Marches banned after threats
November 13 2002
By Stephanie Peatling
New South Wales police have refused to issue a permit allowing a peaceful
march to take place before Friday's meeting of the World Trade Organisation
in Sydney.
Protesters will be able to demonstrate outside the talks at Sydney Olympic
Park but several groups, including unions, churches and environmental
groups, had planned a rally in the city tomorrow.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Dick Adams said the decision had been
taken "because of the threats of violence emanating from an extreme element
among protest groups".
"It's my responsibility to ensure the safety of the international visitors,
the general public, the police and the protesters themselves," Mr Adams said.
Marches have been banned in central Sydney from today until Sunday. But
many of the groups involved say tomorrow's peaceful march will go ahead and
they have accused the police of taking away their right to freedom of
expression.
James Arvanitakis, a board member of the international aid monitoring group
Aidwatch, said police were inviting potential conflict by not allowing the
protest. "The only way the protests will get out of control is if police
try and stop it," he said.
Hundreds of police are expected to be in the city for a number of marches
tomorrow, which will involve Greenpeace, the CFMEU, the National Union of
Students, some churches, socialist youth group Resistance, the Greens and
Democrats.
A march through the city tonight run by refugee advocacy group Free
Movement of People will also go ahead without a permit.
A strong police presence is also planned for Friday when 25 of the world's
trade ministers will discuss the Doha round of trade talks at the Novotel
Hotel at Olympic Park.
The Olympic Park railway station has been closed, businesses temporarily
closed and there is security on all entry points. About three kilometres of
perimeter fencing has been erected and people entering the area can be
searched under powers given to police under the extensive Sydney Olympic
Park Act.
The talks were going to be held at a Double Bay hotel but were transferred
because of security concerns.
http://theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/12/1037080730256.html
Doha,the site of the last WTO circus,will soon host the execution of a
Jordanian Journalist.Welcome to the brave new world of free trade in worst
practice methods.
