My RSS Feeds
Global Action Day for Education in Germany
Today's entry consists of two parts. First I will share with you what went on during the Global Action Day for Education (GAD). After that I will provide you with some updates on students' struggles in Oaxaca and elsewhere.
According to the daily paper Junge Welt protests led by students took place in over 25 cities within Germany on the GAD (30/11/2006).
Here are some examples:
- The biggest protests took place in Frankfurt (am Main) where over 1.000 students (the Greeks, Italians, Spanish and many more will probably laugh about this number, but it is a sad truth that it is very difficult to mobalise people in Germany to fight for their rights - many believe there is no point in fighting, so they won't even try). Before the protest a resolution was passed at the Goethe Univeristy of Frankfurt, where the students solidarised with the students of Iran struggling for reforms. During the demonstration the students stormed the so called Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Agency) in solidarity with the unemployed - another group of minorities suffering under neoliberal reforms. The protesters occupied the Agentur für Arbeit for an hour during which the employees of the agency and an initiative for the unemployed solidarised with the students. Protesters also tried to run onto the Autobahn (highway) and block the main railway station, but in the end only succeeded in causing some havoc at the railway station.
The protest was joined by secondary and Junior College students. In two JCs student representatives called out a strike for that day in support of the students' efforts. (the following (newspaper) sites reported about the protest (unfortunately all in German): FAZ.net, HR-online.de, FR-aktuell.de, De.Indymedia (I) and De.Indymedia (II).
Activists on top of the roof of the occupied Employment Agency.
CDU is the conservativ party responsible for the introduction of tuition fees
Braunschweig: Over 1000 angry students gathered at the old uni building to warmly welcome the Minister of Science (for Lower Saxony) Lutz Stratmann. The minister at first refused to face the students and took the back entrance. Later when the students stormed the building, he had no choice but to try to talk to the crowd to calm them down. He was not very successful: eggs and tomatoes were thrown at him instead!
Oldenburg: Nearly 800 protesters marched through the city of Oldenburg. For a report and many more pictures check out Provinzkritik.Blogsport.de, alhambra.de or De.Indymedia.
"Education is not for sale! We don't pay for what is ours!"
"Rich parents for all!"
- Tübingen: After a plenary meeting - where the vast majority voted to boycott the upcoming tuition fees - more than 600 students took to the streets and occupied a main junction. For more infos: De.Indymedia and Tagblatt.De (both in German)
- Darmstadt: Over 150 students armed with torches, lanterns and candles marched peacefully through the city of Darmstadt, while chanting slogans and singing songs. It is understandable that the dozens of heavily armed policemen had to be present to ensure security and a helicopter had to be used as well to control the huge crowd. (Germany must really be too rich!) For more info: De.Indymedia, echo-online.de and uebergebuehr.de (all in German only, sorry!)
- Bochum: Around 100 students celebrated a 'Reclaim the Streets' Party. Some dressed as Santa Clause, with baloons, masks and some music the students danced around in the city centre while giving away flyers to passers-by. The police saw things a bit differently. For them it was an unapproved demonstration, therefore decided to follow the students for a while. When one of the party participants dropped a firework cracker the police threw him onto the floor and arrested him. During that scene some of the 'men in green' used pepper spray to control the other students. Now, during the skirmish one of the undercover police present got wet from a student's water bottle. Consequently the police officer dragged her inside a shop, pushed her against a shelf and arrested her as well. It is quite understandable that the woman tried to defend herself. After all she had no idea that she was being attacked by a police officer. The effected student was injured and lost her handy in the process. Alltogether three students were arrested and released again a few hours later. The involved policemen/-women refused to indentify themself. Infos taken from: WAZ.de, BO-alternativ.De (I) and BO-alternativ (II) (again, only available in German)
- Protests on that day also took place in Berlin, Hamburg, Freiburg, Cologne, Kassel, Bonn and a few more.
- The following two national newspapers also reported about this day of protest: Junge Welt and Jungle World (both unfortunately only available in German)
In case you know German and have not noticed yet (maybe because you are living overseas): a documentary made by an independent film maker (Martin Keßler) on the recent student protests in Germany was released recently. You can take a look at the official website by clicking on the banner below.
Students across Germany are working hard to organize a nationwide boycott of tuition fees. Furthermore they want to hand in a complaint of unconstitutionality (for Hesse), since the constitution of Hesse clearly states that "in all primary, secondary and highschools lessons are suppose to be free of charge" (Art. 59). Not to mention, that charging students for tuition also breaches human rights:
"2. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
(...)
(c) Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
(...)"
- International Convernant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Art. 13 (which was also signed and ratified by Germany)
Due to the constant attack on the public good 'Education' students and allies around the world have been protesting against or in support of certain reforms. Also in the Mexican city Oaxaca people are struggling for improvements in the education system and more justice. The government answers with deadly repression, instead of striving to enable all children and teenagers to visit a proper school and participate in the education system. But APPO (Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca - Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca) resists to give up the fight.
Plans by the Worldbank to transfer 'education' into a good to be purchased and traded is met with global resistance!
Also in Germany the students movement has become stronger and better organised since the 'Summer of Resistance' this year. The movement focusses more and more on social issues as a whole, since it realised that neoliberal reforms are not just limited to the education sector.
Now, to present the global connections and to show that the neoliberal ideology is being fought globally, a Global Action Day for Education was organized. Seven years after the protests in Seattle the global struggle was suppose to be displayed once again.
Unfortunately hardly any students outside of Germany actually took notice of that day, therefore it ended up being rather a German Action Day for Education. But this is no reason to resign, instead one needs to analyse what actually went wrong. I guess one of the main reasons was the lack of networking. We need strong allies (like unions and NGOs) from around the world, but also work on developing closer ties with other students organisations and movements in various cities and countries.
So if you are student - or other potential ally - reading this right now and think that this world needs a Global Action Day for Education, then let me know. Maybe we can give it another try next year. You can simply leave a comment to this entry or send me a message.
Workers, students, the unemployed and homeless need to unite nationally and globally to shape a global movement. Their aim should be to ensure and guarantee certain public services and a life in dignity for everyone. Unite in the struggle against the neoliberal ideology (global capitalism)!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexico (Oaxaca)
Now, let me share with you some of the latest developments in Oaxaca and the peoples' struggle there against state repression.
November 25: During a huge peaceful demonstration in Oaxaca in which tens of thousands took part the protestors were attacked by the PFP. They fired not just tear gas, but also some kind of red acid gas and with firearms at demonstrators. Among the crowd paramilitary forces were hiding dressed as civilians to attack as well. The PFP has gone up on the roof of a building in front of the HSBC bank to hurl things at people. They have strung electrically charged barbed wire in some streets. The grey PFPs went out in anti-riot gear, those in black were carrying automatic weapons. A black PFP pick-up truck took away two activists from the Cinco Senores barricade. Radio Universidad made calls to all the people sympethetic to the APPO, and the Oaxacan movement to indentify themself, because the PFPs has been out there covered in facemasks.
Despite provocations by the PFP and PRI the protest remains peaceful. Once the center of Oaxaca City was completely surrounded by the march, protesters put up barricades. Now the PFP force launched a major attack, continuously firing tear gas and life ammunition at the protesters. People were asked by Radio Universidad to punch holes into the tires of police cruisers. All over the town the PFP was arresting and beating people; at least three individuals were shot dead. (for more info: Indymedia.Org and IndyBay.Org (both in English) or Centro de Medios Libres Ciudad de Mexico (in Spanish))
Pleading for political prisoners to be released. Woman being arrested by PFP forces.
November 28: Human Rights observer tortured in Oaxaca. On 27 November Alberto Tlacael Cilia Ocampo was arrested at the Ciuad Universitaria Oaxaca. His job was to document the situation at the university and while doing so he became victim of an unjustified arrest.
During his arrest he was tortured physically and psychologically by elements of the ministerial police. Nobody heard from him again until over 24 hrs later, when he made a call to describe what has happened to him and how he was being treated.
They forced him to sign a document stating that he supported APPO and helped to make molotov cocktails. (for more infos: Mexico.Indymedia (in Spanish) or NL.Indymedia (in English) and for three videos recently filmed during protests in Oaxaca go here).
On the same day students were shot at inside the medical faculty of the University just before a press conference. The paramilitary groups that operate across the whole city by now. During the press conference students told the reporters about the killings and violence committed by the ministerial police during the previous saturday, when three protesters - that couldn't be identified - lost their lives. According the witnesses the corps disappeared. During the shootings on the 27th a student was shot in the stomache and another one was kidnapped.
Three teachers inside the Estatal de Educación Pública de Oaxaca (an institute for public education) were forced to follow the PFP. Nearby that institute more people were kidnapped at the same time.
November 29: At least another 60 people were arrested, many injured through shots and houses raided by the PFP. The last barricades protecting Radio Universidad were cleared. (for more infos: Chiapas.Indymedia (in Spanish))
"It was the PFP of Oaxaca!"
November 30: More people have been arrested and houses raided. Teachers declared to go on strike again for 48 hours. At around 3pm a PFP truck raided a house at Avenida Brasil within Colonia America Norte. According to neighbors armed PFP men stormed the house and took eight other people with them, among which were: Oscar Santa Maria Cruz, Julieta Cruz Cruz, Carmen Cruz Cruz, Juan Carlos Bello Lucero, Sacramento Cano Hernandez (probably an Argentinian and Spanish was among the eight). (more infos can be found at Chiapas.Indymedia (in Spanish))
December 1: On November 25 alone 141 people were arrested, among which were 34 women and 107 men: bricklayers, water/electricity meter-readers, students, lawyers, carpenters, children, merchants, workers and farmers. Often those arrested are not allowed to have a lawyer or see any visitors, which is actually against the constitution in Mexico. Only three family members from Nayarit managed to see their relatives in prison and witnessed traces of torture on their beloved ones like broken ribs, bruises and open wounds.
People around the world are asked to support the political prisoners by displaying the following words in public places or on private cars: FREEDOM FOR THE APPO PRISONERS
At universities, schools and public places banners are to be put up on which the release of the prisoners is being demanded.
On various court of justice buildings signs are to be put up saying: FREE OAXACA!
Aims are to get the govenor Ulises Ruiz to step down, PFP to move out of Oaxaca and the political prisoners to be released immediately!
A lawyer confirmed that by December 1st 522 people have been captured, over 200 arrested and 100 disappeared. The PFP went from school to school and arrested teachers, some 170 teachers managed to escape the police with the help of some students' parents and community administrators.
Thousands of people protested in Oaxaca, demanding the release of political prisoners and for the PFP forces to move out of Oaxaca. Towards the end of the demonstration a man was dragged onto a truck from the crowd by the PFP and seen beaten by the police, while they drove off. Another huge protest was announced to take place on the 10th.
In Simbolos Patrios PFP trucks were spotted driving off with arrested women. (for more infos click here or here (in Spanish) or here (in German))
"It was Ulises Ruiz!" (Govenor of Oaxaca)
December 3: APPO leader Compañero Arturo Reyes was arrested. During the weekend Radio Universidad - the heart of communication for the resistance movement - had to surrender. Since then it has been difficult to get updates on the situation within Oaxaca. But according to various reports hundreds of houses have been raided and people arrested and totured. The PFP is still hunting for APPO members within Oaxaca.
The house of the representative of teachers was also raided and searched.
At least 17 people have been killed in battles since the brutal attack by PFP forces on November 25.
People all over Oaxaca are mobalising for a huge protest on December 10. (for more infos go here, here, here (all in Spanish) or here (in German))
December 4: "The attack our brothers/sisters, the people of Oaxaca, suffered and suffer cannot be ignored by those who fight for freedom, justice and democracy in all corners of the planet." The EZLN (Zapatistas) calls for an international day of Solidarity in support of those repressed in Oaxaca. The following demands are to be expressed: The reappearance of the disappeared, freedom for the detained, stepping down of Ulises Ruiz as govenor of Oaxaca and the pull back of all PFP forces in Oaxaca guilty of torture, rape and murder.
"We call for those supporting their struggle to help mobalize globally and come together in protest on December 22, 2006. The people of Oaxaca are not alone. We have to show it to them and to the rest of the world. Democracy! Freedom! Justice!" (for more infos: Ainfos.Ca (in English) or AsambleaPopularDeOaxaca.Com (in Spanish))
Protests in Solidarity with the people in Oaxaca are planned (and took place already) all over the world. Like a protest planned for the 11th Dec. in Hamburg at 5pm at the main railway station.
For more pictures of protests and battles in Oaxaca, you can take a look at: my-dream-comes-true.de, De.Indymedia, AsambleaPopularDeOaxaca.Com
Greece
November 17: November 17th is commemorated annually as the day of the student uprising against the military junta in Greece, in 1973. According to Athens.Indymedia in the weeks leading to this year's demonstrations mass media had been creating an atmosphere of fear, in a concious attmept to limit the public's participation. Apparently contrary to their efforts and predictions, the demonstrations in Athens and Thessaloniki were amongst the largest of their kind in recent years. Unfortunately serveral people were severely injured and some dozens arrested, resulting from police brutality against demonstrators.
Even before the demonstration had started, almost 100 people were detained. It was part of the police's "pre-emptive detentions" tactic. However, the people at the head of the demo refused to start marching unless all the detainees were freed. Eventually at about 5pm, the demonstration kicked off.
The government's repression units launched an attack against the block of Athens' Anti-Authoritarian Movement. It is speculated that 46 people were detained at that point. Two hours after the end of the demonstration uniformed and undercover cops were scattered around Athens city centre; helicopters hover in the sky.
At the end of the day three students ended up in hospital, one of them having a fractured scull, after being hit 
by a police flash-bang grenade on the head. More than 125 people were detained and 7 of them officially arrested.
In Thessaloniki, after the peaceful demonstration the students returned to the Engineering Faculty, where they held discussions and music events. Meanwhile a few students clashed with the police, provoked by a group of fascists. Undercover police brutally wallopped a young student and then arrested him. He was taken to hospital with a fructured nose and bruises.
For more infos on that day of protests in Greece and photos you can check out the following links:
A witness report (Athens.Indymedia) - picture of a group arrest (Athens.Indymedia) - Clash between demonstrators - incl. pictures and video (Athens.Indymedia) - Student severly beaten by undercover police after demonstration - incl. pictures and video (Athens.Indymedia) - Pictures of scenes during the demo - Police brutality (Athens.Indymedia)
Cameroon (Ambazonia)
November 27 - 29: Exactly a year and 6 months after Cameroon forces shot dead 3 students at the University of Buea-Ambazonia (UB) in an attempt to stop the prolonged sit-in by students protesting an increase in school fees, the lack of basics like drinking fountains in school and the right to operate a Student Union on campus; Cameroon forces again opened fire at students of UB on November 29th, 2006, killing 4 students and an older mother.
The students had started a protest action on November 27th, 2006, over the fixing of the results of an entrance exam to the newly opened Faculty of Medicine at UB by Cameroon officials. Cameroon officials in the Ministry of Higher Education had forcefully included the names of some 26 French Cameroon students to the original list of 127 students who had passed the entrance exam and were supposed to come in for the oral part of the entrance.
On November 29th, 2006 the Pro-Chancellor appointed by the Cameroon regime of Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi appeared in school as the students were continuing with their strike. When the students refused to call- off the strike, Mr. Agbor Tabi is said to have personally marched to the police station and invited the cops to use force in ending the protest. The cops arrived at the demonstration and started firing teargas at the students who reacted with a volley of stones. After the teargas, police started firing live bullets at point blank range.
This coming just a year and a half after Cameroon forces shot dead three students at this same campus and mindful of the fact that there has been no criminal investigation nor has there been any indictment for those killings, it becomes absolutely necessary to pursue with vigor a campaign for justice to the dead students, otherwise this pattern of crime and impunity against Ambazonian students by Cameroon forces will keep repeating itself.
Those killed were:
Hilary Muabe, Economics student - shot in the head from behind
Ivo Obia Ngemba, Economics student - shot in the mouth
Laura Mbianda
Ngundam Terence Ndeh
And an older mother knocked down by a stray bullet
The following link will provide you with more infos and pictures: Cameroon forces slay Ambazonian Students again (Ambazonia.Indymedia)
That's it for today.
As always - help to spread the news! Share and discuss the things you read here with the world!
~GlobalPeace&Solidarity~
