By GEORGE BISHARAT, New York Times, 4 April 2009

San Francisco

CHILLING testimony by Israeli soldiers substantiates charges that Israel’s Gaza Strip assault entailed grave violations of international law. The emergence of a predominantly right-wing, nationalist government in Israel suggests that there may be more violations to come. Hamas’s indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli civilians also constituted war crimes, but do not excuse Israel’s transgressions. While Israel disputes some of the soldiers’ accounts, the evidence suggests that Israel committed the following six offenses:

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STOP THE WAR COALITION
3 April 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

EMERGENCY PROTEST MARCH AGAINST POLICE
BRUTALITY ON G20 DEMONSTRATIONS
ASSEMBLE 12PM SATURDAY 4 APRIL BANK OF ENGLAND
MARCH TO BETHNAL GREEN POLICE STATION

Stop the War is supporting the protest march against the police brutality on the G20 London demonstrations this week. Not only were these marches attacked but the recent demonstrations against the invasion and blockade of Gaza were also met with extreme force from the Metropolitan police. It would seem that the police have taken it upon themselves to deny the right to peaceful protest.

The protest march will also be to express compassion with the family of Ian Tomlinson who tragically died during the 1 April protests at the Bank of England. The march organisers are calling for an independent public inquiry into the instances of police violence that occurred thoughout the week and to establish the full circumstances of Ian Tomlinson’s death.

Deutsch \\ Français \\ 30 Mar 2009 — warresisters

Stuttgart/Bonn, 29 March 2009. The campaign NATO-ZU/Shut down NATO, which is preparing nonviolent protests and actions of civil disobedience for the NATO summit in Strasbourg, criticises the behaviour of politicians and police in advance of the NATO summit. In stead of deescaling, the conflict is already now being escalated by the authorities using an absurd prognosis of threats. The forceful acting of the police that has been announced, strong border controls, and the conversion of Baden-Baden and Strasbourg and fortress cities protected by the police are aimed at discouraging potential participants from participating in the protests. After the G8 in Heiligendamm in 2007, the German government once again uses the German military for internal security, in contravention of the German constitution. This is to prevent many citizens from using their basic right of freedom of assembly. It seems obvious that to those in power the basic rights of EU citizens are just an inconvenience and can be annulled at will.

[Read the release]

John Hilary, guardian.co.uk, 2 April 2009

The news was not entirely unexpected. Last night, my counterpart at the World Development Movement, Benedict Southworth, was informed that his accreditation had been withdrawn at the last minute – on the direct orders of No 10.

Both War on Want and the World Development Movement are known for being at the more critical end of civil society when it comes to the government’s policy on international affairs. Other representatives from the Put People First coalition were allowed into the summit venue. Should we be smelling a rat here?

[Read the post]

Updated @1847 on 2 April 2009:
G20 outcome – ‘a bitter pill for the world’s poor’ says banned World Development Movement

A major international demonstration, “No to War – No to NATO”, will be held in Strasbourg, France, April 4, 2009 on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the military organization’s establishment. The demonstration, led by several anti-NATO coalitions from around the world (encompassing peace and anti-globalization movements, trade unions, and student organizations), will protest against NATO’s aggressive military and nuclear policies, and assert their determination to create a more just and peaceful world. [Read More]

Agence France-Presse
2 April 2009

Air space over Strasbourg and its German neighbours Kehl and Baden Baden will be shut down as US President Barack Obama joins 27 leaders for a gathering marking the alliance’s 60th anniversary.

Some 10,000 French police including crack anti-riot squads are being deployed while Germany is positioning 14,600 security forces and, exceptionally, 600 soldiers.

Between 30,000 and 60,000 people, from peaceniks to radical leftists and anarchists, are converging on Strasbourg with the stated aim of disrupting the summit.

[Read the report – Infosheet with Useful Info for the NATO Protest]

“How should NATO develop? Immediately disband.”
02 April, 2009, 20:43

To mark the 60th NATO Anniversary Summit Noam Chomsky talked to Robert Harneis for RT on Kosovo, Afghanistan, as well as NATO – why it exists and its future. Professor Chomsky is a leading critic of NATO and US policy.

[Read More]