Spanish miners deploy bazookas and guerrilla tactics 
Outside of Spain there has been little publicity of the miners’ strike in Asturias, even though the region is now in a state of near civil-war with armed clashes daily and the majority of the local population supporting the miners. Spain is also preparing for a general strike, involving all the main unions, including the CNT and the UGT. Below are details of the 
Asturias campaign, plus video footage.
Despatch provided to Darker Net from the Asturias frontline… “Over 8000 miners in Spain have been on strike since May 23… our protests have been met by Guardia Civil firing tear gas and rubber bullets… two days ago we retaliated by using a bazooka against the Guardia Civil. The strike was prompted by an announcement by the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy of drastic cuts in subsidies to the mining industry, which will threaten the livelihoods of around 8,000 miners and endanger another 30,000 jobs.
The miners strike is a rallying cry with sympathy actions spreading daily. Hopefully leading to a new indefinite General Strike. Generations of miners have given their lives to the industry, only to be thrown on the slag heap to save cash for paying the bankers. The miners deserve and demand the best deal and pensions possible.
But lets not forget that these mines have been obsolete for decades, kept open only for fear of near total energy dependence.
And secondly of course, all coal mines need to be closed down immediately, if we are to have any hope of preventing a runaway Greenhouse Effect and maintaining a habitable planet for our children.
The miners deserve and demand the best deal and pensions possible. But keeping those mines open is subsidising fossil fuels that are now lethal, and makes it impossible to argue for cuts elsewhere. Support the Miners…But close the Mines!!
We are holding sit-ins, occupying the main square of Oviedo, the provincial capital of Asturias and the centre of the Spanish coal country, and are blocking and barricading highways connecting Asturias to the rest of Spain. Sixteen main roads in Asturias have been blockaded and two rail lines have been shut down by the strikers. In some areas of Asturias and Leon the clashes have escalated into near civil war. We are appealing for support and solidarity from around the world.”
To see more clashes between miners and Guardia Civil: click http://darkernet.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/spanish-miners-d
Here is an account of the historic 1962-1963 Asturias miners’ strike by Guy Debord (Situationist International).
Another video (from 4 June):
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http://act.350.org/sign/make-rio-count/
- 7 injured as Spanish miners clash with police (sfgate.com)
The Free 
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