“Iran will use all of its potentials to stop the repression of the disadvantaged in the U.K. and [secure] the release of political prisoners.”-Zohreh Elahian, Chairwoman of the Iranian Human Rights Committee
Elahian went on to demand that Britain allow human rights observers into their country.
“This situation will definitely take place in other countries, because the people do not completely approve of their rulers, and, in many countries, the people do not want their governments, because, on the one hand, there is dictatorship and, on the other hand, the people’s demands are ignored.”-Kazem Farahmand, Iranian legislator
Many Iranian officials are comparing the unrest in Europe with the uprising of Arab people against their governments. They believe the same will happen to “western” countries.
“Cameron and his government have lost all legitimacy. These demonstrations show that the British people reject this government which is trying to impose itself through force.”-Khaled Kaaim, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister
In a tit-for-tat statement Libyan officials are calling for British Prime Minister to step down, because the anti-government protests, which have recently turned into all out riots after a police shooting (and the little mentioned police beating of a 16 year old girl), prove that the current British government is oppressive. Libya is even demanding that the United Nations take action against the U.K.
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe said, in a round about way, that Britain needs to shut up and get off his back, when it comes to human rights violations: “Britain I understand is on fire, London especially and we hope they can extinguish their fire, pay attention to their internal problem and to that fire which is now blazing all over and leave us alone.”
Iran has already offered to send peacekeeping troops to the U.K., and human rights investigators as well. One Iranian cleric said Britain is simply reaping what it’s sowed over the centuries: “The colonialists schemed and spent money to create chaos in countries and today the result of their plotting is the events they have been stricken with.”-Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi
A senior Iranian politician warned the United Nations that if it didn’t take action against Britain, as it has against Libya and Syria, then it would loose all legitimacy: “If the Security Council does not put David Cameron’s trial as a war criminal on its agenda and does not meet this demand of the British nation, [other] nations’ view of this council will definitely change more than ever before.”-Mohammad-Karim Abedi, Deputy Chairman of Iran’s Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee
“The officers, equipment and vehicles will come from all eight Scottish forces. The situation is being constantly monitored between the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and colleagues in England, and any further assistance required will be given careful consideration.”-ACPOS statement
The Scottish Parliament has agreed to send forces to England, to deal with the on going riots. Scottish officials also criticized the British Broadcasting Corporation for stating that the riots were taking place all across the U.K.: “We know we have a different society in Scotland, and one of my frustrations yesterday was to see this being described on BBC television and Sky as ‘riots in the U.K.'”-Alex Salmond, First Minister
So far the riots have only affected England, although Scottish police say they arrested two Scottish teens for trying to start similar riots in Scotland.
The shot that started the riots, that have been going on since this past weekend, was fired by cops, and cops only!
The Independent Police Complaints Commission says there is no evidence that a father of four, who was shot in a taxi and killed by police, was armed or even shot at police.
The police who shot him claimed, as usual, that he shot at them first, and that a gunfight ensued, in which he was killed. As usual the police claim self defense.
Also, at least a day ago the police claim they had recovered a “non-police” issue gun belonging to the “gang leader”. The Independent Police Complaints Commission says that’s a bold faced lie! The Commission found no such gun!
The Commission says the father of four was killed by one shot to the chest. A Scotland Yard (London Met) bobbie fired two shots in total. That sure doesn’t sound like a gun battle. Unfortunately the investigation is being given six months to make a final report.
Maybe the poor people of Merry Old Police State England are justified? The bobbies thought they were taking out a modern day Robin Hood, now there are thousands of Robin Hoods swarming the streets!
BBC is reporting that the city of Birmingham, England, has been hit by looting and violence.
According to the BBC: Cars were set on fire in Lewisham. A bus and shop were set alight in Peckham. Several fires broke out in Croydon, including one at a large furniture shop which spread to neighboring buildings and tram lines. In Hackney police 200 riot officers with dogs and mounted police were located around Mare Street where police cars were damaged. Looters raided a Debenhams store and a row of shops in Lavender Hill in Clapham. In Birmingham, police said officers had made 35 arrests, including six juveniles, on Monday evening. Buses were diverted as the violence spread to Bromley High Street. There were reports of looting of phone shops in Woolwich High Street, in south London, and a torched police car. Shops and restaurants were damaged in Ealing, west London, and there was a fire in Haven Green park opposite Ealing Broadway Tube.
Some British newspapers are avoiding the more plausible reasons for the rioting, like a bad economy and police brutality, and actually blamed video games. One newspaper claims to have seen ten year olds taking part in the looting, and quotes an unnamed police officer as saying the rioters are motivated by the video game Grand Theft Auto.
If you’ve played Grand Theft Auto then you would know that in no way does it involve mass rioting and looting. The game is centered around a single player, you, who’s goal is to steal cars. Somehow the ignorant British media and authorities equate an individual stealing cars in a video game to mass rioting, vandalism and looting in real life. It’s proof that the ‘better off’ in Britain are the ones living in a fantasy world.
“Officers responding to sporadic disorder in a number of boroughs made more than 100 arrests throughout last night and early this morning.” Scotland Yard statement, August 8
The violence that started in Tottenham has spread to Enfield and Brixton. The riots started on Friday August 5, after police shot and killed a man in the back seat of a taxi the day before. Police say he was a gun runner, locals say it was police brutality. Tottenham, a borough of London, has a decades long history of police brutality.
The riots are spreading and become more about the lack of jobs, and the severe cuts to social programs made by the British Parliament.
Another factor could be that British Prime Minister, David Cameron, is on a luxury vacation in Italy, while Chancellor of the Exchequer (kinda like the U.S. Treasury), George Osbourne, is on vacation in California. This after they told British taxpayers to make more financial sacrifices.
Police feel targeted, and who wouldn’t be surprised at that since London police have powers even U.S. cops don’t. The United Kingdom uses Orwellian tactics in their law enforcement. One bobby said: “Officers are shocked at the outrageous level of violence directed against them.”
An immigrant from Africa said: “I can imagine this kind of thing happening in Somalia but to see it in London was strange.”
Of course the elected and appointed officials in Britain are calling the rioters “petty criminals”, but local residents say people are finally fed up with the system: “Unemployment is very, very high … they are frustrated.” Uzodinma Wigwe, age 49, recently laid off
History shows that peaceful protest does not work. History shows that it always takes violent protest to make the leaders realize the people want change. In some cases leaders are so arrogant they end up going to their death thinking there is nothing wrong (French Revolution). The Civil Rights laws in the United States did NOT come about because of the peaceful protests led by Martin Luther King Jr, but because of the violence that took place after Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated. That’s the part they don’t teach about in the United States, but the info is there, do your own research.