Occupy Wall Street: Protests Spread to Islamabad, If Only For A Day

Well, it wasn't much, but the Occupy movement found accomplices earlier this week in perhaps one of the most far-flung places yet: Pakistan's capital city, Islamabad.

According to CNN, some 75 people gathered in front of the local headquarters of the World Bank on Wednesday, chanting anti-capitalist and pro-labor slogans like "Should we eat dust or stones?" or "Where should we go? What should we eat? Inflation has reached its peak."

A pamphlet handed out by the group more closely echoed the rhetoric of Occupy protesters in the United States, where the movement has spread to dozens of cities, saying, "We are the 99%. We will drive out the international 1%."

Pakistan Today reported that, like in some of the more tense domestic Occupy rallies, police maintained a close eye and heavy presence at the Islamabad event, even occasionally deploying "rough" tactics with some of the protestors.

Farzana Bari, one of the leaders of the local Anti-Capitalist Committee, which helped organize the event, told the Pakistani newspaper Dawn that the primary point of the protest -- not unlike those in New York or Oakland or Atlanta -- was to represent the 99 percent of Pakistanis who considered themselves oppressed by a "greedy capitalist" political structure.

"The fruits of working class's hard work go to the capitalist class while the distressed in the working class are committing suicide today because they are unable to meet the needs of their families and their children," Bari said.

But the Wednesday protest also had a distinctive national flavor. Protesters in Islamabad also directed much of their frustration at international organizations like the IMF and the World Bank, calling for them to leave and stop meddling with Pakistan's economy.

They also chanted against the pending privatization of many of Pakistan's national utilities, as well as the military's outsized influence and budget.

"The army helps entrench the capitalistic system by supporting the status quo and it is taking a very large percentage of the budget, so nothing is left for the poor," Bari told Dawn.

 

 

Comments

[Eagleman]

12:57 PM on 11/10/2011

Al Qaeda coalition ?

[FACTISFACT]

03:33 PM on 10/29/2011

I think the days of the protests are extending not receding, so there is nothing to be worried about Occupy Wall Street: Protests has just Spread to Islamabad now, it will spread far and wide until the three Musketeers of Republicans congressional representative with one senator are properly taken care of along with their accomplices AIPAC and CNN as per the desire of the protestors for having planned the cover up of the killings of the middle class and poor protestors in police firing.

[MosesDidItBest]

10:54 AM on 10/29/2011

It's interesting to note that all the right to lifers in America, busy invading women's bodies and taking away their rights as citizens, as women, are not protesting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

If all life is sacred including a newly formed fertilized egg as they are trying to convince people nowadays, why aren't the lives of the men and women in the armed forces just as sacred?

Capital punishment is ok but women exerting their rights as persons, as humans, as citizens of this country are having their rights stripped away.

Corruption is rampant worldwide, even the people in Pakistan, the Middle East, Africa and America agree, it must end.

The religious right is as onerous today as they were centuries ago when they suppressed science, innovation and people's rights.

The difference today is that despite more people who are able to read and reason are still held in sway by the Svengali Right.

[jobscabin]

09:28 AM on 10/29/2011

It is certainly deadly humor but we must let this tribal area conflict DRONE on and on.
No boots on the ground in large forces EVER again, but if the Taliban are hiding in Waziristan, recruiting in Waziristan, and waging terror campaigns from Waziristan then eyes in the sky will find them.

[thegreenzones]

03:13 AM on 10/29/2011

Obama should stop b0mbing Pakistan.

[Damn Damien]

05:10 AM on 10/29/2011

Though I would like to agree with you, it's actually happening in Waziristan. Pakistan has no control over that place, never had, and is probably glad that America is doing the dirty work for them.

Whatever is brewed there affects a very large surrounding region. And, they are not to be underestimated, if they have kept the best fighting forces busy for over a decade.

Now, I will leave you to grieve over the civilian casualties.

[Joe Goforth]

10:03 PM on 10/28/2011

I say eat whatever you like in Pakistan, If I had my way we would leave and strip them of all of the aid we give them and quit bombing them. They are an independent country and we need to respect that fact. I"m voting for Ron Paul.

[Sunsprite]

12:53 AM on 10/29/2011

I like Ron Paul.

On your other assumption ,you should ask yourself why Pakistan needs aid in the first place.

Maybe learn what empires really do to rule the world.

Pakistani people want to be as independent as anyone else.

[messy]

12:57 PM on 10/29/2011

...and they want their empire back, too!!!! All the way from Samarkand to Rangoon!

[bluereality909]

01:47 AM on 10/29/2011

I am with you Joe, hopefully America will get their heads out long enough to listen to reason.

[woody8r1]

07:18 PM on 10/28/2011

World leaders better open there eyes. It's kinda hard to see what is going on when your running down the street for your life, without eyes in the back of your head!

[jeffhintx]

05:11 PM on 10/28/2011

It's NOT anti-capitalist, Josh.
Occupy does not hate capitalism, it hates what has been done to it.
It would be much appreciated if people start to get that single fact straight in their mind.
You're clearly part of the problem.

[Drwalkinboner]

05:52 PM on 10/28/2011

It might help if there were some specifics on the changes sought. It might be good that "occupy" extends to some repressive regimes, to focus occupiers on the care they must take if specifics of their (your ?) demands are left to others. You might naively be headed for enslavement if you seek government to set things right.

[jeffhintx]

10:19 PM on 10/28/2011

Same can be said for when others BUY government to set things the way they want them.
I don't mind anyone being wealthy, I mind when they buy my government.
End of story.

[bluereality909]

01:50 AM on 10/29/2011

OWS movement is about ending the corruption and the manipulation of the 1% in governmental and global affairs. Allow capitalism to operate, unabated by monopolies which have consumed all competition and opportunity.

[Sunsprite]

12:55 AM on 10/29/2011

Perhaps you can give an example of a capitalistic model that does not lead to greed,since the bottom line has no bottom.

[Republicrat1776]

04:35 PM on 10/28/2011

The sad thing is that Pakistan is way better of than the US in terms of income inequality....

[Rosalee Harris]

04:34 PM on 10/28/2011

Very Hopeful Sign! This news just made my day.

[TheGreatRenewal]

04:27 PM on 10/28/2011

My heart and support goes out to all of you in Pakistan. I worked there for a wee bit and hope that the strength of women will rise and freedom will come.

[UnitedStatesOfTara]

04:12 PM on 10/28/2011

Exploitation at the hands of the rich and powerful is the common thread that binds us all. There may be hope for humanity yet.

[cadawa]

04:08 PM on 10/28/2011

The people of the world have more in common with each other than they do with any of their govenments.

[momoluvsu]

04:31 PM on 10/28/2011

cadawa, I wish I could fan you a thousand times. You are such a great critical thinker!! Humans are more alike that different world wide, but people who are scared of new experiences promote hatred.

[cadawa]

07:05 PM on 10/28/2011

Many thanks momo....

[scottishboy]

03:35 PM on 10/28/2011

Isn't this really, really neat and cool. For one day, wow that is a statement isn't it!

Workers of the world unite, it is not just a slogan anymore, Andy Stearn SEIU.

[politicky]

03:34 PM on 10/28/2011

Pakistan is a country where income inequality is vast. This is a good sign.

[hellinahandcart]

04:01 PM on 10/28/2011

This is a VERY good sign.

F&F

[messy]

12:59 PM on 10/29/2011

Only 75 people? They've gotten thousands to protest the existence of Christians. 75 people, pfft.