Condo development attacked, bank sabotaged in Seattle

www.anarchistnews.org/?q=node/12133

A Bank of America's atm slots were superglued, and a nearby vacant condo development was decorated with graffiti reading:NO CONDOS, NO PRISONS, FOR CHILE (A) An outside hose was also left running into a sliding door in order to flood the lower level. DWELL Development tears down existing homes and replaces them with expensive "eco-friendly" condos that further the gentrification of Seattle's neighborhoods. We find it ludicrous that these condos are located mere blocks from one of the most recent sites of Nickelsville, Seattle's tent city. And, in a world of dying ecosystems, the construction of "extremely energy efficient and environmentally friendly" condos means absolutely nothing.

Bank of America is one of the three joint financial advisers (including Merrill Lynch and Barclays Int.) for GEO Group Corp. The GEO Group Corp. is a private prison firm that is paid millions by the U.S. government to detain undocumented immigrants and other prisoners. This corporation runs the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.
We hold no illusion that these acts of sabotage will cause these corporations to financially collapse tomorrow. Instead, we attack in order to bring about a small rupture in the social fabric of our daily lives, allowing us to express our own personal rage, and knowing that to remain on the offensive is crucial to both our struggle and our spirits.
In solidarity with all prisoners,
In solidarity with our comrades facing heavy repression in Chile,
In solidarity with the victims of police violence in Seattle and everywhere,
- some anarchists

Chronicles of a summer of revolts in Italian detention centres

After last year, 2010 brought another fiery summer in Italy’s detention centres for migrants (C.I.E.), where people are detained waiting to be deported. At the beginning of the summer the length of time of detention increased to 6 months, thanks to new “Security Package” approved by the government. Also, the Italian government has made a special agreements with Algeria and Tunisia to speed up the deportations of migrants coming from those countries. In many CIE’s Tunisians especially have been on the front line of revolts. Here follows a brief and incomplete chronicle of the past few months:

Trapani, 14th July
At least 15 people manage to escape. The news of the break only comes out after a couple of days: 27 people would have tried to escape, 12 caught straight away. According to other sources, it was about 40 people…4 of the migrants involved get blamed for the events and are immediately transferred to prison. For a change and some fresh air.

Turin, 14th July
Turin is home to one of the most “famous” (not for good reasons) CIE. The revolts begin when a group of migrants try to stop the deportation of 3 of them. In the end the police takes away 2 of those people. The remaining start breaking objects in the cells and setting fire to the mattresses. Some climb up on the roof.

A solidarity picket is quickly organised outside the CIE. When the news is heard that some injured migrants have been left unattended, a group of activists occupies the yard outside the main Red Cross’ office. The occupation only stops when finally a doctor is sent to the CIE to take care of the injured. One of the migrants, Samir, who has cut himself gets sedated and taken away, only to wake up next morning in another CIE in Rome.

Gradisca, 17th July
As in Turin, the revolts begin after an attempt of deportation of a group of Tunisians. Some of the detainees climb up on the roofs, the police responds with teargas. In another wing of the centre, detainees drag mattresses into the yard and set them on fire to distract the police. One of the migrants on the roof gets hit by a teargas stick and falls onto the mattresses on fire – he gets taken away to hospital. The following Tuesday the detainee who had resisted his own deportation gets 9 months in jail, for resisting a public officer.

Turin, 19-22 July
A Tunisian migrant, Sabri, climbs on a roof to protest against his imminent deportation. He’s amongst those who took part in the previous revolt. A group of activists gather outside the CIE. Sabri stays on the roof for 3 days and 3 nights, while the picket carries on and activists support his struggle by flyering, radio shows and other.

On the 3rd day the police, helped by the firemen, drags Sabri down, twisting his ankle. In the streets the picket activists try to block the 2 main entrances to the CIE, and they get charged and beaten up. In the evening a march of at least 500 people walks around the CIE.

Sabri didn’t make it, but thanks to his struggle his story and the migrants’ stories have travelled beyond the cells and bars of the CIE.

Roma, 23rd July
Samir, the guy who had cut himself on the revolt of 14th July in Turin and had been transferred to Rome, climbs on a roof and swallows bits of glass. He is released on the last of his detention days.

Bari, 30th July
At least 50 people try to escape, only 6 manage it. Another 30 climb on the roofs, throwing things at the police, carabinieri, and even army officers below. 18 people get arrested and charged with “devastation, looting, and resisting public officers”.

Brindisi, 5th August
16 people try to escape, 8 manage it. 2 army officers get injured in the riots. Between May and July 33people have escaped from this centre.

Trapani, 6th August
Some detainees attack the guards and try to escape. 50 army officers get sent to the place to put down the revolt. The decision of using the army in detention centres is due to MP Maroni, who has managed to get another one of his brilliat programmes approved just the day before (“Safe Streets”, it’s called…)

On the same day – 5th August – the Parliament has approved a new law about military missions abroad. The law includes new agreements with Libya that allow the Italian Finance Guard to patrol the seas between the 2 countries.

The war against the poor continues…
the Resistance, too!

Italy Calling
e-mail: italycalling@riseup.net
Homepage: http://italycalling.wordpress.com

Six anarchists were detained in connection with the case of the arson of the Russian Embassy in Belarus

The officers of Belarusian law enforcement agencies detained six activists of anarchist movement.
BelaPAN reports, Ihar Bahachak, Valeriya Khotina, Siarhei Slyusar, Nikalai Dzyadok, Alyaksei Zhinherousky and Alyaksandr Frantskevich were detained on September, 3 about 6 a.m. by the officers of law enforcement agencies and are still under arrest in the detention center in Akrestin Street in Minsk. The detainees are interrogated on the subject of their involvement in the incident near the RF Embassy in Minsk, at the territory of which Molotov cocktails were pelted.
The agency reports, the young people were jointly renting a flat in one of the Minsk districts. Early in the morning the door bell rang in their flat and one of the young men opened the door. Law enforcement officers in civilian clothes burst into the flat and transported young men who were there to GUBOP Interior Ministry of Belarus for interrogation. The flat was searched; five computers, two laptops, mobile phones, money, posters and magazines were confiscated.
Maximal detention term without arraignment makes up 72 hours in Belarus. The prosecutor may prolong this term up to 10 days.
Law enforcement agencies do not comment the situation still.
The incident near the Russian diplomatic mission in Minsk took place in the evening on August, 30. At 22.20 the officers of Safety Department of Interior Ministry disclosed a burning service vehicle Mazda-3 while their walking around the territory of the embassy. At the place of the incident a glass bottle with the capacity of 0,33 liter with the remaining of combustible mixture and fragments of a broken glass bottle with the remaining of the fuse. The crime case according to article “Hooliganism” has been initiated on the fact of the incident.
On September, 2 internet resources belarus.indymedia.org and belarus.avtonom.org allocated a statement, which said that anarchists take upon themselves the responsibility for the attack of Russian Embassy in Minsk that took place in the evening on August, 30. “By this action we express our anger and protest against arrests of social activists who stood up for Khimki Forest in Moscow”, — the statement noted.
The statement was disproved by Russian activists, who stand up for Khimki Forest. They called it a provocation.

Assailants attack Russian embassy in Minsk with fire bombs

Assailants attack Russian embassy in Minsk with fire bombs

08:54 31/08/2010

© Photo Website of the Russian Embassy in Belarus

Unknown assailants attacked the Russian Embassy in the Belarusian capital of Minsk with fire bombs late on Monday, a local emergencies spokesman said.
"At around 10:50 p.m. local time (19:50 GMT), two fire bombs were thrown onto the territory of the Russian Embassy," the spokesman said. "One of them hit a car parked on the premises."
There were no casualties, he added.

The Russian Embassy in Minsk attacked anarchists

Thu, 02/09/2010 - 21:19 — editor

Responsibility for the recent attack on the Russian embassy, caused a stir in the press, claimed a group of Belarusian anarchists. Quote the statement posted on the website of Indymedia: In the evening on August 30 a group of anarchists was conducted attack with Molotov cocktails at Russian embassy in Minsk. Was damaged one of the official cars. By this action, we express our anger and protest against the arrests and repression against social activists, who defended forests Khimki Moscow. Our friends are beaten by mercenaries from among the fascists, riot police chases and screws all in a row, threats, detentions and arrests have become the norm.Our friends are forced to endure the hardships in the dungeons and live in fear of being planted, because it stood for truth, for the people, for the right to a normal environment. But bureaucrats and capitalists concerned only kickbacks and profits, they do not care what will happen tomorrow and they are ready to virulent measures to suppress any protest, any dissatisfaction. What's next, death squads? We stand in solidarity with our comrades, and support only direct methods of struggle, because they are afraid only of force on the rest of them do not care. It's funny to read reviews and discussions about the campaign on Internet forums.We are equally repugnant to all the mafia clans under the names "the rulers of Belarus" and "the rulers of Russia." A simple working people of both countries does not shine anything good from this political bickering for power, should not behave like this mendacious politicians. People, wake up! Can not do without conspiracy theories to justify any act of protest and discontent? Every day we see theft and lawlessness, but around only downcast glances and timid kitchen conversations.It's time to gather their strength and to believe that we deserve a better life. Freedom for all prisoners! No political repression! Down with the officials, gangsters and cops! Human rights and social justice!

http://belarus.avtonom.org/?p=15171

The third world prisons of Korridalos Athens

Garbage everywhere, unbearable stink, conditions of asphyxiation and abandonment transform the cells into warehouses for souls. Prisoners sleep on the floor, patients... travel so a doctor can see them, toilets without doors or light... The living and medical conditions in the country's prisons remain third world and inhuman. The photos are revealing images of the shame that exists in the prisons: overpopulation, conditions of asphyxiation and abandonment transform cells into warehouses of souls... In the only hospital inside of Koridallos, 12 patients are treated in one room, without the basic hygiene, medical care and... space to move around. The photos were taken at the end of August, with the help of ex prisoner Panagiotis Gewrgiadis and the support of the Initiative for the Rights of the Prisoners, that for years now has fought for decent conditions of living in the prisons. “The third world conditions that are documented in the photos are a small example”, the ex prisoner said. Panagiwotis found himself imprisoned with 100 warrants, decisions and charges about car theft. Later on, 96 of them were dropped, since it was proven that they were about some other people with the same first and last name, but with different father and mother name! He managed to get released about four months ago. The four warrants, which are still not gone, are delaying the examination of the application for the identity mistake which has not yet been determined. Sleeping on the floor during his 9 years of imprisonment, mr.Gewrgiadis suffered more than 100 transfers, so he has seen the situation in most prisons of the country. Most prisoners, he describes, sleep on the floor because the mattresses are dirty and have bugs and other... insects. The conditions are dramatic, especially in the summer months. “You know how many times I thought I wont survive the heat in prison? The atmosphere is suffocating. No brooms or mops or cleaning products were given to us to clean. In the hospital even if your dying, a doctor wont come near you. You have to walk a long hallway for a doctor to see you. They don't come in not out of fear but out of disgust...”. He said. The long hallway is seen clearly in the photos, just as the overpopulation in the hospital. The patients with wheelchairs are obligated to move from bed to bed to get to a point where they can get into the wheelchair... The lack of medical and nurse staff complete the scene of shame. “Garbage everywhere, toilets that are only... a hole, that cannot be cleaned and dont even have a door!”, describes Ioanna Drosou from the Initiative for the Rights of the Prisoners. “A main demand of the prisoners is that the Saint Pauls hospital of Koridallos prison should be part of the National Health System. Despite the fact that two years ago, it was decided that the hospital will become part of this system, in reality this is still not happened”, she explains. Leave days An institution that is slowly disappearing After the attempt of known prisoner Vaggelis Pallis last saturday to end his life because he received another negative answer to the application he had made for leave days, the topic of the prisoners leave days comes back to the spot light. “The institution of leave days is the most important channel of contact the prisoners have with the outside world and it helps with social rehabilitation. With the excuse of “bad use of leave days” the rise of the exceptions to the rule, this institution seems to becoming extinct. Although, from its beginning until today only a small percentage of prisoners, less than 4%, use their leave days wrongly” the Initiative sais. Recent legislation changes, like law number N.3772/09 that was voted while Dendias was minister, restricts the practice of leave days relevantly defines the criteria, resulting, as the members of the “Iniative” say, to the cutting without reason or even with the usual reasons. It also remains the problem of the convicted of the drug law, since with the legislation N.3811/09 they still are not eligible for benefits such as leave days or transfer to a farm prison after they serve 1/5 of their sentence.  boubourAs translation for actforfreedomnow!

Pascual Pichún Collonao, a Mapuche political prisoner

The VJ Movement interviews Pascual Pichun Collonao, a 27-year-old journalist and fourth-year student at La Plata National University in Argentina. One of 70 Mapuche political prisoners in Chile, Pascual is currently serving a five year sentence for allegedly setting fire to a logging truck in 2002. Background, courtesy of mapuche.nl.
Pascual Pichún Collonao is a 27-year-old Mapuche communicator and student of the Faculty of Journalism, La Plata National University, Argentina. Pascual had been in Argentina since 2005, where he obtained a temporary residence permit from the Argentine authorities. He is a fourth-year student, works ad honorem in the Human Rights Secretariat of the Faculty of Journalism, and is involved in a number of the university´s community outreach projects. As an indigenous communicator he participates in several dialogue platforms in defense of indigenous peoples´ rights.
On February 26 of this year, Pascual was arrested by police intelligence personnel in Temuco, Chile, and he is now being held in the jail of Traiguén, along with other Mapuche political prisoners.
Chile has an anti-terrorism law in place imposed by Pinochet. Unfortunately, this law is currently being used in political conflicts and is considered by human rights organizations as a tool for persecution and repression that has raised the number of Mapuche detainees to over 70. This law violates the guarantee of due process, and allows military courts to judge civilians using "faceless" witnesses, which openly violates the independence and impartiality required by the human rights treaties ratified by Chile, including the Pact of San José, Costa Rica. At the same time, other legal instruments that safeguard the rights of the Indigenous Peoples at the international level such as ILO Convention 169, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, are disregarded.
Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council on indigenous peoples, urged the Chilean government not to apply charges such as terrorism to other contexts, such as "acts related to social struggle for land and legitimate indigenous claims".
Pascual is considered a fugitive from Chilean justice since 2003, when he was sentenced to five years and one day in prison, along with his brother Rafael. He was convicted in a clearly unfair trial, accused of setting fire to a logging truck in 2002 near the village where he lived with his family.
Similarly, Pascual´s father had been sentenced under the anti-terrorism law which imposes penalties that are three times higher than the ones for ordinary crimes. Today, Mapuche communities denounce this law as being used exclusively for cases related to the mobilization of the Mapuche people in Chile, and identify the case of the Pichún family as one of the most emblematic examples of unjust judicial and political persecution by the Chilean state.

Send a Letter in support of Pascual Pichun Collonao: http://www.gfbv.de/emailprot.php?id=263&stayInsideTree=1

The 33 miners buried alive in Chile express solidarity to the Mapuche prisoners on hunger strike

/sysiphus-angrynewsfromaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/2010/09/33-miners-trapped-for-weeks-in-san-jose.html

informa-azione
from selvasorg.blogspot.com

Some news, even if is on the surface, is less visible than that which must emerge from 700 meters of the earth's crust. A testimony to this obvious but no less important media condition, are the 33 miners trapped in the mine in San Jose Copiapo, Chile now, through no reason of their own, the main actors of a process of redemption from the bowels of the earth occupying the front pages of all the world news for almost a month. Their messages have been widely disseminated and give comfort concerning their living conditions, offering TV viewers everywhere dramatic images of faces tried by work and precarious conditions. Some of the first messages were on paper and the new Chilean president, Sebastián Piñera, exhibited them to the world in front of the cameras stationed on the mouth of the mine, to show the proximity of government to the working class in Chile that concerns over 800 thousand people, many of whom emigrated from Peru or Bolivia and in all cases are social representatives of the poorest classes. Among these many are represented by the original peoples of the continent: Mapuche, Quechua or Aymara.

Scripta Manent
Among the letters exhibited before the cameras, eager for news about the health of the miners trapped underground, apparently some that clearly challenged the government didn't find the way to appear on the screen. The miners, in two pages, that were originally censored, declare solidarity with the civil battle begun, now almost fifty days ago by some Mapuche prisoners on hunger strike, and, contesting the words of the Prime Minister, ask him in writing to "Shut up".
Thirty-three buried miners have in this way made visible a civil battle that goes from the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and has been taken up in July by 32 political prisoners, victims of "anti-terrorism special law" that discriminates the original Mapuche people and nullifies their legitimate demands for recognition. The letter draws a parallel between the two tragic stories and reads: "Free the Mapuche, 41 days on hunger strike."
This great example of brotherhood from a depth of 700 m should make blush those who, on August 30, the International Day of the “Desaparecido” prisoner [“disappeared” during the Pinochet dictatorship], easily forget the injustices still present in the "exemplary" Chilean democracy and refuse to deal with a story, perhaps still too recent and tame, woven of disappearances (over 900 reported in 2009 alone), violence and arbitrary detention often against the representatives of the Mapuche people, once the only population to have their lands recognized as an autonomous state by the Spanish crown and now branded as terrorists and persecuted by the blows of special laws and police violence.

Breakout from central precinct

Three policemen have been suspended after a mass breakout from the holding cells at the Omonia police station in central Athens, one of the city’s busiest.
According to authorities, at about 5 a.m. on Saturday, 13 prisoners who were in the same cell all complained that they were feeling unwell and needed to be transferred to a hospital. However, when the two special guards who were on duty entered the cell to help the suspects, they were attacked.
The guards managed to capture three prisoners just outside the cell. Another two were caught as they tried to exit the police station. One more was re-arrested in the Omonia area. However, the other seven – four Palestinians, two Iraqis and an Afghan – escaped.
The on-duty officer and the two special guards were suspended pending an internal investigation.

Popular uprising crushed in blood

Saturday, 04 September 2010

Indonesian police have killed five villagers on September 1st, when dozens of people devastated a police station in Sulawesi about 1,500 kilometers northeast of Jakarta. General Amin Saleh, according to AP reports, said the station more than a hundred attacked the villagers, including some carrying rocks and Molotov cocktails. Saleh said that police fired on villagers. The conflict is also injured 17 people, mostly police officers who were struck by stones. The attacks villagers came to the station after a motorcyclist died in prison. It is unclear why he was imprisoned, but the villagers suspect that he died because of torture.

Friday, 03 September weekly demonstrations

04/09/2010

Bili'n

Some 10 Israelis and a handful of internationals joined this Ramadan's last Friday demo against the wall and the occupation in Bil'in. With the heat and fasting taking their toll, and the international delegations season over, the demo was smaller than usual. The army set a barbed wire barrier on the way to the wall, and deployed a few dozen meters behind it, between the wall and the barrier. The demonstrators gathered behindthe barbed wire, and after a few minutes removed it to march forward) next week, will they set a new barrier to protect the barrier that is supposed to keep demonstrators away from the wall?). At that point the army started shooting gas, and the demonstrators had to retreat and
declared the demo over. While even some of the feistier shabab couldn't be bothered to throw stones, the army kept on shooting gas until all demonstrators were far up the hill leading to the village, occasionally getting some gas "blow back" due to the shifting winds.

Ni'lin

The weekly protest in Ni'lin was very short. A group of around thirty protesters reached the wall route after a short march through the village's lands. One of the protesters called on the soldiers to stop defending the theft of Ni'lin lands. One or two protesters threw some stones over the wall, and some tires were set fire to. Within a minute of this, soldiers fired a volley of tear gas canisters, and shortly after, crossed the barrier in pursuit of the demonstrators, who retreated back into the village. Two international protesters were grabbed by soldiers and held for around half an hour, but they were then released and returned to the village.

 

Al Maasra

Some thirty Palestinians, Israelis and internationals participated in Friday's demonstration in the village of Al Maasra. Upon arrival at the main road, protesters were blocked by two army vehicles. Additional army vehicles came from the other direction.

Soldiers, who jumped off the vehicles as they wave their guns, declared the area a closed military zone and began pushing the protesters away while throwing stun grenades. One grenade was thrown directly at one of the demonstrators, hitting his body before falling and exploding on ground.

After pushing demonstrators to the junction outside the closed military zone, the soldiers began to back off. Demonstrators decided to move forward again. After a short distance, the soldiers pushed back the demonstrators to junction, using tear gas and stun grenades. At This point, occupation forces left the area and demonstrators declared victory. before the end of the demonstration was announced, Arabic and English speeches were made, denouncing the occupation, and calling for freedom, justice and implementation of international law.

More than 4,000 inmates at three Venezuelan jails on hunger strike

September 5th, 2010

More than 4,000 inmates at three Venezuelan jails began a hunger strike in protest against alleged brutality by guards, judicial delays and chronic overcrowding. The protest involves 32 of the 80 inmates at Tocuyito prison, some 3,000 in the Aragua penitentiary and another 1,137 at Vista Hermosa prison, the Caracas daily El Universal said. It began in Tocuyito, where inmates reported physical and psychological mistreatment by guards following the escape of an important criminal from the jail this week.
Antonio Molina, defense counsel for one of the hunger strikers, told El Universal that the guards “have repeatedly beaten” the striking prisoners and have “kicked and smashed their belongings and suspended their visits.”
The inmates at Vista Hermosa joined the hunger strike in solidarity with the prisoners in Tocuyito, Julio Martinez, who has been held for two years in that penitentiary, said. “We joined the strike…for the outrages committed against our fellow-prisoners over at Tocuyito, who are kept in solitary confinement, are permitted no visits and are being beaten,” Martinez told the Caracas newspaper.
Inmates at Vista Hermosa have not suffered mistreatment by guards for at least “four years” and have “enough to eat,” but there is a huge backlog of cases pending trial that has caused overcrowding, Florentino Ariza, another inmate, said. That jail is designed for 450 prisoners, and currently houses 1,137, nearly three-quarters of them still awaiting trial, Ariza told the daily El Universal.
Aragua’s more than 3,000 prisoners joined the protest to complain about overcrowding, trial delays and the mistreatment they and their families receive from the guards, they said in a communique. In the document, the inmates said that this penitentiary was build to hold 600 people but now has 3,400, of whom only 350 have been tried and convicted.

Hamburg street festival ends in rioting - again

The peaceful and friendly festival lasted all afternoon, with stands and music filling the streets of the Schanzenviertel area, only overshadowed by the expectation of a descent into rioting.

The atmosphere remained relaxed until darkness at around 8 pm, when the huge police presence, complete with water cannon, became obvious around the access roads into the area around the squatted building known as Rote Flora.

Critics say that such a show of force – with officers drawn from around the country – acts as a provocative challenge to potential rioters.

But Christoph Alhaus, Hamburg’s new mayor and former interior minister with responsibility for such decisions, along with his successor in that office, Heino Vahldieck, said the police would act decisively against any sign of riot.

By 9:30 pm the area around the Rota Flora was tense and the streets were empty of anyone other than people holding beer bottles – and the police.

This year the pubs and restaurants in the immediate area were not only closed but largely barricaded.

But it seems the mood has changed – particularly after rioters this May smashed up local shops rather than the banks and drug stores. Some closed up bars bore signs saying, "Closed against violence."

Some locals were even seen actively trying to prevent the rioting – throwing buckets of water on burning piles of rubbish and pulling apart barricades.

But by 11 pm the erection of a barricade on one street attracted the attention of the police, who were then showered with stones, bottles and some fireworks.

They retaliated with baton charges and water cannons for around two hours, eventually taking control of the streets around Rota Flora and pushing the rioters out of the area.

Several arrests were made, with numbers not yet clear, while at least one police officer and a number of anarchists were injured.

Rioters Clash With Cops After Street Festival

Around 300 left-wing protesters have clashed with police in Hamburg after an all-night street festival in the central Schanze neighbourhood.

Riot police run past smoke bombs during the clashes after a street party in Hamburg

The violence erupted when youths threw rocks and bottles at police and set light to barricades.
Officers responded by turning water canon on the crowds.
Similar riots broke out during last year's street festival when left-wing activists protested against a far-right rally.
Anticipating a repeat of the violent scenes, police had deployed about 2,000 officers in the area.

Protesters threw rocks and bottles at police

But some of the rioters still managed to cause damage to a bank branch and smash the windows of a supermarket.
According to local media reports, several rioters were arrested and two policemen were lightly wounded.
Before the clashes broke out, residents in the neighbourhood had tried to stop the protesters from throwing bottles and rocks.
The annual street party attracts large crowds with its music and food stalls in the central district of the German city and frequently sees clashes between protesters and police.

Residents support squatters over Crown Estate evictions london U.K.

5 September 2010
Squatters were evicted from Crown Estate properties in Gore and Skipworth Roads
Squatters clashed with bailiffs and police last month (Wednesday 11 August) over the controversial sell-off of the Crown Estate properties next to Victoria Park.
Six properties on Gore Road and Skipworth Road, which had been left empty for over two years, were occupied by squatters six months ago.
On 2 August, the Crown Estate won a possession order in court for the properties. However, they chose to carry out the evictions without giving prior warning to the squatters.
High Court bailiffs and Crown Estate officials turned up at 8am and entered 103 Gore Road via the back door. They went upstairs and woke the occupier, giving him half an hour to pack up his belongings and leave the property.
The evictions sparked a great deal of controversy because the Crown Estate is currently in the process of selling the freehold of 1,300 properties. For the past 80 years these properties have been used as key worker housing, making homes affordable for teachers, health workers, police officers and fire-fighters.
The sell-off, which will take place in five boroughs, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Camden, Westminster and Lewisham, has been criticised in parliament and a strong campaign has been led against it.
Crown Residents Against Sell Off claims that under new ownership, rents could be hiked up considerably. Security of their tenancy agreements could be lost, and people on short term contracts could be forced out of their homes within two months. They also fear that the strong community which exists locally would be destroyed.
The lack of notice angered the squatters as they claimed they were normally given at least five days’ warning of an eviction, so they had time to make other living arrangements. One house refused to let bailiffs into the property until they had gathered all their belongings. They argued that it was unfair to expect people to pack up six months’ worth of belongings in just 60 minutes.
The police were called.
By the time bailiffs and police got to the last house, 3 Skipworth Road, the squatters had barricaded themselves inside and were refusing to come out, arguing that affordable housing for key workers should be valued and prioritised.
Neighbours and community residents, carrying banners which read “Our community is not for sale” came out onto the street to back the squatters.
One local resident, who refused to be named, said she liked having the squatters there and that they were “helpful, friendly and responsible neighbours. She said the properties had been left empty by the Crown Estate, which was a risk to everybody, and that the squatters improved the area.
She also commented that “the squatters should have been granted a license to stay until the Crown decided what to do with the properties. The squatters were just young musicians looking for inexpensive living. They sang beautifully.”
Despite wrestling with the barricaded door, bailiffs were unable to gain access to the property. The stand-off between the bailiffs and squatters lasted around four hours, during which time supporters outside shouted “Shame on Crown Estates”.
Eventually bailiffs managed to gain access to the property and it was resecured.

DESERT BASE LISTENS TO THE WORLD TALKING

Israel’s Urim base in the Negev desert is among the most important and powerful intelligence gathering sites in the world. Yet, until now, its eavesdropping has gone entirely unmentioned

BY NICKY HAGER

Israel’s most important intelligence-gathering installation is only a 30km drive into the Negev desert from Beersheba prison – where those taking part in the Gaza aid flotilla were briefly detained this June. The base, hidden until now, has rows of satellite dishes that covertly intercept phone calls, emails and other communications from the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. Its antennas monitor shipping and would have spied on the aid ships in the days before they were seized.

Israel’s powerful position in the Middle East is often associated with its armed forces, nuclear weapons arsenal or covert (Mossad) operatives. But just as important is its intelligence gathering – monitoring governments, international organisations, foreign companies, political organisations and individuals. Most of this happens at the installation in the Negev a couple of kilometres to the north of the kibbutz of Urim. Our sources, close to Israeli intelligence, know the base first-hand. They describe lines of satellite dishes of different sizes, and barracks and operations buildings on both sides of the road (the 2333) that leads to the base. (more on cryptome.org)

Minister injured in car bomb in Russia. A russian minister was injured and his driver died from the attack on his car in Dagestan the russian authorities announced today. Bekmurza Bekmurzaye, local minister in charge of national and religious matters. The driver which was a police officer died on the spot and the minister and his bodyguards were taken to hospital. Dagestan is in Caucasus.

Chile An explosive device was found outside Banco Estado bank in Indepedencia. The device was seen by a man who went to use the atm and called the police who came and disabled it.

Genoa Italy: Arsonist Bomb Against Mobile Police Station in Solidarity with Prisoners

from anonymous
August 14 has been positioned a box with 3 liters of petrol and TRIGGER ON THE ROOF OF A MOBILE POLICE STATION PARKING in the port in the area ferries, in solidarity with prisoners in MARASSI Prison and ALL THE OTHER PRISONERS .

General news from free palestine...

Trial in Death of Rachel Corrie Resumes in Israel 5/9/2010
Netanyahu: What is Said and What is Not 4/9/2010
The historical origins of the Iranian Revolution and the tasks of the Revolutionary Marxists – Part Three 4/9/2010
Video:Jerusalem Bondage 4/9/2010
In Picture:A history of talks and violence 2/9/2010
28-31/10/2010: World Education Forum in Palestine 27/8/2010
PA to introduce austerity measures 27/8/2010
Imbalance of Power, the Middle East Problem 27/8/2010

Sheffield Free School 8-10/10 Prepare for a future without oil or governments... u.k.

The Sheffield Social Centre Collective  http://sheffieldsocialcentre.org.uk/ is organising a Free School, "Prepare for a future without oil or governments..." to be held in Sheffield over the weekend of 8th - 10th October 2010.

You might have noticed that our everyday lives involve being bombarded from all angles by people whose primary desire in life is to make money. This can have one or two downsides: the creation of a culture in which happiness and well-being are measured in pounds and pence, the systematic sacrifice of planet earth in the name of business, and the life of a person coming to be quantified in terms of their financial worth instead of their intrinsic value as a thinking, breathing human being.

For a weekend in October people in Sheffield will be coming together to push back against this tide of consumption and money-making by creating a space for the free sharing of skills, ideas, knowledge and entertainment.

Between the 8th and 10th of October, in reclaimed space in our city centre, come along to the Sheffield free school to learn the ins-and-outs of consensus decision-making, what anarchism can mean in practice, get help fixing your bicycle, discuss how to take direct action against the perpetrators of injustice, discover how to live (nearly) for free, or maybe even come and share a skill of your own.

If you'd like to help organise the Sheffield Free School or have an idea for an event you'd like to run at it, come along to the next planning meeting, the time and location of which you'll find at  http://www.sheffieldsocialcentre.org.uk/ or email  info@sheffieldsocialcentre.org.uk .

The free school is being organised by members of the Sheffield Social Centre project, which aims to establish a permanent space for non-hierarchical, non-discriminatory and anti-capitalist activity in Sheffield.

Sheffield Social Centre Collective
e-mail: info@sheffieldsocialcentre.org.uk
Homepage: http://sheffieldsocialcentre.org.uk/

small news from greek media...

Armed raids
A lone armed robber made off with around 8,000 euros after holding up a branch of Piraeus Bank in the town of Sparta in the Peloponnese yesterday morning. Later in the day, unidentified burglars broke into a house in the small town of Eleousa in the northwestern prefecture of Ioannina and stole a safe believed to contain 20,000 euros in cash and 15,000 euros' worth of jewelry.
Doctors onlyPrison staff will no longer be permitted to subject female inmates to vaginal examinations in jail, according to a decision by Deputy Justice Minister Apostolos Katsifaras that was made public yesterday. From now on, an internal examination can only be conducted on a female inmate if there is a special judicial order and must be carried out by a doctor, not by prison staff. Katsifaras's decision came after years of lobbying by female prisoners and by human rights organizations.

Angry protests against Blair in Dublin

ANGRY protesters greeted war criminal Tony Blair in Dublin when he staged the first of a planned series of book signings, with eggs and shoes thrown at him.

And the call has now gone out for more protests when he appears in central London on Wednesday this week.

Reports The Guardian: "Three men were arrested after they broke through a security barrier at around 10.45am today outside Eason's bookshop on O'Connell Street in Dublin, Ireland."The demonstrators, ranging from anti-war demonstrators to the Continuity IRA-aligned Republican Sinn Fein are now marching to a garda police station in the city centre demanding the release of the three arrested men.
"Gardai had earlier dragged a number of demonstrators off the street and during the fracas a male protester in a wheelchair was knocked to the ground.
"Protesters shouted 'Whose cops? Blair's cops!' as they taunted the gardai while Blair remained inside the bookshop. They also shouted: 'Hey hey Tony hey, how many kids have you killed today?'
One anti-war campaigner has attempted to make a citizen's arrest on former prime minister Tony Blair over alleged war crimes, reports the Press Association.Activist Kate O'Sullivan managed to get through tight security to confront Mr Blair as he held a book signing in Dublin. "I went up to him and I said 'Mr Blair, I'm here to make a citizen's arrest for the war crimes that you've committed'," she said.
There are calls for protests in London on Wednesday September 8 when Blair is due at Waterstones Picadilly, 203-206 Picadilly, at 12 noon.

Says Counterfire website: "Join us to demonstrate against Tony Blair's book-signing and bring banners and something which will make a lot of noise!"

Anarchists attack two banks -- Tacoma, WA

The communique goes down like this:

"One bank was attacked and another sabotaged in Tacoma, Washington.
One of them being Wells Fargo the main investor in GEO Group and
the Northwest Detention Center, an immigrant detention center
(prison) that sits comfortably in the Tacoma tide flats. “NO
PRISONS (A)” was spray painted on the side of the building and 3
windows where smashed. Bank of America also had an ATM card slot
glued. Bank of America is one of the three joint financial advisers
(including Merrlin Lynch and Barclays Int.) for GEO Group Corp.

In solidarity with all imprisoned, in all prisons,
And for the destruction of the prison world.

- Anarchists"

THE PASSION FOR FREEDOM IS STRONGER THAN PRISON!!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Monday 4 octomber 2010 time 09.00 at evelpidon courts Athens
SOLIDARITY IS OUR WEAPON
FREEDOM NOW TO ARIS SIRINIDIS
INITIATIVE OF SOLIDARITY

GROUPS- COMRADES-PEPOLE - FROM EXARXIA AREA ATHENS

UPDATE 4/9
TIME 14.00 THE DECISION IS COMING IN 7 TO 10 DAYS FROM TODAY FOR COMRADE ARIS
IF THEY LET HEM OUT , MANY COMRADES TODAY FOR SOLIDARITY ! BAD MANY FUCKING RIOT COPS

Mass arrests, clashes follow settler shootings

Report, The Electronic Intifada, 3 September 2010

Israeli police arrest demonstrators at a protest in Silwan, occupied East Jerusalem. (Oren Ziv/ActiveStills)

On 1 September the Palestinian Authority's (PA) security forces launched an unprecedented arrest campaign against Palestinians affiliated with the Hamas party in the occupied West Bank. The arrest sweep followed attacks earlier in the week against Israeli settlers in Hebron and Ramallah.

The PA's Preventative Security Services and the General Intelligence Services arrested and detained at least 350 Palestinians from all West Bank governorates, according to a press release from the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq.

Four Israeli settlers from the Beit Hagai settlement were killed on Tuesday evening near the city of Hebron, when they were shot dead while driving on Route 60, the highway that connects Jerusalem to the settlements in the southern occupied West Bank. Approximately 24 hours later, two Israeli settlers were shot and injured in their car while driving near Ramallah and the Kochav Hashachar settlement.

The al-Qassam Brigades -- Hamas' armed wing -- claimed full responsibility for both attacks, according to Ma'an News Agency. Ma'an reported that the al-Qassam Brigades released a subsequent statement describing the shootings as a "normal and legal response to Zionist aggressions on the Palestinian civilians" and "part of the repelling operations against the occupation assaults on the Gaza Strip and West Bank" ("Hamas claims Ramallah attack," 1 September 2010).

Al-Haq says that the Palestinian Authority's arrest campaign against individuals affiliated with Hamas across the West Bank was "executed without the proper arrest warrants" and violated several laws related to arrest and detention rights and procedures.

"The total number of persons arrested without a legitimate warrant is likely to be significantly higher," Al-Haq added. "However, it is not possible to obtain an exact figure of the detainees as no record is being kept of persons detained and released within 24 hours. Hundreds of people currently remain in detention."

On Thursday, 2 September, Israeli daily Haaretz reported that the PA detained an additional two Palestinian men from the Hebron area, alleged by the PA to be in connection to Tuesday's attack ("Palestinian authorities: We're arrested two suspects ...").

The settler shootings and the heavy crackdown on Hamas supporters comes as US-brokered direct talks are taking place between the Palestinian Authority and Israel in Washington, DC. All opposing Palestinian political parties, including Hamas, have been disallowed by the PA from participating in the negotiations process. Last week, PA forces interrupted and dispersed a conference in Ramallah, attacking dissenting political officials and activists.

Al-Haq stated that "the sweeping and arbitrary nature of the arrests of political opponents demonstrates that these measures are fueled by political expediency as opposed to genuine security concerns. In fact this campaign is part of a pattern of oppressive policies adopted by the Palestinian Authority to stifle political dissent and to generate a sense of intimidation within Palestinian society."

The group added that it "condemns this arbitrary use of power by the Palestinian Authority and reiterates that the rule of law and the fundamental rights of individuals must not be sacrificed on the altar of political interests."

Meanwhile, in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan on 1 September, hundreds of demonstrators, including Palestinian residents of Silwan and Israeli and international activists, confronted attendees of a conference aimed at promoting "archeological" interests in the neighborhood.

An increasing number of Israeli settlers have regularly taken over Palestinian homes in Silwan, under the cover of an Israeli archaeological institution, Elad, which has led the charge to push Palestinians out of the area and re-brand Silwan as the "City of David." Elad was the sponsor of Wednesday's conference in Silwan.

Journalist Joseph Dana reported on his website that Israeli border police and special forces, called Yasam, "were deployed and allowed to use physical violence to prohibit the protesters from getting close to the entrance."

"The protest stayed completely nonviolent as Yasam forces repeatedly attacked protesters, threw them to the ground like rag dolls and arrested them," wrote Dana. "At one point, a settler literally drove his car through the protest, almost running over a number of people" ("Israel vs. Israel ...," 2 September 2010).

Wednesday's demonstration follows previous clashes and arrests in Silwan last week. On Monday, clashes broke out when Israeli municipal police, border police and intelligence officers raided several neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem, arresting and detaining Palestinians accused of participating in clashes the previous week, according to Ma'an. Residents of the neighborhood reported that last week's clashes began after Israeli settlers broke into the local al-Ein mosque on 26 August ("Clashes reported in Silwan," 30 August 2010).

Grigoropoulos trial nears end from the greek media...

Lawyers in the trial of the two police special guards accused of being involved in the fatal shooting of teenager Alexis Grigoropoulos in the central Athens neighborhood of Exarchia in December 2008 began summing up yesterday and judges are expected to deliver their verdicts by the end of the month.
Eight months after the trial began, Zoe Konstantopoulou, the lawyer representing the Grigoropoulos family, called for both Epaminondas Korkoneas, the policeman who pulled the trigger, and Vassilis Saraliotis, who was on duty with him, to be found guilty of murder. Konstantopoulou argued that neither man had shown the necessary remorse for their part in the teenager’s death, which sparked days of protests and rioting in Athens. She said that, instead, they had displayed “cynicism” about their roles on the night of December 6, 2008.
Saraliotis insists that he has no regrets about his actions on the night of the shooting but Konstantopoulou claimed that he had provided “moral support” to Korkoneas, who fired the shot that killed the boy. The lawyer also accused Korkoneas of shooting directly at the group of people among whom the 15-year-old was standing. Korkoneas says that he fired after coming under attack from several thrown objects and had not aimed at Grigoropoulos or anyone else. Ballistic tests have shown that the bullet that killed the schoolboy ricocheted off a cement bollard. Witnesses have suggested the Korkoneas shot at the crowd rather than into the air or down at the ground.
The victim’s lawyer also insisted that the teenager was a normal 15-year-old who had no intention of playing the rebel, nor was he the member of any anarchist group.

Picket in support of Vavilov collection

Thu, 02/09/2010

August 31 Pavlovskaia experimental station, the commission came from the Chamber to the closed doors to determine whether it is a unique collection of plants Vavilov retained, or to land occupied by the collection, sold by luxury villas. In response, the anarchists staged an unauthorized picket. The activists stood in front of the station, holding a banner "Biofond importantly profit!" and banners reading "Where the money solves - nature die?" and "Save the Vavilov collection. Despite the presence of policemen in plain clothes and their prevention, nobody was detained. Formally part of the land, carrying her unique varieties of plants that scientists have already taken away, explaining that the area is used for other purposes.Besides revealing that members of the commission, which returned a verdict of "misuse" sites did not enter any specialist, somehow versed in selhozpromyshlennosti that indicates a lack of adequate analysis of value of the collection. We believe that these decisions are incorrect and should be abolished and all lands with a collection of plants should be preserved for scientific research tsentorm. Recall, a collection of Vavilov is the largest in Europe Field gene bank of fruit, fodder and fruit crops.The famous collection was created over 80 years. Hundreds of thousands of scientists made expeditions to collect samples at the experimental station of plants from all over the world. Some species do not already exist in nature and are saved only here - in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. All over the world, scientists are asked today Pavlovtsi class to Vossestablish, the lost plant varieties. Source: http://piter.indymedia.org/ru/node/9979

Assailants attack Russian embassy in Minsk with fire bombs

Assailants attack Russian embassy in Minsk with fire bombs

08:54 31/08/2010

© Photo Website of the Russian Embassy in Belarus

Unknown assailants attacked the Russian Embassy in the Belarusian capital of Minsk with fire bombs late on Monday, a local emergencies spokesman said.
"At around 10:50 p.m. local time (19:50 GMT), two fire bombs were thrown onto the territory of the Russian Embassy," the spokesman said. "One of them hit a car parked on the premises."
There were no casualties, he added.

The Russian Embassy in Minsk attacked anarchists

Thu, 02/09/2010 - 21:19 — editor

Responsibility for the recent attack on the Russian embassy, caused a stir in the press, claimed a group of Belarusian anarchists. Quote the statement posted on the website of Indymedia: In the evening on August 30 a group of anarchists was conducted attack with Molotov cocktails at Russian embassy in Minsk. Was damaged one of the official cars. By this action, we express our anger and protest against the arrests and repression against social activists, who defended forests Khimki Moscow. Our friends are beaten by mercenaries from among the fascists, riot police chases and screws all in a row, threats, detentions and arrests have become the norm.Our friends are forced to endure the hardships in the dungeons and live in fear of being planted, because it stood for truth, for the people, for the right to a normal environment. But bureaucrats and capitalists concerned only kickbacks and profits, they do not care what will happen tomorrow and they are ready to virulent measures to suppress any protest, any dissatisfaction. What's next, death squads? We stand in solidarity with our comrades, and support only direct methods of struggle, because they are afraid only of force on the rest of them do not care. It's funny to read reviews and discussions about the campaign on Internet forums.We are equally repugnant to all the mafia clans under the names "the rulers of Belarus" and "the rulers of Russia." A simple working people of both countries does not shine anything good from this political bickering for power, should not behave like this mendacious politicians. People, wake up! Can not do without conspiracy theories to justify any act of protest and discontent? Every day we see theft and lawlessness, but around only downcast glances and timid kitchen conversations.It's time to gather their strength and to believe that we deserve a better life. Freedom for all prisoners! No political repression! Down with the officials, gangsters and cops! Human rights and social justice!

http://belarus.avtonom.org/?p=15171

Parnitha:Struggle against the looting of the mountain and fascist activity

       ”Against the Looting of Nature-Struggle for land and freedom”
 On the weekend of 3rd and 4th of July, as every year since 2007, in the old hotel “Xenia” in the mountain of Parnitha, the two days trek of resistance against the destruction and the looting of the mountain took place, organized by the “Initiative for struggle from Strefi’s hill for Land and Freedom” (photos).
    A few days later, on Saturday 10th of July, the Police announced that from an investigation that took place at the area of “Xenia”, after information received, they found a high-powered improvised explosive device. The day after and given the fact that the bomb was in the hands of the Police, supposedly Christos Loukopoulos gave himself in to the Police. He is an ex-military, ex-bodyguard and involved with the fascist organization Golden Dawn. Immediately after the surrender of Loukopoulos, followed the covering up of the case and its absolute hushing up from the mass media, while the Police attempted a disinformation as regards the real target of this bomb, as well as the diminishing of the case’s significance and its potential consequences.

    In any case, this fact cannot be bypassed as a random or undistinguished event, the planting of a bomb by a person with Loukopoulos’ background, in a place and time commensurate with the carrying out of a two-day political event and its coexistence for two days with dozens of social fighters, with little children among them, as no other aim exists for the bomb which was found at “Xenia” other than the gathering that was taking place there.

 The holocaust of June 27, 2007, was just a single moment of the ongoing destruction and looting of Parnitha through a variety of criminal activities and plans of the political and economic powers, on the mountain.
 Three years later, the casino expanded in the heart of the park, military bases and an antenna park occupies the highest peaks of Mount Parnitha and housing settlements spring up within the remaining forests.
 Three years later, public forest land in the old royal palace is in sale and the promotion of an industrial zone (Technopolis Acropolis SA) on the eastern slopes of the mountain as well as the installation of wind turbines at the heart of the park is taking place.
 Three years later, intervention to the water springs and the paths of the mountain take place altering the physical landscape even further, the building of recreation stores is being planned in the Holy Trinity area, the restriction of free access to the park, the application of a fee to the visitors and the total transformation of the mountain in a suburban park with many commercial uses is taking place.
 THREE YEARS LATER THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION AND LOOTING OF THE MOUNTAIN CONTINUES…
TWO-DAY RESISTANCE TREK IN PARNITHA
 Initiative for struggle for Strefi’s hill for LAND and FREEDOM
athens.indymedia.org
The text in spanish, portuguese.

Israeli Shin Bet electrocuted child prisoners to extract confessions

September 1, 2010 Following a visit yesterday to some young prisoners being held at the Megiddo Prison, lawyers for the Ministry of Detainees have stated that the young prisoners testified under oath that they had been interrogated and systematically electrocuted and tortured by Israeli intelligence officers in settlements near to Palestinian cities. According to Salim Redouane who was arrested near Qalqilya on 08.05.2010, he was kept in a camp near Tzofin for 3 hours before being transferred to the settlement of Ariel where he was questioned by Shin Bet interrogators. His head was repeatedly hit against the prison room wall in an effort to get him to confess and he was beaten severely. The investigators threatened to burn his skin if he did not confess to the accusations against him. Another detainee, Mohamed Ali Radwan, informed the lawyers that he was arrested at his home in Qalqilya Azzun on 3/8/2010 and one of the soldiers forced him to take off his shirt in order to use it as a blindfold. He was handcuffed and then taken somewhere near the village where he was told to hand in what was in his possession before he was hit in the back with a rifle butt and kicked repeatedly in the stomach and on the back. One of the soldiers then dragged him across the ground which resulted in deep wounds on his hands and he was taken to the Ariel settlement where he was questioned for several hours and was hit on the head, in the face and all over his the body. According to the testimony of Yahya Ali Abdel-Hafez, born 03.07.1995 and a resident of the Qalqilya Governorate of Azzoun, he was arrested on 05.08.2010 near the city of Qalqilya and taken to a camp near Tzofin where he was kept for 3 hours before being transferred to the settlement of Ariel and interrogated. During the interrogation, he did not recognize some of the charges against him and so he was beaten in the face several times and repeatedly electrocuted. Under duress, Yahya eventually signed the statement to avoid further torture. Lawyers also visited Abdul Hamid Abdul Latif Sa'id Abu Haniyeh who is currently in year 10 and was born on 12/11/1994. A resident of Azzun, he was arrested on 05.08.2010 near Qalqilya, where was also taken to the Ariel settlement and interrogated by Shin Bet interrogators. He was beaten up severely before being hit hard by a large jolt of electricity. A terrified Abdul Hamid who thought he would be imprisoned at the Megiddo prison along with his brothers, signed the statement he was given. Lawyers for the Ministry of Prisoners also visited Ahmed Hussein Mustafa who was born on 10/01/1994 and is from Jalazoun, north of Ramallah. He was arrested from his home at three in the morning on 11.02.2010 and was beaten up inside his house before being taken to the Beit El settlement. Ahmed remained in the settlement until daybreak when he was transferred to Benjamin where he was fined 2000 NIS and sentenced to 20 months in detention. His two brothers were detained in the Negev prison