Report from Lausanne
Bella ciao | 03.06.2003 08:11 | Evian G8 | Oxford
I'm very very proud of what we did in Lausanne, despite our lack of numbers. On the day (Sunday June 1st) there were a number of 'out of town' affinity group actions, a Pink/Silver bloc, and a 'dark grey' bloc, mostly made up of up-for-it Swiss Germans. We moved into the Yellow Zone (no protest zone), blocking street after street as pink/silver. The dark grey bloc was left in the western zone of the city to start blockades there, but was eventually split and many were pushed into the eastern zone with the pink/silvers. It turned out (at least from what I could tell) that our analysis that the delegates were coming from the eastern zone was correct, and we made efforts to break the police lines there.
This is where we felt the lack of a Tute Bianche bloc (not their political fuckedupness, just their tactics!). Pink Silver tried to break the police lines, but we were driven back by watercannon (water mixed with tear gas) and concussion grenades. We regrouped with the remanants of the dark grey bloc, and continued to try to block intersections, but were gradually pushed back into the western zone towards the camp. Elements of pink/silver tried to take the motorway, but were heavily teargassed. By this time the front elements of pink/silver and much of the dark grey bloc were suffering heavily from gas inhalation and general exhaustion (we got up at 5 am). We were looking forward to a return to the camp and attending the legal march in the afternoon...it wasn't to be.
At about noon we got back to the intersection between the official camp (Bourdonette) and the unofficial one (c'village). The police blocked our way, and then began to push everyone back into the camp. As we were meeting to decide what to do, the police entered the camp and encircled us. People instantly sat down, linking arms. The police said that they wanted to 'check our IDs' (yeah right) but as one we all refused to move. After some negotiation (in the baking sun, which led to some people fainting) the police began arrests. Over the next 3 or 4 hours some 200 to 250 people were arrested and illegally detained, whith was met with chants in all languages, with humour, and with non-violent resistance. There was a lot of media (very good local coverage, tho the British coverage seems to have been non-existent) there, but the thing that eventually convinced the police to stop (so I'm told, I'd been nicked by that point) was the diverstion of the legal march by a couple of pink/silver peeps to the Bourdonette.
Peoples experiences in detention seem to have differed widely. Some women were strip-searched for no reason, while others seem to have had no problems. Some people were kept in baking hot vans for 6 hours, others got into cells immediately. Personally, I was forced to strip into my boxer shorts and sleep on the freezing floor until I was released...no apparent reason. The lie about passports and ID was exposed when I was asked whether I had any ID on me. My answer of no was met with a shrug and a laugh, and I was chucked into a cell with everyone else...they obviously were arresting everyone, regardless of their status.
More serious than the police treatment of protestors at the Bourdonette (which was illegal and could have escalated seriously at some points) however was the injury to Martin Shaw. Martin was staying two tents down from me at the c'village, and is an excellent activist and a good bloke. I'd urge everyone to take action to support an inquiry into what happened to him; I can personally testify that he is far too good a climber to have not taken adequate precautions. Only police negligence could have caused the horrific injuries he sustained.
I'm sorry if this is a bit incoherent...I'm really tired, and still a bit fucked from gas. Like I said tho, for our numbers the Lausanne protests were inspiring. I have many critiques as well, but in general I will not forget the level of solidarity and respect shown by almost all protestors for everyone acting against the G8.
*******
http://uk.indymedia.org:8081/front.php3?article_id=70524&group=webcast
DEMONSTRATOR SERIOUSLY INJURED BY POLICE IN EVIAN G8 DEMONSTRATION
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. LETTER ENCLOSED BELOW TO FORWARD TO SWISS EMBASSIES.
As a result of actions by the Swiss traffic police as a part of the repression of protestors against the Evian G8 Summit on Sunday 1st June, a UK national, Martin Shaw has been severly injured and hospitalised. The protestor, part of a 15 person international collective blockading a bridge in Switzerland to prevent G8 delegates passing from Geneva to Lausanne, was participating in a banner drop with the slogan “G8 Illegal”. Martin and another protestor who doesn´t wish to be named were hanging from both ends of the same rope from a 30m high bridge over a small stony riverbed alongside the banner.
Two traffic police arriving at the scene panicked about the build up of the traffic and cut the supporting rope of the two protestors despite repeated warnings about the danger of this from everyone present. The police later admitted to their actions in a press statement. Following this, there will be a judicial enquiry. Martin who is a very experienced and careful climber, then fell 20m into a stony river bed and was left there with spinal injuries, pelvic damage, an injured spleen and two broken ankles for an hour before the emergency services arrived with a ambulance helicopter to take him to the hopsital.
Other people present managed to rescue the second climber by holding on to the other end of the rope for 15 minutes so that she also didn´t fall, although she was later delivered to the hospital suffering from shock. Whilst Martin lay collapsed on the ground and demonstrators rescued the second climber, police continued to direct traffic over the bridge as if nothing had happened.
Martin currently remains in hospital in Geneva where he has undergone an emergency 3 hour operation on his vertebral injuries and ankles. The doctors have stated that his back will slowly recover, but it looks like unlikely that he will be able to walk properly again as a result of his leg injuries.
Please send your thoughts on this despicable action by the police to your nearest Swiss embassy and help support Martin. Below are the contact details of Swiss embassies in the UK, France, Spain, Germany and the USA. Please send them the below text and any personal response you might have to the available fax, postal or email addresses which are also enclosed below:
TO SEND TO EMBASSIES:
To whom it may concern,
On Sunday 1st June, a UK national, Martin Shaw was severly injured and hospitalised as a result of actions by the Swiss traffic police. The protestor, part of a 15 person international collective blockading a bridge in Switzerland to prevent G8 delegates passing from Geneva to Lausanne, was participating in a banner drop with the slogan “G8 Illegal”. Martin and another protestor were hanging from both ends of the same rope from a 30m high bridge over a small stony riverbed alongside the banner.
The two traffic police arriving at the scene panicked about the build up of traffic and cut the rope that the two protestors were hanging from despite repeated warnings about the danger of this from everyone present. Martin who is a very experienced and careful climber, then fell 20m into a stony river bed and was left there with spinal injuries, pelvic damage, an injured spleen and two broken ankles for an hour before the emergency services arrived with a ambulance helicopter to take him to the hospital. Eye-witnesses report that the police were much more concerned with immediately restoring the flow of traffic than they were with getting medical attention to Martin.
The other people present managed to rescue the second climber by holding on to the other end of the rope for 15 minutes so that she also didn´t fall, although she was later delivered to the hopsital suffering from shock. Whilst Martin lay collapsed on the ground and demonstrators rescued the second climber, police continued to direct traffic over the bridge as if nothing had happened. It is extremely lucky that these two people are not dead as a result of the actions of the Swiss police.
Martin currently remains in hospital in Geneva where he has undergone a series of emergency operations on his vertebral injuries, spleen and ankles. The doctors have stated that his back will slowly recover, but at this stage the doctors are unable to say whether or not he will ever regain full mobility in his ankles.
I am writing to express my anger and wish to register my protest of this terrible incident and of Martin Shaw´s near fatal treatment as a result of the actions of the Swiss police. I condem the gratuitously violent represssion of people exercising their democratic right to protest at global summits like the G8. I demand a full and transparent enquiry into the behaviour of the police involved, an unreserved apology on behalf of the police authorities, compensation for the injured climber and a promise that this brutal behaviour will not be condoned or tolerated by the Swiss authorities at any time now or in the future.
Signed
---------------------
LIST OF EMBASSIES
------------------------------
UK
-------
Embassy of Switzerland
16 -18 Montagu Place,
London
W1H 2BQ
Tel: 00 44 (0)20 7616 6000
Fax: 00 44 (0)20 7724 7001
E-mail:
swissembassy@lon.rep.admin.ch
France
----------
Embassy of Switzerland
142, rue de Grenelle
Paris – 75007
Tel: 00 33 1 49 55 67 00
Fax: 00 33 1 45 51 34 77
E-mail: vertretung@par.rep.admin.ch
Spain
---------
Embassy of Switzerland
Calle Nuñez de Balboa
35-7 Edificio Goya
Madrid
Tel: 00 34 91 436 39 60
Fax: 00 34 91 436 39 88
E-mail: vertretung@mad.rep.admin.ch
Germany
------------
Embassy of Switzerland
Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 4ª
Berlin 10557
Tel: 00 49 (0)30 390 40 00
Fax: 00 49 (0)30 391 1030
E-mail: vertretubg@botschaft-schweiz.de
USA
-------
Embassy of Switzerland
2900 Cathedral Ave, NW
Washington DC 20008
Tel: 001 202 745 7980
Fax: 00 1 292 387 2564
E-mail: vertretung@was.rep.admin.ch
Italy
------
Embassy of Switzerland
Via Barnaba Oriani 61
Rome 00197
Tel: 00 39 06 8083641
E-mail: Amsuisse@rom.rep.admin.ch
The Netherlands
-----------------------
Embassy of Switzerland
Lange Voorhout 42
Den Haag 2514 EE
Tel: (+31) (0) 70 - 3642831
Fax: (+31) (0) 70 - 356 12 38
E-mail: Vertretung@hay.rep.admin.ch
This is where we felt the lack of a Tute Bianche bloc (not their political fuckedupness, just their tactics!). Pink Silver tried to break the police lines, but we were driven back by watercannon (water mixed with tear gas) and concussion grenades. We regrouped with the remanants of the dark grey bloc, and continued to try to block intersections, but were gradually pushed back into the western zone towards the camp. Elements of pink/silver tried to take the motorway, but were heavily teargassed. By this time the front elements of pink/silver and much of the dark grey bloc were suffering heavily from gas inhalation and general exhaustion (we got up at 5 am). We were looking forward to a return to the camp and attending the legal march in the afternoon...it wasn't to be.
At about noon we got back to the intersection between the official camp (Bourdonette) and the unofficial one (c'village). The police blocked our way, and then began to push everyone back into the camp. As we were meeting to decide what to do, the police entered the camp and encircled us. People instantly sat down, linking arms. The police said that they wanted to 'check our IDs' (yeah right) but as one we all refused to move. After some negotiation (in the baking sun, which led to some people fainting) the police began arrests. Over the next 3 or 4 hours some 200 to 250 people were arrested and illegally detained, whith was met with chants in all languages, with humour, and with non-violent resistance. There was a lot of media (very good local coverage, tho the British coverage seems to have been non-existent) there, but the thing that eventually convinced the police to stop (so I'm told, I'd been nicked by that point) was the diverstion of the legal march by a couple of pink/silver peeps to the Bourdonette.
Peoples experiences in detention seem to have differed widely. Some women were strip-searched for no reason, while others seem to have had no problems. Some people were kept in baking hot vans for 6 hours, others got into cells immediately. Personally, I was forced to strip into my boxer shorts and sleep on the freezing floor until I was released...no apparent reason. The lie about passports and ID was exposed when I was asked whether I had any ID on me. My answer of no was met with a shrug and a laugh, and I was chucked into a cell with everyone else...they obviously were arresting everyone, regardless of their status.
More serious than the police treatment of protestors at the Bourdonette (which was illegal and could have escalated seriously at some points) however was the injury to Martin Shaw. Martin was staying two tents down from me at the c'village, and is an excellent activist and a good bloke. I'd urge everyone to take action to support an inquiry into what happened to him; I can personally testify that he is far too good a climber to have not taken adequate precautions. Only police negligence could have caused the horrific injuries he sustained.
I'm sorry if this is a bit incoherent...I'm really tired, and still a bit fucked from gas. Like I said tho, for our numbers the Lausanne protests were inspiring. I have many critiques as well, but in general I will not forget the level of solidarity and respect shown by almost all protestors for everyone acting against the G8.
*******
http://uk.indymedia.org:8081/front.php3?article_id=70524&group=webcast DEMONSTRATOR SERIOUSLY INJURED BY POLICE IN EVIAN G8 DEMONSTRATION
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. LETTER ENCLOSED BELOW TO FORWARD TO SWISS EMBASSIES.
As a result of actions by the Swiss traffic police as a part of the repression of protestors against the Evian G8 Summit on Sunday 1st June, a UK national, Martin Shaw has been severly injured and hospitalised. The protestor, part of a 15 person international collective blockading a bridge in Switzerland to prevent G8 delegates passing from Geneva to Lausanne, was participating in a banner drop with the slogan “G8 Illegal”. Martin and another protestor who doesn´t wish to be named were hanging from both ends of the same rope from a 30m high bridge over a small stony riverbed alongside the banner.
Two traffic police arriving at the scene panicked about the build up of the traffic and cut the supporting rope of the two protestors despite repeated warnings about the danger of this from everyone present. The police later admitted to their actions in a press statement. Following this, there will be a judicial enquiry. Martin who is a very experienced and careful climber, then fell 20m into a stony river bed and was left there with spinal injuries, pelvic damage, an injured spleen and two broken ankles for an hour before the emergency services arrived with a ambulance helicopter to take him to the hopsital.
Other people present managed to rescue the second climber by holding on to the other end of the rope for 15 minutes so that she also didn´t fall, although she was later delivered to the hospital suffering from shock. Whilst Martin lay collapsed on the ground and demonstrators rescued the second climber, police continued to direct traffic over the bridge as if nothing had happened.
Martin currently remains in hospital in Geneva where he has undergone an emergency 3 hour operation on his vertebral injuries and ankles. The doctors have stated that his back will slowly recover, but it looks like unlikely that he will be able to walk properly again as a result of his leg injuries.
Please send your thoughts on this despicable action by the police to your nearest Swiss embassy and help support Martin. Below are the contact details of Swiss embassies in the UK, France, Spain, Germany and the USA. Please send them the below text and any personal response you might have to the available fax, postal or email addresses which are also enclosed below:
TO SEND TO EMBASSIES:
To whom it may concern,
On Sunday 1st June, a UK national, Martin Shaw was severly injured and hospitalised as a result of actions by the Swiss traffic police. The protestor, part of a 15 person international collective blockading a bridge in Switzerland to prevent G8 delegates passing from Geneva to Lausanne, was participating in a banner drop with the slogan “G8 Illegal”. Martin and another protestor were hanging from both ends of the same rope from a 30m high bridge over a small stony riverbed alongside the banner.
The two traffic police arriving at the scene panicked about the build up of traffic and cut the rope that the two protestors were hanging from despite repeated warnings about the danger of this from everyone present. Martin who is a very experienced and careful climber, then fell 20m into a stony river bed and was left there with spinal injuries, pelvic damage, an injured spleen and two broken ankles for an hour before the emergency services arrived with a ambulance helicopter to take him to the hospital. Eye-witnesses report that the police were much more concerned with immediately restoring the flow of traffic than they were with getting medical attention to Martin.
The other people present managed to rescue the second climber by holding on to the other end of the rope for 15 minutes so that she also didn´t fall, although she was later delivered to the hopsital suffering from shock. Whilst Martin lay collapsed on the ground and demonstrators rescued the second climber, police continued to direct traffic over the bridge as if nothing had happened. It is extremely lucky that these two people are not dead as a result of the actions of the Swiss police.
Martin currently remains in hospital in Geneva where he has undergone a series of emergency operations on his vertebral injuries, spleen and ankles. The doctors have stated that his back will slowly recover, but at this stage the doctors are unable to say whether or not he will ever regain full mobility in his ankles.
I am writing to express my anger and wish to register my protest of this terrible incident and of Martin Shaw´s near fatal treatment as a result of the actions of the Swiss police. I condem the gratuitously violent represssion of people exercising their democratic right to protest at global summits like the G8. I demand a full and transparent enquiry into the behaviour of the police involved, an unreserved apology on behalf of the police authorities, compensation for the injured climber and a promise that this brutal behaviour will not be condoned or tolerated by the Swiss authorities at any time now or in the future.
Signed
---------------------
LIST OF EMBASSIES
------------------------------
UK
-------
Embassy of Switzerland
16 -18 Montagu Place,
London
W1H 2BQ
Tel: 00 44 (0)20 7616 6000
Fax: 00 44 (0)20 7724 7001
E-mail:
swissembassy@lon.rep.admin.ch France
----------
Embassy of Switzerland
142, rue de Grenelle
Paris – 75007
Tel: 00 33 1 49 55 67 00
Fax: 00 33 1 45 51 34 77
E-mail:
vertretung@par.rep.admin.ch Spain
---------
Embassy of Switzerland
Calle Nuñez de Balboa
35-7 Edificio Goya
Madrid
Tel: 00 34 91 436 39 60
Fax: 00 34 91 436 39 88
E-mail:
vertretung@mad.rep.admin.ch Germany
------------
Embassy of Switzerland
Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 4ª
Berlin 10557
Tel: 00 49 (0)30 390 40 00
Fax: 00 49 (0)30 391 1030
E-mail:
vertretubg@botschaft-schweiz.de USA
-------
Embassy of Switzerland
2900 Cathedral Ave, NW
Washington DC 20008
Tel: 001 202 745 7980
Fax: 00 1 292 387 2564
E-mail:
vertretung@was.rep.admin.ch Italy
------
Embassy of Switzerland
Via Barnaba Oriani 61
Rome 00197
Tel: 00 39 06 8083641
E-mail:
Amsuisse@rom.rep.admin.ch The Netherlands
-----------------------
Embassy of Switzerland
Lange Voorhout 42
Den Haag 2514 EE
Tel: (+31) (0) 70 - 3642831
Fax: (+31) (0) 70 - 356 12 38
E-mail:
Vertretung@hay.rep.admin.ch
Bella ciao
