Radical Review Fanzine

Abolish ISA, 1st August 2009

2009-07-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Kami akan menyertainya. Walaupun kami mendapat pelbagai nasihat dan kritikan dari rakan-rakan supaya tidak menyertai demonstrasi ini (atas alasan demonstrasi ini adalah propaganda penmbangkang), tapi kami sebagai satu golongan yang percaya pada direct action, akan tetap menyertai demonstrasi ini sebagai salah tanda yang kami prihatin terhadap golongan tertindas dan sebagai satu tanda protes terhadap regime fascist pimpinan UMNO-BN. Kami, non-partisan, libertarian dan anarkis berjuang untuk keadilan dan kesamarataan setiap makhluk, manusia mahupun haiwan. Bagi kami, dengan duduk di rumah dan tidak melakukan apa-apa pada tarikh tersebut adalah tindakan kejam bagai menghalalkan kekejaman regime UMNO-BN. Turunlah ke jalan wahai rakan-rakan ku, teman-teman, keluarga ku. Ini adalah perjuangan. Ini adalah perang.

Anarchy Liberty Equality Solidarity

TAKTIK DAN CARA-CARA DEMONSTRASI JALANAN ALA BLACK BLOC

2009-07-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

BAHAN – BAHAN UTAMA
- pakaian yang sama dengan rakan lain dan menutup identiti pemakainya
- kepercayaan dan perhubungan antara satu sama lain.
- misi

BAHAN – BAHAN LAIN

1 Air: memerlukan dalam kuantiti yang banyak kerana kamu akan memakai pakaian yang tebal di cuaca yang panas dan air amat berguna kerana kamu akan diserang oleh bahan-bahan kimia pihak berkuasa).

2 Makanan: jangan bergantung pada kedai-kedai berhampiran.

3 Pakaian Penyamaran: beberapa helai pakaian amat berguna untuk tunjuan/misi lain/berbeza

4 Senjata Pertahanan:
- banner
- perisai (buatan sendiri/puppet)
- kasut but/steel-toed (pastikan ianya selesa untuk berlari!)
- pelindung/penghadang badan
- topeng gas, google, cermin mata hitam
- bandanna yang telah diperah air limau(air limau bukan air oren/sila simpan buah limau beberapa biji di dalam poket yang mudah untuk diambil)
- baju hujan/hooded/sarung tangan bertujuan untuk mengelak dari terkena bahan-bahan kimia pihak berkuasa
- Bawa juga alat perubatan dan ubatan (first aid) jika anda dan tahu menggunakannya.

5 Senjata Serangan:
- spray can/spray paint
- lastik
- papan tanda
- bendera (tiang yang besar dan tebal adalah satu bonus)
- Molotov cocktails (bom botol)
- Lampu terang (lampu suluh atau apa sahaja jenis lampu yang terang untuk menghalang pandangan pihak berkuasa ketika waktu malam)
- Tangga (berguna untuk melepasi apa sahaja halangan/pagar)

6 Alatan Komunikasi:
- hand radio/walkie-talkie
- telefon bimbit/hand phone (pastikan ianya sudah di top-up)
- police scanner
- bendera (pastikan kod bendera dikongsi bersama)
- drum (pastikan kod drum dikongsi bersama)

7 Pengangkutan/Kenderaan:
- basikal (kenderaan terbaik untuk melarikan diri dan bersembunyi)

BLACK BLOC, pengenalan ringkas
- sebelum ini, anda mungkin sudah terdengar atau terpandang tentang kehebatan Black Bloc yang mana jika tidak keterlaluan, ianya dihormati, dan merupakan salah satu tradisi dan upacara anarkis untuk berkumpul secara beramai-ramai, meng-praktik-kan direct action (direct action bermaksud tindakan atau perlakuan oleh individu atau kumpulan untuk mencapai kehendak/gol mereka dengan cara berbeza dengan cara normal oleh orang normal), memakai pakaian hitam hampir sepenuhnya, mengenakan topeng dan terlibat dalam beberapa aktiviti yang dilarang oleh pihak berkuasa. Taktik ini telah berjaya dalam beberapa pertarungan ulung pada beberapa dekad yang lepas, dan juga gagal dalam beberapa pertarungan yang jumlahnya, tidak cukup jari untuk dibilang. Ada beberapa karekter-karekter budaya tertentu yang mirip dengan taktik Black Bloc boleh dianggap sebagai tanda asal-usul taktik Black Bloc ini. Sebagai contoh, The Boston Tea Party (protes pada 1773 di Massachusetts) adalah salah satu contoh terbaik bagaimana satu Bloc bergerak: peserta merancang secara diam-diam, memakai pakaian yang sama (mereka memakai pakaian/kostum Red Indians yang sebenarnya salah dari segi politikalnya), dan terlibat dalam kelakuan dan tindakan yang provokatif seperti merosakkan harta benda yang mana ianya agak sama dengan apa yang Black Bloc lakukan sekarang iaitu dengan merosakkan dan meng-provok kedai kopi korporat (anda mungkin sudah tahu kedai kopi yang mana). Kepada sesiapa yang meng-praktik-kan ‘direct action’ mestilah selalu ingat beberapa jenis senario di mana satu versi tindakan/pergerakan Bloc, adalah amat berguna.

ADAKAH BLACK BLOC INI BAGUS?
- Taktik Black Bloc ini amat berguna apabila peserta demonstrasi faham yakni tahu yang mereka akan melanggar undang-undang (untuk pengetahuan anda, semua aktiviti yang membangkang/protes pihak berkuasa: raja, kerajaan, polis, pihak kapitalis dll. adalah salah disisi undang-undang negara Malaysia). Jadi, apabila kalian berada dikelompok yang semua orang kelihatan sama, akan timbul kesukaran bagi pihak berkuasa mengenal pasti siapa yang terlibat dalam aktiviti radikal terhadap mereka. Maka, ini bermakna, peserta Black Bloc tidak perlu takut terhadap pihak berkuasa kerana pihak berkuasa menghadapi masalah untuk membuat sebarang penangkapan. Sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, beberapa siri demonstrasi dan tunjuk perasaan telah diadakan di negara ini yang mana pada keesokkan harinya, media akhbar dan televisyen, atas arahan dan kebenaran pihak polis, telah menayangkan gambar-gambar peserta yang dikehendaki oleh pihak polis. Mereka yang dikehendaki ini telah melakukan kesilapan besar apabila mereka gagal menutup wajah mereka ketika melakukan aktiviti ini. Ini bermakna, gerakan Black Bloc yang menyarankan supaya wajah peserta harus ditutup merupakan satu taktik bagi menyukarkan kerja-kerja penangkapan. Kejadian membakar lori/trak polis di Kelantan baru-baru ini merupakan satu contoh terbaik di mana individu pertama yang bertindak membakar lori/trak itu terselamat kerana individu itu berjaya menutup wajahnya dengan bandanna (walaupun sebenarnya individu itu mengambil risiko kerana hanya menutup sebahagian sahaja wajahnya).
- Selain daripada salah satu taktik untuk melepaskan diri, Black Bloc juga merupakan satu aktiviti yang amat menarik, mengujakan dan menyeronokan. Aktiviti ini dapat melepaskan perasaan peserta yang sebelum ini dihantui rasa takut akan pihak berkuasa. Kemunculan Black Bloc akan membuatkan pihak polis terkejut dan semestinya takut, yang mana sebelum ini mereka hanya berdepan dengan manusia berpakaian biasa, berkopiah dan sebagainya, tetapi kali ini, mereka berdepan dengan satu blok manusia serba hitam ala gerila dan akan membuatkan mereka berfikir yang bukan mereka sahaja yang mempunyai unifom, lawan mereka pun sudah pandai sekarang. Kewujudan Bloc ini juga sebagai satu tanda kepada pihak berkuasa yang blok manusia serba hitam ini bukan blok sebarangan.
- Akhir sekali, walaupun anda tidak merancang untuk bertindak liar ketika menyertai Black Bloc ini, anda seharusnya mengenakan kod pakaian yang sama sebagai satu langkah untuk anda menjaga rakan anda yang mungkin akan bertindak sedemikian. Ingatlah, ada bermacam jenis manusia yang menyertai Black Bloc ini (guru yang tidak mahu kehilangan kerja, pelancong/imigran yang tidak mahu dihantar pulang, pelajar yang tidak mahu diberhentikan, kakitangan kerajaan yang tidak mahu dibuang kerana ingin bekerja sambil merosakkan dan mencuri harta benda jabatan mereka dll). Jadi, tugas anda adalah untuk menjaga mereka, seperti mereka menjaga anda. Jadi, apabila semua menjadi “anonymous”, anda pun adalah “anonymous”.

PERSEDIAAN
- Salah satu persediaan yang penting ialah dengan mengenali/memahami dahulu kawasan yang bakal menjadi tempat demonstrasi. Bersama rakan-rakan kalian, cuba kenal pasti lorong-lorong rahsia untuk melarikan diri, jalan mati, kedudukan kamera CCTV, tempat yang bakal menjadi tapak pihak berkuasa terpacak, target-target, ringtangan dan halangan seperti pagar (yang boleh kalian gunakan kelak) dan yang paling penting ialah kenal pasti supaya anda tidak sesat berdemonstrasi. Sekiranya anda tinggal jauh dari tapak demonstrasi, cuba kaji selidik dan simpan di dalam fikiran peta tapak tersebut.
- Pastikan kalian berada di tempat yang selamat sebelum demonstrasi berlangsung. Elakkan dari sebarang tanda syakwasangka oleh pihak berkuasa. Sebelum ini, telah beberapa kali pihak berkuasa telah berjaya menahan peserta dan aktivis di tempat mereka bersembunyi. Sekali lagi, elakkan dari sebarang tanda-tanda yang boleh menimbulkan syakwasangka. Tempat berkumpul sebelum demonstrasi juga harus dititik-beratkan kerana kalian tidak mahu tempat kalian berkumpul ditutup oleh pihak berkuasa kerana pada hari demonstrasi, pihak berkuasa akan menutup beberapa kawasan di dalam bandar.
- Biasanya, sebelum demonstrasi, peserta Bloc akan berbincang tentang taktik dan sebagainya. Sekali lagi diingatkan, pastikan tempat kalian berbincang itu selamat. Tempat berbincang itu haruslah bergantung pada berapa ramai yang akan menyertai perbincangan itu. Jika kalian cuba merancang satu Bloc yang simbolik dan besar, cuba hebohkan hal ini secara hati-hati kepada kawan-kawan kalian tetapi risikonya amatlah tinggi. Untuk merancang Bloc yang agak tertutup dan selamat, cuba hebohkan rancangan ini pada rakan-rakan yang anda percaya sahaja. Dan pastikan rakan anda itu menghebohkan perkara ini pada rakan yang dia percaya sahaja. Dan seterusnya dan seterusnya.
- Aspek psikologi memainkan peranan penting. Sentiasa berjaga-jaga tentang keburukan yang akan berlaku terhadap diri anda dan rakan-rakan kerana dengan cara tersebut, anda akan cuba sedaya-upaya meminimumkan kesilapan yang bakal anda lakukan.

KETIKA DEMONSTRASI…
- Pastikan anda ingat beberapa nombor telefon penting. Sekiranya gagal, cuba guna pen marker (permanent marker) dan tulis nombor-nombor tersebut di badan anda. Nombor-nombor tersebut mungkin anda amat perlukan sekiranya sesuatu terjadi pada diri anda.
- Pastikan anda hanya membawa sejumlah wang yang cukup. Ingat, jangan membawa wang pada jumlah yang lebih kerana ianya akan menjadi milik pihak berkuasa sekiranya anda ditahan.
- Sila tanggalkan sebarang subang pada diri anda kerana ianya akan melukakan badan anda.
- Pastikan anda tidak membawa sebarang buku alamat atau apa-apa anarkis propaganda. Anda tidak memerlukan bahan tersebut ketika upacara demonstrasi.
- Bawa air minuman yang banyak. Ingat, anda di Malaysia dan anda memakai pakaian yang banyak. Nanti kalau panas ke, haus ke, sendiri mau ingatlah beb.
- Makanan pun perlu dibawa bagi mengelak kehilangan tenaga. Upacara demonsrasi akan mengambil tempoh berjam-jam dan makanan berguna ketika anda berada di dalam tong sampah ketika cuba bersembunyi dari pihak autoritas. Pisang dan roti adalah makanan yang ideal kerana mudah dibawa, ringan dan berkhasiat. Ianya juga penting kerana ianya mudah untuk diberikan pada rakan-rakan yang lain yang kehilangan tenaga. Pastikan juga makanan anda itu tidak terkena sebarang bahan kimia pihak berkuasa.
- Senantiasa buka mata anda terhadap pihak berkuasa yang menyamar sebagai orang biasa. Pastikan manusia-manusia ini tidak bercampur dengan anda dan pastikan anda tidak melakukan perkara yang melulu di hadapan mereka. Fikir sebelum bertindak. Pastikan juga anda tidak membuka topeng anda di hadapan orang yang anda tidak kenali dan juga sentiasa berhati-hati terhadap manusia yang membawa kamera (ianya mungkin pihak media ataupun fotografi biasa kerana zaman sekarang, sudah ramai berjaya memiliki kamera. Oleh itu elakkan dari sebarang tindakan pendedahan identity di hadapan mereka)
- Pakaian anda amatlah penting ketika berada di dalam Bloc. Sebarang patches band hardcore punk kegemaran anda harus lah tidak didedahkan bagi mengelak dari ditahan. Jika hoodie atau jaket anda mempunyai patches, sila terbalikkan apabila anda memakainya. Ingat, ini bukan tempat menayangkan patches crusty anda. Juga diingatkan, pakaian yang dikenakan haruslah selesa dan tidak membebankan. Pakaian anda itu penting untuk digunakan bagi mengelak dari semburan bahan kimia. Baju kalis air adalah yang terbaik untuk mengelak bahan kimia tersebut. Pastikan anda memakai beberapa helai baju di dalam bagi tujuan melepaskan diri. Nasihat pihak kami, pakai baju dalaman yang mempunyai warna kontra dengan jaket hitam anda. Ini bertujuan mengaburi mata pihak berkuasa.
- Jika berlaku sebarang aktiviti dan tindakan agresif, sila guna bendera, pagar, banner atau apa-apa alatan yang saya ingatkan di atas sebagai penghadang.
- Penting. Persoalan sama ada bilakah masa sesuai untuk memakai topeng adalah sukar untuk dijawab dan sukar untuk ditetapkan. Jika anda memakai topeng ketika Bloc sudah terbina, anda berada dalam risiko yang identity anda sudah terdedah. Jika anda memakai terlalu awal, risiko untuk ditahan sebelum Bloc itu terbina juga timbul. Kami hanya boleh menyarankan yang topeng boleh dipakai apabila Bloc baru sahaja terbina dan masa untuk memakainya amatlah rumit. Oleh itu, pastikan yang anda tidak memakai topeng terlalu awal atau terlalu lewat.
- Bina Black Bloc anda apabila peserta-peserta demonstrasi lain sudah memulakan demonstrasi mereka. Elakkan daripada membina Bloc dahulu kerana bagi pihak berkuasa, Black Bloc kelihatan lebih mengancam dan radikal dari orang lain.
- Apabila Black Bloc sudah terbina, pastikan anda berada rapat dengan rakan-rakan yang lain (kepit tangan antara satu-sama lain. Taktik ini adalah mirip taktik pengakap di sekolah dahulu). Ini juga penting bagi Bloc ini kerana dengan cara ini, anda akan sedar bila rakan anda akan ditarik oleh pihak polis dan ianya berguna untuk menyelamatkan rakan anda tersebut dari ditahan dengan melawan balik pihak berkuasa. Pertahankan diri dan rakan anda. Dan jangan mengalah!
- Untuk komunikasi, jika perlu, guna nama samaran. Untuk penukaran taktik atau apa-apa tindakan, sila jerit dengan kuat supaya rakan anda yang lain tahu apa yang terjadi. Ini perlu kerana di dalam Bloc, anda dan rakan-rakan adalah satu kumpulan dan pasukan. Jangan biarkan apa-apa berlaku terhadap teammate anda. Sekali lagi diingatkan, sila berikan bantuan jika ada yang memerlukan.
- Jika anda bersedia untuk merosakkan harta benda pihak kapitalis, sila pastikan keadaan dan masa tersebut sesuai untuk bertindak. Periksa dahulu di mana pengawal keselamatan dan periksa dahulu kelemahan harta benda tersebut. Tindakan seperti menconteng dengan spray paint dan memecahkan tingkap adalah kaedah yang mudah untuk dipraktikkan. Akan tetapi, sering berlaku di mana-mana demonstrasi sebelum ini, timbulnya konflik antara anarkis dengan peserta lain. Peserta demonstrasi lain akan menganggap kerja-kerja merosakkan harta benda ini adalah tidak wajar dan mereka menganggap tindakan pihak anarkis ini sebagai ‘keganasan’ (violence). Perlu diingatkan, sekiranya anda terlibat dalam situasi seperti ini, sila terangkan kepada mereka apa yang anda percaya dan makna sebenar violence itu kerana tindakan anda itu tidak mencederakan mana-mana manusia sebaliknya anda hanya merosakkan harta benda.
- Senjata paling merbahaya yang bakal digunakan ialah molotov cocktails. Untuk menggunakan senjata ini, pastikan tiada pihak berkuasa di belakang anda dan di belakang anda ialah penunjuk perasaan lain. Penggunaan senjata ini boleh membuatkan anda berada ke penjara. Jadi, cara penggunaan yang terbaik ialah dengan muncul dari peserta demonstrasi yang lain, membaling molotov cocktail dan hilangkan diri secepat mungkin. Dinasihatkan anda membalingnya ke arah harta benda polis, bukan ke arah pegawai polis. Untuk membaling objek ke arah polis, objek-objek lain seperti mentol lampu, botol kaca, bom cat dan melastik apa-apa objek juga boleh digunakan.
- Bersedia untuk menghadapi apa-apa sahaja senjata pihak polis. Mereka akan menggunakan cota, penyembur lada, meriam air, peluru getah, bom asap, gas pemedih mata, dan sebagainya. Sentiasa bertindak dahulu daripada mereka. Mengenai bom asap dan tin gas pemedih mata, ianya boleh dicapai dan dibaling ke arah mereka. Pakai sarung tangan untuk melakukan aksi terbabit. Dan yang paling penting, pasti ianya bukan concussion bomb ataupun jenisan bom yang boleh meletup. Pastikan ianya jatuh ke jalan selama beberapa saat sebelum anda mengapai dan membalingkannya semula.
- Jika anda tidak bernasib baik, anda akan ditahan oleh pihak polis. Ketika ditahan, simpan di dalam minda yang segala tingkah laku yang bagi anda adalah untuk menpertahankan diri akan membuatkan anda disabitkan atas kesalahan cuba mencederakan anggota polis. Jika rakan anda cuba melepaskan anda, sila memudahkan kerja mereka dengan mengaburi mata polis dan menyusahkan kerja anggota tersebut. Cuba yang terbaik untuk memperlambatkan kerja penahanan kerana ianya akan memberi ruang kepada rakan anda untuk melepaskan anda.
- Satu lagi aspek penting yang perlu diingati. Bukan sahaja pihak berkuasa yang perlu kita berjaga-jaga, orang biasa yang mungkin polis menyamar, manusia yang bertentangan idelogi, neo-Nazi (yang mungkin merasa kurang selesa dengan sepanduk dan bendera hitam anda) dan bermacam-macam lagi manusia juga perlu kita awasi kerana mereka ialah golongan yang mengsabotaj usaha kita. Jadi, berjaga-jagalah dengan orang yang anda tidak kenali.
- Untuk melarikan diri, tukar pakaian anda dan pastikan anda kelihatan seperti peserta protes yang lain dan bukannya datang Black Bloc tadi. Pastikan tiada sesiapa dan kamera di sekeliling anda. Ini bagi mengelak penangkapan selepas upacara demonstrasi selesai. Jika anda mempunyai basikal, letakkan basikal anda pada tempat yang kurang berisiko dan mudah untuk digapai dan menghilangkan diri. Pastikan juga jikalau perlu, berada disamping rakan anda. Pastikan Bloc tadi sudah berpecah, tukar pakaian dan hilangkan diri.

SELEPAS ITU…
- Selepas sahaja selesai berdemonstrasi, cuba berkumpul bersama rakan yang lain dan berbincang tentang apa yang telah diperolehi dan apa yang kurang. Ini bertujuan untuk mendengar dan memberikan cadangan supaya di masa akan datang, Black Bloc ini akan terus berkembang dan untuk memperbaiki kelemahan di dalam taktik. Ingat, ketika berbincang, pastikan hal-ehwal perbincangan anda itu tidak didengari oleh orang yang tidak dikenali. Jangan sesekali berasa takbur dan menghebohkan perkara ini kepada orang ramai. Pastikan juga, ketika berbincang, kalian semua kelihatan seperti golongan-golongan orang biasa. Pakai pakaian seperti remaja-remaja lain.

Akhir kata, moga kalian tidak ditangkap dan Selamat Meng-Smash Negara!!

p/s: Ditranslatekan oleh Cik Anne Nonny Mouse melalui buku keluaran Crimethinc. Maaf atas segala masalah kesilapan tatabahasa. Jika sakit mata baca kat PC, print it and fotostat banyak2 then bagi kat kenalan rapat.

Mozak/Rotten Charles Manson Split CD OUT NOW

2009-07-01T11:37:00.001-07:00

(next) ISSUE 3: Vegetarian Special Issue

2009-04-05T02:38:00.000-07:00

If you a vegan or vegetarian and living in Malaysia, please email us, phone us, say hi to us and or anything because our next issue would be the Vegetarian Special Issue and we would like to do some interview with you. This issue will contribute to our next project about making a documentary film on vegetarian in Malaysia. So please don’t be shy dear animal lovers, we want you to share the beauty of veg diet to the wooorld…

Issue No 2 Out Now

2009-04-05T02:21:00.000-07:00

Interview with
German Thrashcore: The Tangled Lines,
Malaysian Finest Grindcore: Vormit
American Anarchist & Professor: Noam Chomsky

Plus:
News,columns,, book reviews and music reviews
and new feature How To Be A Greener Punk

Get Your Copy Now at:
- Ricecooker Shop, 1st Floor Annexe, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur
- Nebiula Shop aka Jaie Shop, 1st Floor, Campbell Complex, KL
- Tools N Trade, 1st Floor, Campbell Complex, KL
- Auntie Shop, 1st Floor, Campbell Complex, KL
- Borders Bookstore, 1st Floor, Berjaya Times Square, KL (we don't sell directly at this megabookstore. just ask for your copy from staff name apeng,arip or adik)
- Zurich Skateshop, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
- and at distro around the globe

Or just contact us to get yourself a copy or sell at your area.

Also contact us for issue no 1

New House

2009-04-05T02:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting as often as I could. Actually, I just move out from my uncle house at Bandar Tasek Selatan to Pandan Indah, living together with El Pheng (the Garrison), Abang (Garrison, No Securitx) and Ekey (Killing Steward). At this house, I didn’t online as often as before, so there is the reason why I could not update the blog,email or myspace for this zine. But I try the best to reply any questions and orders that I received. Thanks again for support this zine.
Cheers

rip

2008 civil unrest in Greece

2009-01-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

The 2008 civil unrest in Greece started on 6 December 2008, when Alexandros Grigoropoulos, a 15-year-old student, was fatally shot by Epaminondas Korkoneas, a policeman. The shooting occurred after an altercation between a police patrol and a small group of youths in the Exarcheia district of central Athens.

The death of Grigoropoulos resulted in large demonstrations, which escalated to widespread rioting, with hundreds of rioters damaging property and engaging riot police with Molotov cocktails, stones and other objects. Demonstrations and rioting soon spread to several other cities, including Thessaloniki, the country's second-largest city. Outside Greece, solidarity demonstrations, riots and, in some cases, clashes with local police also took place in a number of European cities including Istanbul, London, Paris, Rome, Dublin, Berlin, Frankfurt, Madrid, Barcelona, Amsterdam, The Hague, Copenhagen, Bordeaux, Seville as well as Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, and the western Cypriot city of Paphos. Newspaper Kathimerini called the rioting "the worst Greece has seen since the restoration of democracy in 1974".

While the unrest was triggered by the shooting incident, commentators described the reactions as expressing deeper causes as well, especially a widespread feeling of frustration in the younger generation about specific economic problems of the country (partly as a result of the global economic crisis), a rising unemployment rate among the young generation and a perception of general inefficiency and corruption in Greek state institutions.

The shooting incident

The fatal shooting that triggered the riots and protests took place in the evening of 6 December 2008, shortly after 9 p.m. in the Exarcheia district of central Athens.

According to press reports,two Special Guards (a special category of the Greek police personnel, originally meant for guard duties on public property)had been engaged in a minor verbal clash with a small group of teenagers in a main street of Exarcheia, outside a shop. On driving away in their police car, they were then confronted by another small group at a nearby street crossing. The two guards were ordered by the Greek police center of operations to disengage immediately and withdraw from the confrontation site. However, the two guards did not oblige and are therefore accused of not following explicit orders. Instead, the two special guards chose to station the police vehicle outside the PASOK headquarters, left their car and went to Tzavella Street on foot in order to confront the youngsters.

Following some exchange of verbal abuse that, according to several witnesses, was initiated by the guards, one of them, Epaminondas Korkoneas, fired his gun. The initial police's report on the incident claims that the special guard shot in response to a renewed attack by the youths that involved throwing stones and bottles. Eyewitnesses speaking to the Greek mass media, however, reported that the special guards were not attacked by the youths nor was their physical safety put in danger at any time. Instead, the special guards approached the group and verbally assaulted them in order to provoke them. The special guard said he fired three rounds, two warning shots in the air and a third aimed on the ground. Several eyewitnesses said they believed the policeman had targeted the youngsters directly. The victim, Alexandros - Andreas Grigoropoulos was a 15-year-old student, who lived in the affluent northern Athens suburb of Palaio Psychiko and attended a private school. Immediately following the shooting, he was transported to the nearby Evangelismos Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigation of the shooting

A criminal investigation was initiated against the police officer who fired the shot on a charge of murder ("intentional homicide" according to Greek law), while his partner was charged as an accomplice. Both were suspended from duty and were kept in detention. The defense counsel that was initially hired resigned shortly after accepting the case, citing personal reasons.

On December 10th, counsellor for the defendants Alexis Kougias, said that preliminary results of the ballistic tests apparently show that it was indeed a ricochet and that the two policemen will only appear before the Public Prosecutor after the forensic, toxicological, and ballistic examinations have been completed. The results of forensic tests indicate that the bullet that killed 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos, and sparked the rioting, appears to have entered the youth’s body directly. This casts doubt on claims by the 37-year-old policeman charged with the boy’s murder that the bullet had been fired as a warning and ricocheted. On the morning of 11 December, Dimitris Tsovolas, former MP and Economic Minister under previous government formed by PASOK agreed to serve as the counsellor for Grigoropoulos' family.

On the same day, counsel for the two police involved in the shooting released an explanatory statement that described the deceased as demonstrating "deviant behaviour". According to the memorandum, Grigoropoulos was a teenager from a wealthy family, he frequented the Exarcheia district, and he had allegedly taken part in riotous activities that took place following the end of a basketball game two hours before he was shot, and that, in general "the victim did not show the expected behaviour and personality of a 15-year old adolescent". Grigoropoulos' family, friends, schoolmates and high school teachers immediately condemned those statements and declared in public that the allegations in the defendants' memorandum are "completely inaccurate" and "insulting"; the private school Grigoropoulos attended also issued a public statement that denies all the allegations. Alexis Kougias's stance, as well as his comments in the explanatory memorandum have forced the Athens bar association to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him.

On December 15th, Alexis Kougias, counsel for the defendants, appealed that the two defendants be released from custody, on grounds that neither of them ever had any previous criminal convictions, that their names and addresses are known, that they have considerable ties with their community, and that the charges are based on the testimony of witnesses that defendants' object to. Specifically, the defendants' counsel took issue with the testimony of four eyewitnesses who had testified for the Public Prosecutor, and appeared to refute almost all the claims made by the defendants and their counsellor.

On 17 December, Dimitris Tsovolas, counsel for Grigoropoulos' family, publicly requested that defendants and defendants' counsel stop provoking the Greek people and the victim's family, by making degrading comments, unsubstantiated accusations, and smearing the memory of Alexis. The ballistics report was also released on 17 December and stated that the bullet that killed Grigoropoulos had in fact ricocheted. However, forensic reports conducted on 21 December concluded that the bullet was not fired in the air, but towards the group of teenagers, though there may have been no intention to kill the boy.

Aftermath

By Wednesday 31 December, 2008 The occupation of Greek universities in Athens and Thessaloniki had ended and the administrative officials had begun assessing the cost of damage done during the occupation.

On Thursday, 1 January, 2009 Arsonists attacked 10 banks and two car dealerships around Athens and Piraeus amidst the New Year celebrations. No injuries or arrests were reported by the police. The attacks caused minor damage. At least five arson attacks were also reported by police in Thessaloniki; earlier that day police also briefly clashed with protesters, and fired tear gas at rock throwing demonstrators.

In the early morning of Monday, 5 January, 2009 at least two masked gunmen attacked a riot police unit guarding the Greek Ministry of Culture in central Athens with over 20 rounds of bullets, hitting a 21-year-old officer in the chest and groin. The officer had apparently spotted the gunmen and warned his colleagues shortly before he was hit. An automatic Kalashnikov rifle and an MP5 submachine gun were used in the attack, also a fragmentation grenade was used as a diversion as the perpetrators escaped. The wounded policeman, identified as Diamandis Matzounis, was in a critical, but stable, condition in hospital after six hours of surgery. Authorities said they had cordoned off the region around the site of the attack to collect evidence for forensic examination. At least 72 people were detained during the initial search for suspects. Police said ballistics tests showed the MP5 matched one used in a 30 April 2007, attack on a police station in Athens suburb Nea Ionia. That attack caused no injuries but was claimed by the far-left Revolutionary Struggle group. Police also said ballistics tests showed that a second weapon used on Monday, a Kalashnikov rifle, was used in the more recent attack on police, on 23 December 2008. A group calling itself Popular Action claimed to be behind that attack. Though the latter claim was dismissed by the Greek police's counter-terrorist unit as a hoax.

On Friday, 9 January, 2009 a long-planned education protest march took place in Athens. The rally was organized to coincide with the anniversary of the 1991 murder of academic Nikos Temponeras by a right-wing unionist, participants said they protest against police repression, corrupt politicians, the education reform and a social system that offers little hope, it was one of two held in the capital but it was the only one that turned violent. The trouble began after the rally by several thousand schoolchildren, teachers and students had almost reached its end, near the entrance to University of Athens where it had started. When hooded youths broke away from the student march and threw stones and flares at riot police, who fired tear gas and flash grenades. The youths then turned on police, hurling rocks and flares. At one point a group of protesters tried to force their way into the rector’s office and to occupy the central offices of the University of Athens. The occupation of the University’s offices was obstructed by groups of students and academics. According to rector Christos Kittas, police officers did not ask for university immunity to be lifted so that they could gain access to the faculty. Clashes continued in the area which was closed to traffic and where hundreds of demonstrators remained for an hour. There were repeated police charges and several arrests were made. Some 60 persons were arrested with several demonstrators severely injured in clashes with police. Between those arrested were fourteen lawyers, who said that they had nothing to do with the protest, also several people sustained minor injuries and one was hospitalized. Afterwards the influential Union of Journalists for Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA) protested to the Ministry for the Interior and Public Order about "the brutal attacks and beatings" to which reporters and camera crews had been subjected by some riot police units. "There may have been excesses to be condemned, we are looking into the issue, but the police did their job," Minister for the Interior and Public Order Prokopis Pavlopoulos told Greek television. Later that evening, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the capital’s central police headquarters on Alexandras Avenue, leading to some tense scuffles with officers. But the crowd had dispersed by late night, according to police who did not report any additional problems.

Protests were carried on Thursday, the 15th of January, policemen labor unionists also took part in the demonstrations "to condemn the violent phenomena, from wherever they come, and to state categorically that social problems are not solved by repressive measures". Veteran Manolis Glezos who took part in the protest, attributed police violence to the obedience of police forces to the executive power and not the judiciary.

On Friday, 16 January some of the lawyers arrested on Friday's demonstration in Athens, filed suits against police officers accusing them for breach of duty, attempted bodily harm and unnecessarily exposing of people to tear gas.

On Wednesday, 17 January a demonstration was held in Larissa, where more than three thousand people protested against the anti-terrorism act and requested the withdrawal of the charges and the release of four jailed students ,who were arrested during the demonstrations of December 2008. Larissa was the only city where the act was applied last month when twenty five teenagers were arrested. At the same time protestants of a separate rally also in Larissa destroyed bank cameras and wrote slogans on walls, churches and supermarkets.

Greek police battle with rioters

2009-01-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

From BBC

Hundreds of anarchist protesters in Greece have fought running battles with police through the centre of the capital, Athens.

The demonstrators were demanding the release of people arrested during rioting last month after a policeman shot dead a youth aged 15.

Rioters smashed shop windows and threw stones and petrol bombs, police say.

Officers responded with baton charges, tear gas and pepper spray and eventually dispersed the crowd.

Compared to the riots that swept Greece last month, Saturday's violence was on a relatively small scale but it showed that anger against the state and the police are still simmering, the BBC's Malcolm Brabant reports from Athens.

The street fighters and anarchists are trying hard to keep alive what they regard as December's insurrection and demonstrations covering a wide range of grievances are taking place on a daily basis, our correspondent says.

But the nature of the clashes may soon change, he adds.

The futility of firing tear gas at rioters who wear gas masks has dawned on the authorities and it is reported that Greece is taking delivery of water cannon, which should be ready for action within a fortnight, our correspondent reports.

Canada: Anarchists Sabotage Bank -22/01/09

2009-01-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

On the 19th of January we sabotaged a Scotiabank location in Canada. We inserted glue and pins into two of the locks and poured glue over the keypads of the ATM machines and glued the cardslots after inserting homemade blank plastic cards. Scotiabank is a sponsor of the Security & Prosperity Partnership(SPP) which will be ratified in the year 2010 along with two other Capitalist Spectaclesthe G8 meetings & Olympic games taking place the same year.

The present/future they seek for us is one of complete social control through the use of "intelligent surveillance systems", "biometric technoligies", and hyper militarized borders. The city streets/buses/subways/work places are always under the watchful eye of the state/cops/bosses. This prison society we live in is not so different than the warehouses of cheap labour millions of people have been forced into across North Americas prison systems.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our most heartfelt solidarity with all those fighting
this poisonous system and to make a proposal that we use the lead up year to these events as an opportunity
to inspire a renewal and intensity of actions that we saw throughout Canada the last two years. It's not that
we think excuses for action are necessary considering the state of things but a coordinated year of creative & diverse actions could be a powerful expression of our collective anger and desires for a brighter future. We hope this call reaches you in good spirits and look forward to your responses.

Never let the fuckers rest!

-Anonymous

Post NO-G8 Fundraising 27 Dec (Sat) @ FNBKL's house

2008-12-19T00:22:00.000-08:00

Harap semua dapat dtg.. kalau sesiapa yang pergi ke Femme Fest, harap dapat singgah lepas gig tu.. kami ada menyediakan MINUMAN ISTIMEWA malam itu.. semua kutipan hasil dari jualan minuman ini akan diberi kepada movement anti-G8 di Jepun.

kepada kolektif2, kolektif dijemput pada 29hb, ke Radical Collective Convergence di rumah FnbKL. Dalam convergence ni akan membincangkan tentang strategi, rancangan, objektif, masalah, dan halatuju kolektif yang ada. kepada kolektif yang berminat.. sila hubungi +603-79559041 untuk confirm kedatangan.

cheers!

* * * * *

A little overview on what is G8.

G8 is a forum of the eight most powerful governments: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; in addition, the EU is represented within the G8, but cannot host or chair. Each calendar year, the responsibility of hosting the G8 rotates through the member states and each year they discuss ways to eradicate poverty, minimize the spread of HIV, access to health care, weapons, and environment and so on. You are right; it is too good to be true. The truth is the G8 summits effectively decide what sort of world you and your children will live in. Behind closed doors decisions are made that mean our environment is sacrificed to profit, our health service is run down and privatised and millions of people continue to die for want of clean water and basic medicine. Simple example, US, one of the actors in G8, advocates on preserving the environment and how we should all go green. But at the same time, this is the same government which refuses to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and yet they are talking about making the world a greener place. Same goes to free trade. There was once where they were all talking about, "MAKE TRADE FAIR". But again how far is that true. These are the same countries which dump whatever products that they can't sell to Africa and other countries. Another example, which we can all relate to, is FTA. Free Trade Agreement. US and now EU are both pressuring Malaysia and other ASEAN countries to join them in fulfilling their dreams of making this world a borderless free trade area. In this very same agreement, these countries, which happen to be manufactures of medicine, impose intellectual property rights. This monopoly benefits producers of brand medicines and delays availability of generic products, making many products unattainable for many of those who are badly in need of medications such as PLHIVs.

Knowing that there are parties which are trying to systematically capitalize on others disadvantages, weakness, and vulnerabilities, there are initiatives and movements which are trying relentlessly to put an end to this. Every year as those eight countries prepare to meet, these movements too make their plans on ways and means to show their dissent and subsequently to put an end to the summit of eight. Early this year, the summit was held in Hokkaido and again many activists around the world met in the island to show their dissent. This year was a bit different; many were sponsored to Hokkaido to extend their solidarity and to join them in making this G8 the last one ever. But things didn't work as they planned and more cost incurred during the anti-G8 protest which left them with a big debt. So now, we are organizing a post anti G8 event to raise fund to ease their burden. There will be an art exhibition, performances, Bebe's infamous delicacies, and many more, and the best part is all the proceeds will go to the organizers of the anti-G8 protest.

Below is the itinerary of the programme:

Venue: No.
14, Jalan Jelawat 8/10 (map)

27th December, Saturday

11.00 am
* Art exhibition
* The Really, Really Free Market
A Really Really Free Market is like a potluck for whatever you want to give or take away. We all have skills, ideas, objects, smiles, talents, friendship, excitement, discussions, and many other things to share. If we bring them all together at the Really Really Free Market, we can provide more balanced and full lives for everyone. Everybody brings something and goes away with more.You are more than welcomed to bring your things so that you can give it to people for free. If you have no items to be given away, then you can also provide services e.g. free haircuts, free massage, fix bicycle etc. Anything as long as the key word is FREE! Or, just come on by to check out the things and you might just end up with a bag full of free stuff or knowledge to be taken back home. Maybe even a new haircut. FOR FREE! (Please bring your own plastic/shopping bag. Save the environment.)

* Bebe's infamous delicacies

1.00 pm
* Screening
-Fourth World War (90 minutes)
-Broga
- anti-G8 documentaries.. etc

3.00 pm
* Introduction of collectives
There are many collectives in Malaysia and outside of Malaysia which are doing great work but we know very little of them. This session will introduce to us all these new and old collectives and these people will be travelling all the way from their hometowns (some are even coming from Singapore!) to KL especially for this event so that they can tell you themselves what they are all about and what do they do.

4.00 pm
* Kids coloring session

6.00 pm
*Alind's experience sharing session
Alind and another friend went to the previous No-G8 protest in Japan.
In this session, he'll share his experience during the protest

7.00 pm
* Fund raising event
• Live Bands (The Pips, Meor, Laikong Brigade etc)
• Performances and screenings
• Bebe's infamous delicacies

12midnight
End

We hope you and your friends would be able to join us that day and we also hope to share and learn from you via this programme. Hopefully, this will be a beginning to more great things to come.

Thank you
Food Not Bombs Kuala Lumpur

Greek youths break into state TV center, take over

2008-12-18T11:26:00.000-08:00

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Protesters forced their way into Greece's state NET television news studio Tuesday and interrupted a news broadcast featuring the prime minister so they could urge viewers to join mass anti-government demonstrations.

For more than a minute, about 10 youths blocked a broadcast showing a speech by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. Instead, they displayed banners reading: "Stop watching, get out onto the streets," and "Free everyone who has been arrested." No one was hurt, and no arrests were reported.

NET chairman Christos Panagopoulos claimed the protesters violently forced their way into the studio. "This goes beyond any limit," he said.

It was the latest twist in 11 days of riots and protests after a policeman shot and killed a 15-year-old boy on Dec. 6. The violent protests have evolved from being just aimed at Greek police to being highly critical of Karamanlis' conservative government.

Karamanlis has rejected mounting demands to resign and call new elections.

Earlier Tuesday, masked youths attacked riot police headquarters in Athens and protesters clashed with police in the northern city of Thessaloniki.

Police said 30 youths threw petrol bombs and stones at the riot police building, causing extensive damage to seven cars and a police bus parked outside.

Students blocked streets in Athens and dozens of teenagers gathered outside the capital's main court complex and a maximum security prison—where some threw stones at police.

Protesters have called for riot officers to be pulled off the streets, for police to be disarmed and for the government to revise its economic, social and education policies.

The protests have brought higher education in Greece to a standstill. Lessons have stopped at more than 100 secondary schools that are under occupation by students, according to the Education Ministry. Scores of university buildings across Greece are also occupied.

After the shooting death of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, furious youths smashed and burnt hundreds of shops in Athens' main shopping area, and attacked riot police who responded with massive tear gas.

Dozens of people have been injured in the rioting, while more than 300 people have been arrested. The policeman accused of killing the teenager has been charged with murder and is being held pending trial.

In the northern port of Thessaloniki, riot police fired tear gas Tuesday to disperse 300 youths throwing fruit and stones outside the city's main court complex. The disturbance followed a court decision that found eight police officers guilty of abusing a student following riots two years ago.

The policemen received suspended sentences ranging from three years and three months for grievous bodily harm to 15 months for being an accessory to the abuse.

In a symbolic gesture meant to revive riot-shocked Athens, city authorities will light a large Christmas tree Tuesday on central Syntagma Square—which has been at the center of many of the protests. The tree replaces one burnt during last week's riots.

Overnight, arsonists attacked three Athens banks with petrol bombs, causing extensive damage. There were no injuries or arrests. Every year, small anarchist groups carry out dozens of firebombings in Greece against government property, banks and diplomatic vehicles.

A Few Words on the Greek Insurrection

2008-12-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

From Anarkismo

There is no denying the tragedy of the violence in Greece, especially the murders by the State’s police forces and their “citizen” allies, but also of all violence which is never pretty except in some illusions. But all the same, this is probably the best and most important news for us since May 1968. It is especially good news after our public discredit in the U.S. during the convention protests. This insurrection makes anarchism an internationally important social and political movement again. Not to say that in itself it will lead to anarchism becoming a popular movement elsewhere, but at least it does not end in public humiliation whereas it does demonstrate the power of a popular anarchist movement to resist the bourgeois State. Still, it is worth making a few more critical notes.

The social rebellion in Greece contains all the explosive potential for a revolution. But an insurrection alone is not a revolution. Now more than ever discipline is needed to keep the struggle going and intensifying — not the discipline of waiting but the discipline of acting, the discipline it takes to step up the struggle faster than the authorities are able to control. More than that, it requires a more definite social content than fighting police and ransacking banks. Insurrections that fail to deepen and intensify inevitably become defensive, then either are defeated by the State or simply fade out. Without discipline and direction, this rebellion will fail to deepen and intensify. By deepening, I mean moving from only immediately fighting the police and State forces to seizing capitalist and State property, as well the need for social self-organizing of the people, more specifically of the rebellious workers and anti-authoritarian students. That is how this uprising can become a revolutionary struggle.

The anarchists and the rebellious people of Greece have shown they know how to fight, that they know how to agitate and organize well enough to effectively resist the State. It is unlikely that even their best efforts will lead to a complete revolution, but with disciplined, concerted effort they could make some real revolutionary conquests. Furthermore, the uprisings in Greece point the way to wider anarchist agitation and involvement in popular social struggles to resist the oppressive apparatus of the State. Anarchist groups and organizations should openly support the rebellion in Greece and make every effort to equal the achievements of our Greek comrades. At the same time, all must be wary of the old mistake of substituting riot for revolution, the past failure of our movement of letting confusion and disorganization prevent us from being at the front of social struggles and turning rebellion into social revolution.

Article written for Anarkismo.net

Why Athens is burning

2008-12-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

By Stathis N. Kalyvas

Athens, along with several other Greek cities, has been burning for the several days. The rioting was triggered by the death of a teenager killed by the police on Saturday night. How to make sense of a reaction that appears to be so massively disproportionate?

Several observers have pointed to the usual suspects: maladministration and corruption; the collapse of confidence in the government; political scandals; a growing gap between the rich and the poor.

These arguments are wanting: Greece is hardly exceptional in terms of its problems, yet rioting and destruction on such scale are unusual in Europe.

In fact, these riots are a symptom of a deep cultural problem rather than a social one. The rioting youths are not disadvantaged, poor, or even immigrant (as in France). They are, for the most part, regular teenagers, children of the middle class; in fact, the teenager killed by the police lived in one of Athens's most exclusive suburbs. Why are they, then, reacting in such a way?

After Greece's transition to democracy in the mid-1970s, a public discourse of resistance against authority emerged and became dominant. Civil disobedience, including violent demonstrations and the destruction of public property, is almost always justified, if not glorified; the police can only be wrong: If they act too harshly they are brutal; if not, incompetent. This discourse has proven to be extremely resistant to time and momentous world events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, and is promoted in the media. On the one hand, several journalists came of age in the mid 1970s and are openly sympathetic to it. On the other, political entrepreneurs see it as a resource that can be used handily for political or even economic advantage.

As a consequence, all governments since the 1970s have stood by while an anarchist subculture grew, complete with its exclusive urban enclave (the neighborhood of Exarcheia in downtown Athens which is a no man's land for the police). In regular intervals and on a variety of occasions (e.g. Bill Clinton's visit to Greece, various educational reforms, etc.), anarchists engage in violent demonstrations and widespread destruction. These are led by a hard core of 500 to 1,000 individuals which has grown in strength since the late 1990s and fantasizes that it is enacting some sort of 19th century social revolution against the bourgeois. Depending on the popularity of the issue they are joined, by hundreds or thousands of others of lesser commitment and varying motivations, from ideology to simple looting, who are nevertheless socialized into this culture.

Undergirding these actions is a more or less complete absence of sanctions - few people get arrested and almost no one gets sentenced. Participation in these riots is seen as a fun and low-risk activity, almost a rite of passage. This attitude of toleration covers a variety of other acts, such as the widespread use of graffiti, which has totally defaced Athens in the past few years.

The police lack a consistent policy. They are regularly harassed by groups of youths - a recurrent activity that is perceived as more or less normal; badly trained and inefficiently led, they are prone to outbursts of brutality. The cycle is vicious.

Greece's political, cultural, and intellectual leadership has been unwilling to act against this anarchist subculture. In fact, some have fully, and sometimes openly, justified, abetted, and in some instances endorsed it - especially small parties of the left, as well as mainstream left-of-center newspapers.

Clearly, these riots are undermining an already weak government. The opposition Socialist Party is already calling for its resignation. However, this problem won't fade away with the present government. Opportunities for riots will always present themselves. Addressing this problem requires nothing less than a deep cultural shift at the top.

Stathis N. Kalyvas, a professor of political science at Yale, is the author of "The Logic of Violence in Civil War."

Anarchist murdered by police in Greece

2008-12-15T11:15:00.000-08:00

On the evening of Saturday Dec. 6th a police patrol in the area of Exarhia (an area known for its strong anarchist presence in the centre of Athens) was verbally confronted by a few people in the area. Immediately a police officer pulled out his gun and shot a 16-year old (some accounts say he was 15) in the chest in cold blood. The 16-year old was transported to Evaggelismos, a major hospital in Athens, where he was dead on arrival.

The centre of Athens was immediately swamped by police, while people gathered at Evaggelismos. The crowd there twice repelled police who attempted to enter the hospital. There have been numerous reports of confrontations between people and police riot units at Tsamadou, Polytechnio, Acropoli, Panteios and Ermou (different locations and schools in Athens). There are massive gatherings at Polytechneio while the Law School and ASOEE have been taken over by students.

Spontaneous demonstrations, marches and confrontations are being reported all over Greece, including Thessaloniki, Mytilini, Giannena, Komotini, Iraklio, Xanthi, Serres, Hania, Alexandroupoli, Sparta, and Volos .

Major marches have been scheduled for 13:00 Athens time
Sunday December 7th in Athens, Thessaloniki, Xania and Patra.

Violence marks Kashmir election

2008-12-02T00:58:00.000-08:00

Violence has erupted during the second stage of state elections in parts of Indian-administered Kashmir, where thousands of troops have been deployed.

Police used batons to drive back hundreds of anti-election protesters in the village of Kurhama, 30km (19 miles) north of the main city, Srinagar
Two protesters were shot dead on Saturday in the town of Baramulla. Separatists are boycotting the polls, which are being held district by district to facilitate policing.
The separatists argue that the polls strengthen India's hold over the region.
The Indian-administered area of Kashmir was put under federal rule in July following the collapse of the state government over a land transfer deal for a Hindu shrine.

Teenager killed

Voting was temporarily halted in Kurhama, a police official told the Associated Press news agency.

Protesters had reportedly tried to prevent voters entering a polling station.
In Baramulla, , 55km north of Srinagar, a teenager died when security guards protecting a candidate's motorcade opened fire on protesters throwing stones, AP reports.
A man was later shot dead when protesters clashed with police.
Voting in the state is being held in seven phrases, lasting until 24 December. The counting of ballots will begin on 28 December.
An unusually strong turnout in the first phase of the elections on Monday took everyone by surprise, the BBC's Altaf Hussain reports from Srinagar.
The turnout in Muslim-majority constituencies was slightly more than 50%, with many Muslims voting despite not accepting Indian rule in their troubled state.
Six districts were voting on Sunday, accounting for about 500,000 of the state's 6.5 million eligible voters.

Syed Hamid explains again base closure

2008-12-02T00:33:00.000-08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the written reply he had made to a question in Parliament that the police beat base in Lorong Haji Taib had been closed for security reasons was "not accurate and clear".

The home minister said the reason the beat base was closed was because the owner of the land wanted it back, and not for security and health reasons like he said before.

On Oct 16, Syed Hamid said in his written reply to Titiwangsa member of parliament Dr Lo' Lo' Mohamad Ghazali, that the Lorong Haji Taib beat base had to be closed as the police found the location no longer suitable or safe for the police personnel on duty.

The dirty surroundings and criminal threats endangered the security of personnel, he had said. Speaking after visiting the Chow Kit police station yesterday, Syed Hamid said Chow Kit was once considered a "black area" full of criminals and illegal immigrants.

Malaysia blogger's joy at release

2008-12-02T00:22:00.001-08:00

(source : www.bbc.co.uk)
A prominent critic of the Malaysian government, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, has been freed from jail on the orders of a judge.

Mr Raja Petra, 58, editor of the website Malaysia Today, has been held without trial for eight weeks under a draconian security law, the ISA.

He had been accused of causing ethnic tensions by ridiculing Islam.

"I'm really glad it's over," a tearful, haggard Mr Raja Petra said as he hugged his family and greeted supporters.

"I'm really tired. The judge's decision proves that there was no justification for my detention.

"We have to fight all-out and get the ISA abolished," he told reporters, referring to the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without charge for an initial two years, with indefinite extensions possible.

Mr Raja Petra was garlanded by supporters and then driven home in a maroon Rolls Royce which one of them had provided, said one report from the scene.

Critical

Mr Raja Petra was freed from a notorious prison camp in northern Malaysia on the orders of the high court in Shah Alam city near Kuala Lumpur.

It ruled that Interior Minister Syed Hamid Albar had overstepped his authority when he ordered the detention.

Mr Raja Petra has increasingly angered the Malaysian authorities with his critical Malaysia Today website, the country's best-known political blog.

He still faces charges of sedition for an article he published which linked Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak to the 2006 murder of a Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Mr Najib, who has consistently denied any involvement, is widely expected to take over as prime minister when incumbent Abdullah Badawi agrees on a transition date.

'Great day'

Raja Petra's lawyer, Malik Imtiaz, described Friday's ruling as "historic", saying it was the first time a court had ordered the release of an ISA detainee since the government banned such rulings in 1989.

It was "definitely a wonderful step in terms of civil liberties in Malaysia", he said.

His words were echoed by Malaysia's human rights commissioner, Denison Jayasooria, who called it a "great day for human rights and fundamental liberties", according to AFP news agency.

He called for the ISA to be used only "where there is a real threat to national security".

Mr Raja Petra was arrested on 12 September under the ISA as part of a government clampdown on opposition voices.

He was arrested along with opposition deputy Teresa Kok and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, both of whom have since been released.

Greek Arsonists Attack Police Offices

2008-10-30T01:34:00.000-07:00

Authorities in Greece say the central Athens offices of a rural police division have been damaged in an arson attack.
Police say about 20 assailants hurled petrol bombs, rocks and paint, damaging the entrance of the building. They said no one was hurt and no arrests were made.
Anarchist groups in Athens frequently carry out arson attacks, typically targeting police stations, international companies and foreign embassy vehicles to voice protest on a variety of issues including the imprisonment of other anarchist arson suspects.
But Monday's strike occurred during working hours, whereas most other attacks have taken place overnight.

Vegan With a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

2008-10-30T01:32:00.000-07:00

For the first time I pick up this book from the shelf of one of bookstore in Kuala Lumpur is because it’s nothing to do with its title, price or the recipe. But the cover of the book show the pretty brunette girl wearing Crass t-shirt and smiling while holding cupcakes really attract me. Looking up the title and t-shirt, I knew this book really associate veganism and punk rock culture.
The author is Isa Chandra Moskowitz, a Jewish girl who actually is a co-host of the hugely successfully TV vegan cookery show in the US called “The Post Punk Kitchen” combined the Do It Yourself ethic with vegan meals. This book contains about 150 recipes using inexpensive ingredients but since she lives in New York City, most of the recipes are based on American style of cooking. Muffins, cakes, cookies or snacks recipes are providing here. But still it’s a good vegan recipe book than any other in the market because Isa put an effort to explain how the punk rock culture which associate with veganism and animal rights shape the way she lives and gave much credit to the culture.
I also liked the thread running through the book that all these recipes are not set in stone. Isa has developed them over the years and probably is still making changes and she encourages her reader to do the same.
Well most of vegan cooking book looks bored and too colorful or too dorky to you, I recommend you this book and try these recipes.

Choosing Death; The Improbable History of Death Metal & Grindcore by Albert Mudrian

2008-10-30T01:23:00.000-07:00

This book revisits the critical moments in the history of death metal and grindcore which really fascinated me because not many book wrote about the history and about death metal or grindcore.
With the introduction about how punk rock bands like Discharge, Crass and Exploited shaped the grindcoe’s sound at the beginning the author also explain how Napalm Death start at the early form playing hardcore punk rock. Another thing fascinating me is how the terms “grindcore” and “blast beat” came from. Many important bands were interview in this book such as Carcass, Death, Cannibal Corpse, Nile, Deicide and many more. This book feature in-depth play-by-play of the origins, record label battles (the story of Earache, Metal Blade and Nuclear Blast), rise, fall and the return of a genre that would make you want to read it all over again. That’s what happens to me. But the long history of Napalm Death is too boring to me. It’s like half of this book written about their stuff and too little about other bands. I love Napalm Death but for me it is wrong to put too many of their story in there. It’s like discrimination on the other band. But somehow, this book is great. It’s awesome book. With rare pictures and flyers, Albert Mudrian really knew how to bring the atmosphere of the early days of death metal and grindcore. This book is highly recommended for death metal or grindcore worshipper.

Noxa – Grind Viruses

2008-10-30T01:21:00.001-07:00

Noxa is a grindcore band from Jakarta, Indonesia and they sound like Rotten Sound which hail from Finland. Actually, these two bands have connection. Lyrics for track “Starvation” were done by Keijo from Rotten Sound and Emil Englund from Gadget appeared as guest vocal. This is non-stop grindcore release contain 31 tracks that talked about war, society, anti-government, murder and even polygamy (track 31 is “Poligami”). They sang in English and also in Bahasa Indonesia. For Rotten Sound fans, act fast. Get this CD.

Standing Hard; A Youth of Today Tribute

2008-10-30T01:19:00.001-07:00

Full credit to Embrace Records for their effort to gather 22 hardcore/punk bands all over the world to pay tribute to hardcore legend, Youth of Today. This compilation CD features these 22 band cover Youth of Today song with their version. Start with hardcore band from Germany, The Tangled Lines with their own version of Modern Love Story that in my opinion, are better then the original version from Youth of Today. Malaysia has two representatives, Second Combat (covered “Flame Still Burns”) and Nostalgia (covered “Honesty”) showed to the world the stronghold of Malaysia Hardcore scene. But what lack in this compilation is no bands cover my favorite Youth of Today song, “No More”. Anyway this compilation dedicated to hardcore kids all over the world.
(rip)

The Garrison – Self Title

2008-10-30T01:17:00.000-07:00

The Garrison completely combines 2 genre of music. Don’t call them punk band, don’t call them reggae band. Call them reggae punk band. This debut D.I.Y release is a live recording release but still sound good. This band took The Clash as their major influence, talked about society, peace and politics in their lyrics. It contains five tracks and one hidden track after the “Acheh, Now” track that I can assume it is my favorite track in this CD. The hidden song sounds like it were recorded while live performing maybe at bar or pub. But at the background of this track, you can hear someone is talking and laughing and that interrupt the mood of this song. I think that I will ask those people to shut the fuck up if I were there. Luckily, I wasn’t. It is enjoyable debut release by the Garrison.
(rip)

Goresluts – Shinju Outercourse

2008-10-30T01:12:00.000-07:00

Fun, dirty, ridiculous, gore and grind. This CD fills with lots of samples, jokes and stuff from porn movie. Song titles like “Morgue’s Cold Sluts (Sweet Rotten Pussy)”, “Cunt Tract Intruder” and “Die With Sperms In Your Cunt” should gave you an idea what this band all about. It’s a mighty good.

Tools Of The Trade – Inmate Consumption

2008-10-30T01:10:00.001-07:00

No time to breath. That’s I think a great word to describe this full length by grindcore powerhouse, Tools Of The Trade when I listen to this. There are 10 tracks of this record. The first track, “Seeking of Affiliation” start of with great sneak peak from a movie I believe and it start very well. This full length is remastered at Republic Czech and that is the reason why it sounds pretty awesome. Get this CD if you are a fan of Vormit and Negation.
(rip)

Negation – 10.0 Richter Scale

2008-10-30T01:08:00.001-07:00

When I get this CD, I thought it was a new release by Negation. Maybe it was an EP but after bought it, I felt a little bit disappointed because this CD is seems like a promo CD with CD-R inside. Most of the songs (7 actually) were already release on 4 Way Split Eastern Grind Unleashed and 1 song already release in Metal To Metal Compilation. After saw them performing live many times before, I think that a great band like this should come out with new record. They are awesome and great to watch when they playing live. Hopefully this ‘punch in the face’ grindcore band should come out with ‘punch in the face’ release sooner or later.
(rip)

Dead Eyes Glow – in Search of the Glory We Had Lost

2008-10-30T01:04:00.000-07:00

This debut album by Terengganu kids is a hard hitting record. I don’t know what to call this kind of music. It’s a mixture of variety sounds. I would like to call it as death metal mix with modern hardcore sound, mix with math and also had melodic sounds in it. This is a technical stuff which fulfill with incredible riff, technical drum, screamo vocal and gang choruses. Least to say, I’m not really into this kind of music but for those who were, it is an awesome record. The recordings were professionally done, great inlay and it won’t disappoint you.
(rip)

Anarchist Voices by Paul Avrich

2008-10-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Written by Paul Avrich who is an anarchist himself, this book feature some of oral interview which conducted by Paul Avrich himself. This book contains 180 interviews with some of relatives and friends to the anarchists (and the anarchists themselves) who involved in Haymarket tragedy in United States and also about the people who involved with anarchism. From the story of the early movement of American anarchist until the story of their heyday, this book also contains some of the untold story of anarchist figure, which I found it really interesting. It’s contains the stories of personal detail about such anarchist luminaries as Emma Goldman, Rudolf Rocker, Sacco and Vanzetti.
This book is grouped in six sections organized around individuals or major aspects of the movement. Lastly, this is a well done book. It is great and will be invaluable resources for students who learns about this kind of stuff and also for people who really had interest in the idea of anarchism.
By the way, I'm still reading this book and it's had around 580 pages. It will take time to finish it and it seems that this is the most heavier and thick book I ever read.

ENDNOTES: Check out the Maximum RockNRoll Radio at Maximum RockNRoll website. It's a great radio show playing some stuff from DIY bands around the globe. Now I just subscribe to it and I can listen to it every week. Thanks to iTunes. haha

first issue is OUT NOW!

2008-09-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!

Radical Review first issue is OUT NOW!

Interview with
grindcore powerhouse: Tools Of The Trade &
reggae/punk: The Garrison

Columns by Rip (his story behind Radical Review name)
Endy (about gig been raid at Kota Bharu)
and an article from Dan Clore (why Olympic Games Suck)

Plus:
A Short History about Peter Kropotkin (Anarchist Figure)
Pictures taken from gigs around KL on September

and book reviews and music reviews...

Get Your Copy Now at:
- Ricecooker Shop, 1st Floor Annexe, Central Market
- Nebiula Shop aka Jaie Shop, 1st Floor, Campbell Complex
- Tools N Trade, 1st Floor, Campbell Complex
- Auntie Shop, 1st Floor, Campbell Complex
- Acoustic Music Station, Pertama Complex
- Borders Bookstore, 1st Floor, Berjaya Times Square
(we not selling directly at major bookstore like this. just ask your copy from staff there name Apeng or Arip)
- Zurich Skateshop, Kuala Terengganu (starting this October)

Or just contact us to get yourself a copy or sell at your area.

23.09.08 Radical Review #1

2008-09-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

On December 23^rd, Radical Review Fanzine is officially released. After a few months I put my effort, time and money to finish this fanzine, me myself at last can considered that I am satisfied for what I’ve done. On 23^rd, I woke up a little bit late than I’ve planned. 12 o’clock at the afternoon, I get up and rushing to start put this fanzine at any store around KL. But before that, I start my journey by drop by at Putra Station to get a bus ticket for Hari Raya headed to my hometown. Thank God there is no “ulat” around to rip me off.

After that, Campbell Complex is the first to go. There are many music stores at Campbell Complex that I can sell this fanzine, Jaie Shop, Tools N Trade and Auntie Shop. Everything went smooth. All the music stores that I mentioned are looking forward to sell this fanzine and thank to their co-operation.

Next stop, Pertama Complex. Acoustic Music Station is a well known store. But they were known for selling more international scene’s stuff than local scene. So it might be difficult for me to negotiate with them but its turns out wrong. Acoustic Music Store also well co-operative. Another music store in Pertama Complex is Music Zone. They have 2 outlets in this mall so I think they can sell this fanzine without compromise.

When I enter the store, there are 2 kids inside the store. Both of them were their workers. One with shitty In Flames t-shirt and the other one is emo-kid-look-alike wearing Burzum t-shirt.

The kid who wore In Flames t-shirt approached me. “Can I help you?” he said. “Yup, I just wanna ask you, can you guys sell my fanzine here?” I answer him and start asked him back. He later answered “What? Fanzine? What is that?” he asked curiously. “Yeah, fanzine. Zine.” I pronounced the word ‘zine’ differently for so many times to make him understand. But still, this kid still doesn’t know what the hell I’m talking about. With a little bit of frustrated, I show him a copy of my fanzine. Later he told me, “We not really sure whether we can sell this kind of ‘things’. We have to ask our boss first.” Disappointed with that statement, I decided to step out from this store.

I felt sorry for him and his friend. They knew nothing about fanzine. In my view, I felt that they are unlucky enough because they didn’t involve themselves in D.I.Y culture. These fuckers need to grow up.

Around 3 o’clock, Ricecooker Shop at Central Market is my next stop. I knew there would be no problem to put my fanzine to be sold in this shop. After a short discussion, Joe Kidd agrees with the deal, and there go my own fanzine. Lying beside the other local fanzine and facing the Maximum Rock N Roll table, I do at least felt my efforts are worth enough. Hoping the next issue will comes out soon.

—rip--

END NOTES:
Go listen to Bad Religion’s No Control and Brutal Truth.

A Libertarian View of the Olympics

2008-08-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

by Dan Clore

Nation-states force taxpayers to pay for a meaningless spectacle in which governments "promote peace" by trying to prove their superiority over each other, pitting their chosen champions against each other at totally arbitrary activities.

Practically nothing about the Olympics will strike a libertarian as positive.

The nation-states involved force taxpayers to fund this silly spectacle. Now, many individuals may well enjoy watching the Olympics as a welcome respite from more important things like, say, keeping informed about politics and the world, working at productive activities, engaging in activism of whatever kind, or finally -- living their own lives. But why can't they pay for it themselves? Why should anyone else have to pay for it for them?

Most of the "sports" in the Olympics are totally arbitrary activities. It is beyond reason to determine why anyone should care which of the national champions involved perform better at them. A few of them do have æsthetic value, such as ice-skating, but even these have many arbitrary rules imposed on them.

The athletes who compete in these "sports" must sacrifice their right to privacy and subject themselves to invasive drug tests that not only test for dangerous performance-enhancing substances such as caffeine, but for recreational drugs like marijuana. The former could possibly be justified on grounds of fairness (as many athletes might not wish to endanger their health in order to perform better), but the latter is completely senseless.

At least these athletes have voluntarily chosen to sacrifice their rights. As Naomi Klein has documented (I'll try to insert links later), the totalitarian government of China has violated the rights of countless numbers of its citizens in order to better put on this ridiculous spectacle. They have displaced countless Chinese citizens from their homes and ratcheted up security-state measures.

As if to heighten the absurdity of the spectacle, the Chinese government imposed computer-generated graphics over the opening ceremony and had a pretty girl lip-synch a song sung by another girl. Guy Debord would be proud.

Finally, the ostensible purpose of this ludicrous spectacle is to "promote peace" internationally. Just how having nation-states pit their champions against each other in the attempt to prove their superiority might meet this goal is an open question.

What if all of these governments got together and, instead of competing at some completely arbitrary activity, tried to do something productive that required cooperation rather than competition? What if the citizens of the world got together, bypassing their governments, and did this themselves?

The Olympics suck.

Why Police Fucking Suck

2008-08-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

When I talk to the people who I've been friends with since before I was a revolutionary punk rock type guy, things always get uncomfortable when anything that is remotely political (which is just about everything) comes up. How can I explain the political beliefs that I hold to be true without spending five days recounting my experiences and thoughts that have led me to believe what I do. I don't have five days, and usually the people listening don't have five days. Which means that up 'till now, I've blurted out things that have made little sense, or have been downright stupid. I mean, it is true that police suck ass, but saying it like that doesn't change many people mind.. And if I leave a conversation feeling further away from the person that I just talked to then what's the point?

So I thought of a way to explain, in under five minutes, why I think that police fucking suck. I putting it here so that you can use it if you find yourself talking to people that love police and law and order.

When I say that "police suck", or "I don't think there should be any police", people always say something like "what are you saying, we should just have total anarchy? What are you going to do about the rapists and the killers. I think that we need people around to protect us from those who wish to do us harm."

So my simple answer goes something like this, "Police don't protect us from those that wish to do us harm. The job of cops is to enforce the law of the land. The laws of the land in this country were written by slaveowners and the descendants of slaveowners. The laws in this country are mainly set up to protect property, because they were written by the people who have the most property. So a police's job is actually to protect property more than to protect the people. I can prove this idea with this example; if a person is starving and has no money, and he or she goes into grocery store that has an abundance of food, and he or she steals some of the food, it is a police's job to arrest him or her. If he or she tries to flee, it is a police's right to beat or shoot him or her. Plus with bribery and police misconduct to people that we always heard on news and read on newspapers has nothing to do with protecting people. They actually harm to the people. There are many examples like this, instances where police act as the foot soldiers for the rich. Another things about cops is that they very rarely actually protect people. More often they try to catch people who have already done something that against the law. If a person really wants to end violence, then a good place to start is by confronting violence. Vote against more violent cops. Vote against more violent weapons. Turn off the TV and don't pay to see movies that are full of it.

But most of all, try to even out the balance of power and wealth so that everyone has equal access to things that they need to survive, that way people won't need to take food, money, property, power or life from other people. And of course I can bring up that having police allows some fucked up, bad individuals more chances to do harm to other people as much as it allows good people a chance to protect other people.

1st Issue On Progress

2008-08-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

Radical Review is a not-for-profit fanzine created as a media to promote anarchism, underground & D.I.Y culture and anything related to the society. The first issue will be out soon. If you guys interested to put some flyers, ads, columns, cartoons, arts or anything related, please do not hesitate to email us or post any flyers or ads to our Myspace comment box. Seriously, we will not accept any major label or related ads, or ads for comps that include major label bands. Any material contain racist, sexist or fascist will not accepted. We at Radical Review reserve the right to refuse ads for any reason at any time.

The first issue is still on progress. Well, the first issue will feature interview with KL based reggae/punk The Garrison and another band still not confirm. Also feature is CDs Review; F.I.D/Insect Warfare split 7", Straight Answer (The Complete Discography 1996 - 2007), Negation (10.0 Ritchter Scale), The Garrison EP and more. While on Books Review - Vegan With A Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Choosing Death by Albert Mudrian and more.