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How was the Raj transformed from the jewel in Britain's imperial crown to the independent nations of India and Pakistan?1858: Beginning of the RajIn 1858, British Crown rule was established in India, ending a century of control by the East India Company. The life and death struggle that preceded this formalisation of British control lasted nearly two years, cost £36 million, and is variously referred to as the 'Great Rebellion', the 'Indian Mutiny' or the 'First War of Indian Independence'. Inevitably, the consequences of this bloody rupture marked the nature of political, social and economic rule that the British established in its wake. It is important to note that the Raj (in Hindi meaning 'to rule' or 'kingdom') never encompassed the entire land mass of the sub-continent. Two-fifths of the sub-continent continued to be independently governed by over 560 large and small principalities, some of whose rulers had fought the British during the 'Great Rebellion', but with whom the Raj now entered into treaties of mutual cooperation. 'The 'Great Rebellion' helped create a racial chasm between ordinary Indians and Britons.'Indeed the conservative elites of princely India and big landholders were to prove increasingly useful allies, who would lend critical monetary and military support during the two World Wars. Hyderabad for example was the size of England and Wales combined, and its ruler, the Nizam, was the richest man in the world. They would also serve as political bulwarks in the nationalist storms that gathered momentum from the late 19th century and broke with insistent ferocity over the first half of the 20th century. But the 'Great Rebellion' did more to create a racial chasm between ordinary Indians and Britons. This was a social segregation which would endure until the end of the Raj, graphically captured in EM Forster's 'A Passage to India'.While the British criticised the divisions of the Hindu caste system, they themselves lived a life ruled by precedence and class, deeply divided within itself. Rudyard Kipling reflected this position in his novels. His books also exposed the gulf between the 'white' community and the 'Anglo-Indians', whose mixed race caused them to be considered racially 'impure'.

Please see: (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/independence1947_01.shtml) for the next seven pages.

 

 

NCRI - On Saturday, 1,500 Tehran University students protesting over the bad food at the cafeteria clashed with the State Security Forces (SSF). Ambulances were rushed to the scene, according to eyewitnesses.More than 20 people were injured in clashes between the students shouting anti-regime slogans and the SSF who were forcing students to return to university campus, one eyewitness said.The protests over the bad food started on Friday but soon the event turned into an anti-government demonstration that spread to nearby streets.It was the first time since the spring of 2003 that a student protest spilled over to nearby streets. The SSF and security guards had made it impossible for the students to demonstrate outside the university campus fearing a rerun of the events in the summer of 1999.http://www.ncr-iran.org/content/view/4704/129/

 

In a major demonstration in Tehran on Tuesday, more than 1,000 students chanted, "Death to dictator," "Ahmadinejad is like [Augusto] Pinochet, but Iran would never be another Chile" and "Free the jailed students," on the Polytechnic (Ami Kabir) University.

Their protest came after the mullahs' judiciary announced last week that the three detained students from the school have each been sentenced to around two years in jail on charges of insulting the authorities. The protesters demanded the release of the jailed students.

The demonstrators resisted suppressive measures and threats by the regime’s agents while shouting anti-government slogans. The mullahs' regime had dispatched scores of security guards from nearby universities to help disperse the gathering.

The demonstration was so extensive that the regime could not conceal it and in a rare move the state-run media had to report it

"While chanting slogans against intelligence ministry officials, students named President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as being responsible for corruption and discrimination. By chanting slogans against university guards, the students clashed with them," reported the semi-official news agency Fars.

By lauding the Polytechnic University students for their protest, the Iranian Resistance calls on other students and youth in Tehran to support their move. It also calls on all international human rights organizations especially student unions to condemn suppressive policies of the mullahs' regime against Iranian students.

http://www.ncr-iran.org/content/view/5132/1/

 

 

Thousands demonstrated in southern Iraqi cities, near Baghdad and the border towns to Iran, toprotest Ahmadinejads visit to Iraq.They shouted,'You snapfired and killed Irainian prisoners,who are you going to kill in Iraq?','Iraq is for Iraqis, leave Iraq alone you terrorist'...they demanded a change in theMaleki government and denounced its affiliation with the Iranian regime.

 

 

A group of 15 Palestinian, Israeli and international activists have blocked the entrance to Karmei Zur Settlement today.

The entrance to the Karmei Tzur settlement, which is built on the lands of the Palestinian villages Halhul and Beit Umar, was blocked by a group of about 15 Palestinian, Israeli and international activists. To block the road activists chose to symbolically use razor wire that was taken from the fence that circles the settlement, and prevents Palestinians from accessing their land.

A sign reading "Mortal Danger-Military Zone. Any person who passes or damages the fence endangers his life", which was taken from the wall in the area, was hung on the razor wire

Flyers that were left on the road, reminded settlers that while their freedom of movement is being shortly and symbolically interrupted, the daily Palestinian reality, greatly to settlers convenience, is such of checkpoints, roadblocks, fences, apartheid roads and military occupation.

http://www.awalls.org/the_entrance_to_karmei_tzur_settlement_blocked_with_razor_wire

 

 

 

One person was killed and another 16 injured in a protest against the Israeli blockade of the Karni cargo crossing.

 

 

On Monday November 14th, 162 workers (including 81 women) from the British clothing manufacturer Dewhirst in Morocco were sacked. As a subcontractor, Dewhirst produces mainly clothes for the Marks and Spencer (M&S) company. M&S and Dewhirst have a close and long running relationship. The workers had been waging action against the bad working conditions in the factory that employs 4000 workers in Tanger in the north of the country. The reaction of the boss was to sack these workers with the aim of terrorising the rest of the workforce.The sacked workers have now started an around the clock sit-in in front of the company. The CDT (Confédération Démocratique du Travail) union has taken up their case. Working conditions are really scandalous. They earn a poor 1800 Dirham or approximately 180 euros a month. Wage differentials are very big going from 1800 Dirham to 130,000 Dirham. Some workers spend almost half of their wage (700 Dirham) to buy medicines to treat the illnesses contracted in the factory. As they work with chemical products they suffer from asthma, other respiratory disorders and skin problems. Others suffer from depression and heavy stress. Many women workers in the factory complain also of sexual harassment and abuse.Three years ago Dewhirst moved from Wales to Morocco destroying more than 1000 jobs.Economic development minister Andrew Davies declared in 2002 “Dewhirst has made a strategic decision to withdraw from manufacturing in Wales in a move to increase profits “Dewhirst previously had 5 factories in Morocco. It has already closed two of these and plans to close another and move production to Asia where wages are even lower than in North Africa.Duncan Green, the author of the book Fashion victims wrote that “Dewhirst's profit margins make it the envy of the garment industry”. Those profits are the result of the brutal exploitation of the workforce.Urgent protest and solidarity is needed with the sacked workers from Dewhirst in Tanger.In Defense of Marxism,http://www.marxist.com/sacked-moroccan-workers171105.htm

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Direct Action against the Wall performed by israeli anarchist group in Beit Umar, Palestine.

Beograd - The political situation in Serbia has not changed much yet. There has been passed a special law in the Serbian parliament about accepting the results of election - which was the main cause for beginning the protests. Now the opposition and the people are waiting to see if the law will be promptly implemented, in the meantime :

Huge crowds are on the streets of Belgrade, celebrating what appears to be the overthrow of President Milosevic after a day of mass protests.The new political situation appeared to be confirmed shortly before midnight local time (2200 GMT) when Vojislav Kostunica appeared on state television described as the new president.

What happened in the nine days for the students of Tarbiatmoalem University who took sanctuary in an inviolable place?The refuge of the students of Tarbiatmoallem University goes on to its ninth day. What has happened during this time? More than 125 persons are on hunger strike, an increase from the original 50 who began their hunger strikes. As students begin their ninth day of refuge:

 

Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated Wednesday afternoon at the Huwara Checkpoint in eastern Nablus for the sixtieth memorial of the Palestinian plight.The solidarity march of 200 began in the city center with Palestinian flags waving in the breeze and banners condemning “Israeli crimes,” and what “Israel is doing to the Palestinian people.”Various institutions were represented, as were national and governmental bodies, and all those working in the field of refugee affairs.Director of the Center for Youth Development, Medical Relief and others said that they were marching to express the refusal of the practices of Israeli forces on the occasion of Al Nakba.The Youth Director pointed out that upon arrival at the Huwara Checkpoint, Israeli forces prevented demonstrators from moving forward or standing still by firing gas and concussion grenades.One nonviolent demonstrator was seriously injured when a concussion grenade hit him directly. Three others were also injured.Even more Israeli soldiers arrived to the scene and added roadblocks to the existing checkpoint.The demonstration was not only for Al Nakba, but also part of the Nablus campaign to break the siege and dismantle the checkpoints which hem in this northern West Bank city.http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2772&Itemid=1

 

The National Campaign to Implement the Right of Return organized nonviolent marches throughout the West Bank on Wednesday in memorial of Al Nakba. All began in the morning and headed for the demarcation lines.Beit Sourik, Qalandiya Refugee Camp, Al Eizariya, Shufat Refugee Camp were all points for this morning’s Jerusalem marches which flew Palestinian and United Nations flags.In the northern West Bank’s governorate of Jenin, the march began in the camp of the same name and headed toward Jalama. Nablus’ three camps converged on Huwara Checkpoint.In the Tulkarem governorate residents walked to the road leading to Netanya. A second march is planned for 5:00 pm. Qalqilia also marched. Bethlehem went to the Wall at Rachel’s Tomb in the northern part of the city.Jericho marched, as did Ramallah and Al Bireh, and Hebron in the south. As most of these cities are surrounded by checkpoints or the Wall, they did not have far to go. But a massive demonstration taking place throughout the entire West Bank at the same time sends a message. “It is our right and we will not give it up, nor will we be deterred,” the organizers wrote.http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2775&Itemid=1

 

The National Campaign to Implement the Right of Return organized nonviolent marches throughout the West Bank on Wednesday in memorial of Al Nakba. All began in the morning and headed for the demarcation lines.

Beit Sourik, Qalandiya Refugee Camp, Al Eizariya, Shufat Refugee Camp were all points for this morning’s Jerusalem marches which flew Palestinian and United Nations flags.

In the northern West Bank’s governorate of Jenin, the march began in the camp of the same name and headed toward Jalama. Nablus’ three camps converged on Huwara Checkpoint.

In the Tulkarem governorate residents walked to the road leading to Netanya. A second march is planned for 5:00 pm. Qalqilia also marched. Bethlehem went to the Wall at Rachel’s Tomb in the northern part of the city.

Jericho marched, as did Ramallah and Al Bireh, and Hebron in the south. As most of these cities are surrounded by checkpoints or the Wall, they did not have far to go. But a massive demonstration taking place throughout the entire West Bank at the same time sends a message. “It is our right and we will not give it up, nor will we be deterred,” the organizers wrote.

http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2775&Itemid=1 (accessed 9 June 2008)

 

What happened in the nine days for the students of Tarbiatmoalem University who took sanctuary in an inviolable place?The refuge of the students of Tarbiatmoallem University goes on to its ninth day. What has happened during this time? More than 125 persons are on hunger strike, an increase from the original 50 who began their hunger strikes. As students begin their ninth day of refuge:1- For two days water has been denied to them.2- The students are forbidden from having any communication with those outside.3- Students’ families have been threatened with jail.4- Students have been accused of rioting and provoking hostility.5- Those students who are in bad health conditions have only one type of medicine to use and they cannot leave the university. Even a young girl who was unconscious could not go to the hospital.6- Authorities are trying to frighten these students with noises and alarms in the night.7- Lastly, security forces have blocked off the university.What the students who have taken sanctuary want is: 1- Dismissal of the deputy of student affairs for actions that disrespected the student body.2- Dismissal of the deputy of cultural affairs, who is a member of the traditional clergy, and should be in the seminary school rather than the university for his the extremist approach to certain issues. Some of his actions in the university so far have been:a. Prohibition of musical performance of any kindb. Ban of any mix-gender trips or activities, whether academic or social, except for basij members on pilgrimage3- Reopening the central portion of the library that student used to be able to utilize for reading and studying, but where these are now forbidden4- Improvement of food and sanitation conditions. (Female students say that the bad quality of food in the university has led to stomach aches and other kinds of illness).5- Improvement of the conditions of student dormitories. (has not the first things for living)6- Written apologies by the chiefs of the university to the families who insulted and harassed.7- Cease summoning students involved in these protests to the disciplinary committee (komite enzebati ). The president of the university is trying to put pressure on the students and discourage them from their activities by summoning them to and punishing them in this committee.Some of the slogans of these students protest against the university authorities, demand their resignations and call upon them to stop summoning students to the disciplinary committee.Around noon of the 6th day of these protests, a disciplinary committee employee presented an order that punished two students with suspension of their studies for 2 terms, but did so at a time when the disciplinary committee was not in session and presented this in the absence of these students.Iranian Human Rights Voice, http://www.ihrv.org/inf/?p=296 (accessed 10 June 2008)

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The National Campaign to Implement the Right of Return organized nonviolent marches throughout the West Bank on Wednesday in memorial of Al Nakba. All began in the morning and headed for the demarcation lines.Beit Sourik, Qalandiya Refugee Camp, Al Eizariya, Shufat Refugee Camp were all points for this morning’s Jerusalem marches which flew Palestinian and United Nations flags.In the northern West Bank’s governorate of Jenin, the march began in the camp of the same name and headed toward Jalama. Nablus’ three camps converged on Huwara Checkpoint.In the Tulkarem governorate residents walked to the road leading to Netanya. A second march is planned for 5:00 pm. Qalqilia also marched. Bethlehem went to the Wall at Rachel’s Tomb in the northern part of the city.Jericho marched, as did Ramallah and Al Bireh, and Hebron in the south. As most of these cities are surrounded by checkpoints or the Wall, they did not have far to go. But a massive demonstration taking place throughout the entire West Bank at the same time sends a message. “It is our right and we will not give it up, nor will we be deterred,” the organizers wrote.