Australian authorities say protests at economic summit will not match Seattle
Random | 29.08.2000 13:48
A loose alliance of groups calling itself S11 has appealed for protesters to converge on Melbourne for the Asia Pacific Economic Summit. The Australian authorities are relaxed about the outcome.
The Australian government has said it is expecting protests at a major economic summit next month - but not on the scale of the demonstrations at the world trade talks in Seattle last year.
A senior official said protests were inevitable at the Sept. 11-13 Asia Pacific Economic Summit, which is being held in Melbourne just days before the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Some fear the protesters will move on from Melbourne to target the Games.
A loose alliance of groups calling itself S11 (from September 11, the start date of the summit) has appealed on the internet for protesters to converge on Melbourne.
In its "call to action," the protesters blast summit organisers the World Economic Forum as "a means of promoting economic and social policies that will benefit the rich and the powerful at the expense of the majority of the world's people and the environment."
A site linked to S11 says protesters will hold a mass blockade and parties in streets surrounding the summit's venue, the Crown Casino on the banks of the Yarra River.
The government official said that some protests are inevitable and a normal part of democratic behavior in Australia. But he thought there was little chance of Seattle-style riots.
A police spokesman said his force believes the protests will be peaceful - but will be ready should they turn violent. Security will be tight in and around the venue.
Protest groups hope to disrupt the summit, which is being held to discuss economic developments in Asia.
There will be about 800 delegates, including senior government officials in the Asia Pacific region and business leaders such as Microsoft's Bill Gates.
Jody Betzien of Resistance, a group affiliated with S11, told Melbourne newspaper The Age a mass nonviolent blockade of the casino was planned.
"If it goes as we hope, we'll hold the line during the day of Sept. 11 and they won't be able to ferry delegates in and out the front entrance of the casino. (But) the reality is closing it down is not very likely," Betzien said.
A senior official said protests were inevitable at the Sept. 11-13 Asia Pacific Economic Summit, which is being held in Melbourne just days before the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Some fear the protesters will move on from Melbourne to target the Games.
A loose alliance of groups calling itself S11 (from September 11, the start date of the summit) has appealed on the internet for protesters to converge on Melbourne.
In its "call to action," the protesters blast summit organisers the World Economic Forum as "a means of promoting economic and social policies that will benefit the rich and the powerful at the expense of the majority of the world's people and the environment."
A site linked to S11 says protesters will hold a mass blockade and parties in streets surrounding the summit's venue, the Crown Casino on the banks of the Yarra River.
The government official said that some protests are inevitable and a normal part of democratic behavior in Australia. But he thought there was little chance of Seattle-style riots.
A police spokesman said his force believes the protests will be peaceful - but will be ready should they turn violent. Security will be tight in and around the venue.
Protest groups hope to disrupt the summit, which is being held to discuss economic developments in Asia.
There will be about 800 delegates, including senior government officials in the Asia Pacific region and business leaders such as Microsoft's Bill Gates.
Jody Betzien of Resistance, a group affiliated with S11, told Melbourne newspaper The Age a mass nonviolent blockade of the casino was planned.
"If it goes as we hope, we'll hold the line during the day of Sept. 11 and they won't be able to ferry delegates in and out the front entrance of the casino. (But) the reality is closing it down is not very likely," Betzien said.
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