People of Libya want FREEDOM! Obama wants OIL !

Carlos Latuff

China Threatens to Expel Foreign Journalists

Peter Simpson | Beijing March 03, 2011

Photo: Reuters

A policeman tries to stop media from taking photos during the arrest of a man, after calls for a "Jasmine Revolution" protest, organized through the internet, in front of the Peace Cinema in downtown Shanghai, February 27, 2011

China is changing how foreign journalist can work in the country and reporters are being warned they risk expulsion if they try to cover pro-democracy rallies. Some tourist areas of the capital and Shanghai now have the same off-limits rules governing sensitive areas such as Tibet.

In a tense news conference Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu accused some journalists of deliberately inciting trouble while covering pro-democracy protests.

She warned those journalists accused of flouting the rules could not be protected under Chinese media laws.

Jiang said, however, that journalists who respect the rules will have the protection of the law.

She said there is no law to protect those who journalists who create what she described as "disturbances".

Jiang spoke after Chinese police warned foreign journalists this week to obey new restrictions on covering rallies called by an on-line protest campaign, or risking having their work visas canceled.

Jasmine revolution

Last Sunday, more than 16 journalists were physically harassed by plainclothes and uniformed police in Beijing, with one American journalist hospitalized after a severe beating.

The journalists went to an area in Beijing known as Wangfujing. An on-line campaign called for people to go to that area, and other locations around China, on Sunday afternoons, to show support for the revolutions sweeping the Middle East, and to seek justice and reform in China.

It appears, however, that few actual protesters showed up Sunday. In Wangfujing, journalists reported seeing scores of security officers.

Beijing and Shanghai have clamped down on security in response to calls for rallies. Some dissidents said they face new restrictions on their activities.

On Thursday, Jiang said repeatedly there had been no change in the reporting regulations that were made law after the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

These allowed reporters to interview people as long as they had their consent - and permitted foreign correspondents to travel without permission, except to sensitive areas, such as Tibet.

Media restrictions

But security officials have told some foreign journalists they must seek official permission to conduct interviews and to report in public in many areas.

Journalists were told they must have permits to report from Wangfujing, a shopping street popular with tourists next to Tiananmen Square.

Officials told some foreign journalists they can report freely anywhere else in China except in the protest areas - and to stay away from those.

Some journalists have applied to report from the protest sites this coming Sunday, but have been denied permission.

The United States, the European Union and media groups have condemned the media curbs.

After 50-year hiatus, Egypt's first independent labor union is born

Jano Charbel

Thu, 03/03/2011 - 10:38

Mahalla Textile Worker Kamal al-Fayoumi Speaks at conference

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Photographed by Jano Charbel

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The Preparatory Conference for the Egyptian Federation of Independent Unions held on Wednesday marks thebirth of Egypt's first independent trade union federation since 1957.

Several hundred workers, professionals and labor activists from across the country cheered what they anticipated would amount to impending death for the state-run Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF). For more than five decades, the ETUF has acted as the only federation of its kind allowed by law. ETUF President Hussein Megawer, along with other federation officials, has undergone investigation on charges of administrative corruption and union fund mismanagement following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak.

The new union falls within a larger context of political restructuring and the creation of new political parties following the 18-day uprising that began on 25 January. Workers and employees are capitalizing on the momentum by restoring their right to unionize and staging protests to demand long-ignored rights.

The ETUF claims a nationwide membership of over 4 million workers, most of whom are employed in the public sector. Owing to allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and misrepresentation, however, the state-controlled federation's is declining and the organization is on its way to becoming obsolete. Indirect elections had handed members of Mubarak's ruling party the presidencies of 22 out of 24 general unions within the ETUF.

Labor-leader Kamal Abu Eita declared the official inauguration of the independent federation, and added "from here we announce the downfall of the yellow Egyptian Trade Union Federation!" In response, a crowd of workers chanted "Oh Megawer, go away! Go away! Let unions see the light of day."

The formation of the independent federation was initially announced on 30 January, but its structure, membership mechanisms, electoral guidelines and bylaws are still being formulated. The Egyptian Federation of Independent Unions currently includes: the Real Estate Tax Authority Employees' Union, the Egyptian Health Technologists' Syndicate, Federation of Pensioners, and the Independent Teachers' Syndicate, all of which were established in the last two years.

Elsewhere across the country, an untold number of workers are organizing their own independent associations--leagues, unions, syndicates and federations--outside the framework of the ETUF.

Other workers have announced they will be joining the ranks of the new independent federation. These include tens of thousands from the Mahalla Textile Company, the Public Transport Authority (bus drivers, conductors, mechanics, engineers and employees across Cairo), national postal workers, the Helwan Iron and Steel Complex, and the industrial workers in the town of Naga' Hamadi.

Thousands in private sector enterprises, including industrial workers from the cities of Tenth of Ramadan and Sadat, have also expressed their intention to unionize and join the Egyptian Federation of Independent Unions.

"We have some 5,000 factories in the Tenth of Ramadan City, yet only 13 of these have unions,” lamented a worker-delegate who attended the conference.

Nearly all the worker-delegates who spoke at the conference expressed their support for the 25 January revolution and democratic demands. Speakers also mentioned that workers' protests and strikes assisted in ousting Mubarak, and that such actions must be allowed to continue as part of the ongoing fight for democracy.

Salah Abdel Salam, President of the Real Estate Tax Authority Employees' (Branch) Union in the Daqahliya Governorate, emphasized that the ETUF, along with Egypt's labor and trade union laws "denied us the right to strike or protest… or to establish our own independent unions." Abdel Salam added that independent unionization will help realize a new minimum wage law of LE1200 per month (US$215) and safeguard the right to peaceful strikes and protests.

Abu Eita explained to workers, "All that you need in order to unionize is to collect notarized signatures from your co-workers and submit them, along with documents pertaining to the establishment of your union, to the Ministry of Labor. You don't have to ask, or wait, for the approval of Megawer's federation to establish an independent union in your workplace."

In the lobby outside the conference hall, a labor lawyer addressed dozens of workers. “Since the Constitution and the legislation of the old regime are suspended,” he said, “we are entitled to organize ourselves in line with conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) which Egypt has ratified." His voice grew louder. "We are entitled to organize ourselves on the levels of workshops, factories and companies across the country; and on the basis of our industries, neighborhoods, towns, cities and governorates,” he added.

The lawyer was referring specifically to ILO conventions concerning “Freedom of Association & Protection of Right to Organize” (No. 87) and the “Right to Organize & Collective Bargaining” (No. 98). Though Egypt ratified the conventions in 1957 and 1954, respectively, it has failed to uphold them.

Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq resigns

3 March 2011 Last updated at 11:18 GMT

Mr Shafiq was appointed days before President Mubarak was forced out of office

Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq has resigned, the country's ruling military council has announced in a statement.

A former transport minister, Essam Sharaf, has been asked to form a new government, the statement adds.

Mr Shafiq was appointed days before President Hosni Mubarak was forced out of office following days of anti-government protests.

Protesters saw Mr Shafiq as too closely associated to Mr Mubarak's rule, observers say.

"The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces decided to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and appointed Essam Sharaf to form the new government," the army said in a statement on its Facebook page.

Mr Shafiq was appointed by Mr Mubarak just days before he stepped down on 11 February after several weeks of popular protests against his rule.

It had been one of the protesters' key demands that Mr Shafiq and other top ministers appointed at the end of the Mubarak rule step down.

Analysis

Alastair Leithead BBC News, Cairo

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President Mubarak may have gone, but the protests in Cairo have been continuing as people have been demanding the "old guard" of politicians step down. At the top of their list was Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik.

As a result his resignation, announced by the Armed Forces Supreme Council on its website, has been broadly welcomed by opposition groups. But a big demonstration is still planned for Friday in Tahrir Square where hundreds of people have been camping out.

The appointment of Essam Sharaf as the new prime minister is designed to placate them.

He's a former transport minister who opposed Mr Mubarak's government after stepping down from the cabinet, and supported the revolution.

The response from those demanding more change has been mixed, with some saying all politicians who served under Mr Mubarak should go while others think the new administration should be allowed to get on with the job of constitutional reform and elections.

Mr Sharaf's appointment is significant as he spoke out in support of the revolution and took part in the street protests, says the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Cairo.

It is a major step towards appeasing the demonstrators who have continued to camp out in Tarihr Square, as Mr Sharaf was a vocal opponent of the Mubarak government since his resignation as a minister five years ago, our correspondent adds.

Travel ban

The military council, which has been running the country since Mr Mubarak stepped down, has previously ordered the government to run the country's affairs for six months "or until the end of parliamentary and presidential elections" and is also examining constitutional reforms.

On Monday, Egypt issued a travel ban on ousted President Mubarak and his family.

Mr Mubarak is believed to be living in his villa in Sharm el-Sheikh, but in poor health, and has not been seen or heard of publicly since stepping down.

Yemen president backpedals on anti-US remarks

Yemen's Sahel expresses 'regret' over his own remarks towards US, Israel following rebuke from White House.

Middle East Online

Forever faithful to the US WASHINGTON - Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh called a senior White House aide Wednesday to express regret over his searing criticism of Israel and the United States over Arab uprisings, officials said. Saleh called President Barack Obama's top anti-terrorism advisor John Brennan a day after the White House complained he was scapegoating, after he said Arab uprisings were an Israeli plot backed by Washington. "President Saleh called assistant to the president John Brennan this morning to convey his regret for misunderstandings related to his public remarks that Israel and the United States have engaged in destabilizing activities in Arab countries," the White House said in a statement. "President Saleh also said that he is firmly committed to meaningful political reform in Yemen and that he is reaching out to opposition elements in an effort to achieve reform through a democratic, inclusive, and peaceful process. "Mr Brennan expressed appreciation for the call and said that any comments that seek to attribute blame for recent developments in the region are unhelpful, as they ignore the legitimate aspirations of people in the Arab world. Brennan also encouraged Saleh to continue with his to reach out to opposition groups, amid mass protests against his rule in Yemen and called on all sides of the political dispute to eschew violence.

Revolution against ‘corrupt’ Polisario regime

‘The Youth of the Sahrawi Revolution’ calls for March 5 protest to reform ‘corrupt’ Polisario Front leadership in refugee camps.

Middle East Online

By Saad Guerraoui - LONDON

Abdel Aziz long rule under the spotlight The separatist Polisario Front is facing a mounting criticism on social media by its own youth who are emboldened by the popular uprisings across the Arab world. A group of young Sahrawis of refugee camps have issued a call via social networks to stage protests against corruption with the Polisario leadership on March 5. The movement, which calls itself “Juventud de la Revolución Saharaui” (The Youth of the Sahrawi Revolution), calls for reforming the Sahrawi system and corrupt leadership and reviving the values of the Sahrawi revolution. The Polisario regime has been leading a broad campaign to discredit the revolution group, especially among public opinion, taking advantage of refugee camps’ isolation from the outside world amid the absence of Internet in them, said the movement’s statement. "As corrupt regimes tired to distort the Arab youth-led revolution in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, the Sahrawi regime tries and some of its aides are trying to engage in this campaign. Thus, we condemn this blasphemous campaign and announce to the local public and international opinion our commitment to staging a peaceful demonstration on March 5 in front of the presidential palace. Our silence on the current situation is a betrayal of the souls of the martyrs and an insult to our people’s sacrifices," added the statement. The protest will coincide with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the first Saharawi government. Some activists claimed that the Polisario leadership threatened to arrest and jail those who will take part in the protest. The revolution group warned the leadership against any irresponsible crackdown on protesters. It called for the support of all international human rights organisations, and urged them to heed the special circumstances in the Saharawi refugee camps. The Executive Committee of Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro expressed its full solidarity with the "The youth of the Sahrawi Revolution" initiative to "achieve justice, democracy, change and reform within the Polisario Front." The Committee said that the challenge of youth to Polisario's leadership is "the only hope left, after the leadership tried to kill hope and dream,” urging protesters not to be scared as “they will fall like leaves.” Morocco annexed Western Sahara after Spain withdrew in 1975. The Algeria-back Polisario Front has demanded a self-determination referendum, while Morocco has offered greater autonomy. Front guerrillas fought Moroccan forces until a UN-brokered ceasefire came into effect in 1991. However, no progress has been made in bringing the two sides together. The latest round of talks in New York between the Polisario Front rebels and the Moroccan government failed to end their three-decade-old deadlock. The Sahrawi refugees’ plight has seen relatively stagnant for the last 35 years due to the lack of basic facilities in the camps. Sahrawi activists accuse Polisario leader Mohamed Abdelaziz of neglecting their case and engaging in pointless political maneuvering. They criticised the leadership’s way of handling the financial aid donated by Algeria and other international organisations, accusing a number of leaders of profiteering and corruption at the expense of the refugees.

Tunisia frees last political prisoners

Tunisian prisons 'emptied of political prisoners' weeks after fall of Ben Ali's authoritarian regime.

Middle East Online

Demand met: 'freedom for all the prisoners' TUNIS - Tunisia freed Wednesday the last of its political prisoners under an amnesty granted after the fall president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January, a prisoner rights activist said. The remaining prisoners were released in batches since Monday under an amnesty that came into force on February 19, said International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners secretary general Samir Ben Omar. "The last political prisoners in Tunisia were freed on Wednesday," Omar said, adding they included people charged under the previous regime's terrorism laws. "In total about 800 political prisoners have been freed in groups since Monday evening," he said. "Between 300 and 400 were freed on Wednesday," he said, adding: "Tunisian prisons have been emptied of political prisoners." The amnesty was announced on January 20, nearly a week after the fall of the authoritarian Ben Ali in an uprising that sparked similar protests across the Arab world. It applied to "all those who were imprisoned or prosecuted for crimes as a result of their political or trade union activities," the official TAP news agency reported. Justice authorities had said days before the amnesty became official that about 3,000 prisoners had been conditionally released. The announcement of the amnesty was one of the first acts by the interim government appointed when Ben Ali ended his 23 years in power on January 14 by fleeing to Saudi Arabia. Among those who were freed were "victims of the terrorism law applied by the Ben Ali regime to say that it was at the forefront of the fight against terrorism," Omar said. They included Saber Ragoubi, a Salafist Muslim sentenced to death for terrorism, he said. He and his co-accused were found guilty of involvement in clashes with security forces between December 2006 and January 2007 that left 14 people dead, including a security agent, according to the official toll. Ragoubi had denied the charges and Amnesty International said his trial had been unfair and he said he was tortured in custody. Eight of his co-accused were sentenced to life in prison and 19 others to jail terms of up to 30 years. Most were found guilty of assassination and belonging to a terrorist group whose leaders, a Mauritanian and three Tunisians, were killed in the clashes. Omar said around a dozen ordinary prisoners also sentenced under terrorism laws remained in prison and his organisation would continue to raise their cases with the authorities. Some of the political prisoners freed earlier have told of torture and bad treatment. Some died in jail and others were missing, Tunisia's Association to Combat Torture has said. The new administration has also opened the way for the legalisation of political groups banned under Ben Ali and the return of exiles. Islamist movement Ennahda (Awakening) announced Tuesday it had finally been granted legal status, 30 years after it was formed. Thousands of Islamist activists and sympathisers were among those arrested in the 1990s, as Ben Ali's government claimed to be tackling extremism, and many went into exile. Despite introducing unprecedented freedoms and pledging elections by mid-July, the interim administration has been heavily criticised, facing weeks of protests including over its inclusion of key figures from Ben Ali's regime. Interim prime minister Mohammed Ghannouchi, who held the same post under Ben Ali, quit on Sunday after clashes at weekend anti-government demonstrations left five people dead. Two ministers followed him on Monday and three more on Tuesday.