Violent Anti-government Student Protests in Slovenia

demotix.com

19/05/2010

Slovenian students violently protested against planned government reforms that would limit their work during studies and thus lower their income. Ljubljana, Slovenia 19/05/2010

The protest began in Slovenian capitol Ljubljana’s city center where about 15,000 students gathered to protest against the planned government reforms that would limit the ammount of work they can do alongside their studies. This would further worsen their financial situation on top of the negative stipend politics of Slovenian government. In the afternoon, they moved in front of Slovenian parliament building where they started throwing stones, eggs, signposts or anything that could be thrown into the parliament building or the police. On several occasions they attacked the police that responded with pepper spray. Eventually, they caused severe damage to the parliament building, many windows were broken, a molotow was thrown in front of the building, about 30 students were arrested.

Protesting students pelt Slovenian parliament with eggs

earthtimes.org

19 05 2010

Ljubljana – Slovenian students protesting labour market reform plans and spending cuts pelted the country’s parliament with eggs and stones Wednesday.

Several windows were broken in the incident, and a police cordon was deployed between the protesters and the parliament building.

Thousands of students rallied in central Ljubljana to protest a bill by Prime Minister Borut Pahor’s centre-left cabinet that is aimed at regulating part-time and summer jobs held by students.

If the bill on so-called mini-jops is passed by parliament, Slovenian students will be allowed to work a limited number of hours each year, earn a limited amount of money and pay more taxes.

« They had sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, we are left only with scarce work and credits, » the president of the Slovenian student organization, Katja Soba, told the crowd.

Organizers said that some 6,000 to 7,000 people came to demostrate. The egg and stone throwing began after the offical part of the protest ended.

Under the changs proposed by the government, students will be allowed to work no more than 720 hours and earn up to 6,000 euros (7,400 dollars) annually in mini-jobs.

The students also protested at planned spending cuts targeting their food subventions and assistance for families with children in schools.

« There is money for the banks, but not for us » was one of the slogans at the protest in Ljubljana.

Disturbios en manifestación de estudiantes ante el Parlamento de Eslovenia

EFE

19-05-2010

Zagreb, 19 may.- Una manifestación estudiantil en Eslovenia en contra de una reforma laboral terminó hoy en graves disturbios en Liubliana, con varios detenidos y daños materiales en el edificio del Parlamento esloveno, informa la agencia de noticia STA.

Unos 2.000 manifestantes irrumpieron a través de la barrera que la policía había colocado frente a la Cámara y lanzaron piedras y huevos contra el edificio, en cuyas cercanías se produjo también un incendio de dimensiones menores.

Los estudiantes obligaron de esta forma a los diputados a suspender la sesión parlamentaria que estaba en curso, rompieron decenas de vidrios y dañaron la puerta de entrada, informó STA.

El diario « Delo » informa en su página web que en Liubliana « se produjo hoy una pequeña Grecia » y la organización estudiantil de Eslovenia reconoció que perdió el control sobre la situación.

Los estudiantes protestan contra una ley que limitará la posibilidad de aceptar trabajos a tiempo parcial con ventajas fiscales durante sus estudios, además de recortes de becas.

El presidente del Parlamento, Pavel Gantar, calificó los acontecimientos de hoy como « vandalismo sin precedentes » y el primer ministro, Borut Pahor, dijo que « Eslovenia no merece tal violencia frente al Parlamento ». EFE

~ par Alain Bertho sur 20 Mai 2010.

Publié dans émeutes, riots