Islamists raised slogans against the new constitution.Islamists raised slogans against the new constitution. Islamist women with papers talks about what they need in the new constitution and insulte the democratic party. Front the ANC, Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia. JAN, 17th. 2014
Islamists raised slogans against the new constitution. Adel Almi the president of the Party " Tunisia Zaytuna" talk to medias. Front the ANC, Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia. JAN, 17th. 2014
Photos of Ulrik Pederson
Mount Sinabung volcano spews ash and lava as seen from Tiga Kicat village in Karo district, Indonesia's North Sumatra province, early morning January 5, 2014. About 20,000 villagers have been evacuated since authorities raised the alert status for Sinabung to the highest level in November 2013, local media reported on Monday.
Islamists raised slogans against the new constitution. Adel Almi the president of the Party " Tunisia Zaytuna" talk to medias. Front the ANC, Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia. JAN, 17th. 2014
Islamists raised slogans against the new constitution. Adel Almi the president of the Party " Tunisia Zaytuna" talk to medias. Front the ANC, Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia. JAN, 17th. 2014
Christmas rituals on the 25th of December at the Anglican Church at C zone of Maela refugee camp.
Altar boy puts in place the wine for the Mass on Christmas Day at the Anglican Church of C zone at Maela refugees camp.
Naw Tue Tu,65 years old listens to the priest Sermon during the Christmas day at the local Anglican Church at Mae la refugee camp.
The Thai-Burmese border area is an exotic and dangerous paradise at the same time. However, for most people, it is unknown.
Nearly 30 years ago, the first Karen minority refugees who escaped Myanmar arrived to this area. Today more than 50,000 people are living at the Maela refugee camp, situated 70 km north of MaeSot, a recently economically booming border city.
Although at first glance this might seem like an idyllic village, where the quality of life of its inhabitants is much higher than the "normal" standard of other refugees around the world, the Burmese who live in the camp have suffered the most atrocious violence by the Myanmar army. The majority of the camp resident are Christians. During Christmas Eve and holy days, they celebrate in the numerous Churches spread around the camp. Night shows and masses attract the devotes to the Churches and presents are distributed. The camp's residents have been stuck in a small corner of tropical forest with no choice but to live with dignity between the barbed wire fences surrounding the camp, under strict control of the Thai army.
A ceasefire was signed between the Karen leaders and the Myanmar authorities. However,there are many rumors about the Karen being repatriated back to their country which is a first step on the long way of reconciliation.
Naw Nu Poe, 25 years old with at her parentshome preparing the parcels for Christmas eve night celebrations with her son
Christmas decoration at the pastor house of the Baptist Church at C zone of Maela refugee camp.
Saw Taw Kaw Si So Gay with his presents on Christmas eve at the Baptist Church of C zone at Maela refugee camp.
View of C zone at Maela refugee camp where the majority of Christian Karen Burmese minority lives.
Syrian Refugees in Lebanon, Jordan,Iraq,and Turkey
Andrei served in the Soviet Army for 19 months in Kabul, and doesn't understand why the unarmed students had to be attacked. "If they didn't attack so intensely, the protests would have dissolved" he adds. He says he first came to the protests to watch, but later he decided to stay and join their efforts. Even though he was forced to go to Afghanistan with the army at just 18 years old, he finds it important now he's standing up for his own people in his land: "Yanukovych isn't Ukraine, he is not representing us, he's just friends with a dictator: Putin. We want a democratic country where people have rights, like in other European countries."
A defender of the barricades getting some advice from the Afghanistan Veterans. Next to the veterans, many of the other groups help defend Maidan Square. A central coordination doesn't exist among the protesters: the different groups just try and work together while protesting in the streets.
Veteran tents in Maidan Square.
Natalia helps with food in the Veterans' headquarters. The tens of thousands of people who live in Maidan, make use of several occupied buildings that are full of volunteers performing various tasks in order to keep Maidan alive.
A group of Afghanistan veterans bring a suspected provocateur to the police station. They believe that Yanukovych supporters got paid to be drunk and disruptive in order to be provocative in Maidan Square, hoping for a violent reaction. They believe that police will let him go after a few hours.
Stanislav, 47, an Afghanistan's Veteran, talks with his son who also lives Maidan Square. His son was beaten by the police on the 30th of November and spent a week in the hospital before rejoining the protests.
A group of Afghanistan's Veteran return to their tent after a night watch.
A team of Afghanistan veterans controlling one of the entrances to Maidan Square.
An Afghanistan veteran preparing for a night shift.
One of the barricades built around Maidan Square. Barricades were reinforced and rebuilt after police forces tried to evacuate the camp in the night between 10th and 11th of December, shortly after the departure of the EU representative Catherine Ashton.
An Afghanistan veteran rests after a night watch.
A veteran exits the headquarter of the Afghanistan's veterans headquarters.
A poster in a tent of Afghanistan's veterans says: "Mr. Yanukovych, go away!" memorial for all the people who have been injuried by Berkuts, a special unit of riot police known for its use of violence.
Oleg, 42, was with the radio team of the Soviet Airborne Troops in Tskhinvali, now south Ossetia, in the Caucasus, between 1990 and 92. Now he stands in front of a memorial for all the people who have been injuried by Berkuts, a special unit of riot police known for its use of violence. For him, to try to kick peaceful people out of Maidan Square was the last drop after years of suffering under the bad ruling of the country. "It's not a government we should call it Mafia," he says. He continues, " I thought we would have never come back to Maidan after the Orange Revolution but no, in 2013, I had to come back."
A group of Afghanistan veterans bring a suspected provocateur to the police station. They believe that Yanukovych supporters pushed paid him to be drunk and provocative in Maidan, hoping for a violent reaction. They believe that police will let him free again in few hours.
Headquarter of Afghanistan's Veterans.
A section of the Afghanistan's Veterans sing the Ukrainian National anthem, which is played sporadically on the main stage of Maidan Square.
Veterans control the access to Maidan Square. They have to keep their eyes open for provocators, which protestors believe might be sent in to give a wrong image of the Euromaidan.
A independent group from the region of Khmelnytskyi, 200km from Kiev, helps the veterans and other people preparing food at all hours of the day and night.
Oleg, 49, commander on the ground of the Afghanistan's Veterans. He was part of the Soviet Airborne Troops in Logar province, Afghanistan, between 1983 and 1985. Logar was one of the worst areas during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Oleg was chosen by other veteran as chief when he decided to join Maidan after the violence of police against the protesters on November 30. He doesn't know what will happen next. "Well," he adds, "we remain here and we will protect the people because we know the price of life, blood and death."
Alexander, 50, prepares himself for his team's night shift. He served throughout Syria with a small team of special forces between 1983 and 1984. He arrived in Maidan after the violence of the police on November 30 to protect the people. Since he has children, he wants them to grow up in a democratic country. "I am awaiting changes since our independence in 1991," he says, "Yanukovich when he had finally the possibility of joning Europe, he showed his real face."
One of the barricades built around Maidan Square. Barricades were reinforced and rebuilt after police forces tried to evacuate the camp in the night between the 10th and 11th of December, shortly after the departure of the EU representative Catherine Ashton.
An Afghanistan veteran controls the entrance outside one of the barricades. The missions of the veteran is to be alway the first line between the police and the protesters, they claim they are not scared and they know how to deal even with Berkuts, Golden Eagles, a section of riot police well known for its violence.
Alexander, 50, divides his team in smaller groups for the night watch. They will have to keep their eyes open for provocateurs, who might be sent in to disrupt the image of the protests at Maidan Square.
A veteran places a flag saying "for Ukraine" on a newly built barricade in Madian Square. Barricades were reinforced and rebuilt after police forces tried to evacuate the camp in the night between 10th and 11th of December, shortly after the departure of the EU representative Catherine Ashton.