We were there. There was lots of energy (maybe different from last year) and, even more, anger. I saw lots of the expected mockery of Slakteris (“nothing special- useless government” on one sign) and lots of nooses. The speeches were a combination of the expected (dissolve Saeima) and the unexpected (in favour of progressive income tax). The pain was and is obvious from farmers, disabled, business and education speakers.

Maybe the more interesting happened after:
http://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/article.php?id=22906177

Unfortunately, I left more cynical than when I came. To me there is so much that people can do even if Saeima is not dissoved that will keep the people in govts face. Go to Saemia commission meetings, petition to have laws and regulations opened and re-written and much more. But, I despair a bit that people will actually do anything.

It strikes me as I sit here typing and watching Bez tabu (tv3) that they spend a total of 3 minutes on the protest and an equal amount of time on a story about some woman who found bugs in here tea. Priorities?

I was wrong about tv3. The big show starts now and it will of course be dominated by the protest.

Mob tries to storm Saeima building

RIGA, Jan 13 (LETA) - Several thousand unruly mass rally protesters tried to storm the Saeima building in Old Town Riga after the mass rally on Dome Square tonight, clashing with police officers.

At this time the police, using tear gas, have forced the mob to move away from the building in the direction of Valdemara Street; several people are laying on the ground and are being arrested.

Chanting “Dissolve Saeima!”, the mob tried to storm Saeima’s entrance from Dome Square. They were met by the Military Police.

A police squad car was set on fire, but the blaze was promptly put out.

Windows in the vicinity of Saeima have been smashed, and the cobblestone broken. Most windows at Saeima on the Jekaba Street side have been broken.

The scene is still quite tense, and clashes are reported at this hour from Dome Square as well.

There is a state of emergency in Vecrīga. When I drove by a little while ago, every entrance was blocked and there were lots of alarms and flashing lights.

Please, remember that the vast majority of people who were there- I was there, my wife, her 70 year old activist (cancer treatment) tante and lots o our friends and colleagues were there- were peaceful and only wanting to have our voices heard.

We heard hope. We heard ideas. We heard peoples’ fears.

LVs (at least the ones I know) are ready to work and make a place free of the corruption and policies of division and marginalization.

Don’t let the work of a few vandalous idiots colour what you believe about why people were on Doma laukums tonight.

Thank you very much for the updates, and especially for the first-hand report.  It will be interesting to see what comes to light regarding the riotous aspects of the protests.

Good updates can be found at http://www.diena.lv

Some people are saying that the military has been called in.

In English:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/wl_afp/latviapoliticseconomyprotest_20090113194437

Many thanks as well for me for all the reporting.  I’ve been trying to watch some of the videos, but they’re faltering and halting—must be momentary, technical overload.

Irena

There’s also the story on the LOL homepage along with a video clip of people singing the national anthem, apparently before the violence broke out.

http://www.latviansonline.com/

I’m a bit tired after a long evening of watching young folks throw cobblestones, rocks, etc., into the parliament, but here’s my short take on the situation.

http://allaboutlatvia.com/article/743/penguin-revolution

For shame, for shame.

The anti-government protesters have shown what true scum the Latvian people can be.  One would think that those who attended the demonstrations ought to be ashamed of themselves, but they know not the meaning of the word shame.  A crowd of 10,000 malcontents run riot, overturning police cars and attacking government offices, looting stores.  No way, no how can this be blamed on “the Russian element”—these folks were dyed-in-the-wool Latvians.  And they have just demonstrated that this race of people are the (deleted - forum admin).  I would take back all the unkind things I have posted on the Lithuanians, for today my own people have shown the Rest of The World that they are indeed much, much worse.

It is no coincidence that this action was taken on the Thirteenth of January, to coincide with the anniversary of leftist disorder in 1905.  It should be a surprise to no one that those opposed to the legitimate government of Latvia would descend to senseless violence and chaos.  They had their voices heard when they voted (if they voted at all) for the Saeima in the last parliamentary elections.  A rabble of a minority was unhappy with the results of a free and fair democratic election.  They tried (and failed) to do an end-run around the Satversme, the Latvian constitution.  They forced a recall vote and a clear majority of the people of Latvia showed that premature elections were not warranted.  Then they took to the streets, to demand that Dr. Valdis Zatlers, the President of the Latvian Republic, dismiss the government and the parliament—or else.

Today, the thirteenth of January 2009, we got a taste of what the “or else” would be. 

Pray, tell, where are the “organizers” of this mass meeting?  Are they prepared to answer for the crimes that were committed when they called the people to the streets?  Are they going to accept responsibility for what was done, for the consequences of their call to arms?  One supposes not.  They will make their terse little denials and disavowals of the actions of the demonstrators, claiming that they never intended to allow things to escalate.  Balderdash!

The security police should be out rounding up the ringleaders of this “pasākums!”  Throw their asses in jail, to rot the cold winter away and to greet each coming spring and summer day with striped sunlight.  One would have hoped that the much-derided horse cavalry had been deployed, if only to ride into the rabble and restore order.  They sure could use some lessons from the NYPD in how to bust up this kind of a demonstration.  It seems that the anti-government protesters seem to only understand the language of violence, and the answer to this is a policeman’s truncheon.

I am not denying that folks have a right to be unhappy with their government.  Especially this one.  But being dissatisfied with the government does not justify the actions of this crowd—this mob.  One would expect this sort of behavior from African and Muslim migrants in Marseilles and Rotterdam, not from the supposedly cultured and peace-loving peoples from the shores of the Baltic Sea.  Is it truly that long a wait until the next election?  Are the admittedly distasteful actions of a few score crooked politicians worth trashing the social system that so many have proudly built and supported since the fall of communism?  This is indeed a sad, sad day—one that places the Latvian people in the glowing glare of disrepute and dishonor.  The tauta that gave the world the “singing revolution” has now become a cacophonous choir of demented dischord.

There was a time when the situation in Rīga was more dire, the foe even greater, the anger and resentment of the people so much stronger.  My compatriots and I organized demonstrations that brought out ten times the number of people to the streets.  Imagine, 100,000 people in Rīga, united in their will and for a cause—to depose a system of government we found heinous and vile. 100,000 people and nary a criminal act, taking great care to not even trample the grass of Vērmaņdārzs park.

And then there were today’s demonstrators, 10,000 strong.  An uncultured and undisciplined rabble.  Most of those who attended today’s debacle are probably quite pleased with themselves, and likely consider themselves fortunate to have been part of such a “historic” event.  I would say shame—shame on the lot of you who supported this demonstration, but as I said, you lot have no shame.  I hope the cops come better prepared for the provocations of the following demonstrations.  The anti-government crowd really deserves what befalls them the next time out.

I am certainly no fan of this government, but considering the alternative that the anti-Gov crowd has presented today, I for one stand by and support the principles and democratic institutions of the Republic of Latvija.  I pray for the safety and well being of the policemen and military that will come to defense of the Republic.  To those opposed—“Uz Pekli Lai Rauj Tevi Jods!”

Dievs, svētī Latviju!

/R

It’s ludicrous to blame the organizers. I was at a press conference a day before the protest where Štokenbergs said their protest had nothing to do with threats that security police voiced over an Internet message calling on a violent overthrow of legitimate government. Štokenbergs have said they were looking for a peaceful exercise of their democratic rights. Who’s to blame for the riots? Štokenbergs? Or the Minister of the Interior Mareks Segliņš - who not only was not seen coordinating police efforts (unlike his predecessor Ivars Godmanis), but was busy sending SMS messages to Štokenbergs and Pabriks calling them names? Besides, many violent or potentially violent protests take place in Latvia every year - May 9, March 16, gay pride parade to name a few. Surely Latvian police has had enough experience to stop several hundred youngsters from damaging the nation’s parliament. Don’t you think?

I am so sorry to read of this violent riot.  Tearing up cobblestones?

Yes, the WORLD economy is in a mess.  Aside from the the usual problems and political messes, scandals, etc, what are the SPECIFIC grievances?  Anyone?

The worst is it’ s interpreting as Kremlin’ advantage in Russia.

Here anyone does not know all subtleties: who is the initiator in this, what is a protest, after all? Against whom?

“Aha, did you want to be a part of European Union? Soon you will ask ‘back to Russia’”

And everyone even will let pass, that Latvia never was “a part of Russia”, by the way.

I’m not sure, that it is best rally for the image of Latvia.

Regards,

Juris

Accounts describing the numbers of violent protesters was around 200 - not 10,000.

The violence is truly unfortunate but no one could say it was either unexpected or unusual. It’s still a means of demonstration that isnt uncommon in healthy democracies. The police action and violent response that Bobciks seems to like would most definitely signal the deterioration of democracy and the rise (return?) of autocracy.

This demonstration wasnt the first in recent memory and the signals showing that the electorate is getting increasingly impatient with its government are clear - now punctuated by broken glass.

If the government ignores this event - it shouldnt be surprised if another comparable event occurs.. If there’s some shock in the events for me it’s how come the government has neglected its duty to its people (as opposed to themselves - that theyre good at) and allowed this sort of public response to form.

Vidas - Dark Brother

Alexei, what sort of drugs are you on?  The people that organized this debacle are entirely to blame for the consequences.  One cannot simply invite up to 20,000 people to a manifestation, incite them to a frenzy with anti-Government political talk and then wash your hands of them and simply walk away.  It was the legal and moral responsibility of the organizers (if they truly intended to hold a “peaceful” rally) to then safely disperse the crowd.  Instead, they created a dangerous situation and through their inaction they enabled the riot.  You yourself stated that you attended the press conference where Štoks was obviously aware that an acute possibility of violence existed.  If this were the United States, the SCP would be held criminally liable.  You do not state if this press conference was the same one where Štoks, Maira Dzelzkalēja, and Egons Liepiņš stated they expected to attract so many people to Dom Square, that they urged people to bring portable radios—that with the sheer numbers of people so many would be relegated to crowding the side streets out of earshot of the propaganda speeches.  If so, then surely you must recall that police union bigwig Agris Sūna bragged that there would be a thousand of his brethren in attendance to keep things in order.  Of course, Sūna did publicly state that the government must not be allowed to continue.  Exactly how many rioters did Sūna and his thousand blueshirts arrest,  Alexei?  One can call that dereliction of duty, endangering the civilian population and a gross breach of the public trust.  Sūna and his stooges should at the very least be fired from their government jobs, if not held accountable for their inaction while the riot was going on.

About your argument that potentially violent protests take place in Latvia every year—is this some sort of excuse or “get out of jail free card” that Štoks, Dzelzkalēja, et al. can play to abrogate their responsibility?  Perhaps you think that public displays of political violence is so de riguer in Europe these days, that this shouldn’t matter one bit.  Sorry, Alyosha, but violence as a means to force a democratically elected government out of office is simply not acceptable in a civilized society.  This sort of political unrest was alien to the post-Soviet Latvian Republic until the EU membership was forced upon us.  It seems that very little of the so-called “benefits” of Europe have come to the Latvian people, while much of its ills afflict the nation.  With this riot, SCP and your pals at Saskaņas Centrs have certainly shown what they are capable of.

It would be nice if Pabriks, Štoks, Sūna, Dzelzkalēja and company took responsibility for this mess, but I somehow doubt it.  They will probably milk this for the propaganda value.  The Republic of Latvija ends up with a black eye and looks as pathetic as that skier caught with his pants down.  And you, who publicly circulates a petition calling for Latvia to be occupied by its neighbor, don’t seem to be too broken up about it.

/R