Monday, December 16, 2019

Military police remove climate protesters from Schiphol airport

Hundreds of demonstrators call for international hub in Amsterdam to curb emissions
Georgina Hayes
Sat 14 Dec 2019 15.41 GMT

Royal military police remove a protester from the main hall of Schiphol airport.

Photograph: Robin Utrecht/EPA

Dutch military police have begun forcibly removing a group of climate protesters at Schiphol airport, in Amsterdam, after they refused to leave during a demonstration organised by Greenpeace.

Hundreds of protesters attended the demonstration on Saturday calling on the international air hub to adopt a plan to curb greenhouse emissions. The group had been allowed to protest outside the building only, but they broke that restriction, arguing that citizens’ rights to peaceful protest should not be restricted.

Protesters waved banners saying “Tax the plane, take the train” and chanted slogans of “climate justice”, while Greenpeace activists told the crowd: “Schiphol is one the biggest airports in Europe and yet they still want to expand it. That’s not normal!”

Greenpeace(@Greenpeace)
In a peaceful protest, hundreds of activists came to the airport to demand a climate action plan for Schiphol. https://t.co/6PDbgszvkr December 14, 2019

One protester reportedly chained himself to a pillar during the demonstration, which took place in the hall that leads to the arrivals and departures section of the airport

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The protesters inside the airport. Photograph: Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters

Dozens of police from the Marechausse, the force that guards Dutch borders, began removing the protesters one at a time, dragging or carrying those who resisted

“After multiple warnings to leave Schiphol Plaza peacefully, the Marechausse has now begun arresting Greenpeace protesters,” the force said in a statement.

A Schiphol spokesman, Hans van Kastel, said no flights had been disrupted by the demonstration.

In its call for people to attend the protest, Greenpeace said on its website: “We’re in the middle of a climate crisis, but the big polluter Schiphol is being allowed to keep growing and polluting even more.”

Schiphol, which is owned by the Dutch state, says it does have a climate plan, which includes cutting emissions on the ground by using electric vehicles.

Antifa protests in London following Conservative landslide win

A TYPICAL ANDY NGO RIGHT WING OPIONION LACED STORY FOR THE NATIONAL POST MILLENNIAL POSTING IT
BECAUSE ONE OF THE FEW ARTICLES ON ANTI TORY PROTEST AFTER UK ELECTION

Andy Ngo, 3 days ago 1 min read

“Tory scum off our streets, Nazi scum off our streets!” shouted left-wing protesters in central London.

Around a thousand demonstrators, many masked and holding antifa symbols, poured onto the streets of the British capital to protest the U.K.’s election results. The Conservatives won in a landslide election the day before, likely guaranteeing Britain’s withdrawal from the EU at the end of next month.

Antifa are rioting in London in response to the election results giving Conservatives a huge electoral win. It’s like what I saw in Portland in November 2016. pic.twitter.com/xeRfkPCGnA

— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 13, 2019

The British capital descended into chaos as the Met Police struggled to contain protesters connected to antifa, socialist and communist groups. They had shut down the streets in and around Westminster. They demanded a “revolution” and the ousting of the Conservatives.

Protesters disobeyed police orders and shoved officers who attempted to block them from certain routes. At one point, officers brandished batons at the crowd to get them to comply.

The protesters held anti-Boris Johnson signs distributed by the Socialist Workers Party. Others, wearing masks, brandished antifa flags.

The on-going chaotic protest echoes left-wing demonstrations-turned-riots in the U.S. after Donald Trump’s electoral win in November 2016.

'Not my prime minister', protesters march in London against Johnson

LONDON (Reuters) - Several hundred noisy protesters marched through central London on Friday to protest against Britain’s election result, chanting “Boris Johnson: Not My Prime Minister” and “Boris, Boris, Boris: Out, Out, Out”.

The protesters, brandishing signs that read “Defy Tory (Conservative) Rule” and “Refugees Welcome”, walked at speed from outside Johnson’s Downing Street residence to Trafalgar Square and on to the theater district, blocking traffic and drawing a heavy police presence.

Johnson’s Conservatives won Thursday’s election by a large margin. On Friday he called for “closure” over the Brexit divisions that have riven the United Kingdom for the past three and a half years.

Reporting by Johnny Cotton; writing by Kate Holton; Editing by Gareth Jones

THE GUARDIAN
'Not my prime minister': protesters clash with police after Boris Johnson elected – video
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police when they marched through central London and in front of Downing Street in a demonstration against the election of Boris Johnson.

Separate marches were organised on the day by Stand up to Racism, Love Music Hate Racism and Antifascist Action (Antifa), and demonstrators were confronted by a pro-government group. The police contained people in Victoria and the protest was dispersed

Thousands join biggest protest in Bangkok since 2014 coup

Thai anti-government rally held in response to ban on Future Forward opposition party

Reuters
Sat 14 Dec 2019 13.26 GMT

Future Forward party leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, arrives

at a rally in Bangkok, Thailand. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA
Thousands of people joined the biggest protest in Bangkok since a 2014 coup on Saturday, after Thai authorities moved to ban a party that has rallied opposition to the government of the former military ruler Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The demonstration, called a day earlier by the Future Forward party leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a 41-year-old billionaire, was reminiscent of the street protests that have roiled Bangkok over the past two decades of turbulent politics.

There was no sign of a major police presence or attempts to block the biggest demonstration since Prayuth seized power in 2014 in the name of ending street violence.

The Guardian view on Thailand: intimidation can’t solve the problem

“This is just the beginning,” Thanathorn told the cheering crowds, which spilled across walkways and stairways close to the MBK Centre, in the heart of Bangkok’s shopping and business district.

“Today is a show of strength so that in the future others may join us. We’re just here today as a test run. Prayuth, don’t be afraid yet. The real thing is next month.”

Thanathorn has emerged as the most outspoken opponent of the government headed by Prayuth, 65, since an election in March that the opposition said was manipulated to favour the army.

Thailand’s election panel has asked the constitutional court to dissolve the Future Forward party, accusing it of infringing laws governing political parties by accepting multi-million dollar loans from Thanathorn.

Last month the constitutional court found Thanathorn guilty of holding shares in a media company on the date his candidacy was registered for the election, disqualifying him as a member of parliament. Thanathorn is disputing the ruling.

At the protest, demonstrators chanted: “Long live democracy, dictatorship get out.”

Thanathorn has signed an agreement with six parties in an opposition alliance to push for changes to the constitution, which was drawn up by the junta before the election. He also won the parties’ support for the protest.

Among those parties was Pheu Thai, which won the most seats in the 500-seat house of representatives lower house but has taken a lower profile in challenging the government than Future Forward, which came third in the election.

Palang Pracharat, the pro-military party formed last year by members of the junta’s cabinet, came second. Prayuth told reporters on Friday it was inappropriate to organise a demonstration towards the end of the year.

Week in pictures: From protests in Chile to Afghan bombing

A photo roundup of some of last week's events, including a royal procession in Thailand and demonstrations in Algeria.

Demonstrators hold placards depicting eyes - in reference to police pellets striking demonstrators' eyes - during a protest against President Sebastian Pinera's government in Santiago, Chile. Pinera has promised support for victims of human rights violations by security forces during protests in Chile, and a firm commitment to achieve truth and justice. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP

Hong Kong protests flare before Xi meeting with city leader

Protesters took over malls and blocked roads triggering confrontations with police after two weeks of relative calm.

Protesters and police clashed again in Hong Kong over the weekend as the country's leader travelled to Beijing for talks [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

MORE ON HONG KONG
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Hong Kong police fired tear gas in late night street clashes with anti-government protesters, in the run-up to a potentially pivotal meeting between Hong Kong's leader and China's president in Beijing on Monday.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is in the Chinese capital for a regular duty visit and first met China's premier Li Keqiang who said the city faced an unprecedented and challenging situation.

"The SAR (special administrative region) government must continue its efforts, end violence and stop the chaos in accordance with the law and restore order," Li said in his meeting with Lam, the opening remarks of which were broadcast by Cable TV.

Lam is set to meet President Xi Jinping amid speculation the visit could yield fresh directives on the city's political crisis, including a possible cabinet reshuffle.
More:

Giant rally marks six months of Hong Kong democracy protests

US House passes Hong Kong rights bills, Trump expected to sign

In Hong Kong, protesters say 'thank you, Donald Trump'

The two previously met in Shanghai in early November when Xi expressed "high trust" in Lam despite the turmoil.

Lam, however, appeared to play down the prospects of a cabinet reshuffle before she left, saying the first task was to curb violence and restore order, while seeking to engage in more dialogue with the public.

Some protesters targeted shopping malls while others blocked roads triggering clashes with police [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

Hong Kong has been embroiled in its worst political crisis in decades since June with anti-government protests posing a populist challenge to China's Xi. The unrest has also complicated ties between China and the United States at a time of heightened tensions, including over trade.

Late on Sunday, groups of masked youths - angered by what they see as Chinese meddling in freedoms promised to Hong Kong when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 - blocked roads around Mong Kok district, prompting police to fire multiple rounds of tear gas and baton-charge crowds.

It was the first time in nearly two weeks that tear gas had been deployed by police.

Fires were lit and traffic lights smashed, while one student reporter for Baptist University was hit in the face by a police projectile and was sent to hospital, local television footage showed.

Small bands of protesters marched through several malls, blocking entrances, smashing glass, and chanting slogans including "fight for freedom". Many shops in affected malls closed early after battalions of riot police stormed in, pepper-spraying crowds and making multiple arrests.

In the evening, several hundred protesters held a vigil for a protester who fell to his death outside a luxury mall six months ago. They laid white flowers and sang songs to commemorate Leung Ling-kit, known as "raincoat man" for what he wore at the time.

Despite the protesters' demands and anti-China rhetoric, China maintains it is committed to the "one country, two systems" formula that was agreed at the time of the handover and affords Hong Kong autonomy and freedoms that are absent on the mainland.

Lebanon crisis: Dozens wounded in second night of clashes in Beirut

Protesters stand near burning tents during anti government protests in Beirut — Image captionDemonstrators stand near burning tents during second night of protests in Beirut

Riot police and anti-government demonstrators have clashed for a second night in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, leaving dozens of people wounded.

Protesters threw bottles and fireworks at officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannon.

Meanwhile, the interior minister ordered an inquiry into a crackdown on Saturday that left dozens more wounded.

The unrest has been fuelled by anger at the ruling elite over the ailing economy and corruption.

The protests triggered the resignation of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri in October, but talks about a new government are deadlocked.

On Monday morning, President Michel Aoun postponed until Thursday formal consultations with parliamentary blocs on who to choose as prime minister.

Mr Hariri, who had been expected to be nominated despite withdrawing his candidacy last month, requested the delay to allow "more consultation", the presidency said.

Riot police forces were again deployed in large numbers on Sunday as thousands of protesters returned to the streets.

Lebanon's Internal Security Forces said they fired tear gas after demonstrators pelted them with fireworks and stones.

Demonstrators use their phone lights during an anti-government protest in Beirut — Image captionSunday's protest in the centre of Beirut began peacefully

The Lebanese Civil Defense said it had treated 72 people for injuries at the scene and taken 20 others to hospital.

The Lebanese Red Cross meanwhile said it had treated 37 on site and taken 15 people to hospital, according to AFP news agency.

Protester Omar Abyad, a 25-year-old unemployed nurse, told Reuters news agency: "They [security forces] attacked us in a barbaric way, as if we're not protesting for their sake, their children."

Lebanese security forces remove protesters during an anti-government demonstration — Image captionLebanese security forces removing protesters during the demonstration

Demonstrators move metal barriers while engulfed in tear gas during clashes with security forces in Beirut — Image captionDozens of people were wounded in the clashes

Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan urged the security forces to open a "rapid and transparent" investigation into Saturday's violence but warned against "infiltrators" seeking to use protests to spark "confrontations".

Diala Haidar, from the human rights group Amnesty International, said: "Security forces used excessive force to disperse an overwhelmingly peaceful protest. It only sends a clear message that security forces are above the law."

The protests have been the largest seen in Lebanon in more than a decade. They have cut across sectarian lines - a rare phenomenon since the devastating 1975-1990 civil war ended - and involved people from all sectors of society.

Media captionThe BBC's Jeremy Bowen asks why people have been taking to the streets in Lebanon, Iran and Iraq

Demonstrators are angry at their leaders' failure to deal with a stagnant economy, rising prices, high unemployment, dire public services and corruption.

Their demands include an end to government corruption and the overhaul of the political system and the formation of an independent, non-sectarian cabinet.