Honduras: On 29 September 2009 ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya called for his supporters to stage more demonstrations in Tegucigalpa against the interim government’s regime, particularly against recent measures limiting civil liberties and shutting down media outlets. Zelaya remained at the Brazilian Embassy surrounded by security forces on 29 September, as police officers blocked hundreds of his supporters at a Tegucigalpa University from marching to the embassy. Union leaders stated that they would protest on 30 September outside one of the radio stations that the government closed on 28 September.
Meanwhile, under the emergency decree declared by the government on 27 September, authorities began evicting Zelaya supporters from government buildings in Tegucigalpa, which they have occupied since his 28 June ouster. Military personnel reportedly escorted approximately 10 Zelaya followers from the National Agrarian Institute on the morning of 30 September. A larger contingent of Zelaya supporters has been housed since July at the National Pedagogical University, and authorities may be moving to that location next in an effort to dislodge his followers.
Despite the continued crackdown, the crisis currently seems to be moving toward a political resolution. On 29 September Honduran business leaders, who have historically strongly opposed Zelaya, issued a statement supporting his reinstatement, albeit with strictly limited powers. Congress also chastised interim President Roberto Micheletti for the emergency decree that limited civil liberties and closed down several critical media outlets, threatening to revoke the decree if he does not. Such developments suggest that the Micheletti administration is under heavy pressure to initiate dialogue with Zelaya, both from international and domestic entities.
Puerto Rico: A group of approximately 30 demonstrators clashed with dozens of police officers outside the governor’s residence in La Fortaleza on 29 September 2009. The demonstrators quickly dispersed after the clashes, and there were no reports of injuries or arrests. Union leaders are protesting mass layoffs of public workers after the government stated on 25 September that 16,970 public employees would lose their jobs. They have called for an island-wide strike on 15 October, and additional protests will likely take place over this issue in the coming weeks.
Bangladesh: Several hundred angry garment factory workers blocked the eastern part of Rokeya Sarani Road in Dhaka beginning at 1500 local time on 30 September 2009. The protest was in response to a bus accident that killed a garment worker earlier in the day. The factory that employed the worker refused to pay for the burial costs, prompting workers at other nearby factories to join the demonstrations. Reports indicate that the protesters clashed with the owners of several shops and factories that are located along the road. Police officers cleared the area at 1930 local time and the road has since reopened to traffic.
China: On 30 September 2009 China shut down central Beijing in preparation for National Day festivities that will be centered around Tiananmen Square beginning on 1 October and continuing for eight days. More than 100,000 people are expected to partake in the celebration. Major roads, including the Avenue of Eternal Peace, and parts of the subway system were also shut down for the final preparations.
India: On 30 September 2009 Air India pilots ended a five-day strike after the airline agreed to abandon plans to cut salaries; however, most of the pilots have not yet returned to work, and delays and cancellations have continued. The airline hopes to resume normal operations later on 30 September. The airline has started accepting new ticket reservations again.
Indonesia: Land clearing fires are disrupting flights in western Indonesia on 30 September 2009. More than 400 fires on Sumatra Island and on Kalimantan on the Indonesian side of Borneo have diminished visibility to below 1,200 ft/400 m, causing chaos at regional airports. The airport in Palangkaraya has closed and will reopen when visibility returns to 1 mi/1.6 km. Health warnings have been issued for the locations listed above and several schools have been closed. Similar conditions have been reported in Palembang, Pekanbaru and Lampung in Sumatra.
Indonesia: An earthquake with an initial magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale struck near West Sumatra, Indonesia, on 30 September 2009. The epicenter of the earthquake was located approximately 30 mi/50 km from the city of Padang, which has a population of approximately 900,000 people. Initial reports indicate that the quake leveled buildings and bridges, started fires in the region and broke water pipes, triggering floods. Power has also reportedly been cut in Padang and telecommunication services are sporadic. The health ministry reported that at least 21 people have been killed and thousands may be trapped under rubble. The quake was also felt in Singapore and Malaysia; however, there were no reports of damage. A tsunami watch was issued for India, Malaysia and Thailand, but was canceled shortly thereafter.
On 30 September 2009 gunmen attacked the counter of the Sriwijaya Air carrier at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (WIII/CGK) when police confronted them. The police officers ran after the suspects, who fled in three vehicles. Police officers pursued them and opened fire on the vehicles when they refused to stop. The men were reportedly carrying knives or swords. It is not known if the incident disrupted operations at the airport, or what the gunmen’s motives were.
Vietnam / Cambodia: Despite approximately 360,000 people being evacuated before Typhoon Ketsana made landfall in central Vietnam, at least 41 people were killed on 29 September 2009 as a result of the storm. Ketsana damaged parts of the national power grid, causing outages in southern areas of the country before moving on to Cambodia, leaving behind dangerously rising floodwaters that are expected to cause additional damage. In Cambodia at least 11 people were reportedly killed in the northern Kampong Thom province, where the storm also destroyed houses and caused floods.
South Pacific Islands: An earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale struck in the South Pacific near Tonga and Samoa on 29 September 2009. The quake occurred at approximately 1748 UTC at a depth of 22 mi/35 km; its epicenter was 100 mi/160 km east-northeast of Tonga and 125 mi/205 km south-southwest of Samoa. The tremor caused several waves of up to 15 ft/4.5 m in Samoa and American Samoa that reached nearly 1 mi/1.6 km inland. The tsunami killed at least 99 people in Samoa and American Samoa, and dozens of people are still missing, despite the early warning system that prompted people to move to higher ground.
Details regarding the extent of damage due to the earthquake and tsunami are still emerging, but it appears that American Samoa and the southern portion of Samoa sustained significant damage. Several villages were completely destroyed in American Samoa, and extensive damage was also reported in Pago Pago, the capital. In Samoa, the earthquake damaged the water infrastructure, but communication and power services are operational. There is a potential for low-level transportation disruptions due to the location of the roads along the more heavily impacted southern side of the island. Currently the Samoan capital of Apia has been shut down, with schools and businesses closed. Some locations are expected to be without power for up to a month. Flights into Samoa and American Samoa are reportedly operating.
Following the initial earthquake, a series of aftershocks measuring between 5.6 and 5.9 hit the area. Additional aftershocks — some of which could be powerful — are possible. The earthquake’s impact in other locations was limited. Tidal surges of 16 in/40 cm hit New Zealand, but they did not significantly affect the country. Alerts were also issued in Hawaii and California in the United States, but they were later withdrawn. In Japan a small wave was reported off the island of Hachijojima approximately 10 hours after the quake, but it did not cause damage or injuries.
Belgium: Unions representing air traffic controllers at Belgocontrol announced that a strike which was set to begin on 30 September 2009 has been canceled to allow time for the transportation ministry to consider their grievances over working conditions. An unannounced two-hour work stoppage on 25 September caused significant disruptions to air traffic and left thousands of passenger stranded. Union officials stated that they will hold off on staging any additional actions until 15 October.
Moldova: Pensioners protested against plans to increase public transport and utility fees for the second consecutive day in Chisinau on 30 September 2009. The protesters blocked the main highway in the city and gathered in front of the mayor’s office. In addition to repealing the new fees — which are scheduled to come into force on 1 October — they have called for the local government to resign. During the protests on 29 September, demonstrators reportedly attacked the city’s mayor outside of his office; his bodyguards were able to protect him from any serious harm.
Serbia: A strike by maintenance staff at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport (LYBE/BEG) prompted the cancellation of all scheduled flights operated by Serbian national carrier Jat Airways on 30 September 2009. At least 11 international flights were among those affected, most of them to European destinations. The workers are refusing to carry out checks of Jat Airways aircraft prior to take-off, but are servicing those of other carriers. The work stoppage was launched over debts owed to Jat Tehnika, which provides maintenance to Jat Airways aircraft. Negotiations to end the strike action are currently underway.
Israel: Motorcycle drivers staged a go-slow protest on Route 1, the highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, on 30 September 2009 to demonstrate against a recent government decision to raise insurance fees levied on motorcycles. The protest occurred during the morning hours, causing significant traffic congestion along the highway; authorities intervened and redirected the protest convoy to a parking lot located near the Latrun interchange. The protest was the second staged by motorcycle drivers in just over a week; on 23 September, a motorcycle convoy staged a go-slow protest during the morning rush-hour along Route 2 in the Tel Aviv area. The insurance increases are unlikely to be repealed, and further go-slow protests are possible in the coming days and weeks.
Guinea: On 30 September 2009 Guinea announced two days of national mourning for 30 September-1 October after the violence on 28 September in which at least 157 people were killed. Guinea’s junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara declared the days of mourning on national television, also stating that “any mass gatherings which are of a subversive nature are banned.” Meanwhile, opposition leaders accused soldiers of killing three more people in Wanidara and Cosa, two neighborhoods outside of Conakry, simply for going outside. There have also been claims that soldiers were breaking into shops and forcing their way into homes, stealing money, mobile phones and other belongings. The leader of the Rally of the People of Guinea party stated on 29 September that he will return to the country to mobilize the people for more protests.
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