While the protests were called by the unions and Communist Party, and were overwhelmingly working-class in composition, rightist forces participated as well. In the eastern region of Siberia, former general and presidential contender Governor Alexander Lebed joined the march, backing the call for Yeltsin's ouster. Handfuls of fascist-minded youth carrying swastika-like flags and dressed in black with red arm bands were also reportedly interspersed in the street actions that day. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic party said his supporters would boycott the protests because they were organized by communists, "phony" trade unions, and "former servants of the [Soviet] Empire."
Taliban advance in Afghanistan, head towards war with Iran
The Iranian government has deployed 200,000 troops along
the border with Afghanistan and placed them on alert,
anticipating clashes with the Taliban, which has consolidated
control over 90 percent of Afghanistan. The Taliban, a
reactionary outfit that grew out of the U.S.-backed civil war
in the 1980s, has reportedly defeated all major opposition
forces except those of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who are stationed
in the Panjshir Valley near the Iranian border. Taliban forces
are now preparing what they hope to be a final offensive
against Massoud, a former defense minister who also fought
against the former pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan.
On October 8, Taliban militiamen opened fire on Iranian forces at a Saleh-Abad post with mortars and machine guns. Iranian forces returned fire and a three hour skirmish ensued. According to an Iranian brigadier general, militia forces in Afghanistan suffered heavy casualties.
Basque prisoners hunger strike
Thirteen Basque political prisoners in the La Sante prison
in Paris began a hunger strike October 5 to protest the
possible expulsion to Spain of another Basque prisoner who
will complete his sentence October 11, according to reports
from Gureak, a support committee for Basque prisoners. The
prisoners are accused of being members of Basque Homeland and
Liberty (ETA), which is fighting for independence of the
Basque Country from Spain and France.
Inaki López de Bergara, the man facing expulsion, has been on a hunger strike since September 2 and will now begin to refuse liquids. The 13 prisoners wrote a letter to French justice minister Elisabeth Guigou and to "antiterrorist" judge Laurence Le Vert denouncing their deportation order. The letter was made public by Gureak. In the letter they argue that López de Bergara will be tortured if he is handed over the Spanish cops.
Italian prime minister resigns
Italian prime minister Romano Prodi resigned October 9
after losing a confidence vote in parliament. Three days
earlier the Reconstructed Communists, a remnant of the former
pro-Moscow Communist Party, broke ranks with Prodi's Olive
Tree coalition over his new austerity budget plan. Prodi's
budget calls for yet another round of cuts in social spending
in the name of meeting the criteria for entering the European
Monetary Union. The Reconstructed Communist party itself was
divided over this. Party president Armando Cossutta resigned
October 5 to protest breaking with the governing coalition.
S. Africa gov't ends anti-gay law
South Africa's highest court abolished apartheid-era anti-
sodomy laws October 9 that made same-sex intercourse illegal.
It also ruled that any man charged or convicted on these
grounds since 1994 could demand restitution and that their
criminal records be cleared. Civil rights of gays have been
legally protected since the provisional constitution was
instituted in 1994, shortly following the victory of
democratic forces there over the racist South African
apartheid regime.
Under apartheid, gay sex was punishable by up to seven years in prison. According to a human rights report issued in 1997, the South African military of that era used "aversion therapy" on alleged gays, giving soldiers electric shocks while they viewed images of naked men. South Africa is the first country to ban antigay discrimination in its constitution.
Bolivia: no to utilities hikes
Thousands of people took to the streets of La Paz,
Bolivia, October 1-2 to protest government moves to raise
water and energy rates. Demonstrators blocked roads all over
the city, and some workers struck for the day, leaving the
city largely paralyzed. Peasants, who had marched from regions
throughout Bolivia, arrived to join the protests. The Bolivian
government claims to have previously struck a deal with the
Bolivian Labor Confederation on the hike in utilities prices.
But the Federation of Joint Neighborhoods, which called the
actions, rejects the deal and has threatened to seize the
privately run water and electricity plants. Authorities there
called a state of emergency. Top cop, Reynaldo Mariaca
declared, "I, along with all my men, are in a state of
emergency to be able to...at least protect all the properties
we can protect."
Peruvians storm gov't palace
Chanting, "Down with the dictatorship!" "The fear has
ended!" and "No to reelection!" workers and youth stormed the
presidential palace in Lima, Peru, September 30 to protest
rising unemployment and undemocratic policies of the
government there. More than 5,000 people broke through a
police cordon at the palace gate, while others spray-painted
"Dictator!" on the stone walls of the palace courtyard,
referring to Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori. A few dozen
people made it into the building, where they allegedly turned
over and busted up furniture. Cops fired shots and launched
tear gas into the crowds, dispersing the protesters. The
action was called by the General Confederation of Peruvian
Workers, the country's largest labor federation.
Accused plead not guilty in Kenya, Somalia bombings
Three men U.S. officials have accused of conspiring to
bomb the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya pleaded not
guilty October 8. They are being held and tried in the U.S.
courts. Mohammed Saddiq Odeh, and Mohammed Rashed Daoud al
Owhali were arrested outside the United States and removed to
New York where they face charges in the bombings. Wadih el
Hage, a Texas resident who Washington claims was once a
secretary for Saudi business man Ossama bin Laden, is accused
of collaborating with Odeh and Owhali. A fourth man has been
accused of involvement in the alleged plot, but U.S.
authorities have been unable to seize him.
- BRIAN TAYLOR