The western Kazakhstani oil-town of Zhanaozen has gone up in flames today after the authorities fired on striking workers in the city with live ammunition. Local workers had been striking since the early summer in an attempt to resist exploitative wages and working conditions. Since then they have maintained a permanent presence in the city’s central square, mirroring the tactics of the Arab Spring or Occupy movement, until they were violently evicted by the police. In response city hall, the Ozenmuinagaz oil company and several upper-class hotels have been burnt down along with a police bus. Numerous ATM machines were looted and the army has been sent in. The government has cut off all internet and cellular networks – all social networking sites are down as well…

Russian-language blogs have reported up to 70 civilian deaths and 500 injured, all of this has been met by a blatant media black out in the West – NO MENTION WHATSOEVER!! If something this massive has gone unreported – just think of what else could be happening in the world right now?

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2011/12/20111216142138298156.html

http://rt.com/news/kazakhstan-riot-violence-army-027/