufen. Das Deutsche Rote Kreuz hat angekündigt, 20 Tonnen Babynahrung zur Verfügung zu stellen. Die Nahrung soll erst in einem Zentrallager in Amman (Jordanien) zwischengelagert und dann durch Helfer in den Regionen verteilt werden. Nach Informationen des DRK leiden mehr als einhunderttausend Menschen an Nahrungs- und Trinkwassermangel. DRK-Präsident Rudolf Seiters rief dazu auf, bei allen politischen Bemühungen die katastrophale humanitäre Lage der Bevölkerung nicht aus den Augen zu verlieren. Martina Schloffer vom österreichischen Roten Kreuz bezeichnete die Situation als „schlimm“. Ein Großteil der libanesischen Bevölkerung im Süden Libanons versuche zu fliehen, einige versteckten sich. „Wir brauchen Hilfe sobald wie möglich“, so Schloffer.

Die amerikanische Außenministerin Condoleezza Rice hat sich am Abend erneut mit dem israelischen Ministerpräsidenten Ehud Olmert getroffen. Rice sagte, sie sei sehr traurig über die heutige Bombardierung. Sie sei, nachdem das Treffen mit dem libanesischen Präsidenten nicht zustande gekommen sei, zu weiteren Gesprächen mit der israelischen Führung in Israel geblieben, um die Möglichkeiten auszuloten, unter denen es zu einem Ende der Kampfhandlungen kommen könne. Rice erneuerte die starken Bedenken der Vereinigten Staaten bezüglich der Auswirkungen der israelischen Militäroperationen auf unschuldige Zivilisten während dieser Krise. „Zu viele unschuldige libanesische und israelische Menschen haben gelitten. Zu viele Menschen haben ihre Leben verloren“, so die Außenministerin. Sie zeigte sich am Samstagabend in Jerusalem optimistisch, dass die Kriegsparteien in der nächsten Zeit einen Waffenstillstand vereinbaren würden. Israelische Quellen berichteten, dass Rice sich bei Olmert jedoch nicht für das sofortige Ende aller Kampfhandlungen eingesetzt habe. Jedoch habe sie den israelischen Ministerpräsidenten dazu angehalten, die libanesische Infrastruktur wie zum Beispiel Straßen und Versorgungseinrichtungen nicht zu zerstören. Sie wies darauf hin, dass ein Waffenstillstand nicht die Verhältnisse vor dem Ausbruch des Kriegs wiederherstellen könne.

Rice kündigte an, sich mit weiteren israelischen Politikern zu treffen, um an einem Ende der Gewalt zu arbeiten.


Israel bombardea un edificio de refugiados matando a más de 50 personas

Durante un bombardeo llevado a cabo en la población de Qana, cercana a la ciudad de Tiro, los israelíes demolieron un edificio de 3 pisos matando a mas de 50 personas, 34 de las cuales eran niños. El edificio estaba siendo utilizado como refugio y la mayor parte de las personas eran refugiados que no habían podido abandonar Qana debido a que bombardeos israelíes destruyeron las carreteras.

El incidente sucede en momentos en que la Secretaria de Estado de los Estados Unidos, Condoleezza Rice, se disponía a hacer su segunda visita al Líbano para negociar el cese de al fuego para poner fin al conflicto israelo-libanés. Los líderes libaneses reaccionaron pidiéndole a Rice que pospusiera la visita.

Israel defendió los bombardeos diciendo que en días anteriores había soltado volantes advirtiendo a la población que abandonara el pueblo. Israel además dijo que Hezbolá era el responsable de las muertes.


Líbano acusa Israel de bombardear edifício em Qana onde morreram 37 crianças

Um ataque aéreo israelense  parece ter sido responsável pela demolição de um edifício de três andares no vilarejo  de Qana no sul do Líbano. Segundo a Cruz Vermelha, morreram pelo menos 28 civis, inclusive 19 crianças, os quais procuravam abrigo no edifício. A polícia libanesa informou um número de mortes duas vezes maior: 56, e que morreram 37 crianças.

Um funcionário da equipe de resgate disse "as vítimas todas parecem ser civis, mulheres e crianças". Abu Shadi Jradi, um funcionário da defesa civil, disse que os corpos de pelo menos 27 crianças foram encontrados  em meio às pedras.

Um morador,  Mohammed Ismail,  disse:  "queremos que isto pare. Que  Deus tenha piedade  das crianças. Eles vieram aqui para evitar a luta. Eles estão batendo em crianças para colocar os rebeldes de joelhos."

Jim Muir, um correspondente BBC  disse:  "o edifício de três andares  onde famílias se protegiam  no térreo foi destruído por uma enorme cratera lateral causada por uma bomba israelense". E acrescentou "em outros lugares em Qana e ao longo de estradas em Tiro, muitos edifícios foram  esmagados do mesmo modo."

O Ministro das Relações Exteriores do Líbano, Tareq Mitri, exigiu uma investigação internacional para o incidente e clamou por um imediato cessar-fogo. Ele disse: "Isto é um deliberado massacre contra civis. Aos civis em Qana foi dada a escolha entre se abrigar ou partir porque pediram que partissem. Mas como ele poderiam partir se todas as estradas foram bombardeadas? "

Mitri disse que o governo libanês tem um plano para acabar com o conflito, que inclui a entrada de tropas de uma força-tarefa internacional no sul do Líbano, além da libertação de prisioneiros israelenses e libaneses. Todavia o ministro disse que a solução só pode ser negociada depois de um cessar-fogo.

Uma sessão de emergência do Conselho de Segurança das Nações Unidas foi convocada depois do incidente em Qana.

Durante a reunião, o secretário-geral das Nações Unidas, Kofi Annan, disse que precisa haver logo um cessar-fogo e disse: "Nós devemos condenar esta ação nos mais possíveis termos, e eu apelo a vocês para que façam o mesmo".

O Primeiro-Ministro Ehud Olmert disse sentir-se "profundamente  desgostoso" mas adiantou  que  Israel não declararia um cessar-fogo até que fossem atingidos os objetivos  estabelecidos no início da guerra. Olmert, respondendo à crítica internacional, disse que o Hizbollah  usava Qana como uma base para lançamento de centenas de foguetes contra Israel.

Um alto comandante de força aérea  israelense disse que Israel bombardeou o edifício em Qana na suposição de que ele era usado por militantes do  Hizbollah e não por civis  inocentes. Segundo o  comandante:  "se nós soubéssemos que havia tantos civis no interior, principalmente mulheres e crianças, certamente não o teríamos atacado".

O embaixador de Israel Dan Gillerman pediu desculpas e disse em alusão às vítimas de Qana: "Elas são vítimas do terror. Se não houvesse Hizbollah, isto nunca teria acontecido".


Illinois to allow same-sex marriage law

The Illinois House of Representatives voted 61–54 yesterday to approve a law allowing for same-sex marriage. Governor Pat Quinn is expected to sign the bill and ceremonies for same-sex couples are expected to start in June of next year.

State Represeptative Greg Harris, the bill's sponsor, said, "what this bill is about is love, it's about family, it's about commitment".

Bernard Cherkasov from the gay rights group Equality Illinois welcomed the passing of the bill. "The first thought that popped into my mind was all those families around the state that I've met over the past five years in fighting for marriage equality. The couples, their parents, their children, all who have waited for this moment."

The Catholic Conference of Illinois released a statement  "deeply disappointed that members of the General Assembly chose to redefine what is outside of its authority: a natural institution like marriage. We remain concerned about the very real threats to religious liberty that are at stake with the passage of this bill".


États-Unis : l'État de l'Illinois adopte le mariage gay

La Chambre des représentants de l'Illinois a approuvé (61 votes pour, 54 contre), mardi 5 novembre, une loi autorisant le mariage entre personnes de même sexe. Le Gouverneur de l'état, Pat Quinn, un démocrate, devrait signer la loi et les premiers mariages homosexuels devraient avoir lieu à partir du mois de juin 2014.

Bernard Cherkasov, de Equality Illinois, a salué l'adoption du projet de loi. « La première pensée qui m'est venue à l'esprit sont toutes les familles  de l'État que j'ai rencontrées au cours des cinq dernières années dans la lutte pour l'égalité de mariage. Les couples, leurs parents, leurs enfants, tous ceux qui ont attendu ce moment. »

La conférence de Église catholique de l'Illinois a déclaré être « profondément déçu que les membres de la chambre des représentants aient choisi de redéfinir ce que est en dehors de leur autorité : une institution naturelle telle le mariage. » Rajoutant : « Nous demeurons préoccupés par les menaces réelles à la liberté religieuse qui sont en jeu avec le passage de ce projet de loi. »


일리노이 주, 동성 결혼 허용

일리노이 주의회는 5일(현지 시각), 61 대 54의 표차로 동성 결혼 법률을 가결했다.
팻 퀸 주지사는 법안에 서명할 것으로 추측되며 동성 커플들은 내년 7월부터 혼인 신고를 할 수 있게 된다.

법률안을 제안한 그렉 해리스는 "이 법안은 가족, 사랑, 그리고 책임에 관한 법률이다" 라고 말했다.

일리노이 주의 동성애자 인권 연합 대표 베너드 체카소브도 법안의 통과를 환영했다.
"내가 처음으로 생각한 것은 지난 5년간 이 법안의 통과를 위해 싸워온 가족들, 부모들, 그들의 자식들이었다."

한편 일리노이 주 가톨릭계에서는 성명을 내고 "일리노이 주의회가 주의회의 권한을 넘는 사안에 대해 결정을 행사한 데 대해 유감을 표한다"며 법안의 통과에 대해 불편한 시각을 내비쳤다.