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AU: Police Threaten to Shutdown Anti-WTO Websites (inc IMC?)

IMC'ista | 30.09.2002 10:41

Police Minister Threatens to Shutdown Anti-WTO Websites<<br>

Police Minister Threatens to Shutdown Anti-WTO Websites<<br>
NSW Police Minister Michael Costa wants to shutdown several anti-wto websites he claims are designed to aid the violent disruption of the forthcoming World Trade Organisation meeting in Sydney in November.
The websites include Melbourne Indymedia, the melbourne no2wto network site and the Sydney based nowto network site. [Read the press release]

Melbourne Indymedia has responded by stating; The press release was an obvious attempt to "spin" the WTO event, focusing sensationalist media attention on a conflict between protesters and police rather than protesters' legitimate concerns about the WTO. All we can say is that it's a good thing that there are independent media outlets like Melbourne Indymedia to counter the daily spin of political hacks like Costa. [full story]

Dr Jude McCulloch, a lecturer in police studies, has written in a recent article concerning the protests:
A "hearts and minds" campaign against protesters is an important part of the modern day police strategy. In the lead up to the protests the police, aided by a conservative and compliant media, will vilify protesters in order to create a climate that attempts to justify any future violence against them
. [full article]

[ noWTO + s11.org + global season of struggle

IMC'ista
- Homepage: http://melbourne.indymedia.org/