Anti-War Action In The Cabinet
london-features | 08.12.2004 16:02 | Anti-militarism | Iraq | London
On 23rd November, the Day of the Re-opening of Parliament in London, 4 activists did a series of theatrical die-ins to highlight what they call "the slaughter in Iraq"; they performed several die ins outside Downing Street, outside Parliament - and sensationaly, in yet another government security breah, .... INSIDE the Cabinet Office.
Anti-War protesters made a mockery of Tony Blair's key election pledge of security by entering the government building just minutes after the Queen's speech had announced new measures to tackle terrorism. As the whole of Whitehall bristled with armed police, the protestors by-passed supposedly impenetrable security to gain access to the Cabinet Office, which has a direct underground link to No 10 Downing Street.
At about lunch time the four walked into the Cabinet office where they wandered around for about 20 minutes. They then demanded to speak to someone responsible for the actions being taken in Iraq before covering themselves in fake blood and staging the theartical die-in.
They were escorted out of the Cabinet Office and arrested on suspicion of Burglary and held in Charing Cross Police Station for 24 hours, though they committed no crime whilst in the Cabinet Office, or indeed at any time. While they were held they were stip searched, their clothes were taken for forensic analysis, BUT.... they were not interviewed...
The four women were eventually released after the intervention of a solicitor, although the police had already been in the process of applying to extend their detention for another 12 hours. The police kept their mobile phones and their clothes, therefore they were released just wearing paper suits.
However their houses were searched, as well as computers - including in some cases, those of other people living with them. Some floppy discs and notebooks belonging to the activists were seized by police.
A police spokesman said that they "needed more time to pursue inquiries" against the four, who have been bailed until 2nd of February, when apparently, they will finaly be interviewed.
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