old.cbuzz.co.uk
BYPASS THE LAW! - Battle of Newbury hots up
VICTORY FOR JAH PEOPLE - witchhunt against Exodus collective continues
TOOLING UP THE BILL - CS Gas to be tested by UK police
RED ALERT! - Selar Farm protestors eviction imminent...
"With hundreds of security and police this is the largest mobilisation of state forces yet against the anti-roads movement. If you can only get to Newbury once - do it. It's not only your chance to stop this insane road being built but also to show your defiance of the Criminal Justice Act."
Week three of the Third Battle of Newbury and the imaginative
tactics used by the protesters are really worrying
the roadbuilders, the government and the police - because
they are effectively getting more and more people off
their arses and into direct action.
Protesters are continually rethinking their tactics
in the face of more and more desperate attempts to
ensure the site is cleared before the nesting season
in March. Around one sixth of the route has now been
cleared and the security cordons protecting the chainsaw
gangs are now larger than football pitches. The police
are not even giving warnings before nicking people
for Aggravated Trespass (you can be nicked for this
if a copper just thinks that you are going to disrupt
a 'lawful activity' on private land). They then dish
out bail conditions which amount to a sentence without
trial and virtual house arrest. Protesters guilty of
no offence are being told not to go anywhere near the
protests and some are having to sign on at police stations
in their home towns every day to stop them demonstrating.
One solicitor told SchNEWS, "Bail conditions are
not meant to be punishments in themselves. In this
case they are clearly being used as a political means
to suppress campaigns." Bindmans solicitors are
currently preparing cases to take to the High Court
to get these conditions overturned. As one protester
told SchNEWS, "The police are using these bail
conditions to try and break the protest. We've got
to make them unworkable by breaking them".
Every morning a convoy of roadbuilders and security
flanked by masses of police around three quarters
of a mile long converges to the south of Newbury -
protesters have successfully slowed up proceedings
by driving 10 miles an hour in front of them! The
media's big story this week was about the guy who was
meant to have cut one of the security vans' brakecables
- failing to mention after successfully blockading
their coach he was dragged off by security and held
onto some wires which snapped. The police later arrested
the wrong man for this 'offence'.
Protestors have occupied land, blockaded contractors
and security transport, D-locked themselves to anything
going and generally put every obstacle in the way of
the clearance work. Against this, the police are doing
what they've always done - use the law, including their
new powers under the CJA, to stop any effective protest.
So it's pretty worrying when Friends of the Earth
- on behalf of the Newbury protesters - put out press
releases condemning "deliberate damage" by
protesters and calling for protesters to have a "positive
relationship" with the police who are arresting
them! When SchNEWS phoned Friends of the Earth to
clarify their views they told us that "We don't
condemn the police - it's unfortunate that they have
to take these draconian actions but they do have a
job to do". Friends of the Earth are doing loads
of useful work to support the campaign but we should
recognise that the police's job is to do what the government
tells them, in this case ensure the Newbury bypass
is built - and that it's kind of difficult to have
a "positive relationship" with people who
are arresting you for just about anything.
Only illegal, in-your-face direct action will stop this
road - and everybody knows it. With spiralling costs
some of the construction firms are getting cold feet
and the police are saying publicly they cannot afford
to continue to police the protest. In other words this
battle can be won - if people get down to Newbury and
stop this road! As one activist told SchNEWS, "We
need people who are prepared to get up very early and
take the battle to the contractors before they get
near the site. We need people who are organised and
are willing to get arrested to stop this madness. We
need hundreds of them and we need them now."
If you refuse bail conditions you could also find yourself
in jail (one person is already inside on remand for
a week for refusing bail) If you are nicked remember
don't give em your date of birth and a care-of address
(could come in handy if the benefits crack-down on
protestors begins) but make sure people in the house
know you are doing this in case the police check -
and make sure its your home town or you could end
up signing on daily in the Shetland Isles! Remember
- Fight all cases, plead not guilty and clog up the
courts.
* During the GLC's fairs fare policy in the early eighties there was an immediate 13% decrease in cars going into London.
The witchhunt against the Exodus collective continues.
With Biggs still on a trumped up murder charge and
High Court Injunctions are being dished out like confetti
the party people from Luton are under serious attack.
Last Tuesday another victory has been won against the
powers that be. Glenn Jenkins, spokesperson for the
Exodus Collective was cleared of breaching an injunction
forbidding him from "holding, causing to hold,
or permitting the holding of any organised entertainment
to which the public have access". The courts
were unable to prove that he had any part in organising
the rave. However victory was short-lived when Glenn,
and three named others, have had another injunction
taken out against them by Luton Borough Council. The
notice has only been served against Glenn, who is due
in court today. They have banned him from attending
any unlicensed parties in Luton, South and Mid Beds,
and are now trying to scapegoat him by making him responsible
for the operations of the rest of the crew. If any
other members of the Collective choose to hold another
party, Glenn could be imprisoned. The injunction also
stops him speaking in an official capacity regarding
unlicensed parties. These measures are an infringement
of his civil liberties, his freedom of movement, speech
and right to free association. The injunction is in
excess of the Council' s power as they are criminalising
activities that even Parliament has has not (yet) criminalised.
And all this despite the fact that they have been
trying, since 1992, to seek a resolution to this problem
by finding a venue for a community centre and putting
on do's each month to finance it. Unlike commercial
promoters, money raised from the parties is channelled
back into the community- rehousing forty people at
HAZ Manor, a former old people's home, building up
the stack and helping people create something out of
nothing.
Glenn's liberty is seriously at stake here. He is being
held responsible for the activities of the rest of
the Collective members. Exodus is a positively non-hierarchical
organisation- something the authorities don't seem
to be able to get their heads around. There is no
ringleader, no single organiser. The parties are a
collective effort between everyone who wants to be
involved. Exodus- Movement of Jah People. Full power
to ya!
* Black Moon sound system, the first crew to be charged
under the rave sections of the CJA, have a new court
date. They are being charged for preparing to play
at the Mother festy- the one that wasn't! After numerous
adjournments, they are now in Corby magistrates at
10am on Tuesday 27th February. Turn up and give them
some support!
From 1st March, CS Gas will be tested by sixteen police forces in the UK. This gas is a highly toxic chemical warfare gas that can cause spasms, severe injuries and death. Symptoms caused by the gas include severe stinging to the eyes, nose and throat, skin blistering, severe sneezing and coughing and chest tightening that leads to impaired breathing. The effects last up to an hour.
The six month trials should have started last September, but were postponed when a police training officer suffered burns and eye injuries. Critics - including the injured officer (changed your tune, eh mate?), Amnesty International and Liberty - are especially concerned about the effects of the gas on pregnant women, bronchial sufferers and asthmatics - one in seven children in Britain now have asthma. The gas has been condemned as "indiscrimate" by a leading expert on the effects of chemical weapons and Amnesty International has said that it is particularly worried about its use in heavily populated areas.
The introduction of CS Gas, coming hard on the heels of last year's introduction of the side handled baton, marks a further stage in the militarisation of the police. The police say they need the gas to protect themselves against the increase in violent attacks on them - but already one Chief Constable, the head of Gwent police, has refused to rule out using CS Gas against anti-roads protesters. Supposedly, the spray will only be used when the police "believe themselves to be in danger of assault" - but civil rights campaigners fear the police may use it to quell demonstrations, protests and stop free parties and festivals. Given the police's indiscriminate use of their powers of arrest in such situations - a cursory glance through 'crap arrests of the week' will give you the idea - it will only be a matter of time before they start using this vicious weapon against party-goers and protesters they take a dislike to.
What next, we hear you cry? Why not the incapacitative foam used by UN forces in Somalia last year. The foam contains bubbles of CS gas and can be laid as a barrier to block a road or contain a hostile crowd. Perfect for those dirty, uncouth, scroungy Newbury types - you know, the security and the coppers
The Selar Farm open-cast mine protesters at Neath Valley near Cwmgwrach, South Wales, are expecting to be evicted on Monday 29 January. Bailiffs have been seen buying equipment in the area, and it seems one of them let it slip to a local shopkeeper (ooh er, missus!). Get down to the site and support them if you can. Call Norma on 01639 720884 for directions, or Cardiff Action Update on 01222 383363.
***A police helicopter, two landrovers, a riot van, two cop cars and a man on a bike stopped some hunt sabs last week on suspicion of burglary - of six stolen eggs!
Apparently the local shop was closed and the hungry coppers fancied some pancakes! *** Plea to anybody who knows the whereabouts of a stolen comer light van 2 ton with tow bar hand painted yellow with pale blue hammerite stripe along sides and billabong sticker on left hand rear door. Reg MJD 83OX - Engine No: 32206278, Chassis/Frame No PBCM159OH 161933. It's badly needed for upcoming pixie activities so please ring the Justice? office and speak to Paul or Lou no questions asked, you might even get a reward.... *** Sgt O'Donnell is stepping up his anti- beggars campaign in Brighton. The undercover squad that patrols the streets, handpicked to combat "aggressive begging" cautioned and threatened another beggar with arrest when they mumbled the threatening words "can you spare a few pence, please?" Out came the walkie talkies, (crackle, crackle) and the girl had to move on for fear of instant arrest. Can you spare some humanity please Sgt O'Donnell? Probably not. ****The next Brighton Legal Defence and Monitoring Group meeting will be next Thursday 1st February at Brighton Unemployed Centre.
R.T.S action in Brighton on Valentine's day. Snogs and pink fluffy shit galore. Come and dance your little pink fluffy socks off. Meet 12.30 Churchill Square Brighton. Phone Justice? (01273 685913) for details.
next Justice? meeting Wednesday 7th February 7.30 pm Brighton Unemployed Centre off Carlton Hill behind Amex building - come and see some films on the destruction of car culture!
Justice? are desperate for a vehicle - if anyone knows of a decent minibus that isn't going to fall apart in minutes please ring the office - in the meantime leave your name and number and we'll get back to you as soon as we're sorted....
disobey the CJA.....
Battle of Newbury hots up
There are now 20 camps along the eight and half mile
route and more people are needed now to help build
defences. One way protesters are making sure the road
won't be built is by fortifying and defneding these
camps. Four of them are in the High Court today (Friday)
faced with eviction notices.
* In Manchester the new tram system (with a service every six minutes) has proved to be a winner. A survey has shown a 10 per cent reduction in traffic at peak times along its route.
* Karosruhe, Germany . A new tram system has led to a 40% switch from cars to trams!
* Even in Los Angeles where sixteen lane motorways still didn't stop the traffic jams - trams and railways are now making a comeback as planners realise more roads = more cars.
TOOLING UP THE BILL
RED ALERT!
SchNEWS IN BRIEF ...and Finally.....
SchNews c/o on-the-fiddle, PO Box 2600 Brighton East SussexTel. 01273 685913
Or pick one up @ Peace Centre, Gardner Street, Brighton uk
Justice? meet every wednesday @ the the new kensington, kensington gardens, Brighton @ 7pm
e-mail: Justice?@intermedia.co.uk