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Law and Order at the G8 Summit 2006
posted Monday, 17 July 2006
Law and Order at the G8
As the G8 Summit starts in St.Petersburg, the authorities have already begun stamping down on the protests, and are doing all they can to stop the influx of national and international trouble makers.
In the build-up to the Summit there have been over 200 arrests, as well as house searches, checks and searches on the streets across Russia. Two Russian anarchists have been sentenced to ten days detention for "endangering public order and safety" - for purchasing gas masks and carrying G8 flyers in their pockets. Last Sunday (09/07/06) three were arrested from a flat - with two Germans later being given ten days detention for 'urinating in public', while the third, a Siberian, was arrested in his underpants. He was not given clothes during his arrest and ended up being taken to hospital due to circulation problems. The flat was searched and three more arrested in connection to it. This Monday (10/07/06) the Legal Team in Moscow was searched by the FSB (Russian intelligence service), who entered the building by introducing themselves as neighbours claiming that the flat below was flooding.
In Samara, seven activists had their flats raided with computers and paper confiscated, apparently related to an anti-militarism action on February 23rd - and all those involved had court summonses on July 14th - apparently a day of protest. Also on Monday six travelling from Omsk to St. Petersburg were taken off the train accused of carrying 'dangerous objects' - and have been out of contact since.
On Tuesday seven were arrested and face 15 days of arrest for a demo in St. Petersburg against the import of nuclear waste. The list goes on.
In the build-up to the Summit there have been over 200 arrests, as well as house searches, checks and searches on the streets across Russia. Two Russian anarchists have been sentenced to ten days detention for "endangering public order and safety" - for purchasing gas masks and carrying G8 flyers in their pockets. Last Sunday (09/07/06) three were arrested from a flat - with two Germans later being given ten days detention for 'urinating in public', while the third, a Siberian, was arrested in his underpants. He was not given clothes during his arrest and ended up being taken to hospital due to circulation problems. The flat was searched and three more arrested in connection to it. This Monday (10/07/06) the Legal Team in Moscow was searched by the FSB (Russian intelligence service), who entered the building by introducing themselves as neighbours claiming that the flat below was flooding.
In Samara, seven activists had their flats raided with computers and paper confiscated, apparently related to an anti-militarism action on February 23rd - and all those involved had court summonses on July 14th - apparently a day of protest. Also on Monday six travelling from Omsk to St. Petersburg were taken off the train accused of carrying 'dangerous objects' - and have been out of contact since.
On Tuesday seven were arrested and face 15 days of arrest for a demo in St. Petersburg against the import of nuclear waste. The list goes on.
The Russian Social Forum was planning a mass demonstration on the Friday, which has been banned, as are all other protests. Reports are the city centre of St. Petersburg is crawling with police forces in the build-up, but despite this, many are undaunted by the scare stories and will be out on the streets when the flotillas of military helicopters drop off the G8 puppet leaders this weekend (15-16/07/06).
Don't be surprised if the news of protests gets silenced or black-listed - look at these other information sources to find out what's really going on: Int.Ru.Indymedia.Org or G8-2006.plentyfacts.net
(I know that the Summit is ending today. I actually wanted to post this entry earlier. Sorry about that.)
The next WorldBank Group and IMF Meeting is to be held in Singapore in September this year. Singapore, being a great host, can't wait to welcome its honorable guests with 4 millions smiles - one smile from each resident. It is well known, that protests in Singapore are banned. But the World Bank is now lobbying the local government to actually allow protests. How nice of them!
Remember how the government reacted when 4 people silently dared to demonstrate in August last year? Imagine the scene when up to ten people actually dare to protest against the dear guests??
The mighty and powerful (IMF, World Bank, G8, WTO etc.) seem to prefer to hold their summits in more repressive environments nowadays, so that they won't have to hide at some mountain hill top anymore, don't they?!
Remember how the government reacted when 4 people silently dared to demonstrate in August last year? Imagine the scene when up to ten people actually dare to protest against the dear guests??
The mighty and powerful (IMF, World Bank, G8, WTO etc.) seem to prefer to hold their summits in more repressive environments nowadays, so that they won't have to hide at some mountain hill top anymore, don't they?!
(Anybody has any idea what happened to those four?)
~peace~
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