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TechnoratiMassive May Day protests in Nepal, Greece but not France
Nepal’s Maoists mobilised tens of thousands on a May Day protest in Kathmandu on Saturday. There were historic international workers’ day demonstrations in Turkey and Greece, while opposition to Arizona’s immigration law should make itself felt in the US later in the day.
Traditional May Day demonstrations kicked off in Asia and are following the sun round the globe. Here are some of the highlights of the day:
France: Unions seem to have failed to mobilise as many demonstrators as they had hoped on demonstrations they said would show opposition to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to raise the retirement age, as well as for wage rises and employment. Turnout is reported to be lower than in 2009.
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Nepal: Hundreds of thousands of Maoist supporters filled the streets of the capital, waving hammer-and-sickle flags in a bid to drive the coalition government out of office. Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as Prachanda, announced a general strike from Sunday. The Maoists have the largest number of seats in parliament but lost power in 2009 in a clash with the president.
Turkey: Columns of people carrying party and union flags marched into Istanbul's Taksim Square where May Day marches have been banned since bloodshed during a similar rally in 1977. The government's decision to open the square comes after parliament reinstated May Day as a national holiday in 2009. Previous attempts to hold rallies in the square have been met with police crackdowns.
Greece: Tens of thousands protested against austerity plans aiming to tackle massive public debt, with police clashing with youths on the fringes of demonstrations in Athens and Thessalonoki.
Sri Lanka: Political parties are holding May Day rallies for the first time since the end of Tamil separatist revolt in the north. Nearly a dozen meetings were scheduled in the capital. The opposition has said their celebrations this year will be muted as they recover from a crushing defeat in January presidential elections.
Macau: Police fired water cannon and pepper spray to prevent demonstrators marching along a main road where tourist attractions are located. About 1,000 people joined a march to demand job protection and tough action against illegal employment.
Hong Kong: Several thousand protesters demanded a minimum wage of 33 HK dollars (three euros) per hour.
Taiwan: Thousands demonstrated against a planned trade pact with China, the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement, which the government hopes to sign in June.
Cambodia: Thousands of workers, mostly from the textile sector, demanded better working conditions and the establishment of a labour court. They marched to a news stand where union leader Chea Vichea was shot dead in broad daylight in 2004.
Indonesia: Thousands joined a demonstration in Jakarta to demand better social security for workers. Union leaders called for May Day to become a public holiday.
Lebanon: Protests focus on the plight of domestic workers, mainly women from Asia or Africa. NGOs say that many work as virtual slaves, with an average of one death, from an accident or suicide, per week.
Senegal: Unions are protesting against falling living standards and job losses, as well as a plan to abolish a legal limit of two years for short-term contracts.
Romania: Thousands of opposition Social-Democrat rallied against the government across the country. In Bucharest, demonstrators held banners accusing the centre-right Prime Minister Emil Boc of trying to "humiliate Romanian people" and blaming his government for the rise in unemployment and poverty.
Russia: A 104-year-old World War II veteran was killed and 21 people were injured in a blast at celebrations in Russia's restive North Caucasus region of Kabardino Balkaria. About 5,000 communists, some carrying portraits of Joseph Stalin, headed a 20,000-strong demonstration also joined by supporters of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Palestinian territories: About 2,000 Palestinians protested at Israel's blockade of Gaza and for workers' right to travel to work, at the Erez crossing into the territory.
Cuba: President Raul Castro presided over a May Day march staged as a show of unity in the face of what his government charges is a US and European-backed campaign to destroy the Cuban revolution.
United States: Demonstrations are planned in more than 70 cities as hispanic organisations mobilise to demand the repeal of Arizona’s immigration law which makes it a crime to lack proper immigration papers. Downtown Los Angeles is expected to play host to the largest demonstration. A rally in 2006 attracted some one million people.
Comments (1)
Nepalese Maoists's dectructive activities.
The intention of the protests of Maoists is to establish the one-party Communist rule with anarchism. Their damand is not clear. The protests of the Maoists may be against the government,but their main objective is one party Communist syastem.The Maoists are opening a 'Pandora's Box' (evils collections) in the name of so-called- 'people's supremacy'. The Delhi 12 points agreement 2005 has been the major cause to create the crisis and desintrigate. Now, Nepalese Maoists, RIM and COMPOSA have been joining the hands for one-party anarchist-Communist rule. Nepalese people are not secure. The situation is very dark. Actually, they are getting fizzle out. If the situation would not be solved in time under the leadership by the nationalists, Nepal as well as India can't secure. The Maoist regime was just like a poisonous wine in a new bottle.
We, Nepalese people are suffering from the notorious activities of
traitors as well as UNMIN. Nepalese people had expected that the UN's role would be impartial. But the UN could not remain neutral.The UNMIN listens only to the Maoist rebels and the corrupt leaders of the so-called big party totally disregarded the aspiration of majority of the Nepalese people. In the main time UNMIN also is active to support Maoist's agenda. The Nepalese and Indian leaders could not understand the grand-design of Maoist. The Maoists are going to establish anarchism in Nepal. Maoists used to claim them nationalist. But they are completely exposed by their confused and non-political activities. The Delhi 12 points agreement 2005 has been the major cause to create the crisis and desintrigate.
What were pitfalls of the Constitution of 1990? Why was it suspended
without reason? What kind of new constitution they require? These are
the causes of crisis in Nepal. Nepalese democratic exercise faced the
black period in between 2005-2010. During the period, Nepalese people
tolerated the worst political practice made by corrupt leaders.
The so-called People's movement II which was guided by India, were two vital agendas-Republic & Secular state. Without analyzing the assumption, the some Indian leaders supported the Nepalese Maoist's hypocrisy. I am sorry to write that it was a great blunder of Indian diplomats- Shyam Saran, Sive Shankar Mukharejee and other officials who not only blundered in their assessment of Maoist but also did much harm to Indian's interests in Nepal. 'Crows are never the white for washing.'
Recently, Maoist leader Pracanda recently said “If there is another revolt at least one million people may lose their precious lives. We need to be very careful at this juncture, to stop the casualties. When the people revolt they obliterate everything. If the mandate of the CA election is further ridiculed we will declare war" What is that? The Maoist wants to come to power but the dirty way. 'A dog’s tail in a barrel always crooked'. The Maoists heve know ideas how to build the nation. Almost, they are confused on their political line.
Althrough, the Maoists are becoming strong day by day. If we save peace,democracy in Nepal there should reinstate the nepalese monarchy.
Thank you.
Dirgha Raj Prasai
Kathmandu,Nepal
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