The Icelandic parliament, Althingi, convened for the first time today since Christmas – and over 2,000 angry protesters surrounded the building using drums, horns, pans and simple clapping to ask for new elections.
The atmosphere was tense, inside the chamber and outside, as the Left Green Party reiterated its support for the protesters. Several Green MPs used the recess periods to go outside and join the protest.
Most MPs gathered in the building around 12, and were safely inside by the time protesters started arriving half an hour later. There was no church service before parliament.
Over 100 police officers were present in parliament’s back garden and over 30 people were arrested – among them many teenagers, including an 11 year-old boy. Pepper spray was used repeatedly to disperse the crowd, but with less effect than in the past. Many protesters wore sunglasses, and a few even came wearing gas masks.
Journalist Helga Vala Helgadottir angrily summed up her feelings to a Morgunbladid peer: “They’ve arrested some 15 teenagers – these kids over there lying in the corner in handcuffs. And yet these people we elected two years ago, our trusted representatives, are inside right now debating whether or not we should allow the sale of alcohol in normal shops. This is the nation who is talking out here. You have to listen to us!”
The IceNews photographer and two Morgunbladid cameramen were among the many people to get pepper spray in their eyes.
They dont even know how to use the pepper spray.
Those cops are funny, in a pathetic way. They want to be big-time cops like in New York City or on TV shows. They bought every conceivable piece of equipment but they haven’t had any opportunity to use it yet. It’s hard being a policeman in Iceland, there just aren’t any good crimes, no one to beat up,chase, interrogate or shoot, the people are too passive, obedient and law-abiding. But finally, finally, they get a chance to get some action and use all their cool stuff – the clubs, helmets, gas, pepperspray. Maybe next time they get to use the water-canon tank that has sitting in the garage for years.
Yes we need the same as in America:Elections!!!!!!!
Everyday we wait is one too much!!!!
Sothat in future, with only the population of 300.000 people, we also will say:YES WE CAN!(but this only under another regim)
FINALLY!! people is taking a step forward by exposing how the police are just state slaves. Today they sprayed at people for the fun of it , no one was hurting the police but still they used force, shame on you state slave!!
If peopel protesting actually had idea what they want to put in place would be more sympathy from silent majority of Icelanders.
As I said before there is clearly minority of thugs who is going to get hit with pepper spray and arrested as they do thuggish actions.
If that 20-30 incite the others to act as a mob, then everyone is going to get into trouble and mass arrest. Let’s hope not too many have been drinking.
Mob violense is very scary thing. No wonder policemen are in riot gear.Its not funny to be a policeman in riot gear or not when a mob comes at you.
I hope to never see that in Iceland in my lifetime. The main thing though is that ther are a minroity who are the thugs.
Icenews can you tell how many of protestors were young seeming to be less than 30 years please. It seems most arrested were also young. Is that right? I was not there to witness.
>They’ve arrested some 15 teenagers – these kids over there lying in the corner in handcuffs.
Perhaps because they were acting like thugs?
>And yet these people we elected two years ago, our trusted representatives,
Including a man who seems to act too much inside and outside parliment in thuggish manner Steingrímur of Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð.
Yes voted for less than 2 years ago. Which is more mandate than opinion poll of 5000 people and of 2000 people turning up protesting but is election rules any good so that new parties difficulty in getting into parliament?
>are inside right now debating whether or not we should allow the sale of alcohol in normal shops.
Yes that’s their job to vote on legislation.
I wonder if thugs can buy cheap alchohol whenever they like instead of just from Vinbuð would they go on alchohol fueled orgy of voilence?
>This is the nation who is talking out here. You have to listen to us!
I think they can hear the 1000+ outside. Question is what exactly is policies of those want to see with new elections.
Or do they protesting just want to see all policians hung from lamposts?
There is a fire in front of the Parliament building
protesters have been mazed and beaten by Police
and there have been a lot of arrests, some kids were arrested, one of them 12 years old
the Government partys are starting to fall apart, only the ministers still believe they are in control of the country, every one else can see what is happening
this government will step down or there will be a Revolution, i have heard some angry people say we will have to defend our freedom with blood if we must, you can feel the tension building up,
when the fighting starts for real the Police will not be able to stop it.
http://mbl.is/mm/frettir/sjonvarp/?fl=0;media_id=22310;play=1&ref=fpsjonvarp
http://mbl.is/mm/frettir/innlent/2009/01/20/enn_fjolgar_a_austurvelli/
over 3000 now and more coming, this started at 14.00 and the time now is 22.00
the next few days will be interesting.
Well folks
You have been well and truly screwed by the bankers and your government haven’t you????
The crime of the century! The bankers have crashed Iceland, destroyed the UK economy with their henchman Gordon Brown and NuFascist and Bush/Bernanke/Paulson/Cheney have bankrupted the USA
It’s the biggest heist in human history
They (The bankers) are asset stripping the people across the world
This is a harsh lesson for all freedom loving people.
1. Never accept a central bank. They steal the peoples’ wealth via inflation
2. Never accept money issued as interest bearing debt by privately owned banks. The issuance of currency should be removed from the banking system and returned to the people via a democratically accountable treasury.
3. Never trust politicians who sanction a fiat (paper)currency system.
We’re all going to find out how expensive this mistake has been. Iceland is bankrupt. The UK will follow very soon. So will America.
And PLEASE Icelanders, no matter how tempting it may seem, do not accept the Euro as your currency. If you do that, Iceland will cease to exist as an independent soverign state and you will live forever more at the behest of the fascists who own and control the EU and the ECB.
You must topple your government and issue your own currency independently from EU control and free from the control of the Icelandic central bank.
You guys are living in cloud cuckoo land. The protesters are crossing the line by attempting to enter the parliament buildings. Pepper spray is the least the police could use to disperse a violent crowd. Most of these kids involved aren’t even old enough to vote, so calling for early elections seems like an excuse to behave like wild animals and score extra coolness points with their peers.
As I work on the Inauguration of US President Obama, I stand with the Icelandic Protestors against the thieves that have robbed them of their wealth and prosperity. I stand against the corruption that took away all the hard work of my step son Karl and so many Icelanders. Stand tall, stand firm. If we don’t change here in the US, we’re next.
Tuesday was the first day of the real protests. Icelanders were like nesting puffins over Christmas and New Year, but now the angry polar bears have been unleashed. And they are hungry for politicians…
I HEARD THAT ICELANDERS ARE BUILDING A GUILLOTINE TO BE SET IN FRONT OF THE ALTHINGI TO SERVE THE HEADS OF THE GOVERN AS THEY ARE TAKEN ONE BY ONE BY FORCE OUT OF THE PARLIAMENT.
MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON THEM BECAUSE THE THOUSANDS OF VERY ANGRY ICELANDERS WONT.
ICELANDERS ARE VERY PACIFIC PEOPLE, UNTIL YOU MAKE THEM ANGRY… THEN NOTHING CAN STOP THEM…
DO YOU THINK THAT THOUSANDS OF MEN THAT HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, HOUSES AND EVERYTHING AND SEE THE FUTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN TOTALLY DESTROYED, DO REALLY CARE ABOUT BEING ARRESTED OR EVEN END IN JAIL?? HAHAHAAHAHA ;D
MASSIVE ARRESTS??? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO PUT THEM… DON´T YOU SEE THAT PROTESTERS, THE WHOLE NATION, HAVE REALIZED THAT THEY ARE STRONGER THAN THAN ANY POLICE THEY PUT… HOW MANY POLICEMEN ARE IN REYKJAVÍK? 200? AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL TRY TO GET THE PARLIAMENT BY FORCE IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS?? 5000, 10.000? 50.000? ….
KARL, I HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN INALIENABLE RESPECT FOR ANYONE IN THIS FORUM, BUT I HAVE TO SAY KNOW THAT YOU FOR ME ARE JUST A DISGUSTING HUMAN BEING, AND I DON´T KNOW WHY ARE YOU SO STUPID TO DEFEND THOSE CRIMINALS WHEN THE WHOLE ICELANDIC NATION, NOT ONLY IN REYKJAVÍK BUT ALSO IN AKUREYRI AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, WANTS THOSE CRIMINALS TO BE JAILED.
YOU KARL ARE AGAINST DEMOCRACY… BUT I AM SURE THAT EVEN YOU DON´T MEAN ANYTHING FOR THOSE AT THE POWER WHO HAVE NOT HESITATED TO LAUGH AT ALL OF US AND SELL OUR FUTURE AND RUIN US AND DESTROY OUR LIVES… THEY DESERVE THE WORST!!!
Icelanders are simply scared, they should burn down that parliament building where the clowns that control runs the show meet, so that the next time they come there it will be burnt down , maybe they will then take a detour in restoring the economy back to Normal.
Most Icelanders keep quiet this is not what you do to geezers and clowns that messed up your economy.Ex-Prez of U.S.A ( the brain dead chimp) was replaced with an Intelligent man that wants to change things because he sucks. Iceland needs Change NOW!!!!!
There is video from the demonstration, most demonstrators are not teens:
http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/01/disrupting-parliament-with-noise.html
>some kids were arrested, one of them 12 years old
The mother of that 11 year old has apparently posted on Alda’s IWR:
http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/01/disrupting-parliament-with-noise.html#comments
>KARL, I HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN INALIENABLE RESPECT FOR ANYONE IN THIS FORUM, BUT I HAVE TO SAY KNOW THAT YOU FOR ME ARE JUST A DISGUSTING HUMAN BEING
I think you’ll find that the vast majority of Icelanders are less militant than you, so prepare to be surrounded by disGUSting human beings :) .
I tried writting here, in October, but Gus makes me give up…
Today Is a big day.
for now, and on this post I fully agree with you Gus.
They don’t know what the population ( I will not speak just about icelanders, because they are still lots of foreigner here) is up to.
I feel bad not to have intend the gathering yesterday, and will come over this morning.
How come, the minister can think that they are in control of the nation … I just can’t believe how stupid they are.
will see how it turns out.
and I love the guillotine stuff … we were “joking” about french importing it in November … it took some time, but here it is, and this is a good image… lets go on revolution!
I AM NOT SURPRISED OF SEEING ALSO SOME TEENS PROTESTING AND THROWING STONES TO THE PARLIAMENT… THOSE POLITICIANS MAFIA HAVE JUST DESTROYED THOSE KIDS FUTURE… WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO DO??
Okay Gus is nothing more then a provocateur and is probably just after making the protesters look bad. I have participated in protests for several years and I have never met someone as brain dead as him.
The protestors don’t want to kill anyone they just want to hold the government accountable. Something the government is trying very hard to avoid. If the government resigns the protests will probably end without violence.
Well, I hope this is not going to last, unfortunatelly as long as it is only protest outside the parlament, they will keep on laughing, and I´telling you they will protest 2 or 3 times and go back home. Belive me Icelanders dont have it in them, its just not there.
I AM NOT A PROVOCATEUR, BO, YOU HAVE NEVER MET ME IN PERSON. NEOLIBERALISM AND CAPITALISM HAVE CREATED NEW FORMS OF SLAVERY AND HAVE ERASED ANYTHING SIMILAR TO DEMOCRACY. DEMOCRACY TODAY IS A DEMAGOGIC THEATER PLAY IN WICH OUR RIGHTS AND VALUES MEAN NOTHING TO THE PEOPLE IN POWER. SUCH MAFIA HAS LEND OUR FUTURE OVER TO A SMALL NUMBER OR ESPECULATORS THAT HAVE BEEN MAKING THEMSELVES RICH WHILE THE REST OF THE NATION HAVE BEEN RUINED.
YOU BOB PRETEND TO PLAY BY THEIR SAME RULES. THEY CAN ROB, WE CAN´T SPEAK, THEY DESTROY OUR FUTURE AND GET AWAY WITH OUR MONEY, THEY MAKE RICHNESS OF OUR MISERY. THEY TAKE AWAY THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUNGS AND CHILDREN, SLAVERING THEM, PUSHING THEM TO INEQUITY, POSTRATING THEM TO MISERY.
NO, I AM NOT LOOKING FOR THE PROTESTERS TO LOOK BACK. BUT YOU CANNOT EXPECT THAT THE VERY GOVERN BREAKS THE RULES OF DEMOCRACY AND SUCH MAFIA TAKES ADVANTAGE OF A WHOLE COUNTRY AND THEN YOU WANT US THE REST TO PLAY THE SAME RULES THAT THEY HAVE CHANGED TO SERVE THEIR OWN INTEREST… DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS THAT CALL?? TRAITORS!!!
PEOPLE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING, THEIR JOBS, THEIR HOUSES, EVERYTHING!!! AND THEY HAVE NOTHING LEFT, THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR YEARS TO TRY TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN A BETTER FUTURE THAN OUR ANCESTORS HAD AND NOW YOU SAY I AM A PROVOCATEUR…
WELL IF I AM A PROVOCATEUR THEN YOU ARE AN INDIGNANT AND MISERABLE HUMAN BEING AS YOU DON´T SHOW ANY RESPECT FOR THE MOST WEAK OF THIS SOCIETY.
PEOPLE IS SUFFERING WHILE YOU SAY WE SHOULD JUST KEEP HANGING AROUND THERE, LETTING THOSE MOTHER FUCKERS LAUGH AT A WHOLE NATION. THOSE MAFIA, LIERS ,CRIMINALS, THAT SHOULD BE PUT IN JAIL AND SENTENCED TO THE WORST CONDEMNS, BECAUSE OF THE GREAT DAMAGE THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THIS COUNTRY.
THOSE CRIMINALS WITH NO MORALITY AT ALL DESERVE OUR CONSIDERATION AND PERDON AND US TO BEHAVE?? TO BEHAVE LIKE WHAT? LIKE LAMBS?
NO MY FRIEND, PEOPLE WANT THEM OUT, THE NATION HAVE FIRED THEM AND WE DON´T WANT THEM ANYMORE. THEY SHOULD LEAVE NOW, OR WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THEM OUT THERE BY FORCE… AND I PROMISE YOU WE WILL…
Media will start portreying protesters as wild and saying that they are destroying things and it costs money to the nation, and turn the public opinion against them. Because he have the sheep sindrom in iceland and follow what the nedia sais.
@ Matt, London/GB is the next Reykjavik/Iceland in financial BIG troubles:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/iainmartin/4295219/Gordon-Brown-brings-Britain-to-the-edge-of-bankruptcy.html
BRING THE STONES! SOMEBODY WITH A BIG CAR, PLEASE GATHER SOME PEOPLE AND FILL THE CAR WITH STONES. THAN BRING IT IN FRONT OF THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING AND LEAVE IT THERE. GIVE ANGRY CROWD WHAT THEY WANT. BRING THE STONES!
Dont worry Icelanders wont do anything, we are like the chuhuahua dog, bark and hide, today as I´m writeing they decently and politely agreed on moving to the Stjórnarráðinu, because at the church next to the parlameint a funeral was going to be held, so they nicely agree on going for a few hour and comeback later. Riduculous!!! now the PM’s know what to do with the protesters, appeal to their human side and they will go nicely. PLEASE!!! are they protesting and deffending their country or are they doing charity. Just let the people know not to have their funerals there because “protesters” are here, but no, we will go if you neeed some quiet. what a joke.
It’s called…”THE NEW WORLD ORDER”
Google “The International Forecaster”
Google “Alex Jones”
Google “Alan Watt”
If you don’t… you are just groping in the dark.
WAKE UP ICELAND!!!
THE INTERNATIONAL OLIGARCHS BASED IN THE CITY OF LONDON ARE ROBBING YOU!!!!
PS
They own OBAMA as well.
asdac said:
@ Matt, London/GB is the next Reykjavik/Iceland in financial BIG troubles:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/iainmartin/4295219/Gordon-Brown-brings-Britain-to-the-edge-of-bankruptcy.html
———————————————————
Iceland was regarded as an example of the pits of economic despair, a bad smell that could never happen here.
Now and again, as early winter set in, you would hear some commentator in the UK say, ‘well things are bad here, at least we are not as bad as Iceland’,
As time went on, bad news following bad news, some commentators ventured, ‘is it as bad as Iceland yet?’
Now it’s January and it is looking more and like Iceland in some other economies.
Both the UK Gov and the Irish Gov are competing in a hole digging competition to see who can drag their economy down to Iceland’s standards first.
The protests in Iceland are just in the early stage.
For the more cosy, there have been live and delayed tv broadcasts from regular large public protest meetings held indoors, where every word is broadcast. I haven’t come across that in any other European country.
The anger seeps deeply through all income groups. When Icelandic anger finds expression, it’s best to keep a wide berth :)
There is widespread support for the active protestors.
asdac said:
@ Matt, London/GB is the next Reykjavik/Iceland in financial BIG troubles:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/iainmartin/4295219/Gordon-Brown-brings-Britain-to-the-edge-of-bankruptcy.html
———————————————————
Iceland was regarded as an example of the pits of economic despair, a bad smell that could never happen here.
Now and again, as early winter set in, you would hear some commentator in the UK say, ‘well things are bad here, at least we are not as bad as Iceland’,
As time went on, bad news following bad news, some commentators ventured, ‘is it as bad as Iceland yet?’
Now it’s well into January and it is looking more and like Iceland in some other economies.
Both the UK Gov and the Irish Gov are competing in a hole digging competition to see who can drag their economy down to Iceland’s standards first.
The protests in Iceland are just in the early stage.
For the more cosy, there have been live and delayed tv broadcasts from regular large public protest meetings held indoors, where every word is broadcast. I haven’t come across that in any other European country.
The anger seeps deeply through all income groups. When Icelandic anger finds expression, it’s best to keep a wide berth :)
There is widespread support for the active protestors.
How stupid do you get: When you violently attack the State, naturally the police will interfere. One does not throw rocks at other people, whether or not they are in uniform, one does not bombard the houses of parliament with paint, bombs and inflammables, believing this is the solution to one’s problems. What has happened in Iceland cannot be blamed on any one individual: You all have a share in this – you all wanted more and more and more… So you all pull yourselves together and behave and Iceland will thrive! Lack of empathy and understanding may very well escalate into something far worse like civil war for instance. That will ultimately destroy your future. One for all and all for one – throw your rotten eggs on yourselves rather than at other people!
THOR, YOU ARE SIMPLY RIDICULOUS, THE WHOLE COUNTRY WANT THEM TO GO AWAY AND WANT NEW ELECTIONS…
THEY DON´T WANT TO LISTEN AND THEY ARE JUST LAUGHING AT PEOPLE AND TELLING MORE AND MORE LIES.. HAHAAHAHA
WHATEVER YOU SAY HERE, THOSE CRIMINALS ARE GOING TO BE THROWN OUT OF THE PARLIAMENT BY FORCE, THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS ON THE STREETS AND WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT…
IF THEY DON´T ABANDON THE POWER PEOPLE WILL TAKE IT BY FORCE… WAIT AND SEE
We go to hell. EU save us only.
>We go to hell. EU save us only.
No IMF has and will as unprideful as that is.
EU wants resources cheap, which Iceland has. Won’t fall for that one.
The end is not nigh.
http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2009/01/19/upheaval-calls-for-fleece-revolution-in-iceland/#comment-60604
THOR, NOTHING “WILL” DESTROY OUR FUTURE, THIS MAFIA OF GOVERN ALREADY “HAS DONE” IT…
WAKE UP THOR!!
I told you WHERE are the protesters today?
“The day the Icelandic nation went to parliament” and the day the krona starts to “strengthen”
Its amazeing the protests start gowing and the krona starts magically and stedelly for exactle the same period to strenghten, and the protests mild down, 300 protesters last night, I told you they dont have it in them.
The krona is past. The future is the EURO. What other?