Miners strike in Russia
Coal miners in the Kuzbas region of Russia went on
strike October 12 demanding back wages, which have not been
paid for several months. The same day, workers in other
parts of Russia organized demonstrations in support of the
miners.
The austere budget imposed by Moscow has struck pensioners and soldiers, as well as other workers. Trying to maintain a budget agreement arranged with the International Monetary Fund last spring, the government has accumulated massive debts to hundreds of enterprises. In addition, government officials say the country will experience its worst fall grain harvest in 30 years as a result of a summer- long drought, driving many farmers out of the market.
Labor strikes hit Italy
A strike by truckers in Italy, which began October 9,
has crippled production in factories of the automaker Fiat.
The road haulers are demanding to have their transport fees
increased by 30 percent.
Air traffic controllers have also staged job actions over the last six weeks, including a four-hour strike September 18. Earlier, 1,300 controllers refused to work overtime and organized work-to-rule protests. In addition, the cabin staff of Italy's Alitalia airline called a four- hour strike October 13 to protest the company's restructuring plans.
Swaziland groups back Cuba
The Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) and the People's
United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) expressed support for
the decision of the Swaziland government to establish a
diplomatic "understanding" with Havana. "I do not see
anything wrong if Swaziland enters an understanding with
Cuba," said Benedict Tsabedze, president of SWAYOCO.
"Swaziland does not need interference by other countries,"
he added in reference to pressure from Washington to isolate
the Cuban government.
Dominic Mngomezulu, secretary-general of PUDEMO, said his organization was impressed with revolutionary Cuba's contribution to liberation struggles in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa. "This shows Cubans are people who are committed to the struggle for liberation," he said.
Haiti's prime minister resigns
Haitian government officials said October 13 that prime
minister Smarck Michel resigned after failing to get
approval to sign an agreement for a $100 million loan from
the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Haitian president
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was restored to office in
October 1994 with the invasion of 20,000 U.S. troops,
appointed Michel to the post the same year.
According to the New York Times, Michel's departure, due on October 16, was also triggered by disagreements with Aristide and other government officials on privatizing state- owned banks, the country's main port, and the telephone and electricity utilities. Some protests in the country have been aimed at Michel and the IMF.
Dominican workers protest
Dominican police attacked demonstrators October 9 who
were demanding that dozens of factories that pollute Santo
Domingo and endanger the residents' health be shut down. The
protests took place in the poor neighborhoods of La Zurza
and Capotillo, where according to news services some 20
people were injured, car windows were smashed, and a truck
was trashed by students.
Pastor Vásquez, a 22-year-old street vendor, died of a gunshot while he was going to a market near the protests.
Political crisis wracks Ecuador
A political crisis engulfing Ecuador deepened as the
country's vice-president, Alberto Dahik, fled following an
arrest warrant issued against him on charges of corruption.
President Sixto Durán Ballén's administration has already
lost 23 ministers to impeachment or resignation.
The crisis has affected international investments as well the country's interest rates and currency. An international energy consortium recently withdrew its offer to build a hydroelectric plant. Ecuador is suffering from one its worst energy crises ever.
Argentine workers demand pay
Around 200 angry demonstrators burned the house of the
Edgar Massaccesi, former minister of finances in Argentina's
southern province of Rio Negro, demanding back payment owed
to government employees. Previously, the demonstrators threw
rocks at the headquarters of the Radical Civic Union (UCR),
which has governed Rio Negro for over ten years.
These actions followed others called by the state unions that took place in the city of General Roca, where at least three people were injured and 30 arrested by the police.
Lying Philadelphia cops
Philadelphia judge Legrome Davis threw out the
convictions of nine people October 11, agreeing with defense
lawyers that their clients were framed up by corrupt cops.
Six police officers confessed to lying on reports, stealing
money from suspects, and planting drugs in some of the
defendants' homes. Twelve other cops were implicated in the
investigation.
"They put a gun in my face and robbed me of three and a half years of my life," Edwin Scott, whose conviction was overturned, told the New York Times.
New Jersey prison guards brutally beat immigrants
Six prison guards in New Jersey were arrested October 12
for abusive treatment of undocumented immigrants. The
detainees had rebelled against the inhumane conditions at an
Immigration and Naturalization detention center June 18,
causing considerable property damage.
When they were transferred to the Union County Jail, 25 of the immigrants were forced to pass through a gauntlet of guards who beat and kicked them. Over the next four hours, the guards broke one inmate's collarbone, shoved others' heads into toilets, and carried out other abuses.
Prosecutors said more arrests are probable, since at least two dozen guards participated in the assault. "I don't doubt that the things we saw happen there go on all over the country," said Judy Rabinovitz, counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union Rights Project.
Court debates gay rights case
Justices in the U.S. Supreme Court debated the validity
of an amendment added to Colorado's constitution three years
ago that voided all state and local laws guaranteeing
protection of gays against discrimination.
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled last year that the amendment violated the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution by restricting the right of homosexuals "to participate equally in the political process."
In the sharpening debate in Colorado, Kevin Tebedo, executive director of Colorado for Family Values, launched a petition drive in July to pressure county commissioners to "unconditionally advocate heterosexuality only."
A gay-rights group, Ground Zero was formed after the anti-gay measure passed in 1992. "People are getting very fed up with the religious right pushing the buttons on these issues," said Frank Whitworth, executive director of Ground Zero.
- MAURICE WILLIAMS