Protests Against Tuition Fees Strain UK Coalition, New York Times, 30 novembre 2010

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LONDON (Reuters) - British police have warned students not to use violence in a protest on Tuesday against a planned rise in university tuition fees, after clashes at two previous demonstrations.

Organizers are calling for students and school pupils to take to the streets in a "national day of action" against the Conservative-led coalition government’s plans to almost triple tuition fees to up to 9,000 pounds ($14,500) a year.

"November 30 will see even more students come out on protest across the country," the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts said in a statement.

"The event, launched once more via Facebook, has around 24,000 people pledging to join actions on the day," it said. Students, writing on social networking websites, vowed freezing conditions and snow across Britain would also not deter them.

Protesters smashed windows and started fires at the building housing the Conservative Party headquarters in London during a march early this month, and there were also scuffles and vandalism in the capital last week.

Police were criticized on both occasions, for failing to realize the potential for trouble at the first and then for alleged heavy-handed tactics at the second.

The capital’s Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson has since warned that "the game has changed" in policing protests and that he expected more disorder.

The student demonstrations are the first major protests directly linked to the government’s spending cuts. Labour unions are warning of strikes and more action as anger rises over job cuts and the loss of some public services.

SENSE OF BETRAYAL

Student protesters say they feel betrayed by the coalition government, in particular by junior partner the Liberal Democrats, who had promised before May’s general election to oppose higher tuition fees.

More than 100 Lib Dem candidates defeated in May have signed a petition urging the party’s members of parliament to vote against the rise.

The issue is to be debated in parliament on Tuesday and Lib Dem leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has written to the National Union of Students to say, while they could not keep their pledge, the plans were fair and progressive.

"People are not stupid and will not be fooled by the deputy prime minister’s attempt to apply lipstick to a pig," NUS President Aaron Porter told Sky News.

Commander Bob Broadhurst, who will be in charge of Tuesday’s policing operation in London, said no disorder would be tolerated and they would be ready "to adapt to whatever unfolds on the ground."

While respecting the right to peaceful protest, "I would urge all those considering taking to the streets of London again this week to think carefully about the consequences of engaging in violence and disorder," he said.

In addition to the protests, student groups have been occupying university buildings as part of their campaign against the government fee plans, part of austerity measures which will see 81 billion pounds of spending cuts over four years.

(Editing by Louise Ireland and Mark Trevelyan)