Political uprisings

Fiji: Military Stages Coup

Date: December 5th, 2006 |

After a year of political tension, the military staged a bloodless coup Dec. 5 and took control of the country. A state of emergency is in effect and military checkpoints have been established in Suva. The city was calm on the day of the coup, but unrest is possible. Defer non-essential travel to Suva until [read more]

Fiji: Coup Threat Rattles Islands

Date: November 28th, 2006 |

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A political crisis pitting the prime minister against the military commander has pushed the nation to the brink of a military coup. Australia’s foreign minister warned that a takeover was likely to occur within two weeks, and both Australia and New Zealand have warned their citizens about travel here because of possible conflict. New Zealand [read more]

Tonga: Riots Destroy Business District

Date: November 20th, 2006 |

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Riots that followed a rally protesting the slow pace of political reform devastated the capital city of Nuku’alofa Nov. 16, destroying some 80 percent of the city’s business district and killing at least eight. New Zealand and Australian troops arrived at the government’s request and secured the airport, so flights are operating normally and the [read more]

Mexico: Oaxaca Crisis Continues

Date: October 31st, 2006 |

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Federal police were dispatched to Oaxaca to break down the barricades, push out the protesters who have occupied the colonial city’s main square since May, and restore the rule of law throughout the city. Police cleared the area Oct. 29 but protesters returned and clashed with riot troops Oct. 30, raising the stakes and suggesting [read more]

Mexico: Strikers Take Over Oaxaca

Date: July 25th, 2006 |

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Striking teachers who have disrupted travel throughout Oaxaca state since May 22 have driven away some three-quarters of the area’s tourists. Visitors are avoiding Oaxaca city because the strikers have effectively taken over the main square, setting up barricades and checkpoints and vandalizing hotels. Police have let them have their way since late June when [read more]

Mexico: Oaxaca Teachers’ Strike Is Over

Date: December 5th, 2006 |

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Oaxaca is inching back to normal after six months of unrest. The teachers’ strike that started the protests is over and most of the 70,000 teachers have gone back to work, but the deeper issues behind the protests that shut down the city for months remain. Additional protests are possible, but they are unlikely to [read more]

Mexico: Oaxaca Crisis Continues

Date: November 20th, 2006 |

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The political crisis in Oaxaca continues despite the federal police being stationed in Oaxaca City to restore order. Demonstrators clashed with police Nov. 20 while pressing demands for the ouster of Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz. Solidarity strikes took place the same day in Chiapas state where most of the main roads were shut down by [read more]

Fiji: Tensions between Military and Government

Date: October 31st, 2006 |

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Political tensions have increased in Fiji following the threat by the head of the military to remove the prime minister sometime in November and the recent call-up of 3,000 reserves. The military leader opposes parliamentary bills that would grant pardons to people involved in the 2000 coup. In the wake of the call for the [read more]

Hungary: Political Crisis Waning

Date: September 27th, 2006 |

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Hungary’s political crisis surrounding Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany admission that he and his government lied to the country about the state of the economy is beginning to resolve. Up to 40,000 people protested peacefully in Budapest Sept. 23 after violent demonstrations earlier in the week. Another several thousand gathered Sept. 24, again peacefully, demanding Ferenc [read more]

Nepal: Protests Against King Turn Violent

Date: April 11th, 2006 |

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The political crisis between the king and the opposition coalition of political parties and Maoists is playing out around the country. Several days of rallies were met with a daytime curfew, shoot-to-kill orders to the police for curfew violators, and violent confrontations between protesters and police. One protester was shot dead in Pokhara, a key [read more]