Wednesday, November 22, 2006

"7th HUMAN RIGHTS CAMP"

"7th HUMAN RIGHTS CAMP"
11/12/2006 ~ 13/12/2006
DO you know about your rights?
Let’s join dema human rights camp to know the basic human rights concepts and to avoid being the victims of violations. Let’s work together for a better future!
Activities such as exposure trip, movie screening, sharing session with the human right activists etc…
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Date : 11- 13, December 2006
(1 day Exposure Trip, 2 days Camp)
Venue : New Era College , Kajang, Selangor
Fees : RM 35
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Camp Content:
Exposure trip to social issues:
Refugee, labor worker, ISA (Internal Security Act), Squatter Area, and other marginalize groups.
Program:
Introduction to Human Rights
Exposure Trip Presentation
Malaysia Human Rights Condition Analysis
Movie Screening
Case Studies
Human Rights Activist Sharing
Youth Participation & Groups Discussion
Games & Games & Games…………
Further Information & Registration Please Contact:
Simon 012-4202264
Sok Swan 019-4150012
Email: demamalaysia@ gmail.com
Organize By:
Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)
KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section (KLSCAHY)

Huh! Still Consider? Just fill the form and send to DEMA email to register yourself !!!

7th Human Rights Camp

Date : 11- 13, December 2006

(1 day Exposure Trip, 2 days Camp)

Venue : New Era College, Kajang, Selangor

Fees : RM 35

Organizer :

Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)

KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth Section (KLSCAHY)

Registration Form

Name: Age:

Gender: Date of Birth:

IC No:

Contact No:

Email:

University / College:

Course:

Organization (if got) / Activity Experience:

Address:

Meals: Vegetarian Non Vegetarian

Date:

Signature:

* You can submit this form to our email.

Information Contact:

Simon 012-4202264

Sok Swan 019-4150012

Email: demamalaysia@gmail.com

Office Add: 3, Jln 5/58, Tmn Gasing Indah, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Office Tel / Fax: 03-77839525


Korean Union Group Declares General Strike

http://english. donga.com/ srv/service. php3?bicode= 040000&biid=2006112257618

Union Group Declares General Strike

NOVEMBER 22, 2006 06:55

At the Korea Press Center, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a press conference on November 21 and declared a general strike starting November 22.

The KCTU plans to launch an 8-hour strike on November 22, four-hour-long partial strikes from November 23 to 28, and other general strikes on November 29 and December 6.

The KCTU has also decided to send a delegation to the fifth round of Korea-U.S. FTA talks, which will be held in Montana, US from December 4 to 8.

Union head Jo Joon-ho said, "Since we haven't received any answer about our four major suggestions we made to the government and parties earlier, we will go on a general strike. About 300 thousand workers will join in, including members of the Kia union."

The KCTU showed its stance against the amendment of the Labor Management Relations Act and the Korea-U.S. FTA negotiations, and has also demanded greater job security for irregular workers and a total revision of Workmen's Accident Compensation Insurance.

"If a smooth negotiation cannot be carried out, the only result will be a strike. Because the Federation of Korean Trade Unions does not hold a general strike on most occasions, it is regarded as a "Yellow union" in foreign countries, which does not conduct the functions of a traditional union," Jo argued.

Jo answered a question about the negative impact of a general strike on foreign investors, saying, "Most foreign investors rely on short-term arbitrage, and few of them make long-term investments such as constructing a new factory."

At 3:00 p.m. on November 22, the KCTU will open a general strike rally in which 15,000 workers are expected to participate in front of City Hall, Seoul.

Spokesperson for the KCTU Woo Moon-sook said, "It will not cause a serious problem to the economy because the strikes from November 23 to 28 will be partial."

Meanwhile, Vice Labor Minister Kim Seong-jung called for the withdrawal of the strike announcement, arguing, "Korea is the only country in the world where unions go on a strike every one and a half month."

Police and local authorities crushed the people houses!





No more houses, where can the people live?












Our police? They are cruel enough!













Arul was then arrested, dragged and handcuffed by around ten policemen.









KHIR TOYO OVERRULES PAK LAH

23 ACTIVIST ARRESTED, HOUSES DEMOLISHED

Note- the local authorities have confiscated and deleted the photos taken

Ampang, 20 November 2006

After almost 8 hours of defending 62 houses in Kampung Berembang, finally the police and local authorities crushed the resistance resulting in 23 arrests including arrest of PSM and JERIT leaders, houses being demolished and burned down and one women in a very critical condition, fighting for her life in the hospital.

After only managing to demolish 2 houses on Friday, the MPAJ(Local authorities) with the developers and the police came again this morning to finish the job which they failed to complete last week. At the village, all three entrances to the village have been blocked by human shield and other items. There were also a large number of activists mainly from JERIT and PSM, along with several other villagers from other Urban Settlers community aligned to the Coalition of Housing and Urban Settlers present. The situation was tense and the people waited for the showdown.

After more than 3 hours of initial stand-off, the first ambush by MPAJ at around 10.30am saw a massive clash between the local authorities and the villagers. The fight broke out with every corner, fist fighting, punching and dragging. The local authorities with 3 huge demolition machines failed to penetrate the human shield but it resulted in the local authorities arresting and assaulting 8 people – 2 villagers and 6 activist. The assault was brutal but the people were equally strong and the first wave of attack by the authorities failed. There were injuries from both sides. Both parties retreated to original positions.

Then came the second round of stand still. The District Police Chief of Ampang, ACP Amer and his high ranking officers were also prevented from entering the area from another location. That resulted in another arrest by the police. Human Rights Commissioner, Dato Siva Subramanim arrived shortly. Then in a series of negotiation between the District police Chief, Dato Siva, MPAJ officer- Ismail, the developer and PSM Secretary general S.Arutchelvan created a stand still but a tense situation.

The police Chief told that he prefers to call off the operation as he said the situation is very tense and serious and he wants to avoid a bloodshed. Siva Subramanima said that the demolition should be called off and SUHAKAM (Human Rights Commission) will conduct a meeting with the relevant bodies to resolve the issue.

But the Local authorities- MPAJ who were under the Instruction of the Developers was very adamant to bull doze. They told the police that they have enough people to carry out the operation. The police then told all parties to hold on, as there were attempt to reach certain Government authorities to call off the exercise.

Both parties stood their ground. The developers and the MPAJ said that the people did not have an Injunction while the people said that the case was to be heard in April next year and therefore the authorities have to wait and the land status must remain unchanged. Then the police Chief, MPAJ and SUHAKAM representative went to the Developers site office with the instruction that there should be no forced eviction until some agreement can be reached.

Just after 1 pm, the whole situation from gloom changed to happiness when 2 villagers shouted victory and carried with them some papers. They managed to get a letter calling for the demolition and forced eviction to be postponed. The letter was released by the Prime Minister's Department and signed by the Prime Minister's private secretary. The villagers Pak Lang told the people gathered, the Government has opened its eyes. We have a letter now and thanked everyone. The activists were very caution and told the people not to be fooled but wait for final confirmation that the forced eviction exercise will be called off. Pak Lang has already started singing praises for the Prime Minister.

A team villagers and PSM Sec Gen, S.Arutchelvan then took the letters to the Developers site office. They were shocked to find that the Developers has catered a lot of food to feed the government servants. Meanwhile the Human Rights Commission, Dato Siva said that the letter is good enough to stop the demolition of houses. He said this is the highest authority- The Prime Minister's Office. He later held a Press Conference at the side and left.

An hour later, things became sour again when Riot police started parking their heavy vehicles in two main entrance to the village. The news then came that the Selangor Chief Minister (MB) Khir Toyo has overruled the PM's letter and has called for the operation to carry on. Pak Lang was stunned and in tears. The villagers were stunned. The Villagers then made a human chain with the activist and waited for the ultimate assault, which was imminent.

Then a team of police under the order of the Deputy Police Chief came to arrest PSM Secretary General S.Arutchelvan, who was at that time the key negotiator. He was told to surrender but he remained defiant. Arul was then arrested, dragged and handcuffed by around ten policemen. He was then taken away to a separate police detention center.

The rest of the people continued to hold on. They managed to hold on for another half an hour, then the next series of arrest took place. Sivarajan, PSM's Treasurer, Chang Lih Kang- SUARAM were arrested, other JERIT leaders as well other activist and villagers were arrested. 13 more people were arrested, a fight broke out, more people got injured and one young lady collapsed and did not regain consciousness. She was taken to the Hospitals. The authorities moved from every angle, one house was razed and the rest went down one by one. The resistance collapsed under a heavy presence of riot police with authorities outnumbering the people to 3 to 1.

All arrested were taken to Ulu Kelang police station except for Arutchelvan who was kept at Ampang Police Headquaters. He was later taken to Ulu Kelang and after a massive protest by Human Rights Groups, all those arrested were released just before midnight the same day. They were released on police bail and told to report at the Ampang magistrate on 4 th. December. Around ten police reports at different parts of the country was also done by the JERIT network condemning the arrest and the forced eviction..

At the village, the houseless people erected tents. They were still stunned how the Chief Minister- Khir Toyo can overrule a letter from the Prime Minister's department. They are now more convinced that the Prime Minister has no control. The Human Rights Commission is equally stunned and are going to call for a Press Conference the following day.

The arrest of 23 people is perhaps the first time after many years when such a huge resistance was put up. The last major resistance in an Urban Settlers area was in 1998 in Kampung Sg. Nipah where 55 people were arrested. Today the resistance in Kampung Berembang has radicalized the community there. The people are putting up tents and are staying put in the same land. Under the ruins, they are going to attempt to build their homes again.

The resistance this time also saw how the various races can unite under a class solidarity to fight the oppressor. The villagers- all of them Muslim Malays have now realized a few important lesson. They now see that the issue is simply that the Developer(capitalis t) has bought over the local authorities and the State Government and police are standing behind them. The Prime Minister letter did not stand. The only people who stood with the poor urban settlers were other settlers from various ethnic and comrades from the socialist party and the JERIT coalition as well as ther activist. They understand who are their allies and who are their enemy.

List of people arrested:

1. Adli Abdul Rahman

2. Ahmad Tamrin

3. Arutchelvan

4. Awalluddin Sharif

5. Azman Mohd

6. Chang Lih Kang

7. Ebrahim Haris

8. Faezae Ramzi (15 years old)

9. Fiqtriey bin Al Hakimi

10. Kumaravee

11. Lechumy Devi Doraisamy

12. Lee Huat Seng

13. Mohan

14. Mohd. Rajis

15. Parames Elumalai

16. Ramachanthiran Ananthan

17. Ramalingam Thirumalai

18. Sabariah Ayoub

19. Sevan

20. Sivarajan
21. Sugumaran

22. Thevarajan Ramasamy

22. V. Wani