Home | 19th May 1995 | Issue 23

Justice? Brighton's Campaign in Defiance of the Criminal Injustice Act

SchNEWS
Download Scan Version - Front Page | Back Page

CJA ARRESTOMETER
Hunt Sabs 151
Footie Fans 44
Road Protestors 31
Travellers# 11
Tree Defenders 11
Environmentalists 6
No Live Exports* 3
Fascist Printers 2
Peace Campaigners 1
* at least 500 arrested under the 1986 Public Order Act this year
# not including grief and harassment

RAIDED!

SHOCK POLICE SWOOP ON GREENPEACE HQ

The London offices of Greenpeace were raided by over 50 Police and MOD officials on Wednesday in yet another step by the state to either discredit or victimise the growing direct action green movement.

The raid follows sabotage by Greenpeace at the Aldermaston weapons plant on Easter Monday. Activists managed to block a pipe discharging waste into a nearby canal (which delayed work for 12 days while it was being unblocked), and although at first the MOD denied that it had even happened, they are now trying to prosecute six activists for criminal damage.

The raid was supposed to gather information concerning the case, but there are fears that this could herald yet further crack-downs on successful protests. Greenpeace said, "It seems [the police] actions was punishment for the success of recent Greenpeace activities" SchNEWS thinks 50 police and assorted offal is a bit over the top for a criminal damage investigation.

In March Special Branch raided the officesof Green Anarchist. Many of the magazine records were taken, along with cheque books, computer discs and a computer.

Animal activists are also being targeted. The Police's Animal Right's National Index (ARN1) is gathering info on all campaigners.

Shoreham protestors are being targeted as Special Branch flex their muscles down at the seaside. Grinning Officers this week informed protestors that "your time has come, we're ready to do the business". What can they mean? "You need the business doing on you!" came the reply.

The Press has done various reports on how MI5 may be given a role in gathering intelligence on animal rights extremists and possibly roads protestors. This has been justified by shock stories of "green terrorists" in the Press to start up scare campaigns and subsequent crackdowns on legitimate protests. This week the Sun has carried two editorials spouting crap about people who care. The fact that a lot of the stories either misrepresent or blatantly lie about organisations does not bother the authorities, who seem to be looking for an enemy to justify their existence now that the cold war is over and the IRA have declared a ceasefire.

This was worrying enough before the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) became law, but now there are various sections that increase the power of the authorities to clamp down further on protest organisations. Sections 81-83 of the CJA give the Police powers to mount roadblocks and stop and search within a given area for up to 28 days. It is also an offence to gather information that could be useful to terrorists (this includes taking photographs).

What are the Government so scared of? Are they really worried that the growing green movement is a threat to national security, or is it that people are beginning to take responsibility for their own lives through direct action, thus making the apparatus of the state; and all their vested interests just a tad redundant?

crap arrests the week

· Digger driver nicked cos police thought he was a protester.

· Person arrested for pointing out dead sheep on a lorry.

Call SchNEWS with your crap arrests!

RAVING ROAD PROTESTORS?

Road protestors fighting Kent County Council's proposed £65 million extension of the Thanet Way have been nicked under the Criminal Justice Act - for raving!

So far there have been 13 arrests under Section 63 which stops people attending or preparing for a rave. This is the second time clueless Kent coppers have got their Criminal Justice Act knickers in a twist. Recently Hunt Sabs up in court at Maidstone got the arresting officer to admit he'd quoted the illegal rave sections of the act!

Yesterday morning the Flat Oak Camp was evicted by police using the illegal camping sections of the CJA. Apparently to stop the camp disrupting farming activities - a bit of a feeble excuse when a huge road is soon to destroy the surrounding area. The police have promised to evict any other camps immediately if set up on private land so for the meantime protestors are squatting houses along the route. The police realise this is just the beginning of road protesting in Kent so a force-wide strategy is soon to be formulated. Protestors have been warned they will be arrested if they disrupt any construction site and that any interaction between police and protestors will be videod- apparently for fairness sake.

GET TO KENT NOW!

more Info on 01227 770 835

STREETS RECLAIMED!

Last Sunday saw a rather amusing little street party in the middle of Camden High St. Protesters and party-goers out-smarted the local constabulary staging a fake crash with two donated cars to block the road to launch a summer season of anti-car actions. Perplexed tourists watched open-mouthed as a café was promptly set up and the street, hastily bedecked in bunting, became a circus of jugglers, magicians, cyclists and a vision of a car-free society. Police could only stand and stare as the party swelled in numbers, dancing to the pedal-powered Rinky Dink mobile sound system.

The party pointed to the increasing diversification of road activists, and the growing awareness that it's not just new roads that are a threat to the environment by destroying our green spaces, but that the whole car-owning ethos of the country needs changing. Watch out for more street reclaiming soon! 0171 254 2290

MASS TRESPASS

& PICNIC ON THE DOWNS - SUNDAY 21st MAY
An afternoon of fun and festivities defying the Criminal Justice Act. Bring instruments, drums, food and friends Meet 12 noon at Lewes Railway Station
ReACTiON 01273 685913

SHELL SHOCKED!

"For a change the directors were forced to earn their inflated wages, facing a barrage of pointed questions, going some way to making them account for their actions. Even if nothing gets changed it is satisfying to see their justifications torn to shreds and their lack of logic and humanity exposed."

The AGM is the exercise in share-holder democracy that companies are obliged to carry out. Directors must be elected and accounts voted on and the companies annual report accepted or rejected by the assembled shareholders.

SHELL AGM

Police violently broke up a demonstration at the Shell AGM on Thursday. Over 150 protesters stormed the foyer of the QE11 Conference Centre in Westminster, where the AGM was being held. They then told delegates what they thought of Shell's activities in Nigeria, where over 150 indigenous Ogoni tribespeople have been murdered by the Shell financed military regime. Guess whose land the oil is under?

The police, shocked at this show of compassion in the face of genocide, responded by kicking, pressure pointing and assaulting the demonstrators. Several campaigners were hurt, and one had his glasses smashed in front of him while police held his arms. Following several arrests, the Shell flags surrounding the venue took the matter into their own hands. All but one fell from the flag poles they were occupying. The one remaining flag then went further, landing on the roof of the foyer where it spontaneously combusted, much to the approval of the activists holding it.

The police, now assisted by more TSG and dogs, took one look at the flag anarchy enveloping them and responded with more assaults and arrests. According to one activist: "This is only the beginning. AGMs will be hit harder and harder - and by next year Shell will be regretting the day it started killing people to boost its dividends. Get your share certificate now!"

0171 254 2290

RTZ AGM

On the 10th of May people from a diverse range of groups gathered at the QE2 Conference Centre in London for the annual ritual of disrupting Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ are the biggest mining company in the world and complete bastards!)

One issue of concern this year is the Madagascar mineral sands project which could lead to the destruction of much of a remaining rare forest eco-system and the extinction of several species. RTZ is also investing in a copper and gold mine in the Indonesian occupied western half of New Guinea. This threatens thousands of tribal people with eviction as the mine expands and has already led to the deaths of around 40 people as the Indonesian army opened fire on an anti-mine demonstration on Christmas Day. Two West Papuans had also come thousands of miles to ask questions, which were predictably but oh-so courteously side-stepped.

At the end, incensed by the directors high-handed and complacent attitude some of the protestors made a dash for the stage. They were met with extreme force by security and ejected from the meeting - head first out the back door. Partizans - 0171 700 6189

TACTICS

Companies who do nasty things have to have annual general meetings. Buy yourself some shares and get in the faces of the faceless ones and let them know what you think.

1. Try to know the issue: Try to remain calm and collected - getting hysterical with these callous wankers will get your nowhere. One guy at the RTZ AGM said he was from the Deutschbank criticising the West Papuan project on economic grounds - this caught them off guard. Also questions from those actually affected and who have made great sacrifices to be there to ask one question eg the West Papuans, wrong-foots them as well as bringing them face to face with the enormity of their crimes.

2. If there are enough of you, pay no heed to the AGM etiquette shout your head off, run around, do handstands, waltz with security, anything to disrupt as much as possible. We know what their answers are gonna be - do we need more debate?

3. Know the AGM procedure for maximum annoyance such as challenging previous minutes, demand polls on election of every single director etc.

4. Make them feel uncomfortable. Stage invasions, drum banging, pouring water over their heads, throw their papers every where - makes them feel uncomfortable. Sale paper airplanes, overturn the table, grab the mike and rant, light smoke bombs, drop stink bombs, set off fire extinguishers - use your imagination.

INSIDE SChNEWS

Jim Chambers still on remand for alleged criminal damage to a road construction site. PY 2504.

Chris Cole inside for six months for breaking an injunction against British Aerospace PB0538. Both at HMP Pentonville Prison, Caledonian Rd., London, N7 8TT.

Tracey Hart on remand for trumped up charges of criminal damage to the perimeter fence of Menwith Hill Spy Base in Yorkshire. Low Newton Prison, Brasside, Durham. DH1 55D.

e-SchNEWS
pHreak BBS - 0171 434 3800
Web http://www.mistral.co.uk/cbuzz

SChNEWS IN BRIEF

In protest against the UK Government continuing to allow the dumping of chemicals into our waterways Greenpeace have organised three 'Reclaim our Sea' Days at the Solent, Hampshire (20th May), Merseyside (27th), and Tees-side (29th) They're asking to return any rubbish you find on a beach to John Gummer the Environment Minister. Any sewage washed up on Brighton beach would be most appropriate. 0171 354 5100 Four whales found dead on the Belgian coast At the end of last year were discovered to contain such high levels of hazardous chemicals that they should have been disposed of as toxic waste!

*** Joan Le Mesurier, the widow of 'Sgt. Wilson' of Dad's Army fame, was yesterday arrested at Dover as demonstrators against the live animal export trade staged an impromptu march around town coinciding with 'The Antiques Road Show'. The police read the 1986 Public Order Act which bans marches that haven't got permission, they were ignored so nicked the elderly lady with the megaphone...

*** Government plans to build five Children's Prisons for 12-14 year olds are behind schedule due to opposition - three of the sites still haven't got planning permission! The Home Office are inviting companies to design, build and manage the new 'Secure Training Centres' and so far such dignitaries as Tarmac, Taylor Woodrow, the Premier Prison Service Ltd and the Correction Corporation of America (honest!) are interested. These new prisons will have none of the protections against abuse that children's homes have - children can be forcibly strip-searched by a single member of staff with no-one else present, all mail can be read and censored, family visits can be stopped at any time and - just to make sure no one finds out too much about what what's going on in these places - the Home Secretary has to give permission for a child to communicate with anyone - or for any outsider to visit these centres.

Party and Protest

FRI 19th - 28th Amazon Festival. Menwith Hill Womens Peace Camp. women only. 0585329313

SUN 21st Mass trespass somewhere near Lewes, East Sussex 01273 685 913

SUN 21st Rally and picnic against Avon Ring Road 01635 521 770

MON 22nd Mass digger-dive at Pollok Park, Glasgow against M77 cutting thru' Europe s largest urban park. 0141 946 2700

FRI 26th - 30th Earth Spirit Spring Awakening Camp, Crowborough, Sussex 01323 811 632

FRI 26th Mass trespass at Pollok 0141 946 2700

SAT 27th March + rally to protest against Britain's leading role in the restructure and recolonisation of Africa. From Kennington Park to Trafalgar Sq. 1pm 0171 924 9033

SAT 27th Mass action Againast Baked Potatoes - Fruitarian/Raw Food Day

SUN 28th Demo against brutality at Winson Green Prison, Birmingham. 12.30-2pm 0161 976 5265

MON 29th Maidstone Green Fair, Mote Park, Maidstone Noon till 8pm

MON 29th Kingston Green Fair, Surrey. 0181 224 1236

For further copies of the SchNEWS send stamps/donations (payable to Justice?) SchNEWS c/o on-the-fiddle PO Box 2600 Brighton East Sussex . Tel: (01273) 685913. Or pick one up @ Peace Centre, Gardener St, Brighton and around town e-mail: Justice?@intermedia.co.uk

Justice? meet every wednesday 7pm @ the (71) grand parade squat

Strictly @nticopyright - customise . photocopy. distribute.

 


SchNEWS, PO Box 2600, Brighton, BN2 0EF, England
Phone/Fax: +44 (0)1273 685913
email: schnews@brighton.co.uk

@nti copyright - information for action - copy and distribute!