There is now intensive mobilization going on in unions, environmental organizations and political organizations for the upcoming protests. Ahead of these actions there has been an unanimous decision that the protests will be non-violent. We are convinced that our activities will be peaceful. No violent actions or riots are being planned. And the police have been informed about this.

Still the police has started to spread groundless rumours about violent actions. It is difficult to see any other motive for this except that the police are using the upcoming protests to secure themselves wider grants, new equipment and scare away the protesters. The tragic part of a campaign like this is that the police are doing the same mistake the Swedish police did in Gothenburg, and that is to create an acute situation that in itself can trigger off disturbances. The police have said that they will arrest protesters from Denmark and Sweden. These are unheard-of attacks on our democratic rights. We have sent requests to a long list of organizations in the north of Europe to join our actions. These protesters will come on the condition that the protests are peaceful.

We also react to newspaper reports that the police and prisonauthorities together have agreed to expedite the serving of prisontime for known activists in order to avoid them being present during the protests. This harassment is not only shameful and unnecessary, but can only lead to more distrust.

Our protests are against the World Bank and the ruthless neoliberal policies they, together wit others, advance. The police seem to want another agenda – with themselves in the leading role.

More information, see:

www.oslo2002.no

www.indymedia.no

Oslo: Alternatives to WB