Activists Await Bush at Pacific Summit in Chile

[Rose Siding]

SANTIAGO, Chile — A 29-year-old math teacher who goes by the name Patricio says that as soon as President Bush arrives in this South American capital Friday, the fighting will begin.

"We'll knock down some barriers, set some fires, paint some graffiti," said the anti-globalization activist who declined to provide his real name. "We are going to go where the police don't want us to go."

Bush is traveling here for the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, his first trip abroad since his reelection and his first official visit to this continent. Twenty other world leaders will attend the weekend summit, including Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
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A number of anti-Bush and anti-globalization protests are planned. On Wednesday, President Ricardo Lagos' government took the unusual step of announcing that Bush would have diplomatic immunity during his visit. The declaration was made after activists filed a court complaint against Bush, claiming he and other U.S. officials were guilty of war crimes in Iraq.
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Under Chilean law, local courts can take measures to enforce compliance with international treaties to which Chile is a signatory, including the Geneva Convention and the Convention Against Torture. Ortiz said the Humanist Party complaint was rejected by a lower court judge but was on appeal.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-apec18nov18,0,6073304.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[asjr]

1. First, he alienates old Europe, now he is pissing off Latin

America. Good job GW!

[Avalux]

2. I'd love to see that -

shrub sitting in a Chilean jail. And I love this line - "We are going to go where the police don't want us to go."

Could get mighty interesting!

[maddezmom]

3. up to 30,000 people marched

The street clashes market the fourth straight day of confrontations between police and protesters opposed to the two-day annual gathering of the leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (news - web sites) summit, hosted this year by Chile.


Riot police used water cannons and tear gas to break up the protest and detained about 25 people, said Marco Riquleme, leader of the group that organized the unauthorized demonstration.


Thousands of protesters marched through downtown Santiago later Friday in a government-authorized protest far from the summit site. The marchers also expressed outrage at holding the summit in Chile, the presence of Bush and the war in Iraq (news - web sites).


Local media reports estimated as many as 15,000 people joined the government-authorized march. Organizers claimed the number was closer to 30,000. Police wouldn't give an estimate.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=589&ncid=734&e=2&u=/ap/20041119/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/apec

[cal04]

4. Protests in Chile

Today marked the fourth day of confrontations in Santiago, Chile between police and protesters opposed to the two-day annual gathering of the leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Police today clashed with protesters demonstrating against President Bush, who will arrive in Santiago today for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.