[Onthebarricades] Repression in Europe and the West

[Andy]

[Someone with a timer must be planning a violent act?!  I hope this isn't 
just a regular egg timer. but kinda suspect it might be.  this looks like 
another trawling operation.  Notice the admission that most of those 
arrested in Spain are released after the end of the detention without charge 
period.]

*  SPAIN:  "Terror arrests" in Spain - report reveals most previous 
arrestees freed without charge
*  Europe civil rights roundup
*  SWITZERLAND:  Paranoia about antifa protests after cops routed
*  CANADA:  Tent city bulldozed, residents evicted, possessions destroyed
*  HOLLAND:  Policeman acquitted for murder; Dutch police seal area during 
unrest
*  ISRAEL:  Cops get away with murder
*  AUSTRALIA:  Closure of island's only pub in attack on rights
*  AUSTRALIA:  G20 protesters go to trial
*  AUSTRALIA:  Police abuse of firefighters in APEC protests condemned in 
court
*  AUSTRALIA:  Court orders immigration goons to apologise to detainee over 
lies
*  AUSTRALIA:  Terror case falls apart - ASIO condemned by judge
*  BELARUS:  Repression against protesters
*  CANADA:  Repression against indigenous activists
*  ROMANIA:  State goons interfere with protesters' rights, try to stop 
summit protests

Publicly Archived at Global Resistance: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/world/europe/21spain.html

After Raids, 14 Held in Spain on Suspicion of a Terror Plot By VICTORIA 
BURNETT
MADRID - Intelligence agents on Sunday were sifting through evidence 
collected during a weekend crackdown on a group of suspected Islamic 
militants who the police say were plotting an attack on Barcelona.
The police arrested 14 men and raided several apartments, two mosques and a 
bakery in Barcelona, the capital of the northeastern region of Catalonia, a 
security official and local Muslim representatives said. The group included 
12 Pakistanis, an Indian and a Bangladeshi, they said.
Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, the Spanish interior minister, said Saturday that 
the detainees "belonged to a well-organized group that had gone a step 
beyond radicalization."
They confiscated material for making bombs, including four timing devices, 
Mr. Rubalcaba said. Local news reports said the police had also taken phone 
records from the mosques and the bakery. Photographs of material found in 
the raids included the timing devices, a small bag of ball bearings, 
batteries and cables.
"When someone has timers in their home, you have no option but to think 
violent acts are being planned," he said.
Spanish intelligence acted with the help of information from foreign 
intelligence agencies, Mr. Rubalcaba said, though he did not say from which 
countries.
Newspaper reports on Sunday said intelligence officials based in Pakistan 
had tipped off the Spanish authorities about a known Pakistani militant 
having left Pakistan for Barcelona to help put a terrorist plot in motion. 
Those reports could not be independently confirmed.
With a general election scheduled for March 9, the Spanish authorities are 
on the alert for terrorist attacks by Islamist groups or the Basque militant 
group ETA. An Islamist terrorist attack on Madrid commuter trains on March 
11, 2004 - three days before the last general election - killed 191 people.
Since the Madrid bombings, the Spanish police have become very aggressive in 
their efforts to break up suspected Islamist plots. Groups of suspects are 
arrested fairly frequently, and often many are released within five days, 
which is the standard period that someone suspected of being a terrorist can 
be held without charge.
Muslim representatives based in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona said 
that around 3 a.m. the police raided the Torek Ben Ziad mosque, one of the 
city's most prominent mosques, as well as a nearby Muslim prayer house. They 
also raided apartments in different parts of the city and searched a bakery 
in Raval late on Saturday.
One prominent Muslim representative in Barcelona, who spoke on the condition 
of anonymity because of the delicacy of the matter, said Sunday that several 
of those arrested belonged to Tabligh Jamaat, a group based in Pakistan. The 
group publicizes a benign type of revivalist Islam, but is suspected by 
Western intelligence agencies of being a recruiter for jihadists.
Those arrested included one of the imams of the Torek Ben Ziad mosque and a 
70-year-old man, he said.
The Muslim representative said Tabligh was quite active in the Barcelona 
area of Raval. The group strongly proselytizes in the area and is secretive 
but not known among local Muslim organizations to be extremist, he said.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

EU:  Plans for a draconian travel surveillance regime are under discussion, 
with some member states calling for surveillance of entry, exit and movement 
within the EU, possibly including land and sea as well as air travel. 
Sinister proposals include EU-wide fingerprint and RFID passports which can 
be read by computers in sealed boxes a passenger enters, then has to be 
cleared to leave.   Plans to extend laws against glorifying terrorism (by 
expressing controversial views) at the EU level have also been promoted but 
are opposed by some countries on human rights grounds.

UK:  The British government is planning to implant microchips in released 
prisoners, linked to long-range tracking via GPS.  Evidence has emerged that 
thousands of young offenders suffer assault and violence, with physical 
"restraints" such as twisting thumbs backward and smashing children in the 
face widely used.  Political prisoners Samar and Jawad had parole refused on 
bogus grounds after meeting all the criteria for early release.  Another 
political prisoner, Farid Hilali, has been let down by the courts in a fight 
against extradition to Spain despite the allegations in the case against him 
having already been dismissed in another case there.

GERMANY:  The Federal High Court has ruled illegal the series of raids on 
activists prior to the G8 summit, and various other forms of police 
harassment.  Meanwhile, 60% of G8-related cases have been dropped for lack 
of evidence

FRANCE:  Major moves are afoot to create state control of the internet by an 
unaccountable commission, supposedly to tackle piracy.  If introduced, the 
system would allow the state to ban people from using the Internet and to 
suspend or cancel contracts with ISP's as punishments for downloading 
copyrighted materials.

ITALY:  A major blow has been struck against freedom of movement within the 
EU, with a new decree allowing deportation and debarring of EU citizens 
under broad "public safety" criteria.

SWITZERLAND:  Police have been adopting increasingly violent methods to 
suppress public events such as the protests against the WEF and a peaceful 
street party in Luzern.  In particular, mass arrests are being made under 
"zero tolerance" policies, and preventive arrest abused to arrest 
protesters.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Protestors_are_no_danger_to_internal_security.html?siteSect=105&sid=8300839&cKey=1192086149000&ty=st

 October 10, 2007 - 12:25 PM
Protestors are "no danger to internal security"

Image caption: Stonethrowers at Zurich's May Day rally this year (Keystone)
Related stories
06.10.2007
Pre-election rally marred by violence
06.06.2007
G8 summit makes Swiss hot under the collar
The so-called Black Block has come under further police scrutiny after 
scenes of violence put a stop last weekend to a rightwing political rally 
held in the capital Bern.
But specialists say the loose grouping of anarchists and extreme leftwing 
activists does not present a danger to Switzerland's internal security.
Press coverage during the week gave prominence to the rioting against the 
Swiss People's Party rally and the forces behind it, speculating that 
demonstrators were shipped in from abroad. But Jürg Bühler of the federal 
police told swissinfo there was no credence to this theory.
"We have no indication that the demonstration sparked any significant 
international mobilisation," he said.
There was no organised movement of people from around Switzerland either, 
according to Bühler. An influx of outside demonstrators is more often seen 
in connection with international themes such as G8 summits or the WEF in 
Davos, he pointed out.
Bühler also reckoned it was unlikely that provocateurs were involved. "As a 
rule it does not take much to stir up the Black Block," he added.
Politicians across the board condemned the violence that disrupted the 
People's Party rally, held ahead of upcoming federal elections.
However critics have pointed out that the party of the controversial justice 
minister, Christoph Blocher, had been stoking tensions with its hardline 
policies, and has been milking the incidents for further political gain.
But despite the dramatic images and headlines generated by the Black Block, 
they do not constitute a danger to Switzerland's internal security, Bühler 
concluded.
"This incident must be put into perspective. The groups are weak in numbers 
and too badly organised and positioned to achieve their goals," he said.
Young and apolitical
Political scientist and author Mark Balsiger was one observer of the events 
in Bern's old town of Bern last weekend.
"I would guess that most of the violent protestors were aged between 16 and 
20 and were apolitical," he told swissinfo.
Balsiger assumed that most of the participants went along for kicks and he 
categorised them as followers. "Not all of them were semi-professional 
demonstrators kitted out with ski glasses, scarf, black hat and stones," he 
said.
But Balsiger said he did not wish to completely depoliticise the 
demonstrators and thought there were also anarchists involved. Others were 
probably provoked by the "People's Party's very aggressive advertising 
style" in recent months.
At least 20 people were injured and dozens detained for questioning after 
the event. The activists also destroyed the infrastructure set up in front 
of parliament for the People's Party rally.
Bühler said this disruption and damage to property caused uncertainty 
amongst the population and incurred expenses for the authorities.
But the city of Bern apparently knew what to expect beforehand and has been 
criticised for failing to act properly. The federal police apparently did 
warn the authorities of possible violence.
"It is in our interest to pass on all useful information to safeguard 
internal security so that the police action can be as successful as 
possible," Bühler added.

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2008/03/215739.php

Tent City Residents Evicted, Dwellings Bulldozed
by Rockero Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2008 at 10:29 AM
rockero420 at yahoo.com (909) 996-1624
Residents of the Ontario encampment who couldn't prove any affiliation with 
the city were evicted; those allowed to stay were moved and the site was 
bulldozed

ONTARIO - The residents of "Ontario Tent City," a Bushville formerly home to 
approximately 400 homeless people, were evicted today and their possessions 
bulldozed. "I have nowhere to go," and "I don't know what I'm gonna do," 
were the refrains heard over and over.

The few residents who were allowed to stay were relocated to a lot across 
the street from the main settlement to allow for "improvements."

The city government set aside the plot of land, about the size of two city 
blocks, in October of 2007 in order to provide an alternative to the people 
that were removed from smaller encampments near the Ontario Museum of 
History and Art and elsewhere. Since then, awareness of the camp spread 
through word of mouth and through the reports of print and electronic media. 
The city provided port-a-potties and trach removal, but the bulk of the 
resources were provided by volunteers, including church groups, charities, 
and local activists.

On March 7 however, the city announced that the area would be limited to 
those who could prove affiliation to the city of Ontario through school 
records, bills, paystubs, or by having a resident relative vouch for them. 
Non-Ontarians, they said, would have to leave by March 24.

One area church allowed some inhabitants of the encampment to use the church 
address so they could get identification with an Ontario address and 
therefore be eligible to remain, but for most, it was too late.

During the past two weeks, residents have been intimidated into leaving of 
their own regard. First was the edict declaring the Bushville off-limits to 
minors. Then came the announcement that prompted a march to city hall: No 
pets allowed. For many camp-dwellers, their dogs were the only family they 
had. The city started segregating residents by
assigning different-colored armbands. Many people preferred to leave rather 
than be so branded.

Tensions ran high, with fights breaking out over the diminishing resources 
(the city also instituted a permit requirement for any organization wanting 
to provide food or other goods.) "I've been here since it began, and it's 
never been like this," one woman told me yesterday.

By yesterday, about 200 people had left, and spirits were low. Those that 
remained were hopeful that an injunction being sought by the ACLU to stay 
the eviction would be granted. Others had lost hope entirely, with several 
people openly considering throwing themselves in front of passing trains. 
The residents of the encampment have survived a great deal: tough economic 
times, family problems, substance abuse and mental health issues, and 
attacks from right-wing radio hosts John and Ken. But for many people, the 
eviction represented a breaking point. "We're homeless, getting kicked out 
of a homeless camp. How would it make you feel?" a women, near tears, 
lamented.

At six o'clock this morning, the only light came from a few small campfires 
and the headlights of the occasional passing car. All was tranquil, but the 
peace was an uneasy one. Newsvans from Telemundo, KNBC, and KABC were all 
present, setting up lights and cameras. Those who were already stirring 
rummaged through their possessions and those that had been abandoned.

"It doesn't seem like we're going to have enough time to pack our shit up. 
Are they really gonna kick us out at eight?"

At four after six, large trucks arrived, depositing trash receptacles on the 
east, north, and west sides of the camp.

A man wearing a small sign around his neck that read "More Love" saw I had a 
camera and was jotting down notes. He approached me, identifying himself as 
David Bush, and asked if I was with the media. He shared with me his efforts 
to get the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to delay the eviction 
for at least four hours. "We're asking people to call them, the city, and 
the police department."

Later, volunteers told me that he had only been there the last two weeks, 
and that he was "stirring up trouble" by going from tent to tent to 
encourage the inhabitants to resist police efforts to evict them.

At ten after six, a young woman asked me if I had a light. "Sorry," I said, 
"I don't. Are people starting to get worried?" "I'm not," she replied with 
confidence. "No. Wherever they take me, that'll be fine."

At 6:20 trash trucks moved in to empty the contents of city dumpsters 
located on the perimeters of the camp. The channel seven news reporter began 
filming, and the reporter from KNX interviewed Mike Dunlap. I waited for the 
call from the KPFK newsroom, a representative of which assured me he would 
call at 6 and again at nine. They never called.

By 6:30 it was already fairly bright out, although the moon was still 
providing most of the light. More people began to awake. "It's D-Day. It's 
fucking D-Day," I overheard. Then the first cop showed up. A motorcycle 
unit, he circled the block, just making his presence known. He was followed 
by two cruisers at quarter 'til, who split up and make rounds of their own.

The cops began setting up their staging area on an empty lot across the 
street from the northwest corner. I saw tractors and bulldozers parked just 
up the street--just out of sight of the residents.

Just after seven o'clock, the police invaded the camp, interrogating people. 
"What about you? What's your status today?" "Whose stuff is this?" "Are you 
staying? You need to move across the street."

Residents offered little resistance. "We're leaving," one woman told them. 
"My friend just had a heart attack this week. We can't handle the stress."

I spoke with a man who was packing up his tent. "My ID says Upland, so I 
guess I'm heading up to Upland. I'll park myself right in front of City 
Hall. They say I'm not their problem, so I'll go make myself Upland's 
problem."

At 7:10, the first tractors moved in. They started with the northwest 
corner, plowing piles of peoples' possessions into the back of a city trash 
truck. News cameras huddled around, eager for a shot of the action.

Eight AM came and went without much change. There was no sign of the ACLU, 
who had promised to show to protect peoples' human rights, and residents 
didn't seem surprised that the bulldozing began early. People wearing dark 
green vests reading "Counseling Team" began making patrols. "Everybody's 
sorry, but nobody wants to help," said a woman after an encounter with them.

The city set up portable awnings just in front of the police staging area 
with representatives from Mercy House, the agency contracted by the city to 
"handle" the situation, code enforcement, and the county behavioral health 
office. I got in line to get my group's permit to provide food and other 
resources. Once I got it, I figured I had better get the
"official" side of the story.

I interviewed Jeff Higbee, a detective with the Ontario Police Department 
who was an "authorized public information officer." When I asked him to give 
a brief explanation of what was going on, he gave me the sugar-coated 
version, detailing all the wonderful things the city was planning on 
installing for the homeless.

I asked if there were any plans to use force if people resisted or refused 
to leave. "We're not planning on using force, or even arresting anyone," he 
answered.

When asked if officials from ICE or any other immigration agency were 
involved in removing people without documents, he denied it.

When asked where the people were supposed to go, he replied that the city 
was encouraging people to go back to their home cities, and even offered 
them free rides.

"In 1948, the UN issued the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 
25 says that housing is one of those universal rights. What do you say to 
the people that say that this eviction is a violation of human rights?"

He denied that anyone's rights were being violated, pointing out that people 
were being allowed to stay across the street.

Judy, a representative from Mercy House, invited me to a meeting of 
charitable organizations and other caregivers to be held on Thursday, April 
3rd, at seven PM at First Lutheran Church, located at 203 E G St in Ontario. 
She said that volunteers and other concerned individuals were encouraged to 
attend.

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2008/02/no_action_against_utrecht_riot_police_officer_.php

No action against Utrecht riot police officer
Tuesday 19 February 2008
The policeman who shot dead another man in the Utrecht neighbourhood of 
Ondiep in March 2007 acted in self-defence and will not face charges, the 
public prosecution department said on Tuesday.
The incident triggered several days of rioting in the area.
The man was threatening the officer with a knife and refused to drop the 
weapon, the public prosecution department said.
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2007/03/police_to_seal_utrecht_streets.php
Police to seal Utrecht streets for second night (update)
Wednesday 14 March 2007
The Utrecht neighbourhood of Ondiep is to be sealed off to outsiders for a 
second night on Wednesday, following two nights of clashes between youths 
and riot police, a city council spokesman confirmed.
The area has been ringed with fences which will be pulled across all roads 
later today, closing the area to non-residents. At least 130 people were 
arrested on Tuesday following a number of incidents in both in the city 
centre and on the fringes of Ondiep.
Police said the arrests included a number of football supporters from FC 
Utrecht, Rotterdam's Feyenoord and Amsterdam's Ajax who had come to the city 
looking for trouble. Some 60 people were arrested in Ondiep itself for 
breaking the ban on public gatherings.
The trouble began on Monday following the arrest of two people when youths 
went on the rampage after a 54-year-old man was shot dead by police. The 
police officer said he had felt threatened by the man who had a knife.
However, local residents told TV reporters that the man himself had called 
for police help after being harassed by a gang of youths.
Ondiep is a largely white, working-class neighbourhood and is the focus of 
the city council's urban renewal efforts. Mayor Annie Brouwer is to meet 
local people again this afternoon.
A police spokesman told ANP that the area will probably be kept under tight 
control until after Thursday's march (stille tocht) in memory of the dead 
man.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959361.html

Last update - 06:35 29/02/2008

J'lem court indicts policeman for grievous assault at Amona By Nadav 
Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: assault, policeman, Amona
A riot police officer, Moti Mehager, was indicted Thursday at the Jerusalem 
Magistrate's Court for allegedly causing grievous harm during the evacuation 
of the Amona outpost in the West Bank in January 2006.

The charges, which include three counts of grievous assault, followed an 
internal-affairs investigation of police action against protesters during 
the Amona evacuation.

The charges were brought against the officer in part because of a video 
provided by the demonstrators that allegedly shows Mehager beating the 
protesters as they sat on the floor of a house.
Advertisement

Six months ago, Ishai Greenbaum, one of the demonstrators allegedly injured 
by Mehager, filed a suit against the officer with the assistance of a human 
rights organization operating in the West Bank.

The State Attorney's Office acknowledged the plaintiffs' claims and 
announced that it did not intend to offer immunity to the officer.

Mehager, for his part, filed against his employer, the police force, arguing 
that "he was a victim of the prosecution and political interests on the one 
hand, and of the police on the other."

Mehager is accusing the police of giving orders that resulted in police 
violence at Amona. He says this was driven by political motives. "The 
preparations for the evacuation lasted a week and briefings were bleak, but 
at the same time the instructions were clear that in any eventuality it 
would be necessary to use batons," he said.

The officer maintains that the police ordered the use of batons and that 
"its political considerations overcame its obligations [to him] and the rest 
of the officers" for insufficiently preparing them. He also says the police 
command evaded responsibility after issuing orders.

"If these were illegal orders, it seems that the one responsible for them is 
first and foremost those giving the orders," Mehager said.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23104697-3102,00.html

Island pub closure sparks riot fear
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Tanya Chilcott and Steven Wardill
January 24, 2008 11:00pm
EXTRA police have been flown to Mornington Island over fears a pub closure 
could spark a riot.
The Government has moved to cut off all alcohol supplies to the indigenous 
community, with the only other liquor retailer - 30km away from the 
community's closed-down hotel - under a temporary suspension to ensure 
alcohol-fuelled violence is kept to a minimum.
The decision comes as Premier Anna Bligh dismissed calls from the federal 
Opposition for a Northern Territory-style intervention to rid the state's 
indigenous communities of child abuse.
Ms Bligh said she had no doubt islanders would be "very angry" over the 
closure of the Lelka Murrin Hotel, which was run by the Gulf of 
Carpentaria's Mornington Shire Council.
"But frankly, they have abused it far too long," she said.
She said alcohol-fuelled violence, binge-drinking and poor management had 
led to the closure.
"Every holder of a liquor licence, whether they are in Brisbane or an 
Aboriginal community, has to meet certain standards," Ms Bligh said.
"Those standards are consistently not being met on Mornington Island."
But Mornington Shire Council deputy chief executive Robert Cooper said the 
licence had been suspended primarily because the hotel's nominee had 
resigned due to sickness, not because of alcohol-fuelled violence or poor 
management.
Mr Cooper was further shocked by suggestions the closure was indefinite.
"This is temporary . . . we have been told a different story," Mr Cooper 
said.
He said they expected to have a timetable for re-opening by next Tuesday and 
he was offended by the police increase in anticipation of violence.
"Mornington Island is not that sort of community," he said.
The Courier-Mail revealed this week that a woman was allegedly pack-raped by 
a group of armed males in the island's school grounds last year. It is 
understood six of the eight were children and the other two were still 
teenagers.
In the past month, police were injured during an alleged attack by a mob 
outside the hotel, while a security guard required 14 stitches to his 
stomach after he was allegedly stabbed outside the hotel in a separate 
incident.
Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson yesterday called for a radical 
intervention while visiting indigenous communities on Cape York in 
Queensland's far north.
He said he was appalled by reports that two young boys were raped by a group 
of older boys in the community of Kowanyama.
"It is absolutely unacceptable, it's appalling, it's sickening, and it's all 
of those things which demand the kind of intervention and kind of policy 
approach in the Cape, in some parts of Western Australia, as we've also seen 
in the Northern Territory," Dr Nelson said.
But Ms Bligh called
Dr Nelson's comments "ignorant".
"The Northern Territory-style intervention . . . was taking what is already 
happening in Queensland communities into the Northern Territory," Ms Bligh 
said.

http://news.smh.com.au/three-g20-protesters-admit-riot-charges/20080407-24cd.html

Three G20 protesters admit riot charges

April 7, 2008 - 7:26PM
Advertisement
Lawyers defending three protesters involved in the violent G20 riots in 
Melbourne in 2006 have asked a magistrate not to convict them.
The trio were among a group of demonstrators involved in confrontations with 
police outside the Group of 20 nations summit on November 17 and 18, 2006.
Danya Bryx, 23, is accused of ramming an industrial bin into barricades 
behind which police stood, ramming a water-filled barrier into police lines 
and throwing it at police.
Bryx pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates Court Monday to two counts of 
riot and one each of intentionally destroying property and recklessly 
causing injury to a female police officer.
Her lawyer Marita Altman said jailing the law student would be a "highly 
disproportionate" punishment and requested she be dealt with through a 
community-based order without conviction.
In a letter read to the court, Bryx described being caught up in a situation 
that quickly got out of control and expressed remorse for causing fear and 
injury to police.
Ms Altman said Bryx wanted to travel to the Middle East to work in human 
rights or environmental law, using her skills to do community work and make 
a difference.
"Their lesson that comes from all of this is you don't make change in this 
way," she said.
However, prosecutor Chris Beale said Bryx was involved in two riots where 
police were injured and her actions were serious.
Beth Nathan, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of riot after being filmed 
tipping a water-filled barrier onto riot police.
Ms Altman, also for Nathan, said her client was remorseful and should be 
given a community based order without conviction.
David Nguyen, 23, of Coburg, pleaded guilty to one charge each of riot and 
criminal damage.
His lawyer Rob O'Neill told the court he went along to photograph the event 
but got caught up in a "moment of stupidity" and hurled a glass bottle at 
police.
He said a community based order without conviction was appropriate given his 
client's good character, youth and clean record.
A further seven protesters are due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court this 
week.
Another, Paul Hood, 38, of Queensland, was committed to stand trial and will 
face the County Court for a case conference on May 29. He has reserved his 
plea on charges including riot and affray.
Magistrate Sarah Dawes will sentence Bryx, Nathan and Nguyen on Monday.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/apec/firemen-read-riot-act-over-heavyhanded-police/2008/03/28/1206207408019.html

Firemen read riot act over heavy-handed police

Missing in action . the banner belonging to the Fire Brigade Employees Union 
at the demonstration in Hyde Park during the APEC summit last year.
Advertisement
Andrew West
March 29, 2008
IT BEGAN with two firefighters demonstrating against George Bush's visit to 
Sydney during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit.
Now a feud over the confiscation by riot police of a fire brigade union 
banner during the protest march has escalated, with a complaint to the 
Police Integrity Commission, a referral to the NSW Ombudsman and the 
last-minute intervention of the Police Minister, David Campbell, with a 
promise to return the missing article.
On September 8 last year the two firefighters, Jeremy Fewtrell and Luke 
Unsworth, were taking part in the peaceful demonstration in Hyde Park, 
outside the officially declared APEC zone, carrying the banner while their 
colleagues carried five union flags.
According to a statement prepared for the integrity commission by Mr 
Fewtrell, and obtained by the Herald, three riot squad officers snatched the 
banner and flags.
"Luke Unsworth and I were walking quietly away from the area at the time of 
this encounter and were doing nothing to provoke this attack or draw 
attention to ourselves," he wrote.
"As we were walking, three police officers set upon us from our rear and 
surrounded us. Without any introduction or explanation they aggressively 
demanded the [Fire Brigade Employees Union] banner and flags from me.
"I asked them why this was necessary and the three of them then violently 
reefed [the banner and flags] from my hands. I was told that if I asked any 
further questions, they would arrest me. One of the police officers . then 
took the banners away from the immediate area."
None of the officers was wearing name tags.
The officers told Mr Fewtrell he could collect the banner and flags later 
that day from the Sydney Police Centre, but they were not available.
The secretary of the NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union, Simon Flynn, 
speculated that police may have taken the banner as a souvenir. "This is 
exceptionally bad for the relationship between police and firefighters, who
have historically worked well together in the interests of the public."
Mr Flynn says the head of police internal affairs told him the police "had 
no case to answer" but had acknowledged the officers had taken the banner 
and recommended reimbursing the union.
Mr Fewtrell, who was based in several inner-city fire stations at the time 
of the incident and is now based in Dubbo, said he and his colleagues had 
been wearing T-shirts that clearly identified them to police as fellow 
emergency service workers.
"The police seemed pumped up on the day and were clearly spoiling for a 
fight," he said. "They were disappointed that it did not happen. This 
incident has made me more wary of dealing with the police."
Mr Campbell, in a letter sent to Mr Fewtrell, praised police for their 
handling of the APEC demonstrations, but did not answer the question about 
the whereabouts of the missing banner and flags.
But late yesterday, after inquiries from the Herald, Mr Campbell said the 
banner and flags had been found and would be returned next week. "It is 
unacceptable. There is no doubt the flag should have been located and 
returned earlier."

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/apology-ordered-for-former-detainee/2008/02/17/1203190653165.html

Apology ordered for former detainee

February 18, 2008
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THE Immigration Department has been told it should apologise to a former 
detainee over a four-year delay in providing video footage of his alleged 
assault.
And the Ombudsman, John McMillan, recommended the department explain why it 
took so long to provide the footage requested under the Freedom of 
Information Act in early 2004.
He also found the department erred in ruling the man an "offshore arrival" 
in 2001, denying him the right to apply for protection, before recognising 
its mistake a year later.
In his report, the Ombudsman discussed 25 outstanding cases he examined of 
detainees and former detainees: 19 are suffering depressive illnesses, with 
some involving incidents of self-harm and attempted suicide, while one 
detainee suffers chronic delusional disorder.
Twelve remain in detention and some have been released on "return pending" 
visas.
The previous government gave the Ombudsman the task of monitoring the cases 
of all long-term detainees in 2005.
The 45-year-old Sri Lankan man, now living in Australia on a business visa, 
needed the video footage to back up his complaint to the Human Rights and 
Equal Opportunity Commission over the alleged assault on December 4, 2003.
In 2004, he lodged a claim against the department, saying guards employed by 
Australasian Correctional Centre Management punched him in the face, kicked 
him in the legs and pulled his legs up so that he experienced severe back 
pain and lost consciousness.
The limitation period for a damages action expired in December 2006. The 
footage has still not been released.

http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=news_news&Number=295878551&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1&t=-1#Post295878551

Case dropped against 'terrorism trainee'
ABC News, Australia

A Sydney judge has described as "grossly improper and unlawful" the
conduct of two ASIO officers who interviewed a former medical
student accused of training with a terrorist organisation.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all charges
against Izhar ul-Haque today.

Mr ul-Haque had pleaded not guilty to a charge of receiving combat
and weapons training from Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan four years ago.

Earlier this month, New South Wales Supreme Court judge Michael
Adams ruled that interviews with the 21-year-old were inadmissible
because of the conduct of ASIO and Australian Federal Police
officers involved.

The court heard ASIO officers took Mr ul-Haque to a park in western
Sydney and later questioned him in his bedroom.

Justice Adams said Mr ul-Haque was told he had to cooperate when the
officers knew they did not have the legal right to detain him.

He accused one officer of false imprisonment and kidnapping and the
other of detaining for advantage.

A jury had not yet been empanelled in the trial.

'Political show trial'

Outside the court, Mr ul-Haque's lawyer, Adam Houda, described the
case as purely political.

"This has been a moronic prosecution right from the start," he said.

"The terror laws were introduced supposedly to capture terrorists,
not brilliant young men like Izhar ul-Haque.

"From the beginning this was no more than a political show trial
designed to justify the billions of dollars spent on counter-
terrorism."

Mr Houda also likened his client's case to that of Indian doctor
Mohammed Haneef. who had his terrorism-related charge dropped
earlier in the year.

"It's been one bungled prosecution after another. We've all seen the
disgraceful conduct afforded against Doctor Haneef and today you've
heard the disgraceful conduct against my client," he said.

A spokesman for ASIO says the agency will leave it up to federal
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock to comment on the case being dropped.

Review urged

But the Australian Council for Civil Liberties says the dropping of
charges indicates a problem with ASIO's administration.

The council's president, Terry O'Gorman, says both major political
parties need to immediately promise a review of the organisation
because it is becoming increasingly unaccountable.

"While clearly ASIO has to be given the power to conduct inquiries
into terrorism activity, particularly within Australia, it should do
so within the law," he said.

"The fact that this criticism has been made is a worry.

"This particular case problem has got to be confronted and it's got
to be the subject of a serious review. "

Mr O'Gorman says the next federal government must set up independent
monitoring of the counter-terrorism activities of ASIO and the AFP.

"There should be an independent terrorism reviewer," he said.

"Terrorism laws are draconian. If judges are finding that ASIO
operatives are breaking even these draconian laws, which favour ASIO
as against the individual, then something serious needs to be done
about it. "

http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2008/1/25/3301/

25.01.2008
Peaceful demonstration in Minsk was called "mass riot" (Photo, Video) 13
17:09, - Politics

22 people sentenced to 15 days of arrest for participation in the 
entrepreneurs' protest action on 10 January, have been released today. As 
Anatol Lyabedzka, head of the United Civil Party, said the prosecutor's 
office of Minsk initiated a case on "mass riot in Minsk" on 10 January and 
is carrying out investigation. "Mass riot" is a peaceful demonstration, 
dispersed brutally by the militia.
According to the Administrative Code, political prisoners serving their 
terms in the special prison facility on Akrestin Street, were to be released 
after 4.00pm, because most of the people had been detained at that time on 
10 January. But representatives of oppositional parties and movements, 
relatives of the arrested and interested people came to meet the democratic 
activists, and the authorities may have been scared by a mass demonstration 
with flowers and national symbols near the gates of the prison.
All activists, arrested for 15 days, have been released in the morning. The 
people released are:
1. Raman Bahdanovich
2. Alyaksandr Barazenka
3. Paval Vinahradau
4. Arseny Pakhomau
5. Syarhei Klyueu
6. Palina Kuryanovich
7. Anatol Lyabedzka
8. Yan Mikhailau
9. Mikhail Pashkevich
10. Mikhail Kryvau
11. Alyaksandr Stsepanenka
12. Uladzimir Shyla
13. Anatol Shumchanka
14. Yury Barkun
15. Artsyom Dubsky
16. Andrei Radzivonau
17. Ihar Zhabarouski
18. Alyaksandr Vazhakou
19. Alyaksandra Lyndava
20. A.Y. Zorka
21. Yury Kuksyuk
22. Ales Charnyshou

Participants of the entrepreneurs' rally stood trials in the courts of 
Tsentralny and Maskouski districts. The people were accused of violating two 
articles of the Administrative Code: "participation in unauthorised event" 
and "minor hooliganism." Six activists - Raman Bahdanovich, Paval 
Vinahradau, Hanna Barazenka, Alyaksandra Lyndava, Ihar Zhabarouski and Yan 
Mikhailau went on hunger strike in protest.
The judgements were given by judges of Maskouski district Gusakova O.A., 
Rudnitskaya Y.B., Audzeyenka V.A., Kuznyatsova N.A., Shastakou Y.V., Kazak 
V.V., Fralova Y.G., Shylko Y.N., and judges of Tsentralny district Tatyana 
Paulyuchuk and Alyaksei Bychko.
All in all 23 people were got arrests for the action on 10 January. Tatyana 
Tishkevich, sentenced to 20 days of arrest, is still in special prison 
facility on Akrestin Street. It is known, the girl had been beaten brutally 
when being detained, and an emergency ambulance was called for her to the 
court. The girl is seriously ill now. According to Vera Stramkouskaya, 
Tishkevich is most likely to have lung troubles.
Leaders of entrepreneurs Alyaksandr Makayeu and Alyaksandr Taustyka as well 
as approximately 20 activists of entrepreneurs' and youth movements, 
detained after the actions on 10 and 21 January, remain in the special 
prison facility on Akrestin Street.
By the way, detention conditions in the special prison facility on Akrestin 
Street can be compared only with tortures. According to Anatol Lyabedzka, 
the United Civil Party leader, they haven't improved, it is still cold there 
and meal is worse than pig food. "One can sleep only dressed in three pairs 
of trousers and sweaters. My friends and relatives tried to pass me a 
sleeping bag several times, but the administration didn't allow to pass it. 
Food parcels are also forbidden. What concerns prison food, my parents feed 
their pigs better," Lyabedzka said to "Nasha Niva."
The politician confirmed that investigators from the Minsk persecutor's 
office visited political prisoners and interrogated them on the criminal 
case initiated upon mass riot in Minsk on 10 January. According to him, "A 
brigade of investigators headed by Mikhalchyk, head of the investigatory 
department at the city internal affairs department of the Minsk city 
executive committee, arrived at the special prison facility on 12 January."
It should be reminded that Leu Margolin, one of the leaders of entrepreneurs' 
movement, and Leu Shynkaryk, deputy head of the United Civil Party, were 
interrogated upon that case on 21 January. Among other thing, the 
investigators tried to find out who had offered to go to Independence Square 
and block off traffic on the avenue, and whether these acts were planned 
beforehand or spontaneous.
All people interrogated are regarded as witnesses on this criminal case.

--------------------------------------------------------

OCAP Statement in Support of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) and
Ardoch Algonquin First Nations:

Stop the Criminalization of Indigenous Resistance:
Free All Indigenous Political Prisoners:
Stop the Theft and Plunder of Stolen Land

The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty stands in full support of and in
solidarity with the jailed indigenous leaders who have been imprisoned for
fighting to protect their lands, and we call for the immediate reversal of
the politically motivated sentences recently imposed on the six members of
the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation, as well as Bob
Lovelace, co-chief of Ardoch Algonquin First Nation.

OCAP decries the unacceptable fact that, over the past month, the colonial
courts of this province have convicted and imprisoned seven First Nations
people for trying to protect their lands.

In mid-March, six members of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First
Nation were sentenced to six months in jail, for refusing to comply with
an injunction allowing Platinex, an exploration company, to start drilling
on traditional indigenous territory. In 1929, KI First Nation leaders
signed Treaty 9, to protect their ability to hunt, fish and trap, and to
prevent the encroachment of early miners and loggers. In the winter of
2005-06, Platinex, a mining-exploration company, tried to drill on land
for which it had staked a claim pursuant to Ontario's mining laws but
which is also subject to Treaty 9. KI First Nation members prevented the
drilling from proceeding. The company sued for damages and sought an
injunction to prevent further protests. The end result of KIFN asserting
their treaty rights is that their leadership has been jailed and a $10
billion lawsuit has been laid against the community.

Similarly, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation Co-Chief Robert Lovelace has now
served over a month of his 6-month prison sentence for his role in AAFN's
efforts to resist claims staked by Frontenac Ventures Corporation to mine
uranium on unceded traditional territories of the Ardoch Algonquin and
Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations. Neither the company nor the governments
consulted with the Algonquins, despite the fact that the staked land is
part of a Comprehensive Land Claim that is under ongoing negotiation with
Ontario and Canada. Bob Lovelace was also fined $25,000. In addition, the
community was fined $10,000 and Chief Paula Sherman $15,000. Leaders of
the neighbouring Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation and non-Aboriginal
supporters of the AAFN have also been in court and a $77 million dollar
lawsuit has been laid against their community.

In January 2009, Shawn Brant, spokesperson from Tyendinaga Mohawk
Territory, faces a lengthy jury trial for charges stemming from blockades
which took place in 2007, actions taken up to reclaim a quarry operation
and part of the struggle for the return of the Culbertson Tract, land
which the federal government has acknowledged belongs to the Mohawks. He
faces a potential 12 years in prison. These charges are also accompanied
by a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by the corporate interests of CN
Rail.

OCAP condemns the fact that politicians at both the provincial and federal
level, as well as judges, prosecutors, and police, have been sending a
vicious and clear message that criminalization of indigenous resistance is
the order of the day. Even the basic 'duty to consult' imposed on
government before they authorize actions that might infringe on indigenous
constitutional rights, enshrined in Section 35 of the Canadian
constitution and Supreme Court of Canada rulings since 1990, is being
ignored.

Given the poverty and lack of basic access to decent housing, clean water,
education, and health care endemic to reserve communities in this province
and country, we find the laying of massive financial punishment against
indigenous people who are fighting back to be abhorrent and completely
outrageous.

Finally, we denounce the trend of responding to blockades and actions taken
up by indigenous communities who are protecting their traditional
territories with criminalization and repression. In light of the
ineffective land claim process, the lack of will on the part of provincial
or federal governments to resolve claims issues, the ability of
corporations to act under the auspices of Ontario's outdated Mining Act,
provisions of which directly violate repeated findings of the Supreme
Court of Canada with respect to First Nations treaty-rights and
land-claims, and given the right of First Nations communities to
sovereignty anD self-determination, the racist colonialist response of
government is unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue.

OCAP calls on the Ontario government to drop all charges and fines against
Bob Lovelace and the AAFN, and to drop all charges against the KI Six. We
demand that the Ontario government respond to the clearly stated demands
of both communities. We demand that all corporate plunder, mining and
exploration activities on the traditional territories of AAFN and KI cease
immediately.

- - The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
March 2008

http://tinyurl.com/2zt3z9

BUCHAREST
Romania Turns Suspected Anti-NATO Protesters Away

Police said they found compact discs, magazines, flyers, brochures and
badges with an anti-NATO and anti-globalisation message.

Romania has denied access to six German citizens they say could have
staged violent protests at a NATO summit in Bucharest next month, border
police said on Friday.

Police and the country's main secret service said the six, aged 21 to
35, suspected of belonging to an anarchist group, tried to enter Romania
on Thursday with a car and minivan through the Calafat customs point on
the border with Bulgaria.

Police said they found "compact discs, magazines, flyers, brochures and
badges with an anti-NATO and anti-globalisation message, which were to
be used to organise protests with potential for violence during the
summit" during a routine search of their vehicles.

"They were denied entry in Romania and they returned to Bulgaria,"
border police spokesman Fabian Badila said.

Security has increased ahead of the summit in the capital of Romania,
which joined the European Union last year and has been a NATO member
since 2004.

March 21, 2008 17:42h