Sunday, 26 June 2011

Overcrowded & Officers ' Dirty ' create Drug Business in Fertile LP

Jakarta -drug putative strongly regulated Businesses from within the prison, as was the case in Kerobokan, Denpasar, Bali. So the flow of the LP and the officer who did not ' clean ' the making of the difficulty of supervision.

Member of Commission III of FPKS Fahri Hamzah has ever visited the Kerobokan in February 2011 and then tell if LP is very solid. The LP was inhabited almost three times its normal capacity.

"Hence, structuring and control officers begin to chaotic. This should be considered seriously, "said Fahri told detikcom, Sunday (26/6/2011).

Fahri explains it's not a secret anymore if the chaos in the LP making any illegal business case. Ranging from drugs, prostistusi, to buy and sell permits to get out.

"And this is not likely to happen if his apparatus is clean. At least they are ' dumb ' because the term is also frustrated with the situation. Well now, how to get it done, "added this MCC politicians.

A riot occurred at around 01: 00 Pm, Saturday (25/6/2011). A group of inmates to riot after the National Narcotics Agency sweeping action (BNN) which is delivered directly by Kalapas Siswanto.

Drug raids by BNN aimed at arresting narcotics kingpin in Kerobokan, Riyadi resistance from the other inmates. Riyadi was desertir after being fired from the membership of the Detachment 88 Anti terror.

In it, causing the action raids Kalapas Siswanto was injured. He was attacked by inmates who are not satisfied with the action of razia narcotics. Siswanto injured in the head section. His hand was also injured. He was rushed to Sanglah HOSPITAL, Bali to get treatment.


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Syria protest group warns of coming 'volcano' (AFP)

DAMASCUS (AFP) – Syrian security forces continued their crackdown on protestors with another four civilians killed, as a protest group called for demonstrators to expect "a volcano" this week.

"Two civilians were killed in Kassir by gunfire from the security forces who have reinforced there since Friday" near the Lebanese border, the head of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP.

"The other two civilians lost their lives to security force fire during the funerals of victims killed on Friday" in Kiswah south of the capital, he said.

The Syrian Revolution 2011 called on demonstrators to "get ready for a volcano" in Aleppo next Thursday, Syria's second city, in a message posted on its main Facebook page, while opposition figures announced they will meet in Damascus on Monday to discuss "how to solve the crisis.".

Tens of thousands of people calling for the regime's ouster protested on Friday in response to a call by the Facebook group Syrian Revolution 2011 -- the driving force behind three months of anti-regime demonstrations.

Security forces used live ammunition and tear gas against the protesters, killing 18 people and wounding scores more, activists told AFP.

Five died in the Damascus neighbourhood of Barzeh, six in Kiswah and seven in and around the central city of Homs, they said.

Abdul Karim Rihawi of the Syrian League for Human Rights said funerals were held on Saturday in all three protest centres for Friday's victims.

"The army backed by tanks and troop carriers entered Al-Najia as part of its deployment in the province of Idlib," Abdel Rahman said earlier of the situation along the border with Turkey.

Al-Najia is on the road linking the northwestern city of Latakia to Jisr al-Shughhur -- home to 50,000 people, most of whom fled after the army seized the town on June 12, with many crossing into Turkey.

The latest operation came just days after the army moved into Khirbet al-Joz, another village near the border, and amid EU condemnation of Syria's resort to "shocking violence" against peaceful dissent.

On Friday, the state-run SANA news agency reported that the army had "completed" its deployment in and around Jisr al-Shughur, and quoted a military official as urging villagers who had fled their homes to return.

The authorities blame "terrorist armed groups" for the unrest that has gripped Syria since pro-democracy protests broke out in mid-March, and say the military deployments are aimed at rooting them out.

The army's sweep through protest centres in the northwest has sent nearly 12,000 Syrians fleeing to safety in neighbouring Turkey, which is scrambling to accommodate the refugees in its Hatay border province with Syria.

More than 200 tents have already been erected in the camp while another 1,000 are due to be ready in a week in the village of Apaydin with a capacity for up to 15,000 people, village headman Omer Cagatay said.

Syria's Red Crescent chief, Abdurrahman Attar, said on Saturday that the refugees would not face retribution or interrogation if they returned home, Turkey's Anatolia news agency reported.

"We, as the Red Crescent, guarantee that the Syrian government will not call (the refugees) to account and under no circumstances will security forces take decisions about them," Attar was quoted as saying.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday ordered a general amnesty in a bid to quell rising unrest, a day after offering a "national dialogue."

More than 150 people were rounded up between Friday and Saturday in house-to-house searches in Barzeh and some 70 arrests were made in Mareh near Aleppo, the Observatory said.

The Observatory says 1,336 civilians have been killed in the government's crackdown and that 341 security force personnel had also lost their lives.

Amnesty International chief Salil Shetty, visiting Cairo on Saturday, urged Arab states to act to help end the violence in Syria.

"I urged the League of Arab states to take far stronger action on the gross human rights violations taking place in Syria," Shetty said after meeting outgoing Arab League chief Amr Mussa.

"In contrast to their vocal stance on Libya and support for international action, Arab countries have stayed largely muted on Syria."

EU leaders adopted a declaration in Brussels on Friday denouncing "in the strongest possible terms the ongoing repression and unacceptable and shocking violence the Syrian regime continues to apply against its own people."


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Kalapas Do So God Father Protective Drug Mafia

- -Tertutupnya access to information on correctional facility (Staff) and the House of Detention (Rutan) became the reason of the difficulty of the fight against drugs in these places. Kalapas was requested to report to the Agency open Narcotics national (BNN) if it finds the circulation of drugs. Not even protect them.

"There is a Proper MoU oblige Kalapas proactively reporting suspicious things to BNN. Or at least help BNN in the operation of the eradication of the Staff. Not quite such a God Father Kalapas and treat Staff into the personal and closed, "said a member of Commission III of FPDI struggles, Eva Kusuma Sundari to detikcom, Sunday (26/6/2011).

Eva describes drug trafficking conspiracy is a systemic problem in Staff. There is a problem the institutional question of control and supervision. According to Eva, so far in charge of the Staff still live on hand Kakanwil. This needs to be reformed.

"Improvements to ensure oversight and responsibilities can go directly to the Director General and the law enforcement menjerakan. Transparent management of public access to the monitor, "he asserted.

A riot occurred at around 01: 00 Pm, Saturday (25/6/2011). A group of inmates to riot after the National Narcotics Agency sweeping action (BNN) which is delivered directly by Kalapas Kerobokan Siswanto.

Drug raids by BNN aimed at arresting narcotics kingpin in Kerobokan, Riyadi resistance from the other inmates. Riyadi was desertir after being fired from the membership of the Detachment 88 Anti terror.

In it, causing the action raids Kalapas Siswanto was injured. He was attacked by inmates who are not satisfied with the action of razia narcotics. Siswanto injured in the head section. His hand was also injured. He was rushed to Sanglah HOSPITAL, Bali to get treatment.

(rdf/nwk)


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5 years in prison is threatened because of Roast Sausage

Kiev, Ukraine -Gara-gara burned sausage and fry an egg, 3 Ukraine citizen woman convicted criminal. The trio is currently undergoing the process of case law an insult to the penalty of imprisonment for 5 years.

This happened in the city of Kiev, Ukraine, on Friday (25/6) last week. As reported by the site, three women were orange.co.uk arrested for action cooking breakfast menu was done on top of the monument to the fire that the Government built to honor the heroes of Ukraine that died in the war of independence.

Not without reason did the cooking action led by Anna Sinkova was held at the monument. The action of baking and frying eggs were indeed part of a rally protesting the lack of Government attention to Ukraine against the war veterans.

"They are protesting the mistreatment of Veterans of the war. Money spent to construct the mausoleum, it is better to pay pensions to veterans who are homeless and have no so money for breakfast, "said Elena Bilozerskaya, a local TV reporter who covered the rallies.

Anna Sinkova and two friends are currently undergoing imprisonment during the legal process their cases. All three men were charged with violation of paragraph 2, article 297 of the criminal code.

"Grave Desecration is a criminal offence," said local police spokesman.

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Death toll rises to six in Amtrak collision (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – At least six people were killed when a tractor-trailer rig barreled through railroad gates and into an Amtrak train early Friday in Nevada, authorities said on Saturday.

The Churchill County Sheriff's Office confirmed the six fatalities in a written statement released late on Saturday night. Authorities said dozens more were injured, at least one critically.

Meanwhile, a National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said the driver of the truck slammed on his brakes just 320 feet before the rail crossing, apparently failing to see signs, flashing lights and closed signal arms.

"The data so far indicates that all signals and gates were operating properly (and) there was excellent visibility of the track," said NTSB member Earl Weener.

The truck, leading a convoy of three tractor-trailer rigs, was traveling at such a high rate of speed that it embedded itself in the side of the train, Weener said.

Among those killed in the collision at a crossing of U.S. Route 95 near the town of Lovelock, about 70 miles east of Reno, were the truck driver and train conductor, the Nevada Highway Patrol has said..

Authorities said earlier on Saturday they expect to pull more bodies from the twisted wreckage of the train, but a search was proceeding slowly because the burned-out train cars were considered dangerously unstable.

"We know that people have seen bodies, but we can't get to them in the wreckage," Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Dan Lopez said. "The biggest thing right now is the safety of the workers."

It was not immediately clear if the confirmed fatalities included the bodies seen inside the wreckage. Weener said emergency responders had reported "multiple fatalities" but could not be more specific.

'FATALITIES TO PASSENGERS'

"Preliminary reports are that there have been fatalities to passengers, an Amtrak train crew member and the operator of the truck," Amtrak said in a written statement.

A spokeswoman for the passenger rail line, partly owned by the U.S. government, declined to elaborate on the statement.

Weener did not offer an explanation for the driver's apparent failure to notice the signs or lights, saying the train's engineer saw the collision clearly and verified that the signals were working correctly.

"We will not be determining a probable cause of this accident while on scene, nor will we be speculating," Weener said, adding that a team of 21 investigators expected to remain at the accident site for seven to 10 days.

He said the other two trucks in the convoy took action to stop in time, but the lead vehicle did not.

The fiery crash sent a plume of black smoke billowing into the air over the scene and forced closure of the tracks and Route 95 in both directions.

Survivors were taken to local hospitals.

A spokeswoman for Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno said the hospital received nine people from the accident, including one who remained in critical condition on Saturday.

A second patient was listed in serious condition and a third in fair condition. Six others had been discharged.

Another 60 people were taken to Banner Churchill Community Hospital in Fallon, about 30 miles away, spokeswoman Aimee Fulk told Reuters.

The 10 most seriously hurt patients were admitted and treated in the hospital's emergency room, she said, while the remaining 50 were treated for lesser injuries and released.

Fulk said she had no further information on the condition of the patients in the emergency room but was not aware of any life-threatening injuries among them.

Passengers who were not injured, some of whom spent the night in local shelters, were taken to their destinations by bus.

The westbound California Zephyr was en route from Chicago to Emeryville, California with 204 passengers and 14 crew members on board when it was hit.

(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Todd Eastham)


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Special staff: survey results Show Solid in the eyes of his supporters SBY

Jakarta – Special Staff President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Denny Indrayana assess the results of the survey Circle (LSI) survey of Indonesia shows precisely the kokohnya supporters of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. But as long as this issue is not always digempur SBY savoury.

"With the survey still almost 50 per cent, whereas the case and the bad news strikes continue endlessly precisely describe numbers which are very high. Compared to survey the LSI Survey Agency version, thus support to Indonesia's President SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO is no significant change in the middle range, naval strikes, "Frank Denny as confirmed detikcom, Sunday (26/6/2011).

Denny rate figures range from 50 percent popularity SBY precisely affirmed the solidnya supporters of the President. "Down just 10 urban proportion, from the results of the presidential elections of 2009, with a no-stop strikes for the past 2 years it shows kokohnya the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the eyes of his supporters," he explained.

The survey results also show the Government of SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO remained positive in the eyes of the community. "It shows confidence and legitimacy of Government remains stable and adequate," as the star.

Research Survey Circle (LSI) Indonesia in early June 2011 show the level of public satisfaction over the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declined to 18.2 per cent. A drop in the popularity of YUDHOYONO, fall below the 50 percent figure since being elected in 2009 presidential election, this one was caused by the cases of Muhammad Rudi.

LSI demonstrates the level of satisfaction survey the public on the performance of SBY from January 2011 to June 2011 down to 9.5 per cent, i.e. from 56.7 percent to 18.2 percent.

The survey was conducted in the field from June 1-June 7, 2011. 1,200 randomly selected Respondents who represent 33 provinces, surveyed by the method of face-to-face interview. The Margin of error of plus of minus 2.9 percent.

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Man found dead at Glastonbury (AFP)

London (AFP)-a man in his 50s, was found dead in a toilet at Glastonbury Festival, Sunday, police said.

Officers discovered the body in a portable toilet in the morning, VIP, Avon and Somerset police said.

Festival-goers said that a woman was seen being consoled by officers.

Police established a cordon around the shower area and a toilet after the incident.

The camping area where production teams and certain interpreters permit festival was also sealed.

A number of celebrities were said to remain within the cordoned off area.

Security was strengthened in the area to the arrival of American singer Beyonce, who leads the three-day festival to a close.

The singer was among a celebrity-packed crowd for Coldplay's third title, trip to the pyramid stage on Saturday night.

After three days of incessant rain, revelers have been soaking in the Sun with temperatures set to exceed 25 degrees Celsius.


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Bill passes Commons eventually postal strikes (Reuters)

OTTAWA (Reuters)-Canadian mail should start moving again on Tuesday, with postal workers from being forced to work widely debated legislation that passed the House of Commons on Saturday night.

Left the new Democratic Party had held the Bill with 58 exhausting hours of day and night debate but it finally made it through the House and now heads a special Sunday session of the Senate, where its passage is assured because of the ruling conservative domination of the upper House.

"After a delay, however, are completely useless, that very soon new Canadians will have access to their mail," Minister conservative Stephen Harper, whose party made the Bill, said outside the House.

Most members of Parliament-including Harper sometimes-had to sleep in their offices to avoid missing a crucial vote during day 2-1/2. Some played board games or strummed guitars in lounges, when they weren't speaking or sleep.

The Government expects the Bill to become law on Sunday afternoon and postal employees would return to work 24 hours later, said Harper's Press Secretary Andrew MacDougall. The first day of Mail service resumed later on Tuesday.

Postal workers had begun rolling hits the 3 June in a contract dispute with Canada Post, state the primary postal operator in the country. That has led to a block on 15 June that shut down the mail service.

The Bill provides for an arbitrator to collect or best offer final Union or Canada Post. The most controversial legislation sets pay increases that are smaller than Canada Post had offered, even if they match up with another public sector Union.

If your offer has been accepted by the arbitrator, Canada Post would be able to offer new hires less generous salaries, pensions and holiday, providing great savings. Experienced employees get currently seven weeks of vacation leave and substantial.

In an age of email and electronic bill payments, Canada Post says it needs to cut spending in order to be competitive, particularly with courier companies.

The Canadian Union of postal workers, representing 48,000 urban workers, says that the company is still viable and that unfair management demanded concessions in wages, the staffing and security.

"The Government is clearly willing to side with employers to grind the wages and working conditions", Denis Lemelin, President of the Union, said in a statement.

"The Conservatives have proven to be very anti-labour aims after only two months of majority government."

A survey this month showed that 70 percent of Canadians supported legislation to force an end to the work stoppage.

(Edited by Paul Simao)


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Treasury: Geithner release political move oil (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters)-Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Friday that the decision to release oil reserves of the Government, the international community was not a political move.

The decision to release a total of 60 million barrels of oil reserves is designed to meet the shortfall caused in part by the crisis in Libya, Geithner said. Oil prices have risen due to political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

(Reporting by Rachelle Younglai)


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LSI Survey: The Case Of Rudi Helpless Broken High For Papal Infallibility SBY

Jakarta -Research Survey Circle (LSI) Indonesia in early June 2011 show the level of public satisfaction over the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declined to 18.2 per cent. A drop in the popularity of YUDHOYONO, fall below the 50 percent figure since being elected in 2009 presidential election, this one was caused by the cases of Muhammad Rudi.

Such research results of the Indonesia Survey Circle (LSI): ' the decline of Leadership ALSO in the public eye ' which was released in his Office, Jl. Pemuda Rawamangun, East Jakarta, Sunday (26/6/2011).

"In the case of Rudi SBY is considered to be helpless in the ' home ' on its own," said senior researcher LSI, Sunarto Ciptoharjono.

Sunarto said, who refused Rudi dipanggi KPK melorotkan joined the Democratic Party's popularity and the Chairman of the Advisory Council, of SBY. Not to mention, Rudi, a coiled retractable two cases at the CCA, it is still a member of the HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES and served as Treasurer of the Faction WAR PARLIAMENT.

"Rudi got enough power Case damaged the high for the authority of the CONSEQUENCES," he said.

LSI demonstrates the level of satisfaction survey the public on the performance of SBY from January 2011 to June 2011 down to 9.5 per cent, i.e. from 56.7 percent to 18.2 percent.

The survey was conducted in the field from June 1-June 7, 2011. 1200 randomly selected respondents who represent 33 provinces, surveyed by the method of face-to-face interview. The Margin of error of plus of minus 2.9 percent.

LSI confesses he did survey without an order for any party. There is also pembiayan taken from the budget of the LSI, which is allocated specifically from the profit. "So this survey is an independent," he said.


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A crowd of Caterpillar Attack House of Citizens in the

The -a crowd of thousands of Caterpillar attacked a number of houses in the Village Of fortification, Parak Karakah, the city of Padang, West Sumatra (West Sumatra). A flock of Caterpillar is out of the House Jim drunkenly hitting on citizens since four days ago and getting more and more severe in the last two days.

According to the detikcom monitoring to the scene, Weeks (26/6/2011), three houses in RT 2 RW 8 Parak Karakah Meadow experienced the worst attacks. These houses belong to the respective Masni, Nurma, and Arni. One of the primary school which is located adjacent to the three houses were also not spared from attack.

"This is already the fourth day and in the last two days were more and more. We were forced to close the House for fear of more that goes into, "said Masni (51).

Masni said, before the attack to the House, thousands of Caterpillar is initially only clustered in an empty land in front of their home. See many Caterpillar, citizen initiative committing arson. However, once burned thousands of caterpillars are quite loose and moved Jim drunkenly hitting on houses.

"Every time it swept over several minutes, the caterpillars-the caterpillars return to roam the walls of the House. Yesterday afternoon the Pack RW already do the spraying, but does not seem to catch fire. The health officers also have been coming here to give us drugs itch, "said Masni.

A resident of the other, Defrizal (31) said in addition to their homes, some Jim drunkenly hitting on Caterpillar also rested on the plant around the House.

"It feels uncomfortable. Moreover, here a lot of children. Adults only if it's gatalnya where honey Caterpillar for mercy and make agency Red-Red, "he said.

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NYC parade to get boost from same-sex milestone (AP)

NEW YORK – One of the world's oldest and largest gay pride parades was expected to become a victory celebration Sunday after New York's historic decision to legalize same-sex marriage.

Parade organizers were expecting half a million people to participate in the march, which comes two days after state lawmakers transformed the wedding dreams of gay couples into reality. Floats, music and dancing were expected to enliven the city streets with bright flourishes of carnival-like revelry.

State Sen. Tom Duane, a Manhattan Democrat who is gay, said he planned to join in the festivities.

"I always love the parade," Duane said in an interview Saturday. "It's like Christmas and New Year's all wrapped into one, but I think it'll be particularly joyous, so I'm really looking forward to that."

Duane said he and his partner had first discussed marriage when Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, but opted not to make any decisions until it became legal in New York. They have not made any plans yet.

"That will be next week's project," Duane said.

There may even be a few surprise engagements during the parade, which begins at noon at 36th Street and Fifth Avenue before heading downtown.

It ends at Greenwich and Christopher streets, near where gays rebelled against authorities and repressive laws outside the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village on June 28, 1969 — helping to trigger the gay rights movement.

A year later, several hundred people marched through the neighborhood to commemorate the riots in what is commonly considered the world's first gay pride parade.

This year's grand marshals include author and sex columnist Dan Savage and Terry Miller, who married in Canada; the Rev. Pat Bumgardner, the senior pastor of Metroplitan Community Church of New York and a proponent of gay rights; and the Imperial Court of New York, which raises money for gay health and social services.

The law signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday doesn't take effect for 30 days. It was passed amid opposition from influential religious groups in the state.

___

Online:

http://www.nycpride.org/

___

AP Radio correspondent Julie Walker contributed to this report.


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The wife of Police Polda Kepri was found dead in the Bush with Gorok Injury

Jakarta -wife of a member of the Riau Islands Police Police (Kepri), AKBP Mindo Tampubolon, daughter of Mega Umbo is found in the condition of the horribly in the bushes. There were gorok around the neck of this woman.

According to the Kabid public relations Polda Kepri AKBP Hartono, Daughter found dead Weeks (26/6/2011) this morning in the Telaga Punggur, Batam. "In the Bush. Conditions there are wounds skewer, "Hartono said detikcom when confirmed today.

According to information collected by detikcom, daughter killed were gorok in the neck. It is also justified by Hartono, "Yes".

Hartono also said previously unknown Daughter missing from home since Friday (24/6). The case is still under investigation.

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LSI Survey: The Case Of Rudi Helpless Broken High For Kewibaan SBY

Jakarta -Research Survey Circle (LSI) Indonesia in early June 2011 show the level of public satisfaction over the performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declined to 18.2 per cent. A drop in the popularity of YUDHOYONO, fall below the 50 percent figure since being elected in 2009 presidential election, this one was caused by the cases of Muhammad Rudi.

Such research results of the Indonesia Survey Circle (LSI): ' the decline of Leadership ALSO in the public eye ' which was released in his Office, Jl. Pemuda Rawamangun, East Jakarta, Sunday (26/6/2011).

"In the case of Rudi SBY is considered to be helpless in the ' home ' on its own," said senior researcher LSI, Sunarto Ciptoharjono.

Sunarto said, who refused Rudi dipanggi KPK melorotkan joined the Democratic Party's popularity and the Chairman of the Advisory Council, of SBY. Not to mention, Rudi, a coiled retractable two cases at the CCA, it is still a member of the HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES and served as Treasurer of the Faction WAR PARLIAMENT.

"Rudi got enough power Case damaged the high for the authority of the CONSEQUENCES," he said.

LSI demonstrates the level of satisfaction survey the public on the performance of SBY from January 2011 to June 2011 down to 9.5 per cent, i.e. from 56.7 percent to 18.2 percent.

The survey was conducted in the field from June 1-June 7, 2011. 1200 randomly selected respondents who represent 33 provinces, surveyed by the method of face-to-face interview. The Margin of error of plus of minus 2.9 percent.

LSI confesses he did survey without an order for any party. There is also pembiayan taken from the budget of the LSI, which is allocated specifically from the profit. "So this survey is an independent," he said.


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Egypt has workers revolution left behind? (Time.com)

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No one in Zagazig wants to talk about what happened last week. The hundreds of railway workers who maintain the old, trash-ridden tracks and trains in this Nile Delta town whisper hurriedly about a strike that briefly disrupted rail traffic across the country of 80 million. But the workers won't give their names or discuss it at length for fear of retribution from the soldiers and security forces that so swiftly put an end to it. And the man they point to as their labor leader says nervously that he knows nothing about a strike.

But maybe it's better that way, say some Egyptians - particularly political leaders and the railway's managers. "We're against stopping business like this, because we're trying to get stability back," says Mansour al-Shitry, an accountant for the state-run railways. "Of course the government can't meet the demands of all the people at once, and we don't want to give the military council more of a burden than they already have." (Lightbox [EM] Egypt In Flux: Photographs by Thomas Dworzak)

That's the rationale echoed by many of Tahrir Square's liberal, intellectual youth, politicians and, indeed, the military leadership. It's an opinion that predominates among the educated classes in the debate over where the line should be drawn between revolution and transition. Protests for political reform are crucial, many argue, because the system of governance will define Egypt's future on all levels. Labor strikes, on the other hand, can and should be postponed: it's not the right time, they say; Egypt's floundering post-revolution economy needs all the work it can get.

But the laboring classes - many members of whom have not received their salaries in months - feel otherwise. Dozens of strikes and sit-ins have stalled business across the public and private sectors in recent months. And to union leaders and labor activists, the core revolutionary demands of the working classes have yet to be acknowledged. Minimum wage has been raised and promises have been made, but most have yet to see concrete change on the ground. And indeed, amid the cracks, crevices, and gaping political and ideological fault lines that have shattered the early unity of the February revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, is a divide that increasingly seems to define other debates as well. It's about class.

"There is total class warfare going on in Egypt right now that I don't even think [the liberal movements] can see," says Joshua Stacher, a political scientist and Egypt expert at Kent State University. "If middle upper class, urban people in Cairo and Alexandria get some of their demands met, they could care less about minimum wage, or the fact that the healthcare system is complete crap," he says of the competing array of post-revolutionary demands. "The dominant discourse that's coming out on TV is that it's not the right time to protest for these things. Like 'You shouldn't have a living wage right now, you're being greedy.'"

Instead, political elites have prioritized political reforms. And one of the most prominent debates to grip Cairo's political scene in recent weeks centers around the question of what needs to come first on the roadmap to a prosperous and democratic Egypt: a new constitution or a new, elected parliament. The debate has largely been split along Islamist versus liberal lines. The latter, fearing an Islamist majority in parliament, wants to ensure that certain rights and laws are guaranteed first. The Islamists argue that only an elected parliament can determine the next constitution, and a national referendum passed overwhelmingly in March specified as much. "Some people are trying to take a detour around the popular decision in the referendum," says Mohamed Ezzat, a local Muslim Brotherhood official in Zagazig. "But the people have chosen a road map for what happens next in this country, and they want that to be respected." (See TIME's Exclusive Photos: Turmoil in Egypt)

For others, however, it's not about religious ideology or road maps at all. "Mostly their demands are political like 'Freedom' and the debate over what comes first - constitution or elections," says labor activist Adel Zakaria of the urban elite, who he describes as middle class. "Workers don't care about that. They have their own problems - mainly they need to eat."

The April 6th Youth Movement, one of the most prominent liberal groups, say it recognizes the deep economic concerns felt by most Egyptians. And last month, in an effort to mobilize Egyptians for a "Second Revolution" protest in Tahrir, the group handed out a flier that promoted economic demands first. "The people just move with us if we talk about economics only," said the group's leader Ahmed Maher at the time. "We know the constitution is more important than the economic demands because we know that the things in the street are organized after that. But the people in the street don't know that."

The disconnect has emerged in the results of popular polls as well. Liberal political leader Mohamed ElBaradei topped a Facebook poll by Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces this week to gauge popular preferences for 18 prospective presidential candidates. To some, it suggests that the majority favors liberal, "Constitution First" politics, of which ElBaradei is an advocate. But in the streets and fields, and on the railway tracks, Egyptians suggest the poll may have more to do with who uses Facebook than with popular opinion.

A less publicized poll released the same week by the International Peace Institute offered a total reversal of rankings, listing former Arab League chief and popular icon Amr Moussa first among the contenders, followed by the country's top military general.

TIME's Complete Coverage: The Middle East in Revolt

Still, while they lack political clout, the lower class masses - at least in the form of striking workers - have been loud. A new $83 billion budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 released by the Egyptian finance ministry on June 22 says as much about reform priorities as it does about who's making noise. The budget pours money into social welfare spending and subsidies, apparently attempts to address working class unhappiness. And on Friday, workers groups that established the country's first independent labor union federation in March are calling for a million man protest to demand that the government crack down on cronyism in job hiring and uphold its promises to establish better worker rights.

In Zagazig, the railway workers say they want overtime compensation and better pay. Some say they make little more than 500 Egyptian Pounds ($84) a month - hardly enough to raise a family on, and still 200 Egyptian Pounds below the new national minimum wage. "We normal people are calling for our rights," explains one train air conditioner technician plainly.

After security forces cleared the tracks last week, railway workers received a promise from the national Railway Committee, the governor, and the local security chief, that their demands would be met. "They've spoken, but we'll see if they'll pay," says one accountant at the Zagazig train station. "To be honest, how will they pay if there is no income? The economy is in a bad state."

TIME's Complete Coverage: The Middle East in Revolt

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