Arrests, police injured at APEC protests (photos)

[Swagman]

Source: daily telegraph

ONE wedding, no funerals, two injuries and at least nine arrests.

The hugely hyped APEC protest rally went off without major incident.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was that one couple chose the Saturday of the APEC leaders retreat to get married at St Mary's cathedral, near the heart of both the APEC and the protest action.

Three police officers were injured in scuffles with protesters who were throwing darts at them and there were about nine arrests during the march.

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Read more: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22383284-5001021,00.html

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politicians, police and conservative commentators have been demonsing protestors for months now. There were few incidents but a massive over-reaction by police and the government who built a concrete and steel mesh wall around Sydney allowing no-one in without the right ID.

Even a busload of young socialists travelling from the country were ambushed by a possee of 50 police who had a search warrant to search them and the vehicle for drugs. Nothing was found but they questioned them for hours in the hope of preventing them arriving in time in Sydney to attend a demonstration.

## police confiscated protest signs they didn't like and tore them up.

[valerief]

1. Holy cannoli! Great pics! Thanks. nt

[IndianaGreen]

2. Great post and pics, Swagman!

Fifty policemen after a group of young socialists that were minding their own peaceful business. The times in which we live!

There is nothing more dangerous to warmaking than peace!

[ClintonTyree]

5. AND, illegally detaining them......

or rather "questioning them them for hours in the hope of preventing them arriving in time in Sydney to attend a demonstration".

Heavens no, we wouldn't want people exercising their right to peaceful protest now, would we? :grr:

The power structures of the "coalition" governments are starting to get a bit nervous about the people they've been elected to serve, it seems. Coupled with the brown-shirt horseback raid in Washington it appears they're getting quite nervous. They'd prefer we'd all just accept their authority and be docile and timid, like good little sheep, not making any noise and toeing their ridiculous line.

SCREW THEM! :mad:

WELL DONE my brothers and sisters "down under". :applause:

[Judi Lynn]

3. So many COPS! Makes that guy's raving you posted yesterday sound even more absurd.

He was ready for all hell to break lose, perhaps the end of the world as we know it!

Very glad to hear no serious injuries, but also a wonderful attendance!

Thanks for the news and the photos.

[Matilda]

4. The police presence was total overkill, and very provocative.

I went to the march with Mr Matilda and we arranged to meet our daughter
there. She was late, and tried to join the march from Castlereagh St,
but was told by a cop that she couldn't. She asked why, and he just said
"because it's the rule". She backed off, and when he was distracted by
someone else, slipped round the police van blocking the road and joined
the march. We kept in touch by mobile phone, and managed to find each
other - glad they didn't shut down the mobile network this afternoon.

We were near the front of the march, and missed the confrontations, which
happened behind us. But when we reached the intersection of Park and
Elizabeth Streets, where we were then supposed to move into Hyde Park
(as ruled by the Supreme Court on Wednesday), the police vans blocked
our way. After about twenty minutes, they moved a van blocking access
up Park Street back a few hundred feet, but blocked the entrance to
both north and south sides of the park. Another ten minutes or so, and
they finally moved the van away. They seemed to be waiting until the
rear of the march caught up, then they stood shoulder to shoulder and
literally herded us all into the north side of the park. Once we were
all there, they wouldn't let anybody leave. A lot of us thought we were
being set up for a confrontation where we wouldn't be able to escape
the water cannon. Thankfully, that didn't happen, but still nobody
was allowed to leave the park or cross the streets bordering the park
on each side.

One of the best moments in the afternoon came when a group of cops who'd
been photographing the crowd during the post-march speeches moved down
a path in a group, followed by protesters beating drums, clapping, and
cheering. My daughter and I joined a "guard of honour" at the side of
the path and cheered and clapped as the cops went by. The way the police
were behaving this afternoon, a little cop-baiting felt good for the
soul.

The organisers estimated the crowd at 10,000; the cops said it was 3,000.
My rough guess would be anywhere between 6,000-7,000 - for a wet day,
and following weeks of intimadatory statements by both police and
politicians, this was a good turnout for Sydney.

[oscarmitre]

8. Well, cop baiting eh?

The way the police were behaving this afternoon, a little cop-baiting felt good for the
soul.

I'll bet you made their day.

And the photos of cops breaking up the demo, ripping down placards, riding horses into the crowd, dragging off people by their hair are.....Where?

You must have missed the anti-Vietnam demos.

[Swagman]

12. I was so sure they'd use that water canon Matilda after boasting

about it..and showing off their window barred buses weeks beforehand.

I've never seen so much police intimidation..it wasn't even that bad during the Vietnam protest years.

The most positive thing is that it's been a giant fizzer for John Howard who must have seen it as a curtain raiser for his re-election ( which looks less likely by the day )

John Howard..going
George Bush..going
Tony Blair..gone

[Matilda]

13. It's a lot of money to spend on something they wouldn't use,

so yes, I also thought we'd see it in action today. I'd figured that at
least in the park there would be somewhere to run to get out of the way,
but didn't bank on being herded in and not allowed out. No way was that
ever about security, it was threatening, and completely undemocratic.

I've been to lots of protests over the years and the police are never
welcome figures, but I've not seen this degree of intimidation before,
ever.

Of course, Iemma's also responsible for this - no attempt from him to
pull back on the intimidation tactics.

[oscarmitre]

16. that's a good point -

Of course, Iemma's also responsible for this - no attempt from him to
pull back on the intimidation tactics.

It's going to be the standard operating procedure, get ready for it to harden. No, I'm not happy about it at all.

[democrank]

6. What`s with the matching APEC coats?

Lab work? Bank heist? Worthless photo op?

[oscarmitre]

9. Tradition

Every host nation gets to dress up the delegates in its version of local folk clothing. They got Drizabones. Apparently they also got Akubra hats but they weren't supposed to put them on because they obscure their faces for the photo op.

[Tiggeroshii]

7. Geez, people were throwing darts?!

that's too bad...

[oscarmitre]

10. It's usually only a few shitbags

most people can make their point (sorry, bad pun I know) without that kind of crap. It was overwhelmingly peaceful, thankfully, but I bet Howard was praying for a riot so he could smear the Labor Opposition (little bastard would find a diamond in a bloody sewer pit).

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

11. These Cops?

These Cops
I don't think the cops hate the protesters.
They hate Bush. They hate that they have to be on High Alert, they hate that they are risking their safety in a situation they agree with but cannot take part in.
It's ALL about Bush, at every Summit or State visit. Thousands of people protesting. Cops are not the enemy.

[Swagman]

14. sure..not all cops are bad and many agree with the protestors

it was the politicians who had them thinking all hell was about to break loose

[wordpix]

15. thanks for the pics. The whole world hates our pRes. IMPEACH!