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Indonesia pushes up fuel prices by 30%
The Indonesian government has raised fuel prices by nearly 30%, prompting fears of widespread unrest.
Several hundred students protested against the move, clashing with police at Jakarta's national university. More than 100 people were arrested.
The government is struggling to meet the cost of fuel subsidies as global oil prices escalate.
But it has put into effect a cash handout scheme worth $1.5bn to try to cushion the effect for the most needy.
Malaysia is also considering overhauling its subsidy system, and Taiwan has decided to end a freeze on petrol prices in June. The Indonesian government has raised fuel prices by nearly 30%, prompting fears of widespread unrest. ... more -
Hezbollah fighting continues, Lebanon TV station pulled off air
The BBC are reporting that the fighting in Lebanon is still ongoing and that a pro-government TV station has been shut down following the Lebanese crackdown on Hezbollah.
The UN Security Council have reportedly urged the warring parties to put a halt to the violence immediately, following warnings from the Lebanese government that it's unity was being put at risk if the ongoing political and civil unrest continues.
The BBC are reporting that the fighting in Lebanon is still ongoing and that a pro-government TV station has been shut down following ... more -
China warns Dalai Lama not to interfere with Olympics for dialogue to continue
Following on from the months of protest over China holding the Olympics and the country's human rights records, China has issued a warning to the spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
Speaking at a news conference alongside Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the Chinese President Hu Jintao demanded that the Dalai Lama doesn't obstruct the Olympics if last week's breakthrough in communications is to continue.
"We hope that the Dalai will express his sincerity through his act...We hope the Dalai will stop acting to separate the homeland, stop orchestrating the inciting of violent acts and stop undermining the Beijing Olympics, so as to create the conditions for further discussions. We hope that the contacts will have a positive result."
The Dalai Lama has reportedly denied the accusations made by Jintao, claiming he only seeks Tibetan autonomy and not independence as many believe.
Following on from the months of protest over China holding the Olympics and the country's human rights records, China has issued a war... more -
Human rights expert witnesses beatings and brutality in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is now looking like the next Kenya as post-election violence is now underway - although you may not see it on the evening news, you should, as it is happening and threatens to send Zimbabwe down a deadly path.
Check out more at the associated link. Zimbabwe is now looking like the next Kenya as post-election violence is now underway - although you may not see it on the evening new... more -
Zimbabwe braced for more unrest
Zimbabwe police have spread across the country in anticipation of violence related to the opposition party's call for a general strike to protest the Zimbabwe presidential fiasco.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has called for the "mass stay-in" to start immediately and continue until election results are released. The strike proposals come after yesterday's decision by the High Court to rule against the MDC's demand for the release of presidential election results.
With 4 out of 5 Zimbabweans unemployed, the effect that the strike will have on the economy is unknown. Police issued the warning that "those who breach the peace will be dealt with severely and firmly."
Zimbabwe police have spread across the country in anticipation of violence related to the opposition party's call for a general strike... more -
Haiti in 'uneasy calm' after food riots
Following on from yesterday's unrest in Haiti over rising food prices, the country's President, Rene Perval urged demonstrators to 'cool it,' insisting rioting isn't the answer.
"To those who are stirring up violence, I order you to stop because it is not going to solve the problem," Preval said.
His appeal has reportedly placed an 'uneasy calm' over Haiti, with some warning that the unrest could 'erupt again at any time.' Following on from yesterday's unrest in Haiti over rising food prices, the country's President, Rene Perval urged demonstrators to 'co... more -
China to compensate Tibet-riot victims
Beijing officials have offered to pay compensation equivalent to £14,280 to each of the families of the civilians it says died in violence in the Tibetan capital this month, whilst continuing its intense propaganda campaign in the wake of the unrest. The rash of anti-Chinese protests, and China's apparently belligerent response, have become a focus of global concern months before the Olympics, which Beijing had hoped to help showcase progress in the world's fourth biggest economy.
By the government's count, 18 civilians were killed during anti-Chinese violence in Lhasa on March 14, when demonstrators hurled rocks at police and burned and looted stores and homes. Anyone injured in the chaos that engulfed in Lhasa after days of Buddhist monk-led demonstrations is to be entitled to free medical care - a move which some have interpreted as hypocrisy on the government's part.
Following U.S. President George W. Bush' request that his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao talk to the Dalai Lama’s side on the Tibet issue, Mr. Hu has said this will only be an option if the Dalai Lama “truly” abandons his quest for ‘Tibetan independence.’
According to reports, President Bush phoned President Hu Jintao on Thursday to raise his concerns about the continuing unrest in TIbet, and to encourage the Chinese government to engage in 'substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama’s representatives' as well as allowing access for journalists and diplomats to enter the country.
Mr. Hu said that the Dalai Lama should focus on stopping activities to 'fan and mastermind' violent crimes as well as any plans to boycott the Olympics, with him going on to describe the recent riots as being "by no means peaceful demonstrations or activities of non-violence as claimed by the Dalai Lama clique but were undisguised serious and violent crimes." Beijing officials have offered to pay compensation equivalent to £14,280 to each of the families of the civilians it says died in viol... more -
Serbia ruling coalition collapses as PM quits
'A government that has no united policy cannot function, of course, and this is the end of the government. That means that we have to give the mandate back to the people'. These were the words of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica today, after dissolving a coalition too divided over the loss of Kosovo to continue to govern.
His cabinet rejected closer ties with the European Union in the wake of Kosovo's declaration of independence. Kostunica said he would recommend an election in May, to allow voters to decide the way forward.
What is this going to mean?
'A government that has no united policy cannot function, of course, and this is the end of the government. That means that we have to... more -
Pakistan is where The Crux* is now centered
It is very unstable, potentially explosive in more than one degree or sense. Unlike its neighbour Iran, Pakistan does have a nuclear arsenal, and a fairly sophisticated one, at that. Pakistan is mostly Sunni, so it is pretty unlikely that it would pass nuclear weapons to Iran. On the other hand, if we are to believe the MSM, Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda are straddling Afghanistan and the lawless North Western Frontier province of Pakistan. Rising fundamentalism aligns itself with the Al Qaeda brand of extreme Wahhabism. What happens in Pakistan will determine where the world will be headed. Meanwhile, this move by Musharraf is just in line with Bush's Imperial Decree** (i.e. his National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive, released on May 9th, 2007), but ahead of it by several months. Events in Pakistan might just be the "Catastrophic Emergency" for which Bush has been obviously hankering.
*No religious pun nor reference intended, simply meaning the center-point of the global crossroad.
* http://www.roguegovernment.com/news.php?id=2169 It is very unstable, potentially explosive in more than one degree or sense. Unlike its neighbour Iran, Pakistan does have a nuclear a... more -
The People of Pakistan are Mad as Hell
It would seem that the population of Pakistan is not at all happy with Musharraf's power grab. Not one bit happy. One can foresee much killing ahead in Pakistan, mass illegal demonstrations and military shooting at them, and probably many more Pakistanis turning to religion, and even religious extremism, which at least gives them a strong sense of structure and security, in face of the chaos that Musharraf's moves will bring. It would seem that the population of Pakistan is not at all happy with Musharraf's power grab. Not one bit happy. One can foresee much... more
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