Asia's authorities prepare for May Day protests<\/p>\n
Eric Van Zant, Agence France-Presse, Hong Kong, China<\/p>\n
Fear of globalization among Asia's recession-weary workers could
\nfire up traditional May Day protests on Wednesday, with security
\nforces across the region taking no chances.<\/p>\n
Police will be out in force in Australia, where anarchists,
\nTrotskyists, and anti-capitalist demonstrators are promising
\nanimated celebrations again after violent clashes last year, and
\nin Indonesia, where 7,000 police will patrol Jakarta's streets.<\/p>\n
However, celebrations in the region's remaining communist
\nstates could be subdued with the Chinese looking forward to a
\nweek of holidays and shopping, while in Vietnam the event has
\nlong been overshadowed by the anniversary of the 1975 victory in
\nthe Vietnam War on April 30.<\/p>\n
In Sydney, activists of many stripes are planning a \"militant
\nblockade\" against numerous organizations, including the offices
\nof the Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) which runs
\nimmigration detention centers.<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman said the focus of the protest would be the
\ngovernment's policy of mandatory detention, global capitalism and
\nIsrael's treatment of the Palestinians.<\/p>\n
\"It's become a struggle against so many things ... May 1 is a
\nconvergence of all these issues and in a sense we're protesting
\nfor a different world, one that puts people before profits and
\nrespects human rights, justice and equality for all,\" she said.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, police spokesman Chief Commissioner Anton Bachrul
\nAlam said 7,000 police will be deployed, with 47 groups applying
\nfor demonstration permits.<\/p>\n
An Indonesian labor leader on Monday called on workers to skip
\nwork and demonstrate instead, while activists in city of Medan,
\nNorth Sumatra, have been handing out leaflets also urging workers
\nto strike.<\/p>\n
In the Philippines, some 6,000 anti-riot police, backed by a
\nspecial military task force, will guard the presidential palace
\nin Manila, which came under attack last year.<\/p>\n
Supporters of detained ex-president Joseph Estrada marched on
\nthe palace May 1, 2001, and began rioting when his successor,
\nPresident Gloria Arroyo, called in troops after they tried to
\nstorm the gates. Four people were killed and 100 injured or
\narrested. They plan another march on the palace on Wednesday, but
\ninsist they will not resort to violence.<\/p>\n
In Singapore, police warned on Tuesday of \"firm action\"
\nagainst opposition leader Chee Soon Juan if he pushes ahead with
\nan illegal May Day rally.<\/p>\n
Chee, leader of the Singapore Democratic Party, had applied
\nfor a permit to hold the rally in front of the Istana
\npresidential residence but was turned down by the authorities.<\/p>\n
On the Korean peninsula some 50,000 workers belonging to South
\nKorea's Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) will rally in 10
\ncities, while another 10,000 members of the Korean Confederation
\nof Trade Unions (KCTU) will be out in Seoul.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong, meanwhile, only declared May 1 a holiday after
\nreverting to Chinese rule in 1997. Labour unions, with
\nunemployment at a record seven percent, plan a protest calling
\nfor a minimum wage and collective bargaining power.<\/p>\n
Beijing, for its part, has cast aside May Day rallies in favor
\nof more capitalist pursuits like shopping and tourism. Two years
\nago the government introduced a week-long holiday beginning May
\n1, alongside similar breaks for Lunar New Year and National Day
\nin October.<\/p>\n
In Vietnam, banners bearing the communist hammer and sickle
\nflew from lamposts and buildings, but no public events were
\nscheduled to mark the annual workers' holiday.<\/p>\n
Celebrations will also be quiet in Tokyo, where nearly one
\nmillion workers already kicked off May Day protests Saturday with
\na call to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to safeguard jobs in
\nthe face of near-record unemployment.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's largest labor movement urged the government to mark
\nMay Day by protecting the rights of workers, ensuring workers'
\nold age savings are safeguarded and enhancing employment
\nopportunities.<\/p>\n
A Labor Congress of Thailand official said, meanwhile, that
\nsome 2,000 representatives from across the country will rally at
\nthe royal Sanam Luang grounds in Bangkok, and submit a letter to
\nPrime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra calling for better work
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
And in Taiwan, hundreds of aboriginals on the southeastern
\nOrchid Island, plan an anti-nuclear protest Wednesday demanding
\nthe government remove tens of thousands of barrels of low-
\nradiation nuclear waste temporarily stored there.<\/p>",
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