Anti-Globalization Protest in Spain.. 32 Injured

While about 8,000 European social organizations members, opposing the globalization, protested and crashed with the riot police, 32 were injured and 19 were arrested on 24th in Barcelona, Spain.

Although the demonstration began peacefully, when some protesters threw stones in downtown Barcelona’s financial institution buildings and chain-stores of international companies including Burger-King, the riot police began to quell turning the demonstration violent.

The police armed with shields and sticks scattered protesters who were chanting anti-globalization slogans at the Plaza de Cataluna by firing blanks.

Ada Colau, a spokesman for a organization, said ``police provoked the fight. They were part of it.`` Jordi Pedret, a Socialist Party member of the national Parliament, also said, ``when the police arrest the protesters, they threw stones at them. It is an unpardonable matter.``

Although the World Bank originally planed to hold an international conference on 24th, when they learned that the anti-globalization organizations will protest on that day, they cancelled the conference four days before.

In the meantime, representatives from worldwide NGOs who oppose globalization had a mock demonstration against next month’s G-8 summit in Genoa, Italy.

(Barcelona. Genoa. AP DPA Yon-Hap)