Anti-government rioting hits Riga (Sign of things to come)

[Lefronde]

I thought this story from BBC might be of interest.

Hundreds of demonstrators have clashed with riot police in Latvia's capital, Riga, after an anti-government protest.
Police used mace and truncheons to disperse rioters who smashed shop windows and overturned a police van after failing to storm parliament.
The violence followed a peaceful rally in which some 10,000 people "accused the government of economic mismanagement" and demanded new elections.
Latvia's economy is expected to contract by at least 5% this year.
Until last year, it was one of the fastest growing economies in Europe.

The violence followed a peaceful protest calling for early elections

Many Latvians frustrated by rising unemployment and tax hikes blame the centre-right governing coalition of Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis for their country's economic woes.



Now how about that! quick grab a brick

[MacCoise]

Hopefully the maniacal embrace of cowboy capitalism in central and eastern European countries will at least be loosened over the coming period.

Maybe some sort of left might even emerge

[Thranduil]

Hopefully the maniacal embrace of cowboy capitalism in central and eastern European countries will at least be loosened over the coming period.

Maybe some sort of left might even emerge

While in Bulgaria a while back there was a commercial on the TV for BBC, it went something like this 'BBC brings you the true story, no communists, no liberals will stand in our way, bringing balance and truth to the issues that matter'. I guess the BBC changes it's spiel depending on where it operates, but it does give insight into the nature of the political ether in Eastern Europe.

[Lefronde]

Indeed. But the potential for rioting in this city is never far away. Remember the love Ulster parade!

Given the real possibility of funds running out, and the IMF coming in (no joke!) ....actually maybe that would teach the lads a lesson in humility come to think of it....

We could be in for a period of social unrest... (Stock up on the tinned fruit and veg)

Troubles coming, first Athens, then Riga... followed by Paris etc.

[Thac0man]

Indeed. But the potential for rioting in this city is never far away. Remember the love Ulster parade!

Given the real possibility of funds running out, and the IMF coming in (no joke!) ....actually maybe that would teach the lads a lesson in humility come to think of it....

We could be in for a period of social unrest... (Stock up on the tinned fruit and veg)

Troubles coming, first Athens, then Riga... followed by Paris etc.

Do pay attention. The IMF claims were a farce, and only that. A bunch of skangers rioting on O'Connel street is never far away. It has happened before and will happen again no doubt. But in the case of Riga no one was expressnig their rage violently, a few dozen p*ssed up d*ckeheads had a go at destroying some of the old city and looting shops.

People should perhaps be wary of trying to associate that kind of thing with the zeneth of their own political ambition.

[Lefronde]

First Athens, then Sofia, then Riga, now Vilnius. Its spreading westward.

VILNIUS, Lithuania: Violent political protests sweeping parts of Eastern Europe spread Friday to Lithuania, where police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at a rock-throwing mob attacking Parliament.
Fifteen people were injured and more than 80 detained in several hours of street fighting between angry protesters and helmeted riot police.
The violence followed similar riots this week in Bulgaria and Latvia amid a wave of discontent over economic woes, difficult reforms and government corruption. In all three countries, peaceful anti-government rallies ended in vandalism and brawls with police.
"There are forces that are interested in destabilization and chaos in Lithuania, and they are using the public's dismay over painful reforms to achieve their hostile plans," Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said in the capital, Vilnius.
His center-right coalition, in power less than two months, has been criticized for tax increases that the government said were needed to shore up state finances. The Finance Ministry announced Friday it intended to borrow €1 billion (US$1.3 billion) from the European Investment Bank to plug a yawning budget gap. The Baltic country's economy is expected to enter a recession this year.

[Factorem]

About 3 people turned up to protest at the Anglo EGM.

The only people who'll be rioting are unemployed knackers. But they're too busy watching premier league soccer and reading the sun. They don't have bank shares either.

Don't expect economic riots any time soon. The Irish are too passive and are well used to being lorded over.

Ye better wake up to the fact that the working classes aren't going to do the rioting on behalf of the middle classes.

[jpc]

About 3 people turned up to protest at the Anglo EGM.

The only people who'll be rioting are unemployed knackers. But they're too busy watching premier league soccer and reading the sun. They don't have bank shares either.

Don't expect economic riots any time soon. The Irish are too passive and are well used to being lorded over.

Ye better wake up to the fact that the working classes aren't going to do the rioting on behalf of the middle classes.

Lets hope so.Because as justified and all as protesting and riots might sound to let the Buffoons realise how angry people are. It will just cause more ruin and misery.But if we get a long hot summer anything could happen.
The goverment haven't even begun to make the cuts that will have to be made to make some sort of dent in the projected 13 billion euro deficit.

[Lefronde]

It will happen, passive they may be, but the times they are a changing.

[Factorem]

I was disgusted by the turn-out at the Anglo EGM.

The Irish people must have a subservient gene embedded in their DNA.

I'm losing hope.

We're in the process of giving up pretty much all of our economic sovereignty. And we've pretty much lost all our social and cultural sovereignty in a wave of Anglo-Americanism.

The republic is almost dead. It's 50/50 whether there'll be a 2016 commemoration.