JVP protests outside US Embassy against double standards

 August 9, 2014 

The JVP yesterday staged a protest outside the US Embassy in Colombo against what it claimed was Israel slaughtering an entire people with impunity with the support extended to it by the US Administration and its allies.
The JVP was planning to hand over a petition to US Embassy officials accusing the Obama administration of double standards, but after being refused a meeting, the petition was pasted on the wall of the Embassy.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Gazette said in the petition the JVP notes that the US speaks of human rights here or there while at the same time supporting the criminal State of Israel that practices genocide, terror, apartheid and exclusion.
“We demand justice for the Palestinian people of the Gaza! We demand that the US Administration puts an immediate end to its outrageous support for the criminal regime in Tel Aviv and to its aggression, and that it ceases, with immediate effect, all economic and financial aid and military cooperation. The United States is arming Israel only to kill the Palestinian people, again and again,” the JVP said. The JVP said it supports the initiative of the Palestinian Justice Minister and the Gaza Court Public Prosecutor to sue Israel at the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

MOD, Diplomatic Row & Promoting Rugby Among Girls School

| The following statement Issued by the United National Party

( August 9, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lanka was acutely embarrassed after the recent fiasco concerning the defamatory article published by the Ministry of Defence which resulted in the demand of a humiliating apology to the Indian Prime Minister. The slip-up is emblematic of the pathetic state of affairs in handling Sri Lanka’s foreign relations. It also offered valuable insight into the way the Sri Lankan Government functions under Rajapaksa Incorporated.

The Defence Ministry committed a fatal error in failing to recognise that opinions published on its official website, was tantamount to being reflective of the opinions of the Government. This is true of official websites and social media sites administered by Government agencies across the world. It is hardly surprising that the Defence Ministry failed to understand this most elementary fact. Like all other state institutions and agencies, the Defence Ministry has become severely politicised under the Rajapaksa regime, with incompetency and nepotism triumphing over experience ability and basic intelligence. Furthermore this Government and its official mouthpieces have grown accustomed to having their say, often in the most uncivilised and brutal terms, vilifying foreign Governments, the United Nations and its officials or local political opponents and dissidents. They rarely ever have to face the consequences of their actions.

Sri Lankan Defence Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for an inquiry into the issue which nearly escalated into a diplomatic row. This is nothing more than ridiculous and farcical. After all, who is the administrative or bureaucratic head of the Ministry of Defence? Who after all, is the Minister in charge of the subject? Will the President investigate himself? Will he inquire into the conduct of his brother and powerful Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa? The writer concerned is a regular contributor to the Defence Ministry website and on numerous occasions has written articles attacking minority communities in Sri Lanka. The Military Spokesman personally circulates these writings to his electronic database of correspondents, suggesting they be read. Many of these writings do not appear in any other publications and therefore are likely commissioned specifically for use in www.defence.lk, the official website of the MoD.

What choice do we have but to surmise that these writings are reflective of the thinking of the Secretary and Minister in charge of the Ministry?

Inquiries have been made into farces under the Rajapaksa regime. The military investigation into the killing of three innocent young boys in Weliweriya never saw the light of day. The Brigadier in charge of personnel carrying out the Weliweriya massacre has been given a plum diplomatic posting, probably by the same individual who ordered the army officer to carry out this heinous crime. What happened to the President’s noble claim after the ethnic riots targeting Muslims at Aluthgama that those responsible for that crime will be punished irrespective of their association and rank?

President Rajapaksa is in an unfortunate situation. He has lost control, not only of his brother the de facto minister of defence, but even his young offspring whose illusions of grandeur and blatant disregard of the norms and traditions of civility are setting new precedents in the impunity and indulgence afforded to inexperience young political adventurers.

With a popular Sri Lankan singer in toe, young Namal Rajapaksa took a tour of girls’ schools in Colombo recently to ‘promote’ rugby among schoolgirls for his sports club Carlton. Inside the once venerated premises of some of the country’s best educational institutions that always prided themselves on the highest standards of discipline, the MP and the pop artiste led these impressionable young ladies clad in school uniform to sing inappropriate lyrics and behave like groupies at a musical concert. The despicable display was made in full view of school principals and teachers, to the great shock and disgust of past pupils, parents and wider society. Rajapaksa juniors are being permitted to turn hallowed educational institutes in this country into circuses, promoting their shallow, racing car values among the next generation.

We appeal to all religious and community leaders in this country to take note of this degradation of values and unprofessional, juvenile handling of matters of state. The time has come to end this circus. To President Rajapaksa we say, rein in your family. He cannot continue to call himself the ‘loving father of the nation’ when he and his kith and kin are intent on destroying the very values Sri Lanka once embodied.

SL military steps up threats, harassment of Tamil councillors in North

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 August 2014, 10:58 GMT]
The so-called white vans and motorbikes without number plates operated by the SL military intelligence have been deployed to monitor the movement of Tamil councillors in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) in recent days, complain several members of the NPC. A prominent councillor, Ms Ananthy Sasitharan, recently lodged a complaint with Vadduk-koaddai Police complaining that white van and motorbike squads were chasing her round the clock, monitoring all her movements. In the name of investigating the complaint, the police went ahead with engineering false evidence that there were no reports of white van or motorbike squads in the area where she resides, TNA sources told TamilNet. The SL Defence Ministry was behind the recent withdrawal of police protection that was provided to some of NPC members, according to NPC Chairman CVK Sivagnanam. 

If the NPC had Police powers, it could have directed the police to provide security to councillors. But, it has to depend on Colombo to secure police protection to threatened NPC members, Mr Sivagnanam told media in Jaffna. 

Following a written request to Deputy Inspector Generals of Police in Jaffna and Vavuniyaa by the NPC administration in April this year, the SL Police provided security personnel to three NPC Councillors, including Ms Ananthy Sasitharan, who were facing security threats. 

After two months, the SL police protection was suddenly withdrawn. When the NPC members asked for clarification, the SL police told them that they needed clearance from the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry to provide security to the NPC members. 

The Tamil councillos complained about the sudden withdrawal of police protection in a sitting of the NPC. 

Mr. C.V.K. Sivagnanam, the chairman of the NPC sent a letter to SL president Mahinda Rajapkasa on 06 June noting the withdrawal by the SL police citing SL Defence Ministry and urging to reinstall police protection to the Tamil councillors. The letter also requested police protection to other councillors who had reported harassments and threat in the meantime. But, there was no proper response. Only a confirmation letter was sent stating that the request was received by the secretariat of the SL President. 

Just before the visit to the North and East by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2013 August, the SL government announced an ‘eyewash’ measure stating that it separated the police from the Ministry of Defence under new ‘Ministry of Law’.

Knowing very well that there would be no practical change for Eezham Tamils by this announcement under the SL unitary system and knowing also that both the SL Ministry of Law and Ministry of Defence come under one minister, who is the president himself, foreign political and diplomatic representatives welcomed the move as a positive one at that time. But, there was no change in the practice.

The SL police operates as an extended arm of the SL military system and it also shields the SL military personnel even in the cases where the culprits of the SL Navy and Army were caught by the civilians and handed over to the police following brutal rape of Tamil children such as the one reported recently in Kaarai-nakar. 

The notorious commando force, STF, which is a fully equipped military unit, comes also under the SL police. It was responsible for several massacres and genocidal crimes in the East, including the well-exposed Trinco-5 case. 

After the genocidal onslaught in May 2009, Colombo has been stepping up the deployment of the notorious STF commandos in all the districts in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Corporate Watch, a non-profit research group in UK, has in recent times exposed the training provided to more than 3,500 Sri Lankan ‘policemen’ including the STF commandos including senior commanders. The British assistance was being provided while the STF was directly engaged in acts of genocide in the East as well as in Vanni. Phill Miller of Corporate Watch has brought out an extensive report on Britain's historical support provided to the SL Police system.

Sri Lankan government paid Rs 73.17 billion as salaries to tri-forces in 2013

Fri, Aug 8, 2014, 

Aug 08, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government last year paid Rs 73.17 billion (US$ 560 million) as salaries to the members of county's tri forces.
The government had allocated Rs. 73.298 billion in the 2013 budget to pay the salaries of the members of Army, Navy and Air Force, the Chief Government Whip, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said in parliament Friday.
He was responding to a question raised by the main opposition United National Party (UNP) party Colombo District parliamentarian Sujeewa Senasinghe on the amount that had been allocated by the 2013 Budget for salaries of the tri-forces members.
When the MP Senasinghe asked whether an additional allowance was paid to the members of the tri0-forces who provided labor for performing various tasks for the beautification of Colombo city, Minister Gunawardena said that the security forces members who contributed labor and skills in the projects had not been paid anything additionally except their food allowances.
The Minister said that the government had made higher allocations of funds to the Defence Ministry for they contribute heavily for the development and protection of the country.

"Even during the times of war we allocated funds like that and it was the reason for the victory of war. We strengthen the tri forces because it would strengthen the country," he said.
Rs. 700 million awarded to soldiers having their third child
25 January 2014
Over Rs. 700 million has been cashed out to soldiers from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in the past year, in the form of grants for those who have their third child, stated the Ministry of Defence.

The announcement was made in parliament as the government responded to questions on how to stop deserters from leaving the military.

The Ministry responded that benefits for members of the armed forces had to be increased, including those allocated in the last budget, which awarded Rs.100,000 at the birth of the third child of any member of the security forces, and to those who are serving in the Police force as well.

More than 7,000 soldiers had received the grant from the government.

See our earlier post: 2012 budget fosters militarisation (21 November 2011)

Below is an extract from our earlier post: Sri Lanka’s monoethnic military (27 June 2011)

Prof. Brian Blodgett, Director of the History and Military Studies Programs for the American Public University, published a study of Sri Lanka’s military in 2004. In it he notes how,

“in 1962, a policy of recruiting only from the Sinhalese Buddhist community was instituted. This was the beginning of an ethnically pure army.”

Prof. Stanley Tambiah of Harvard University published a book length comment, ‘Ethnic Fratricide and the Dismantling of Democracy’, just two years after Sri Lanka’s conflict began. In it he noted,

“[Today, in 1986] the armed forces are filled with Sinhalese and the Tamils areexcluded from serving in them. … There has been virtually no recruitment of Tamils into the armed forces, and very little into the police force, for nearly thirty years.”

Also see our earlier post: Army's Sinhalese blood is in Tamils - senior military official (10 January 2014)

Carlton perahera supersedes Dalada perahera : First lady’s carol cart hooted at and chased away by sangha members

(Lanka-e-News- 08.Aug.2014, 11.55PM) Consequent upon the historic hill country traditional Dalada maligawa perahera being made into a ‘Carlton’ perahera , on the starting day of the Kumbal perahera , the people and the sangha members in protest have greeted the Carlton perahera with a well deserved hoot, according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

The hill country Dalada perahera which is conducted annually in all its splendor and historic traditions ,has been an age old revered Buddhist pageant , which is held in high esteem by Buddhists attended by religious dignitaries . Sadly , this year the dignity , prestige and sacredness of the pageant when the Kumbara perahera was held on the 1 st of August were degraded beyond imagination. This year, in the vanguard of the perahera instead of the traditional whip wielders , was a carol cart of students of Carlton pre School belonging to President Rajapakse’s Christian wife who never forgets to deck herself in gold .

The members of the sangha who were there in the special area allotted to them to witness the perahera were shocked beyond belief when they say a Christian carol cart leading the traditional sacrosanct Buddhist perahera . They were so uncontrollably infuriated and outraged they began hooting at the pageant demonstrating their protest.

At that juncture Ambanwela the DIG of the province had appeared and pleaded with the sangha members to be quiet while explaining that the carol cart was carrying the Carlton school children of the first lady . Thereupon the Sangha members who were further provoked had screamed back ,’Mahathayo, this is our Dalada perahera . We cannot allow prostitutes to dance the way they want with carol carts.’ Ambanwela too was hooted and chased away from the scene.

When the hooting began to spread with all the spectators joining in it, the carol cart of gold decked lady was compelled to be discontinued.

One monk who phoned us in great sorrow and pain of mind over the flagrant breach of Buddhist traditions and desecration of the Buddhist event expressed as follows :

‘Mahathayo, just see what is in the forefront is Carlton Carol, next are the prisoners carrying flags ,thereafter the Tamil prisoners are carrying torches of flame , and following them are the robbed baby elephants , and behind them are the notorious crooks dressed as Nilames. I don’t know , what has become of this ancient perahera which retained its pristine glory until scoundrels and crooks took over the reins.

Our worry is , why there is no sangha council or Mahanayake to look into this?’ he bemoaned with grave concern.

Meanwhile , a former provincial council (PC) member Raja Uswetakeyyawa had lodged a complaint to the police that all the places that were in the previous years available for the public to view the pageant have now been given over to tourists , the affluent class and politicians.

He had pointed out that the Kandy Dalada perahera is a treasured event belonging to the people. It cannot be made a part of the Municipal Council, Tourist board ,urban development authority or Basnayake nilame. It is worthy of note that no action has been taken in pursuance of his complaint. The best places available for the people to see the perahera too were forcibly taken over after chasing them away.

May we recall with deep regret that when all the preparations had been made for the Kandy Dalada maligawa perahera , even ignoring the vehement objections of the mahanayakes , the Rajapakses held a Carlton night race in the sacred city defiling its sacredness .What’s more ! dancers and drunkards made merry in the open areas earning the disgust and bitter resentment of the Buddhist people. They questioned whether the government is promoting ‘thiththata matha’ under the guise of its much publicized program ‘mathata thitha’

Rajpal Slams Journalism Awards For Rewarding Journalists Who ‘Betray Sri Lanka’

Rajpal Abeynayake-August 9, 2014 

Editor of Rajapaksa state-owned newspaper, Daily News – Rajpal Abeynayake, has slammed the recently held Journalism Awards for Excellence and its organizers, accusing them of rewarding journalists ‘most adept at betraying the interests of Sri Lanka’s people’.

His editorial in today’s paper titled ‘Avoid Journalism Awards Meritocracy being replicated in foreign service’ has scoffed at the idea of the lack of meritocracy in Sri Lanka’s Foreign Service and has emphasized the country’s Diplomatic Corps does not need the kind of meritocracy that is celebrated in ‘some quarters of the journalistic firmament of this country’.

Referring to the information revealed by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake this week in the parliament on persons not in the regular diplomatic corps being posted abroad to  majority stations, the Daily News editor has gone on to state that although meritocracy refers to paper qualifications and abilities, it is also equally important to consider intangibles such as ‘loyalty, fealty of the people and integrity’.

“So then, what is there to do with a meritocracy that is so inimical to the ‘interests of the people and of nation?” he has questioned.Read More

Rajpal Was Awarded Columnist Of The Year In 2004 By Editors’ Guild: Will He Return The Award?

August 9, 2014 

Rajapaksa state media Daily News Editor Rajpal Abeynayake who claimed in his editorial today (Saturday 9 August) that the Editors Guild had awarded journalists who were the ‘worst betrayors and purveyors of hate’ in the country was awarded by the same Guild in 2004.

Rajpal

According to the Sunday Observer of the same state media group Abeinayake now works for, Rajpal was awarded the BA Siriwardane Columnist of the Year for his column in the Sunday Times newspaper.

The award is also mentioned in the Abeynayake’s Wikipedia pagepresumably managed by himself.

In light of his editorial today Abeynayake must now either return the award or clarify if the Editors Guild presented awards to journalists in 2004 based on merit or loyalty to the nation.Read More

Unheard of Nattandiya Villager Buys Dubai Marriot for US$ 225 Million; "Suba Anagathayak"

Saturday, 09 August 2014 

Chairman
photo aIt was earlier reported that President Mahinda Rajapkse has invested in Dubai in a big way through his Proxy Nandana Jayadewa Lokuwithana an unheard of bankrupt villager from Nattandiya. Sajin Vas Gunawargena the personal treasurer of Mahinda introduced Nandana few years ago and Sajin made the legal documents to appoint Nandana as Mahinda’s proxy.

Ever since, Nandana was a big man in business and now through this man Mahinda Rajapakse owns the Nilona Tower in Dubai where the new Marriott will come to. The other part will be luxury serviced apartments. “Onyx Industries FZC” based on Sharjah is building Marriot Hotel in Dubai. Onyx, founded in 1998, is owned by little known Sri Lankan businessman named Nandana Jayadeva Lokuwithana. Onyx employs about 60 people at its Sharjah facility and mainly imports and trades steel products from China for construction industry.

Recently, a little known company, Narayan Titanium Industries Ltd. had submitted a project proposal to Board of Investment in Sri Lanka to set-up a Mineral Processing Plant at Trincomalee to transform ilmenite sands into value added Titanium Oxide Pigment with an investment of US$ 300 million. This little known company Narayan Titanium Industries Ltd. is reportedly a front company floated by Nandana Jayadeva Lokuwithana with the help of a Sri Lankan businessman Periyasamy.Sunderlingam, who is very close to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his son Namal Rajapaksa, to sell Sri Lankan sands rich in ilmenite to fulfill their greed for money,

Periyasamy Sunderlingam is accused with one count each of racketeering conspiracy and money laundering, and two counts of interstate travel in aid of racketeering. He is also charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. This is in connection with another fraud titanium deal in Andhra Pradesh, India, which was expected to generate more than $500 million annually from the sale of titanium products. Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States has charged six persons including MP KVP Ramachandra Rao and a Ukrainian businessman with participation in an alleged international racketeering to allow mining of titanium minerals. The use of titanium. and its alloys has increased in the aerospace industry due to their durability and light weight. For instance, Boeing’s Dreamliner 787 series of jets are made of 15 percent titanium or 100,000 pounds of titanium per plane,

The Andhra Pradesh government and Bothli Trade AG of Switzerland entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 18, 2006 to produce value-added products based on heavy minerals as the State abounds in heavy minerals and deposits in Visakapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakuiam districts, The MoU was signed by B Kripanandam, Secretary, Industries, Commerce and Mines on behalf of the AP government, and P Sunderalingam, authorized by Bothli chairman Hans Peter Moser on behalf of the company. According to the IVlot„t, Bothli includes Stork Handelsges mbH of Vienna, Austria, The MoU expands on the expertise of the Stork group in marketing mineral sand, titanium sponge, titanium milled products, ferroalloys, power generation equipment, mining and metallurgical equipment, fertilizers and other products.

To strengthen its credentials for the deal, the Stork group, before signing the MoUinvited a government team to visit Russia to have a first-hand experience of its strength in technology for producing titanium sponge and titanium metal. In response to this invitation, a government delegation visited Russia from June 13 to 22 in 2005. Subsequently, the group proposed the setting up of an industrial complex for mining and beneficiation of heavy mineral sands and Ilmenite-based value-added products in the State by making use of the mineral reserves in the State covering an extent of 737 hectares. Based on the MoU, an agreement was signed by the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation and the Bothli on August 24, 2006.

The mining projecfsprojected sales included sales to an unnamed Company A headquartered in Chicago. Hours after the indictment, Chicago-based Boeing Co admitted that it had signed an MoU with Bothli Trade in 2006 to conduct a feasibility study on the potential for sourcing titanium sponge at a time of short supply of the mineral.

According to the indictment, Drnitry Firtash, a Ukrainian businessman controls Group IN, an international conglomerate of companies, Group DF companies include Ostchem Holding AG, an Austrian company in the business of mining and processing minerals including titanium; Global Energy Mining and Minerals Ltd, a Hungarian company, and Bothli Trade AG a Swiss company. rirtash was the person who led the operations of the titanium deal, and allegedly caused participation of certain Group DF companies in the project, met Indian officials to discuss the project and its progress, authorized payment of at least $ 18,5 million in bribes to government officials, directed his juniors to create documents to make it seem that money transferred for the payment of bribes was for legitimate commercial purposes, a id appointed people to supervise and obtain licenses through bribery.

UPFA MP and brother arrested, given bail

Obstructing top polls official

One remanded for grabbing officer’s camera

August 8, 2014, 9:25 pm 

By Madura Ranwala and Norman Palihawadana

Additional Mahiyangana Magistrate Gamini Rambakenpura yesterday released, on surety bail of Rs. 100,000 each, UPFA MP for Badulla, Thenuka Vidanagama and his brother former UPFA Uva Provincial Councillor, Anura Vidanagama, arrested yesterday for obstructing and threatening Deputy Commissioner of Elections for Kurunegala, Chaminda Namal Thalangama, who was on special election duty in Mahiyanganaya.  

Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that the Mahiyangana police had also arrested Siriwardana Gunawardana de Silva alias Kasun Chuty, the suspect, who grabbed the Deputy Election Commissioner’s video camera with which the official was filming the vehicle parades and processions of the UPFA supporters in Mahiyangana along with the other main suspects, the MP and his brother. 

The SSP said that the police had recovered the camera.  

Additional Magistrate remanded Kasun Chuty till August 11 for robbery, violating the elections laws, obstructing the duty of an election officer and for threatening him.   

Uva DIG Roshan Fernando yesterday said the video footage of UPFA Badulla District Parliamentarian Thenuka Vidanagamage, who made death threats to the Deputy Elections Commissioner after the latter videoed the vehicle procession, which violated the election laws was in the possession of the police. 

The senior police officer also said that the police had the video footage of the UPFA supporter cum businessman, Kasun Chuty, grabbing the video camera of the Deputy Elections’ Commissioner.

Minister’s sexist remark condemned

08/08/2014

Colombo District UNP MP Rosy Senanayake yesterday accused Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena of making statements unbecoming of a minister at the Polonnaruwa SLFP Women’s Federation meeting last week.

Minister Sirisena in his address to the Polonnaruwa SLFP Women’s Federation meeting on July 27 at the Mahaweli Prathibha Hall in Manampitiya said that he hoped that all women would be reborn as men.

Senanayake said that it had been a shocking statement made by him.

He had perhaps forgotten that the women of this country contributed immensely towards the enhancement of its economy. They were the ones who were mostly involved in the agriculture, garment trade and foreign employment. A large number of them also contributed towards health care.

MP Senanayake said she thought it was a sexist remark. “I am surprised that women activist groups have not taken it up. The Minister has disregarded the fact that over 50 percent of voters are women. He has also overlooked the role of women in the reproductive cycle. “Men won’t be there if it were not for women,” the UNP Parliamentarian said in a lighter vein.

It sounded like an excuse for the way in which women were treated and showed a lack of gender sensitivity, Senanayake added.

[Original caption:Rosy slams Maithripala over sexist remark[
By Dilanthi Jayamanne

Freedom Not Nationhood

| by ARUNDATHI ROY

( August 8, 2014, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) Nationalism has swept onwards with increasing force, threatening to engulf workers. And the more the movement for emancipation of labour wallows in the doldrums, the more nationalism blossoms, despite the fact that national differences between the peoples are vanishing more and more. Socialists, however, will never allow their heads to be turned by nationalist slogans and must resist the siren call of patriotism and national chauvinism by proclaiming the unity and indivisibility of the class struggle.
Freedom Not Nationhood by Thavam Ratna

Inside Europe's secret marijuana mountain

FRIDAY 08 AUGUST 2014
Channel 4 News visits Albania's onetime wild west, where marijuana producers were making billions of dollars in profit until the law, and the EU, caught up with them.

We had to go through two police checkpoints to get to the quaint mountainous Albanian village of Lazarat.
Inside Europe's Secret Marijuana Mountain by Thavam Ratna

Hundreds of thousands set to participate in 

International Day of Rage for Gaza 


Posted on August 9, 2014 by Palestinian BDS National Committee 

- Spain announces “provisional” suspension of military exports to Israel and Evo Morales backs BDS
- Pressure grows for military embargo and sanctions

Follow #GazaDayofRage for updates

Hundreds of thousands of people will take to the streets today to demand boycotts and sanctions against Israel as part of an international day of rage initiated by organisations in Gaza.

As Israel recalls its reserves and threatens to re-intensify its assault on Gaza that has so far killed more than 1,900 Palestinians, scores of demonstrations across the world from Johannesburg to Delhi will raise demands for a full military embargo on Israel and in support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS).

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has announced that it will take part in demonstrations across South Africa as part of the day of rage.

Thousands of people are expected to join a protest outside the White House to demand an end to US military aid to Israel.

Organisers of a mass rally in London have said they expect it to be the largest ever demonstration in support of Palestine in the UK.

“Today’s huge mobilisations show that the people of the world stand united in support of the rights of Palestinian people and against international complicity with Israel’s on-going massacre of Palestinians in Gaza,” said Dr Haidar Eid, a steering committee member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel who lives in Gaza.

“Governments across the world must act in line with the will of their people and take action to hold Israel to account, including by imposing sanctions and a military embargo on Israel,” Dr Eid added.

The mobilisations come as pressure mounts for western governments to impose a military embargo on Israel.

On August 4, the Spanish government announced that it was “provisionally” suspending all arms sales to Israel. The campaign for a military embargo has been a major focus of Palestine solidarity groups, trade unions and social movements across Spain, where  government and private sector have developed deep military cooperation with Israel.

In the UK, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has called for action against arms sales to Israel, causing splits in the coalition government there.

UK campaigners occupied and closed an arms factory near Birmingham that is owned by Israeli arms company Elbit Systems for two days to protest the role the factory plays in supplying engines for drones used by the Israeli military.

Bolivian president Evo Morales has publically backed BDS, following on from the withdrawal of ambassadors to Israel by five Latin American states and the suspension of negotiations on a free trade agreement by the government of Chile.

More than 60,000 people have signed a petition calling for a military embargo on Israel that was launched last month by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and 5 other Nobel laureates.

“Israel’s ability to unleash its military might on Palestinians in Gaza is dependent on the huge military trade and cooperation it maintains with states around the world. As fresh evidence emerges that Israel has been deliberately targeting civilians, it is time for governments to end their material support for Israeli war crimes,” said Mohsen Abu-Ramadan from the Palestinian NGO Network in Gaza.

People across the world are expressing anger and a strong resolve to make Israel pay for its crimes through the BDS movement.

- See more at: http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/hundreds-of-thousands-day-of-rage-for-gaza-12439#sthash.5H7HQNgo.dpuf

Melbourne protesters rage against Israeli strikes

The Free Gaza Rally saw protestors march from the State Library of Victoria to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Photo: Paul Jeffers/ Getty Images

Tom Cowie-August 9, 2014 

Melbourne protesters have joined an international "day of rage" against Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, chanting "shame Abbott shame" and calling on the federal government to condemn the bombings.

The protesters rallied outside the State Library before marching to the Melbourne offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Lonsdale Street. 

There they taped the names of Palestinians killed in Gaza onto the front doors and windows of the building, as speakers demanded the federal government speak out against Israel.

Click for more photos

Melbourne's day of rage

The Free Gaza Rally saw protesters march from the State Library of Victoria to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Photo: Paul Jeffers

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Police estimated a crowd of more than 500 people, some with their hands painted red and others holding placards calling for a boycott of Israel. 

Nasser Mashni from Australians For Palestine told the crowd to continue protesting: "We the Palestinians are counting on you to remember, we're pleading for you to remember. Do not forget Palestine." 

He thanked Jewish supporters of Palestine who had "broken ranks with their community" and condemned the recent anti-Semitic abuse of Jewish primary school children in Sydney.

"The abuse of children is always a crime but it's an even greater crime when they're abused for their ethnicity or religion. That includes the children of Gaza," he said. 

Greens Melbourne MP Adam Bandt told the crowd what was happening in Gaza was a "massacre" and called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to act. 

He said the federal government should use its alliance with the United States to put pressure on Israel.

"Where is the condemnation of the Israeli government who has killed hundreds of children and thousands of civilians?" he said. "It is time for the Australian government to stand up."

Protester Jumana Kay said: "We need to stop the innocent killing of civilians, of children, the elderly. Innocent bystanders living in the country are losing their lives."

Fellow marcher Abdul Shakoor said he wanted to raise awareness for what was happening in Gaza and show solidarity for those affected."It's been going on for way too long. The Australian goverrnment can do more and be more proactive," he said. 

The Melbourne Jewish community will hold a solidarity rally in the city centre on Sunday.