AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott were trapped in a restaurant for half an hour by a crowd of anti-racist protesters.
The 200 indigenous rights campaigners were responding to Abbott's statement that it was time to move the Aborigial tent embassy that has been in Canberra for 40 years.
They surrounded the building, banging on glass and shouting "shame" and "racist".
As the politicians were "rescued" from the restaurant by police, Gillard tripped and lost a shoe.
Her car was also blocked by protesters, who banged on the roof, reported news.com.au.
ARMED prisoners have scaled fences in a full-on riot at an Australian jail.
It was being reported on Wednesday January 18 that at least two buildings were on fire at Fulham Prison in Sale, Victoria.
Said one website: "Prison
authorities are being held at bay as the prisoners brandish bar bells
and other gym equipment on the northwest side of the prison."
Pepper spray was being used to try and put down the rebellion.
Prisoners are understood to have become increasingly unhappy at the way they are being treated and the riot was sparked when they were ordered indoors on Wednesday afternoon.
The latest uprising comes just a few weeks after worldwide solidarity protests outside prisons at which organisers declared: "We will not let the prison
system break their spirits and our passion for their freedom WILL be
heard."
OCCUPY protesters in Sydney, Australia, have been evicted from a disused building by a gang of 100 police thugs with dogs.
Angry supporters chanted "this is not democracy!", "shame!" and "no justice, no peace!" as the huge contingent of cops moved in to arrest the ten people who had squatted premises abandoned since 2008.
Police also assaulted protesters in the street and shone a high-strength torch into the lens of video cameras outside to stop the eviction being filmed.
Occupy Sydney has reported that police will not give them any information about the arrestees, citing 'privacy reasons'.
A 60-minute protesters' recording of the eviction can be viewed here.
#OCCUPY protesters in Australia have experienced what lies ahead for the whole global movement if it keeps up its momentum.
Police were sent in to evict campers in both Melbourne (see above) and Sydney.
The ABC News report in Melbourne said: "Riot and mounted police officers took several hours to disperse the demonstrators who had been occupying the square.
"The protesters want the Victorian ombudsman to investigate what they say are 43 cases of police violence.
"They include eye-gouging, punches and the use of pepper spray on people including children."
Said the Sydney Central website: "After eight days camping out in Martin Place, Occupy Sydney protesters
were evicted at 5am on Sunday morning, with 40 arrested on the spot.
"Twenty-nine were issued fines and four were charged with assaulting
police."
Protesters in both cities have pledged to return and show no signs of giving in.
The simple truth is that the capitalist system cannot deliver democracy, as this would bring an end to its exploitation and power.
While at the moment it likes to pretend that it is democratically unaccountable, this charade is becoming increasingly hard for it to maintain.
Authorities are hoping the current wave of revolt will die out of its own accord, but if it doesn't, then scenes like those in Melbourne will become more and more common.
AN INTERNATIONAL day of solidarity has been called in support of Jock Palfreeman, an Australian activist who stood up to a gang of violent Nazis in Bulgaria.
The Anarchist Black Cross reports that the 23 year old witnessed 16 fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys in Sofia.
"Jock ran to the boys' aid, he did his best to keep the Nazis at bay by waving a knife at them but they attacked him.
"Jock was left with nowhere to run and had no choice but to defend himself. One of the Nazis was stabbed and killed and another was injured. The Roma boys ran away.
"Jock has since been tried and sentenced for murder and attempted murder. He has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and has been fined £220,000.
"Jock has its appeal on 21st of October- it is his only chance to walk free. We need to do everything we can in order to get him out of there.
"An international Day of Action for Jock on has been called on the 19th. If you can organise an event in your area please contact: anarchosolidarity(at)yahoo.com . It is also of vital importance to keep up the pressure with protest messages and smaller actions up till this time."
Adds freejock.net in Australia: "In support of Jock there will be an event held on Saturday 16 October 2010 Sydney, Circular Quay commencing from midday.
"More information will follow shortly, please keep this time free to come and show your support.There will be other events held throughout Europe, UK and the USA so please contact freejock(at)live.com.au for all these details.
An overwhelming majority of people are happy to be living in this industrial capitalist world. We know this because we are told it constantly.
How could we foresee a near future in which the hypnotic spell is broken, the scales fall from a billion eyes and those who say 'Enough!' are revealed, all of a sudden, to be a gale force wind of revolt, a tidal wave of insurgent delight sweeping all before it, a minority so vast it will change everything?
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