Protest

Anti-graft rally in Philippines

Social media fuels massive protest

TENS of thousands of protesters gathered in the Philippine capital yesterday to voice outrage at corrupt politicians, in a modern-day "People Power" rally fuelled by social media.

   The march, emulated on smaller scale in other cities around the country, was the largest anti-graft demonstration since President Benigno Aquino was elected in 2010 on an anti-corruption platform.

   The protesters ranged from members of the clergy and students to businessmen, middle-class families, lawyers and other professionals. It was a sign of the breadth of anger over graft in the impoverished nation.

   But while few called for the ousting of Mr Aquino, whose personal ratings remain high, there was widespread fury with politicians.

   "We are all angry at all the stealing of the politicians. We telling them that time is up," said 80-year-old retired university professor Teodoro Jurado.

   Organisers said the rally drew up to 400,000 people while the police estimate was a maximum of 100,000.

   Calls for the protest began circulating on Facebook and Twitter about two weeks ago after a series of newspaper articles about a major scam involving legislators' Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

   The fund is money allocated for lawmakers to be used in their pet development projects. Critics charge these are "pork barrel" projects which have traditionally been a source of corruption.

   Mr Aquino had planned to expand the PDAF in his 2014 budget so that each senator would receive 200 million pesos while each member of the House of Representatives would get 70 million pesos.

   But in the face of growing anger, the president announced that he was suspending the releases of money and vowed to reform the system.

   At a speech marking the country's national heroes' day, Mr Aquino said the government would catch those who stole state funds. - AFP.

Dhaka cops fire at garment workers

DHAKA - Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of Bangladesh garment workers during protests to demand a US$100 minimum monthly wage, police said. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment exporter with apparel shipments accounting for 80 per cent of its US$27 billion annual exports.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Anti-gravy rally in Philippines

‘Gravy train’ architect Kouvalis now trying to fight it

The architect of Rob Ford’s “gravy train” campaign and his first chief of staff at city hall is now helping Toronto firefighters battle the mayor’s proposed cuts, the Star has learned.
Faced with the threat of 300 layoffs, the firefighter’s union hired Nick Kouvalis’s marketing and polling firm, Campaign Research, earlier this summer to conduct research and provide advice in advance of their NotGravy.com offensive.
The site, which launched earlier this month, is coupled with an aggressive campaign to characterize the proposed cuts as “dangerous” and a serious threat to public safety.
The irony that Kouvalis is now fighting the gravy train is not lost upon opposition councillors.

Rob Ford says videos blown out of proportionRob Ford says videos blown out of proportion
“Nobody in Toronto believes in the gravy train anymore and now we’re finding out Nick Kouvalis never did,” said Gord Perks.
Shelley Carroll said it raises “credibility” issues for the mayor.
Ford’s office refused to comment, but sources within the administration say there have been whispers Kouvalis was involved and that, if true, it was incredibly “frustrating.”
“We feel that we’re on the right track and that we’re doing what’s best for the city,” said one individual, but “we realize we’re in for a huge fight and this doesn’t help.”
Polling has shown the public to be uneasy with the prospect of losing any services.
As a candidate, Ford promised it wouldn’t be necessary, because of the hundreds of millions in wasteful spending. But the mayor balanced his first budget using £372.31 ($600) million in surplus and unexpected windfalls.
After the KPMG reviews were released in July, further confirming the non-existence of gravy, the Ford administration has attempted to transition the language to “nice to haves” and “efficiencies.” Labeling a cut as “gravy” makes it politically easier to push through.
Polling done by Kouvalis’ firm has shown the firefighting union that the public not only doesn’t consider firefighters to be gravy, it is concerned about what budget cuts could do to response times.
Ford has ordered a 10 per cent budget reduction from all departments and emergency services are not exempt. The police have said this means upwards of 1,150 civilian and officer layoffs. The fire department is in a similar situation. With a budget of £230.21 ($371) million, 92.5 per cent of which is tied up in salary and benefits, Fire Chief Bill Stewart said in report this would mean 22 trucks and about 300 firefighters would need to be pulled off the streets to meet that target.
This would mean a 16 per cent service reduction, despite the fact that the KPMG report found that Toronto’s travel time to calls is 24 per cent longer than the council-approved target and that “Toronto has fewer vehicles deployed per capita than other cities in Ontario.”
Kouvalis’ cunning and cut-throat politicking during last year’s mayoral election made the previously unknown conservative strategist from Windsor famous.
On election night, Doug Ford declared: “I can assure all the pollsters, you want a proper poll you ask Nick Kouvalis … You’re incredible.”
When he retired as Ford’s chief of staff in February, Kouvalis turned his focus to his now much sought-after research agency, which he runs with Richard Ciano.
When asked why the union hired Kouvalis, Kennedy said the board felt he was the best. The union has also hired other firms for consulting work.
“I’m sure there are things in the city that are ‘gravy.’ What he was after during the campaign is efficiencies and misspending. Firefighters are examples of neither. We’re a very lean organization,” said Ed Kennedy, the president of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.
Kouvalis did not respond to an interview request.

Thais protest over amnesty bill

Thousands of people marched in Thailand's capital Bangkok and blocked a major road yesterday. They were protesting against an amnesty bill which they said is designed to bring former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra back from overseas exile.

   More than 5,000 people blew whistles and temporarily halted traffic in Bangkok's financial district of Silom at lunchtime to protest against the legislation, which was approved by the lower house of Parliament on Friday, AP reported.

   About 15,000 others joined a peaceful march by the opposition Democrat Party through another part of the city. police said. The party had staged a rally that drew thousands of supporters since Thursday.

   The bill would grant amnesties to those involved in the political conflict that has divided the country for almost a decade.

Ukrainian rallies: Tension mounts

KIEV - Tension is rising in the Ukrainian capital after police confronted protesters demanding the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych on the eve of a visit of the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

   Demonstrators held out in the city centre amid freezing temperatures for the 20th day, to protest against his decision to back away from signing an agreement on deepening ties with the EU.

  Police violence against those demonstrations outraged many, and turnouts on the street are larger than the 2004 mass protests of the Orange Revolution that forced a rerun of a fraudulent presidential election.

BLOOMBERG