Day 348

Syringe Attacks in Urumqui, China

From the AP:

China's security chief blamed Muslim separatists Friday for a string of bizarre needle attacks that drew thousands of angry protesters into the streets as officials disclosed five people were killed and 14 injured during demonstrations in this restive city.

Police fired tear gas to break up continuing protests by thousands of Han Chinese, the country's majority ethnic group, underscoring how unsettled Urumqi remains despite a massive security crackdown following ethnic rioting in July that left 197 people dead.

The Xinjiang region, of which Urumqi is the capital, has for decades faced a simmering separatist movement by Uighurs, a largely Muslim ethnic group.

Day 346

Persistence of Memory

On a visit to Berlin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received the blueprints of the Auschwitz concentration camp from German officials.  This gesture was called a "gift of truth" by Netanyahu.  I think the Holocaust will always be a stain on the collective German psyche, but I'm glad to see an attempt at making amends with the past.  Please excuse me if my tone comes off as nonchalant, but I guess it's something for which the country will always be apologizing.  Such is life.  I think it is also important to remember and honor the other side of that dark period in history as well.  For that, I offer this link: The White Rose- an organization that gave their lives in resistance to the Nazi Regime..... 

Health Care Critics

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer are calling disruptions at a series of town hall meetings regarding health care reform "simply un-American".  Personally, having had experience trying to getting health insurance as an individual with a pre-existing condition, I know how difficult and monetarily inaccessible corporate insurance companies can be.  The amount of uncovered individuals in this FIRST world country is unacceptable.  Universal health care is long overdue and while I am a proponent of the new health care reform, I also believe that citizens have a right to speak out against our government.  I'm surprised at the Democratic party leadership for using such language.  Dissent is a VERY "American" trait- sometimes I think there is not enough dissent. 

Day 318

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  was sworn in as President of Iran today.  Opposition leaders boycotted the swearing in ceremony and street protests continue.  

Day 291

Mahamoud Ahmadinejad

"Death to the Dictator"

Unrest erupts in Iran again.  This time protesters take to the streets, wearing surgical masks to conceal their identity, shouting "Death to the Dictator" and "God is Great" in opposition to contested President Mahamoud Ahmadinejad.  Today's protest also marks the 10th anniversary of a clash between students and security forces.  

Day 289

Urumqui, China

Here is an interesting report by Tania Branigan from the guardian.co.uk on the protests in China:

Woman's lone protest calms tempers as Uighurs confront Chinese police

Paramilitaries in temporary retreat from elderly demonstrator amid continuing tension in Urumqi-

No one noticed her at first. She was just a lined and weary face in the angry crowd. Then slowly she emerged from the mass and moved steadily down the street.

She was a lone woman, propped on a crutch. But she forced armoured personnel carriers and massed paramilitary ranks into a slow – if temporary – retreat during a remarkable confrontation between Chinese armed police and Uighurs in Urumqi today.

Uighur residents erupted into protests during an official media tour of the riot zone, in the face of hundreds of officers. Thousands of riot and armed paramilitary police have flooded the southern part of the capital since Sunday's violence claimed more than 150 lives and injured hundreds.

Women in the market place burst into wailing and chanting as foreign reporters arrived, complaining that police had taken away Uighur men. Authorities have arrested 1,434 people in connection with Sunday's unrest.

"The policemen took away my husband last night. I don't know why and I don't know where he is," said one woman called Abdurajit. "Mine was taken too. They still have him," broke in another woman.

As they streamed out on to the main street, the crowd swelled to around 200, with Uighur men and more women joining them, shouting and waving their fists.

And then the old woman emerged from the crowd and moved slowly down the street. An Uighur police officer came forward to escort her away. She could not be persuaded.

As older residents stepped forward and attempted to calm the crowd, she advanced steadily towards the line of armoured vehicles. She halted inches in front of one. The driver started its engine. For a long moment they faced each other. Then the carrier slowly began to roll backwards and the line of officers inched away, back down the road.

She walked forward. They stepped back. She continued – while the officer pleaded with her to turn away.

Suddenly he turned to me and grabbed my notebook, ripped out a page and scribbled a note for her; apparently his name and identity number – proof of his willingness to help her. He thrust it at her. Reluctantly, she agreed to leave....

British Embassy Employees

According to a senior Iranian cleric,  the employees of the British Embassy in Tehran who were arrested after the election protests will be tried for acting against Iran's national security.  

Eight or nine employees of the embassy's political section were arrested last weekend. All but three have been released, according to Iranian state media.

European Union nations summoned Iranian ambassadors today to complain about the arrests in a coordinated response, news agencies reported.

EU nations are weighing the possibility of pulling all 27 member nations' ambassadors from Tehran and imposing a travel ban on Iranian officials to protest the arrests, but want to wait for Iran's next move regarding the embassy employees, European news media reported. 

Coup d'etat Manuel Zelaya

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted by military forces yesterday.  

The removal of Mr Zelaya came amid a power struggle over his plans for constitutional change.

Mr Zelaya, who had been in office since 2006, wanted to hold a referendum which could have led to an extension of his non-renewable four-year term in office.

Polls for the referendum had been due to open early on Sunday - but instead troops took him from the presidential palace and flew him out of the country.

To no surprise Hugo Chavez has publically announced his support for Zelaya's legitimacy. Interim President, Roberto Micheletti (former Speaker of the House) will serve until January 27.  A new election will take place in November to determine his successor.  

Day 272

First Day of Summer

I guess it is appropriate that I am returning to Boston on the first day of Summer and even more appropriate that there is rain in the forecast.  In the context of world news, when it rains it pours. Iran election protests continue with increased violence, 19 reported dead at press time.  Pakistani forces are stepping up their fight against Taliban forces and are sending aircraft closer to the Afghan boarder. Suicide bombers near Kirkuk, Iraq destroys 50 buildings, kill 80 and wound another 211, the deadliest single attack this year.  

More Protests in Iran

I'm a little surprised that there is only one story on the Google News RSS Feed about the protests in Iran.  Thousands of people have defied the Ayatollah's decree to restrain from protesting. The supreme leader has stated that challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi will "be held responsible for the consequences if any illegal gatherings".  

Driving in Montreal last night I saw a group of protesters in a park off Rue de Saint Catherine. The world awaits the outcome.  

Day 256

Tiananmen Square Anniversary

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. 

Day 203

More Political Unrest in Thailand

Tensions rise in Thailand as protesters bombard Bangkok to challenge Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajiva four month old regime.  Protesters align themselves with former Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra, "a former policeman and Texas-educated devotee of George W. Bush."

Thaksin remains popular with Thailand's rural majority. Poor and marginalized Thais, especially in the north and northeast, were won over by his campaign of "paddy-field populism," offering health and education programs. His followers, known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or UDD, believe he has the economic prowess to steer Thailand out of the global economic crisis.