Feature Archives

In recent years, attacks against the Peruvian Army have escalated by a new formation of the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso). Long believed to have faded away after the capture of its leader Abimael Guzmán (Presidente Gonzalo) and other top leaders, the Shining Path has recently gained forces and weapons. According to the Defense Minister of Peru, Shining Path rebels killed thirteen soldiers on April 9th in two ambushes in the southeast region of the country.

On April 1st & 2nd, protesters from around the world have converged in London as the G20 Summit got underway Wednesday. Leaders from the world's 20 largest developed and developing nations are meeting in the UK to discuss the global economic crisis largely created by U.S. "financial innovation." Actions, camps and marches have taken place in the week leading up to the summit and have been met with an expectedly large police presence in the city center. Anti-capitalist protesters attacked the Royal Bank of Scotland.

When vote totals came in from the Salvadoran presidential election Sunday, the winner by a slim but significant margin was the candidate of the FMLN, Mauricio Funes. The FMLN website said “Hope won over fear.” The FMLN fought fascism in Central America with a military effort that went on for twelve years. A truce was called in 1992, but the extreme right wing remained in power until now. A San Francisco celebration of the FMLN victory is planned for March 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Women’s Building.

On Monday March 16th, hundreds demonstrated at of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco to hear speakers in support of Tristan Anderson and the people of Palestine. About 5pm, demonstrators marched to the intersection of Market and 5th. After demonstrating there for about an hour, many in the crowd marched back to the consulate where police attacked protesters with clubs and as many as six people were arrested. Other solidarity events are being held all over the world.

On March 13th, 2009, Tristan Anderson, an Indymedia journalist from Oakland, California, was critically wounded in the village of Ni'lin after Israeli forces shot him in the head with a high-powered tear-gas canister. Tristan is a dedicated activist and reporter who has long been committed to social and environmental justice in the U.S. and abroad in places such as Oaxaca, Iraq, and Palestine. Tristan has posted his reports to Indybay since 2001. Tristan's family reported Sunday that he has moved his fingers in response to a request from a doctor.

International Women's Day was Sunday, March 8th, and was celebrated around the Bay Area through a variety of events. The Stop Violence Against Women: 1 in 3 Art Exhibit included performances on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, March 8th, Code Pink marched across the Golden Gate Bridge, and then attended a potluck and program in Berkeley. In Palo Alto, the film "A Single Woman: The Story of Jeannette Rankin" was screened. In L.A., a march and rally aimed to "Celebrate Resistance and Internationalism! " and on Sunday there was a Women Hold Up Half the Sky presentation.

Since December, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been disrupting whaling operations by a Japanese fleet that illegally hunts whales under the guise of "research." Confrontations included Sea Shepard lobbing rotten butter onto the decks of the whaling ships as well as directly ramming whaling ships on the open seas at times. The whalers in turn have used sonic weapons to retaliate. After three months of operations attempting to prevent the illegal whaling, the Sea Sheperd crew are returning to better prepare for future battles with the whalers.