Today's Guardian reports that armed police will use anti-terrorism powers to "deal robustly" with climate change protesters at Heathrow.
Up to 1,800 extra officers will be drafted in to prevent an estimated 1,500 people disrupting the airport over the period of the camp for climate change, which is due to begin on Tuesday. The police have been told to use stop and search powers against the protesters, who have pledged to take direct action on August 18 and 19 but not to" endanger life." An unacceptable and shameful directive from this Government.
Saturday, 11 August 2007
THE BROWN BOUNCE?
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7 comments:
What's your point, Susan? That climate change protestors should be allowed to disrupt people going on holiday? Sorry, I don't see why they should. Lots of noise and banners and lawful protests, yes; bringing Heathrow to a halt, with the personal cost to people who've looked forward to holidays and the massive cost to London's economy, no. We can have both a massive climate camp to bring the issues to the public attention *and* the airport getting on with business, it's not a choice. I applaud the sensible restraint of the government.
1800 armed officers to 1500 protestors is not "sensible restraint" -it's intimidating and unnecessary.
Susan - the second anonymous was not me, the anonymous of the first comment.
Heathrow is vital to our economy, experiencing its busiest week of the year and a huge terrorist target. I don't see the problem with having enough police there to keep everyone safe and make sure protestors can protest and travellers can fly.
Under New Labour laws, the Police now happily quell virtually any demonstration, and if they cannot prevent it, they simply put themselves between the protesters and the public so as to make effective protest impossible.
And what did the Labour party do whilst their own govt introduced this draconian legislation? Sod all!
Just look at the legislation preventing animal rights demos - the frontline in the govts crushing of civil rights now that Ireland isn't available as a convenient testing ground. Section 14s flying constantly to limti demos and prevent marches happening. Demos limited to 10 minutes in one place without notice. Injunctions to prevent people from even entering one particular village!
Laws passed to prevent people informing other people about individuals or companies.
The list goes on and on, and once they perfect it against animal righters they use it against every other type of protest, until it will basically become illegal to protest or hand out a leaflet - and that's no exagerration - it's already becoming almost impossible to leaflet with more than a certain numebr of people!
The local MP's being supportive I see :-)
Well, yes. Heathrow is in the Hayes and Harlington constituency as is the Climate Change Camp.....
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