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Geneva updates

Canuck Observer | 01.06.2003 22:20

Genoa goes postal

BBC is reporting massive vandalism and looting has broken out in central Geneva.

First met by concerted police resistance, police forces seem to have pulled back, perhaps to regroup.

Other events: After an agressive raid, remeniscent of Genoa, by undercover police at the social centre, including Indymedia offices, which interrupted live video and audio feeds, IMC is back up providing coverage of unfolding events.

Canuck Observer
- Homepage: http://www.indymedia.nl/live/

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

need for control

01.06.2003 23:40

Quite simply it is time to put an end to the violent demonstrations and vandalism once and for all. Peaceful protest is fine and should be supported but when cowardly trash vandalize the property of others and threathen them with physical violence the line has to be drawn.
My suggestion is as follows:
1. Security forces should accomodate any peaceful demonstration even if it entails blocking of roadways as an act of civil disobedience. There are certainly other ways for people to get in and out. Security forces should not, however, stop citizens who choose to go through these blocking lines any way they feel appropriate. After all they are the residents of the city involved and should be able to chart their own destiny. If they agree with the demonstrators join or ignore them. If they disagree, remove them. Citizens choice, what could be more proletarian.
2. In the case of those who commit acts of violence, arson or vandalize property the security forces should act. Not in mass movements but through the use of snipers. One or two demonstrators taken out of play by a sniper and the rest will leave. The next attempt at violence, may'be more reactive sniping, or may'be not. May'be not until the third or fifth act. Only the security forces would know when they planned to take out another rioter. Each potential rioter would have to decide if it was their day to roll the dice and be lucky. We could even run pools on it. All in all it would be quite amusing and, I am sure, not at all objected to by the majority of citizens.
Oh, don't worry they probably won't do it. Not just yet! For a while they will let the savages run wild. That way when they do act the world will say, "It's about damn time."

sightser56


Why We Oppose The G8

01.06.2003 23:44

"when cowardly trash vandalize the property of others and threathen them with physical violence the line has to be drawn."

Members of the G8 have taken part in two wars in the past two years, one of which was blatantly illegal, which killed tens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children, and displaced countless others.

The policies of the G8 and its related organizations have led to widespread poverty, resource-theft, displacement, and untold suffering.

This cannot be allowed to continue ...

Perspective


wtf?

01.06.2003 23:49

troll or an idiot? who is the "savage" when they argue someone should be killed for damaging property.

m


Breakingnews

01.06.2003 23:51

- 02-06-2003 00:54

A riot of about 500 people, mostly from Geneva, has been destroying shops around Place Bel Air since about 11:30 p.m., June 1. The police have retreated because they had no control, so there were no police for half an hour. The German police also retreated. Around 12:30 a.m., June 2, there was a massive police attack and lots of tear gas from the Swiss police. The German police are now waiting to attack on the north side of the Rhone. As of 20 minutes ago, German and Swiss police and rioters were in Place Bel Air. Swiss police are heading toward Place du Cirque.

CO
- Homepage: http://www.indymedia.ch/fr/index.shtml


Roits everywhere

02.06.2003 00:07

War is violent, so is the state. You have to fight back. The state hates riots more then dancing. History has shown us that if you want things to happen then you have to make it a living hell for the state. You make riots and hope that you can inspire more riots to start up.

kanados


To sightser56

02.06.2003 01:47

To sightser56. Vandalism is not a capital offense. Even if it were, people deserve a trial before the state punishes them. If the police could legally shoot anyone they deemed to be a violent protestor, you could expect the leaders of any political movement to be killed, and the police will simply say the leader appeared to be acting violently.

The ability to speak out against the government is a cornerstone to a working democracy. Your proposal makes effective peaceful protests impossible. Under your proposal, the only way to effect change is to have an all-out-war between protest groups, and the government.

Jacob


breaking windows and vandalism is nonviolent

02.06.2003 01:50

As an American I'm am eagerly watching all the anti-G8 actions as they unfold. I wish I could be there fucking shit up but I guess I"ll have to wait till when the G8 comes to the US next year. What seems absurd to me though, is the idea that smashing the window of a mcdonalds is somehow violent and worthy of being assasinated for. Am I supposed to feel bad for the windows feelings? I mean that window had family right? How is the windows family going to support itself? Get bent. Demonstrators haven't killed anyone, we can't say the same about the police.

Matt