WORLDWIDE
AFRICA
ARGENTINA
ARGENTINE TRUCKERS LEAD PROTEST AGAINST GOVERNMENT AUSTERITY
MEASURES IN BUENOS AIRES
On 21 February 2018, the National
Federation of Truckers led a protest against government austerity reforms in
Buenos Aires. The trucking union and its members were joined by several other
labor union groups, with an estimated 10,000 people gathering on the city’s
main thoroughfare, Avenida 9 de Julio, and other nearby streets. The truckers
also set up roadblocks in other parts of Buenos Aires’ downtown area, further
complicating traffic in the area. There have been no reports of violence during
the demonstration. (21 Feb 2018)
BENIN
WOMEN’S PROTEST SUSPENDED IN COTONOU
On 20 February 2018, a
scheduled women’s protest in Cotonou was canceled after police officers
prevented the demonstrators from marching to President Patrice Talon’s office.
Approximately 300 protestors gathered at the Labor Exchange of Cotonou to
protest economic policies. They intended to march to the presidential office,
but authorities refused permission, and police officers surrounded the area
around the Labor Exchange. Authorities proposed another route to the Ministry
of Social Affairs, but the demonstrators refused to change their intended
itinerary and eventually dispersed peacefully. (20 Feb 2018)
BRAZIL
INMATES TAKE PRISON GUARDS HOSTAGE DURING RIOT
On 18 February 2018, inmates
took eight prison guards and 10 other inmates hostage during a riot at Milton
Dias Moreira prison in Rio de Janeiro. The riot broke out after an attempted
escape. Three inmates who were holding hostages were shot and injured when
security forces entered the prison. All 18 hostages were released. (18 Feb
2018)
CAMBODIA
LAND DISPUTE PROTEST TAKES PLACE IN KANDAL PROVINCE
On the morning of 19 February
2018, approximately 200 people from four communes gathered in front of the
Kandal Provincial Hall to call for government intervention in an ongoing land
dispute between the people and business tycoon Seang Chanheng. According to
reports, Chanheng claims ownership of land that has been earmarked for new
airport development; local residents dispute the claim. Protesters accused the
government of bias toward the tycoon’s company and called for land protection,
stating that they would continue to block bulldozing efforts until authorities
resolve the dispute. (19 Feb 2018)
CHAD
STUDENTS TO PROTEST IN N’DJAMENA ON 21 FEBRUARY
On 21 February 2018, students
of the University of N’Djamena plan to stage a march in the city to protest an
increase in tuition. The government has not approved the march. Security forces
frequently disperse such social action with force. The gathering should therefore
be avoided. (20 Feb 2018)
CHILE
SUSPECTED MAPUCHE RADICALS TORCH 25 TRUCKS IN SOUTHERN BIO BIO AND
ARAUCANIA REGIONS
On 16 February 2018, Chilean
authorities reported that armed assailants conducted three attacks against
logging trucks in the regions of Bio Bio and Araucania, located approximately
700 km (430 mi) south of the capital Santiago. The assailants reportedly forced
drivers out of their trucks before then setting them on fire; at least 25
trucks were destroyed in the three attacks. The attacks occurred in areas that
the Mapuche indigenous group claims is its ancestral territory. Authorities
noted that pamphlets found at an attack site were signed by a radical Mapuche
group, which has been conducting attacks on churches and lumber trucks to demand
the return of Mapuche indigenous ancestral lands. Thus far, no group has
officially claimed responsibility for the latest truck attacks and there have
been no arrests. (16 Feb 2018)
CHINA
AUTHORITIES COMMIT DEMONSTRATORS TO PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES
According to information
emerging on 20 February 2018, authorities in the southwestern city of Chongqing
have committed approximately one dozen activists to psychiatric facilities
after they were arrested for participating in a recent demonstration in the city’s
Yangjiaping district. Approximately 70 people took part in the demonstration,
in which participants protested forced evictions and demolitions. The move
reflects the government’s increased use of psychiatric treatment to incarcerate
activists, who are often diagnosed upon arrival with mental illnesses such as
paranoid personality disorder. International and domestic rights organizations
have condemned the
ETHIOPIA
GONDAR STRIKE CONTINUES AS GOVERNMENT RELEASES ADDITIONAL
PRISONERS
A stay-at-home strike
continued for a third consecutive day in Gondar, located in the Amhara region,
on 21 February 2018. Streets remain deserted and businesses closed. Overall,
conditions remain calm throughout the country, including Addis Ababa.
Meanwhile, on the political front, on 20 February Foreign Minister Workneh
Gebeyehu stated that the government declared the state of emergency -- which
was issued on 16 February -- not due to security concerns, but because it could
not control ongoing unrest in parts of the country through regular law
enforcement mechanisms. Meanwhile, the government continues to release hundreds
of political prisoners, in keeping with its previous pledge to do so. (21 Feb
2018)
FRANCE
U.K. FCO UPDATES TRAVEL ADVICE REGARDING PLANNED AIR FRANCE STRIKE
ACTION
On 21 February 2018, the U.K.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its travel advisory for France to
include the following: “Strike action by Air France on 22 February may cause
delays. If you’re travelling during this period, you should check details with
your airline.” (21 Feb 2018)practice, labeling it a violation of international
human rights conventions. (20 Feb 2018)
AIR FRANCE PLANNING TO CANCEL HALF OF LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS FROM PARIS
DUE TO STRIKE
Air France is planning to
cancel approximately half of its long-haul flights from Paris on 22 February
2018 due to a planned strike by pilots, cabin crew and ground crew unions. The
company is offering refunds for canceled flights as well as rebooking options
for passengers traveling on the date of the strike. Any Air France customers
who may be affected by the strike should check the status of their flights with
the company prior to arrival at the airport. (22 Feb 2018)
INDIA
BRIEF POWER OUTAGES IN ANDHRA PRADESH DUE TO STRIKE BY POWER
COMPANY EMPLOYEES
Power disruptions lasting for
several hours occurred on 20 February 2018 in parts of Andhra Pradesh state due
to an open-ended strike by contract employees of electricity companies. The
strikers also staged a protest in the city of Vijayawada. There were no reports
of disruptions or violence in connection with the demonstration. The strike
participants have presented several demands related to working conditions and
pay; the state government has been in talks with the workers’ representatives,
but the negotiations have not yielded an agreement thus far. (21 Feb 2018)
STRIKE CLOSES STORES IN PUDUCHERRY
Store owners in the eastern
city of Puducherry observed a 24-hour strike from 0600 local time (0030 UTC) on
20 February 2018 to protest local taxes. Shopping centers remained closed due
to the strike, and movie theaters also halted operations in sympathy with the
merchants. Authorities deployed police forces at various points as a
precautionary measure, but there were no reports of strike-related violence.
(20 Feb 2018)
IRAN
Haft Tapeh workers in Iran win unpaid
wages after months of struggle
The long struggle by workers and their union at the Haft Tapeh
sugar complex in Shush, Iran to secure wages and pensions unpaid since July 2017 has
ended with full payment of the massive wage and benefit arrears to all workers.
Permanent workers, seasonal workers, casual daily workers and retirees have now
been paid their arrears through mid-January of this year.
There is unfinished
business: the company has not recognized the union, which was established in
the course of a 42-day mass strike over unpaid wages in 2008. And there are no
guarantees that management will not revert to form and again deny workers their
wages and benefits.
It is nonetheless an important success for the workers and the
union, who showed unwavering determination and discipline in the face of
consistent provocation and brutality by the employer, the police and the local
authorities. The rolling strikes and demonstration underway since December have
been an object lesson in the power of solidarity, and international support was
crucial in publicizing the workers' fight and sustaining morale.
The Haft
Tapeh Sugar Workers' Union has expressed its warm appreciation for the
solidarity and support they have received.
MOROCCO
U.K. FCO ISSUES UPDATED TRAVEL ADVICE FOR MOROCCO
On 20 February 2018, the U.K.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued an update to its travel advice for
Morocco, which reads in part as follows: "Trade unions and human rights
organisations have called for nationwide protests on 20 February 2018. Large
numbers of people may take part in main cities across Morocco. You should
remain vigilant and exercise caution." (20 Feb 2018)
NEPAL
U.K.
FCO WARNS OF GENERAL STRIKE IN NEPAL
On 19 February 2018, the
United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its travel advice
for Nepal, which reads in part as follows: “[A] nationwide general strike is
planned for Tuesday 20 February across Nepal. It is likely to have the most
impact in the districts of Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot, Salyan, Pyuthan, Dang,
Jhapa, Biratnagar and Udaypur; protests can occur at short notice and turn
violent; travel along the East-West highway is likely to be disrupted and
British embassy staff have been advised to avoid using this road on this day.”
(19 Feb 2018)
PUERTO RICO
SPAIN
Retirees stage protests across Spain, call for higher pensions
Retirees were demonstrating
across Spain on Thursday, calling for higher pensions and urging authorities to
ensure funding for social security. The biggest protests were in cities
including Bilbao, Barcelona and the capital, Madrid, where thousands gathered
at the gates of the national parliament, blocking traffic and facing off with
rows of police, AP reported. Protesters called the 0.25 percent increase in
pensions this year “miserable,” saying it was not enough to keep up with
inflation. Organizers, including the biggest workers’ unions, petitioned
parliament to call on political parties to stop blocking changes to the laws on
pensions. Experts have raised concerns about the sustainability of pension
pay-outs in Spain.
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATES
