NSW Govt defends action over WTO protests?New South Wales Police Minister Michael Costa and Greens MP Ian Cohen have clashed in the state's Parliament over the use of police horses in World Trade Organisation (WTO) protests in central Sydney.
Fifteen people were arrested as the demonstration brought the city to a standstill. Police estimate as many as 1,000 people set off from Martin Place this morning. The anti-globalisation protest began peacefully, but 45 minutes in it turned ugly.
Mr Cohen, who attended the protest march, has claimed in Parliament that police were using horses to clear a path in the crowd, when a reporter from The Un-Australian Newspaper was trampled by one of them. "Will the Minister give a directive to stop using police horses as weapons in peace protests?" he said.
The protesters have since rallied outside a number of major corporations, including McDonalds and City Bank.They have also set alight two American flags, vowing to cause as much disruption as possible.
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The invitation has come from Australia's Trade Minister Mark Vaile and the groups to be represented include the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, World Vision and the ACTU.
World Vision's trade issues spokeswoman Kirsty Nowlan says the groups are seeking action from the WTO on access by poorer countries to life-saving drugs, market access, technical support and food security.
"But because we have such a limited time for negotiations, we are going to focus our attention on the Tripps agreement and access to affordable medicines for the world's poor, we are also going to be raising a couple of extra issues including agriculture, and the so-called Singapore issues, what we are asking the ministers to do is not extend negotiations in the WTO any further," she said. Operation commander Inspector Glen Harrison says while the majority of protesters were well behaved, police had to deal with a handful intent on violence and disruption.
A Spokesperson for Justice Action Gregory Kable said "This is one of the strategies used by police to counter what they consider are the ringleaders. The people arrested would have been profiled and previously chosen to be regarded as trouble makers. The police intend to make their life hell for a while by drip feeding them through the court system, by strip searching them and degrading them in police cells loaded with cold steel and concrete."
Around a dozen protesters were arrested and charged with a variety of offences including obstruction and assault and an offensive behaviour charge over the burning of an American flag.What? Offences? What? Offences? What???
Inspector Harrison says it is yet to be determined whether mounted police were involved in the injury of a newspaper journalist, who is now being treated in hospital.( Skoff) "[Police] were on Standby at that particular stage, just the same as all the other police there, they were there in case there was a violent protest," he said. "Now, unfortunately one of your journalists has been injured by something at that stage, we're still investigating that at the present moment." One of the protesters at today's rally says the action was a success but he has criticised police for heavy-handed tactics.
Damien Lawson from the refugee group "No one is Illegal" says officers used excessive force. "The police have a right to arrest people ... who are doing the wrong thing, they don't have a right to use excessive and unlawful force, such as police horses, to wade through a crowd of people to get to one individual," he said.
Justice Action
By Justice Us 15 Nov 2002
Related:
Ben English and Rachel Morris who spell their name in capitals?
Not very good comparisons when one takes into account the Bali bombing was a Coalition of the Killing false flag operation to help bolster support and quell dissent for the illegal and degrading resource wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.
Howard defends terror alert
Prime Minister John Howard says the Federal Government would not have issued a terror alert if it had not come from a credible source. (America?) Speaking for the first time since the Government revealed the warning, Mr Howard says he wants people to be more careful, but not to stop living. [As long as they don't go dancing in Bali? And sure we'll all be depressed for as long as John Howard and Bob Carr say so.]
Carr backs Fed Govt's terror alert
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr has defended the Federal Government's decision to issue a warning to Australians about a possible terrorist attack in Australia.
NSW Police Force may get 'special powers'
Civil libertarians are questioning the need for further anti-terrorism laws, which will be announced in the New South Wales Parliament on Tuesday.
When Johnny comes marching home again: 'hoorah hoorah'
Posted on the Resistance web page Bronwyn Powell, an organiser of the youth-led mobilisation told Green Left weekly that "in the face of attacks on civil liberties, it is unfortunate that some union officials have felt they need to submit. It could set a negative precedent for upholding the hard-won right to demonstrate in the street."
Police show their real colours 'blue'
Several thousand people have marched through the centre of Sydney protesting against globalisation and the treatment of asylum seekers. Police provided the protesters with an escort despite refusing to issue permits for demonstrations.
Give peace a chance
PIERS AKERMAN DT 28 Nov 02: JUSTICE John Dowd should be removed from the bench. His crime? Stupidity. In a breath-taking display of hand-wringing sanctimonious morality, Dowd has condemned the State and Federal Governments' anti-terrorism measures, claiming they erode rights and give encouragement to oppressive regimes.
Bills, Bills and more Bills NSW Parliament deep in debt
NSW Parliament is unjustifiable creating intellectual debt, Academics, politicians, judges, lawyers and volunteers.
It is an absolute disgrace to: Undermine civil and democratic rights The event, hosted by a State MP Lee Rhiannon just a week before the meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Sydney, has enraged Police Minister Michael Costa, who said using the House for the event was appalling. Upper House Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is hosting the forum for about 60 people in State Parliament's Jubilee Room on November 8.
The scavengers of terror
The NSW Government is to introduce increased police powers bill. Legislation giving New South Wales police special powers to deal with an emergency terrorist situation [emergency scapegoat situation] will be introduced into the New South Wales Parliament today.
Carr out of touch with public about new police powers
It will bring together 70 specialist staff such as [so called terrorism experts like Andrew Scipione ?] police, forensic experts and intelligence analysts [from the CIA and FBI ?] under the one roof to plan and prepare for a possible terrorist attack [false flag operation] in the state. At the same time, the Premier has also announced police will soon get extra powers to deal with terrorism. [State terror focused on dissent.]
Greens more of a human touch
What is a real job? Writes Political Reporter Malcolm Farr Daily Tele Article 11 Nov 2002. "It would start if candidates had a CV of real jobs, such as medicine (Senator Brown), or even zoo keeping (NSW Upper House Green Lee Rhiannon ). Which leaves the type of candidate summed up by Kerry Nettle, who was elected a NSW senator at the poll a year ago.
Koch's Skoff Channel 7' Sunrise
Charming when you run some one down like Zanny Begg member of the National Executive of Resistance using the power of National Media and the presenter is opinionated to go along with it.
The Australian Flag - Burn baby burn
If John Howard is not constitutional and racist. If our obligations to human rights are not being upheld, then burn baby burn the Australian flag in protest and start it with little Lucifer like a picture of Bob Carr.
How much is a war worth?
