News from around the world

Twenty one year old Roshain Shanaka who was shot by the police in Katunayaka lost his life on the first of June after two days of suffering in the Intensive Care Unit of the Ragama hospital.

The Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTUA) of Sri Lanka comprising 26 trade unions including the powerful Lanka Bank Employees’ Union, Ceylon Mercantile Union and Free Trade Zone General Employees’ Union has been organising proyests against the government’s planned pension reform bill. A violent clash in Katunayaka Free Trade Zone on Monday May 30th has left one young man in a critical condition.

Very early on Friday morning the police attacked Barcelona’s camp in Plaça Catalunya. They blocked the square, with 300 people or more inside, and the cleaning brigade of the city began to dismantle the camp (tents, banners and so on...).

Around Europe students from the Spanish state are taking the lead in organising camps and protests in solidarity with their compatriots.

Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is a well-known Thai labour activist and leading
member of the Red shirts movement. On the 30th of April, he was
arrested for the crime of Lèse Majesté by the Thai police. He is now in jail and the Thai court refused to release him on bail.

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The Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Sri Lanka Mahinda Balasuriya has promised rights activists that steps will be taken to investigate the attack on the NSSP general secretary, journalists and party members at the Katunayaka airport. The pledge came following a petition signed by many in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.

The Northeastern region of the Trade Union National Council (NTUC) of Japan, present in the affected areas, is playing an active role in organising solidarity with the earthquake and tsunami victims.

The dictator Gaddafi is resisting the heroic rebellious struggle of the people with bombs, bullets and mercenaries. His past confrontations with imperialism are nothing but ancient history. Almost 20 years ago Khadafi became a staunch ally of the interests of multinational oil companies, U.S. and European imperialism. His dictatorship prohibits the organisation of political parties, trade unions and students movements, with prison and torture for anyone who tries to express disagreement.

Francisco Louçã states that "the left which stands against military aggression can never accept the kind of violence which is being visited upon Libya ”.