• The FF/LNIM proposes to grant the Cabinet of Ministers rights to take special measures on protection of state language in radio and TV if the state language looses its position in mass media
• President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers: it would be useful to restore the Presidents Advisory Council of Ethnic Minorities

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Saeima faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) proposes to grant the Cabinet of Ministers the right to take special measures on the protection of state language in radio and TV if the state language looses its position in mass media. The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins (FF/LNIM) also supports such proposal and considers that it should be included in the draft Law on Audio and Visual Mass Media. However, according to the newspaper, the proposal does not specify how the government will protect the state language and whether the government will have the right to intervene only in the case of public mass media or also in private radio and TV channels.

In an interview with

In an interview with Latvijas Avize, the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers states that it would be useful to restore the Presidents Advisory Council of Ethnic Minorities because such council would provide opportunity for representatives of ethnic minorities to share their views and ideas with the President. President Zatlers also believes that key attention in integration field should be paid to the integration of young people, that special focus be put on promoting awareness that Latvia is their state, Latvian language is our state language and we all are united by values significant to all Latvian citizens

• NRA reports about Thai guest workers employed at a wood-working enterprise in Latvia

NRA reports about Thai guest workers employed at a wood-working enterprise in Latvia. Recently, several Latvian mass media reported that the Thai guest workers are forced to live in inhumane conditions, nearly starving and not being paid money. 12 Thais received working permits in Latvia and concluded working agreements in September 2008. However, according to the employer, in October, all guest workers were dismissed because they did not have skills for the job they were hired for. In an interview with the newspaper, representative of a company which helped to bring guest workers to Latvia stated that the Thais already left the wood-working enterprise and allegedly left the country.

• MP Boriss Cilevics appealed to all MPs to join the action 9 November – Never Again! dedicated to commemoration of the Crystal Night
• State Language Centre has presented awards to persons who popularise state language and to alleged non-friends of Latvian language

MP Boriss Cilevics appealed to all MPs to join the action “9 November – Never Again!” dedicated to commemoration of the Crystal Night – tragic events in 1938 in Germany which initiated the Holocaust and to come to the Saeima’s session on 13 November with special badge “Crystal Fragment.” Boriss Cilevics believes that every MP should remind the society about these tragic events and to make a contribution into the struggle against attempts to justify and revive Nazi ideas in Europe.

MP Boriss Cilevics appealed to all MPs to join the action 9 November – Never Again! dedicated to commemoration of the Crystal Night – tragic events in 1938 in Germany which initiated the Holocaust and to come to the Saeimas session on 13 November with special badge Crystal Fragment. Boriss Cilevics believes that every MP should remind the society about these tragic events and to make a contribution into the struggle against attempts to justify and revive Nazi ideas in Europe. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The State Language Centre has presented awards for popularisation of Latvian language to the newspaper

The State Language Centre has presented awards for popularisation of Latvian language to the newspaper Latvijas Avize and two of its journalists, as well as to a salesperson of a shop Narvesen who refused to speak Russian to a costumer. Special awards were prepared also for alleged non-friends of Latvian language – head of the Employers Confederation of Latvia Elina Egle and president of Latvian Ice Hockey Federation Kirovs Lipmans. Latvijas Avize

• Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee in the framework of the international week against fascism and anti-Semitism held procession on 9 November in Riga

The Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee in the framework of the international week against fascism and anti-Semitism held procession on 9 November in Riga. The aim of the action was to commemorate the victims of Crystal Night in 1938 in Germany, which is considered as a beginning of Holocaust, and to highlight the need to prevent the rebirth of Nazism and neo-Nazi ideas and movements.

The Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee in the framework of the international week against fascism and anti-Semitism held procession on 9 November in Riga. The aim of the action was to commemorate the victims of Crystal Night in 1938 in Germany, which is considered as a beginning of Holocaust, and to highlight the need to prevent the rebirth of Nazism and neo-Nazi ideas and movements. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• FHRUL repealed its draft amendments stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen, boarder guards, policemen and prison guards.

The Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has repealed its draft amendments stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen, boarder guards, policemen and prison guards. According to the faction’s representative, the draft amendments were repealed because the Cabinet of Ministers has lowered required state language proficiency level for mentioned posts.

The Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has repealed its draft amendments stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen, boarder guards, policemen and prison guards. According to the factions representative, the draft amendments were repealed because the Cabinet of Ministers has lowered required state language proficiency level for mentioned posts. Chas