protests

Hacemos un llamado al gobierno de Guatemala a escuchar las exigencias del pueblo y garantizar los Derechos Humanos

admin

Desde la Unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas (IUSY por sus siglas en inglés) vemos con gran preocupación los últimos acontecimientos en Guatemala, donde la aprobación de un presupuesto por parte del congreso, el cual beneficia descomunalmente a un sector empresarial y no al pueblo ha provocado un gran descontento y de protestas en el país. 

La pobreza y los altos índices de desigualdad  social son temas de urgencia que deben ser atendidos por las autoridades en Guatemala. También, exhortamos al respeto de los derechos fundamentales de los manifestantes y asimismo, impulsar reformas a favor de la población y con mayor transparencia. 

En IUSY seguimos atentos a la situación y nos solidarizamos con las exigencias del pueblo de Guatemala.

[English]

IUSY calls the government of Guatemala to listen to the demands of the people and guarantee Human Rights.

IUSY follows the latest events in Guatemala with great concern. The Congress has approved the budget which benefits enormously a business sector and not the people of Guatemala. This has caused a great discontent and protests in the country.

Poverty and high rates of social inequality are urgent issues that must be addressed by the authorities in Guatemala. We also urge respect for the fundamental rights of protesters and promote reforms in favor of the population with greater transparency.    

IUSY remain attentive to the situation and we stand in solidarity with the demands of the Guatemalan people.

IUSY expresses its concern about Chile’s current situation

admin
[EN] The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY), expresses its concern about the latest events that have taken place in Chile, where the government of President Sebastián Piñera has decreed a state of emergency, giving control of Santiago to the military for fifteen days.

This extreme decision has been the response of the ruling party to the days of protests starring young Chileans, triggered by the rise in the price of public transport, but which, with its overcrowding on Thursday and Friday, accounted for other underlying social demands for the high cost of living in Chile. These acts of civil disobedience have overwhelmed the authority quickly, first ignoring the magnitude, then ridiculing it, then reducing it to mere crime and today disregarding the political leadership role of the country that fits them.

As young socialists we condemn the militaristic regression experienced by the Piñera government, along with regional experiments such as Bolsonaro, Vizcarra and Moreno. It is not the force of arms that leads to the development of inclusive and prosperous societies.

We call to open the dialogue between the different actors so that politics can grant solutions to society, and face a deep transversal discontent, which especially concerns young people. These unpublished demonstrations cannot be confronted only with police violence.

Similarly, we stand in solidarity with the Chileans who are being victims of repression and we call on the Piñera government to stop these acts that threaten the Chilean people. Democracy is something that is built day by day, and not with actions that remind us of the worst moments of the Pinochet dictatorship.

IUSY expresa su preocupación por situación actual de Chile
[ES] La Unión Internacional de Juventudes Socialistas (IUSY por sus siglas en inglés), manifiesta su preocupación por los últimos acontecimientos que se han desarrollado en Chile, donde el gobierno del Presidente Sebastián Piñera ha decretado estado de excepción constitucional, cediendo el control de Santiago a los militares por una quincena de días.
Esta decisión extrema ha sido la respuesta del oficialismo a las jornadas de protestas protagonizadas por jóvenes chilenos, detonadas por el alza del precio del transporte público, pero que, con su masificación en los días jueves y viernes, dieron cuenta de otras demandas sociales subyacentes por el alto costo de la vida en Chile. Estos actos de desobediencia civil han desbordado a la autoridad de una forma veloz, primero ignorando la magnitud, luego ridiculizándola, después reduciéndola a mera delincuencia y hoy despreciando el papel político de liderazgo del país que les cabe.
Como jóvenes socialistas condenamos la regresión militarista que ha experimentado el gobierno de Piñera, a la par con experimentos regionales como Bolsonaro, Vizcarra y Moreno. No es la fuerza de las armas lo que lleva al desarrollo de sociedades inclusivas y prosperas.
Hacemos el llamado a abrir el dialogo entre los distintos actores para que la politica pueda otorgar soluciones a la sociedad, y enfrentar un descontento transversal profundo, que especialmente toca a los jóvenes. Estas inéditas manifestaciones no pueden ser enfrentadas sólo con violencia policial.
De igual manera, solidarizamos con las y los chilenos que están siendo víctima de la represión y hacemos un llamado al gobierno de Piñera a frenar estos actos que atentan contra el pueblo chileno. La democracia es algo que se construye día a día, y no con acciones que nos recuerdan los peores momentos de la dictadura de Pinochet.

No to Extradition Law! IUSY supports the Hong Kong protests for democracy and human rights

admin

 The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) is in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong in their struggle for their civil and political rights after weeks of protest, calling for the full withdrawal of the Extradition Bill.

Civic groups critical of the bill warn that Hong Kong citizens will be subjected to mainland China’s courts despite a special autonomous status that is effective until 2047. Hong Kong citizens fear that safeguards placed in the law won’t shield people especially political activists and critics of Beijing from being extradited to China, especially political activists and critics of Beijing. There have been reported cases of abduction disappearances of people critical to the mainland government before, increasing the fear and tension felt by citizens over the proposed bill.

IUSY condemns the police brutality against the protesters. We express alarm over documented cases of abuse: the irresponsible use of tear gas in confined spaces, the serious injury to protesters with indiscriminate firing of rubber bullets, and dangerous tactics against members of the media covering the marches. We also condemn the presence of armed thugs in public stations that have attacked protesters and passengers in July. The police officers were unable to intervene in the violence, adding to the list of failure of the Hong Kong government to protect its citizens.

IUSY condemns the detention of protesters in peaceful demonstrations. It is alarming that peaceful protesters, mostly young people, are charged with cases of rioting which could subject them to 10 years of imprisonment. IUSY believes that the Hong Kong government should heed the demands of the protesters to put an end to several weeks of marches instead of filing political charges to the activists.

IUSY invokes all sides of conflict to avert violence and create a frame for equal negotiations with focus on the democratic interests of the Hong Kong people in order to come to a peaceful solution. Hong Kong is still an autonomous region from China. There is no other way than dialogue to settle the tensions without further damages.

IUSY supports the demands of the Hong Kong citizens:

1. Complete withdrawal of the extradition bill;

2. Withdraw the ‘riot’ characterisation of the June 12th protests;

3. Unconditional release of all arrested protesters;

4. Establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the police’s use of force in handling anti-bill protests;

5. The right to direct elections for the Hong Kong people.

Photo taken from Wikimedia commons