In the last issue of Socialist Outlook, in our coverage of the anti-globalisation movement, we looked at the way that state repression was being stepped up against protestors with coverage on the shootings in Gothenburg and repression in Indonesia. In this Issue we continue to develop this theme, with an eye witness report from Gothenburg, report on the ExxonMobil protests including the arrests in Aceh and the murder of protestors in Papua New Guinea.
T he decision of the Swedish police to engage in mass arresis, raid and from two of the schools hired from authority, intern and expel travelling protestors, block off whole streets and areas with hun dreds of ship containers and use horses, dogs, truncheons and firearms was a gross provocation, a denial of the right to demonstrate and a flagrant breach of the agreements and spirit of dia.
had been pretty much on the wall in April, when police smashed an anti-EU march in Malmo, arresting many procons including a Green Euro-MP. for Nevertheless involved in the planning of maybe Gateborg had attempted to reach agreement with police and had accepted their offer or dialoguc - tacy weit to be bitterly disappointed.
I went to Gateborg with the Thursday and arrived at about 23.30. We were quite surprised not be searched on arrival at the port, althouga i suspecica we were being surveyed on the fetty - but maybe that's just paranoia.
In any case, we were to learn from reception committee that the police were busy elsewhere. They were trapping and arresting 4-500 protestors Hvitfeldska gymnasiumthe protests, a place where many activists were to sleep, and the venue for many of the seminars and happenings for the next few days.
the police had started to use ship containers as roadhocks. There had also that evening been a highly sucdemonstration against Bush where 5.000 people or (10,000 buttocks)
had mooned in protest! We took a tram to our accomodation, which was a school way After a restu aigal ou hard classroom we 2OKe next morning (Friday) for a meeting.
I personally акс а dim view or Bolding before morning coffee, but there was no bloody coffee at Vattnedalenskolan. We headed for Götapladsen one side the demonstration. There were who 3,000 people in Gotapladsen and 1,500-2,000 of them joined us for a non-violent protest against the EU summit. Well THEN THE SHIT HIT THE FAN!
marched into _ proroke autonoms. Berzeliigatan it was obvious that we weren't going to get too footsore on this march. we could already see that the route was blocked with containers and police. I had been told that the through the air.
hold original plan hands around the EU sum- and down mit, but it didn't look like emerging from the police were in a mood for that one.
We halted and stood chanting in the about the 8th or 10th rank CORA it together.
behind the ATTAC Aalborg banner, so I couldn't see much of what was happening from a build-up of mounted them on the break through, and no misAfter about half an hour I saw a few police starting to clear demonstro COHE park on our left. I tried to get people to link arms, other peopic trica to get poopic i sit down, but nothing much Berzeliigatan happened, just of milling about police attacked.
hey came in trom our lell with dogs and truncheons and our organisation fell apart. I was facing a cop with After Gothenburg a snarling Schaferhund on injuring demonstrators.
and After slowly strangled by a "com- Götapladsen her arm Hau Schillerska gymnasium for a round my neck - it was starting to be a really shitry day! brief meeting. On my left I could see the were actually attacking the "Black forced to felicat down the many of main street which was pretty whom were masked, but who obviously a police plan had agreed to respect non- provoke the destruction of property by violent principles for the day.
Of course it doesn't take enraged demonstrators. weeks of careful planning to POLICE PROVOCATION AT Attacking them with dogs and horses in normally quite FRIT FORUM enough and soon there was a hail of cobblestones and any- was back at the Frit Forum (a A couple of hours later 1 thing cisc intowabic moving space with cats, staus dire fiscussions) drinking a cup Horses were charging up of coffee, when there was, all the road of a sudden a lot of noise outside-roads. side the gate. The demonstration had split When I got there I saw a into two or three bits by then massive and I was just concerned police arresting people at with trying to keep my bit of random. Apparcaly people had autonoms caught between two groups and successful counterattack of police - some had been sitting in police and briefly considered There then followed a tense good grounds 1½ hour stand-off between politically legitimate and that by those of us in Frit Horim and the cops. now I was extremely pissedbreak off. However as quickly. release the prisoners, they had attacked they fell stand our ground - most of back and went off to trash us helieved the cops were out shop windows on Avenyn, to smash Frit Forum. which was not so smart. Few of those arrested were The 400-300 of us leil 1n спатаса, з icw cscapca by regrouped jumping into boats or swim. around the Rättvisepartiet's Swedish (wl group banner and slowly retired to MASSIVE ANTI-EU DEMONSTRATION Throughout the action I saw no arrests taking place, Since ATTAC is not an tac ponce conccattaico on anti-EU decided not to have our banbrief sit-down in ner on the and-bu acmon stration. We joined the varimarch back to ous contingents of the march to our own political tastes (1 marched with the SP). The earlier demonstration was and had about 12-16,000 on As I left Götapladsen after the rally I could see more in place and ship containers There was a "Reclaim Our Streets" party planned, but by taca & wast y eeling very party-minded frankly about the wisdom of holding a street party in the middle I decided to head back to Frit Forum for a couple of beers and something to eat. It was at this party that the shooting incident took place. When I left Frit Forum concentration discovered that these forced to make a big detour. simply been then ran into 3 young Danes from Koskuac wad that the police had let some the park cating a Nazis into the party and then "restored order" in the ensuing confusion. One voung man is still 111 hospital in a critical condiNo attempt was tion as a result of the police and decision. I got a taxi back to the suburbs with the guys from Roskilde and when I turned up there was a meeting going on. missing people, although they all turned up eventually- more luck than indeement! sleot very wel that night and awoke at 7.00 meeting. SHURICE discussing release before morning coforganisation Outlook THE GOTHENBURG ACTION INTERNATIONAL MARCH This was very big, I've read 25,000 although I would've said a bit less. The ATTAC contingent from Scandinavia and the SA (Swedish syndicalist union) probably had 2,000 members.
There was also a big contingent from Venstrepartiet. There were very few mainstrcam trade union flags from Sweden. I only counted three - LO had decided that it wasn't a part of their tradition to demonstrate in the streets!
There were however 10 or I2 trade union wags Hom both Norway and Denmark. In the Danish ATTAC contingent we chanted our defiance of the (absent) police "We shall overcome". I had to confess to my fellow demonstrators that I had two Joan Baez records.
We got a very friendly response from the locals who stood our in the rain watching us pass. THE LESSONS OF GØTEBORG - WHAT NEXT?
The orgy of police violence and provocation didn't turn a bair amongst the bastards Indeed every social-democratic bureaucrat in Burope and attack the right I have read that Genoa will completely traffic motor ways.
diverted to Torino, the lot! It will be extremely difficult to get in and register a peaceful protest.
I've even read that they're thinking of transferring the summit to a fleet of battleneaceful ships in Genoa harbour. We need also to be aware that the EU summit circus comes to Denmark year and begin a political fight for freedom of speech and to all those politicians who have attacked us.
I think there are three prinervous orities we must look at now:
• Exposing the police conspiracy against the peaceful protest in Geteborg.
were plenty of videos being shot, we must use these to show what really happened.
already been demonstrations in Kobenhavn and Arhus against the Swedish tram police.
• Build ATTAC as a positive movement for a better world. told me • Fight Schengen - two Danes were deported from Sweden for graffiti offences!
One was 15 when he transgressed Finally we need to be better organised in Kobenhavn with stewarding. radios, direct action training. NYDA Is not an casy option in the current This article is by a member of the SAP (Danish section of the Fourth International) We who wishes to remain press nameless "because Schengenland"!