June 7, 2001 - Volume IX, Issue 23 A human protest By Fraser Allan Despite concerns raised by the National Security Office prior to the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting last week over possible violent demonstrations by extremist anti-globalization activists, Budapest remained peaceful during the event. Only one demonstration, authorized by the authorities, took place at the Déli Pályaudvar train station nearly two kilometers from the NATO meetings held at the Budapest Congress Center. Organized by the Humanist Movement (Humanista Mozgalom), the protest attracted over 300 demonstrators, although after the event police officers on the scene claimed the number had been closer to 150. Humanist Movement spokesman Balázs Szigeti explained why NATO was being targeted by the organization. "We believe that there is a worldwide crisis in the political and economic systems. There is an increase in nihilism and many people experience feelings of hopelessness and a loss of meaning in their lives, as well as being treated very badly by political and economic leaders who do not care about them," he said. "A worldwide empire is being established and gaining strength, and we believe that, like all other empires before, it will collapse, because a minority which controls all the capital and power, leaving 99% of the people without healthcare, education and water, cannot last in power," he continued. Szigeti said that NATO was one of the tools used by the minorities who exercise real power to maintain and strengthen their position. "There is a direct and violent globalization force directed by the minority at the center of this empire, and the military arm of this empire is NATO," he explained. "This is why all 18 Humanist parties in Europe last year demanded the immediate exit of all European countries from NATO and an end to all American military bases in Europe. We believe that instead of defending their narrow interests, governments should be directing these funds in positive directions such as education and healthcare." Police at the demonstration confirmed that the event passed off entirely peacefully, with no incidents or arrests. "Everything was very laid back and cheerful," one officer told The Budapest Sun. "The police were in fact very helpful and behaved beautifully," Szigeti confirmed. Only one arrest was made during the NATO meeting, the leader of a group of activists who attempted to hang an anti-NATO banner from the Széchenyi lánchíd (Chain Bridge). Police spokesman László Garamvölgyi said that an overall lower level of crime was reported throughout Budapest during the event, most likely due to the more visible police presence on the streets, due to the NATO summit. http://www.budapestsun.com/full_story.asp?ArticleId={D7CB0B303AD34C40B06F670 46B70ABEA}&From=News Miroslav Antic, http://www.antic.org/ STOP NOVOM SVETSKOM PORETKU ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bUrBE8.bVKZIq Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
