Experiments with truth: 11/5/09
The Iranian opposition movement resumed mass street protests on Wednesday and faced a violent crackdown by the security forces, as official rallies mark the 30th anniversary of the storming of the US embassy in Tehran.
- About 14,000 port workers in Peru started a two-day nationwide strike yesterday to protest the government’s privatization push and to pressure it to revoke a recent agreement for the modernization of an important port.
- Angry Afghan villagers protested Thursday against what they said was the killing of 11 civilians by foreign troops.
- Thousands of Opel workers have gone on strike to attend a protest over General Motors’ decision to abandon the company’s sale to new owners who staff hoped would save jobs.
- A daylight hour protest fast involving about 800 women in Tonga is continuing. Tongan Women’s National Congress members have been fasting for about three weeks between six am and six pm to protest against what they describe as poor governance of the prime minister, Feleti Sevele, and to call for his and his deputy’s resignation or removal.
- A one-day rail strike across Belgium caused widespread disruption for commuters Thursday, forcing many people to stay home and leaving some highways jammed.
- Workers of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) yesterday in Abuja, Nigeria began a protest strike over issues that are presumably connected to welfare.
- Chanting “People are dying every day!” and “Everyone in and no one out!”, nine protesters who support universal health care were arrested and dragged out of the office of Joe Lieberman yesterday.
- Strike action by the sugar workers represented by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) continued this week even as both the union and the sugar corporation await the start of the arbitration process.
- About 100 pupils and students in Mabutsane, Botswana have gone on strike over alleged inadequate food and general maltreatment at their Rural Area Dwellers (RAD) hostels.
- Palestinian hunger strikers at Israel’s Nafha prison have faced “repressive” action and been denied family visits since the start of their protest on Monday against constant bunk raids and maltreatment by Israeli prison guards.
- Four Moroccan teachers’ unions paralysed public schools nationwide on Thursday (October 29th) by striking to protest problems that include shortages of instructors and overcrowded classrooms.
