Three people are fighting accusations that they assaulted police following a protest last year against the visit by Israeli Ambassador, Ron Proser, to the Welsh Assembly. The assaults were alleged to have happened as the three were pushed to the ground by police, desperate to keep protestors away from the visiting dignitary.

Ron Proser’s visit to the Senedd in June 2008 sparked controversy when a number of Assembly Members refused to meet him. The presiding officer, Dafydd Elis-Thomas pointed to the extent to which Israel had ‘failed to meet its international obligations to the Palestinian people’. Protests were called to coincide with Proser’s arrival at the assembly building.

However, the ambassador’s arrival was carefully planned to keep him well away from any protest. A decoy convoy of diplomatic cars was used to draw the protesters’ attention to the main public entrance of the assembly, while Proser himself arrived at the Pierhead Street entrance in a much less ostentatious vehicle.

Anticipating such a tactic, a group of protesters had gathered in Pierhead street, determined that Proser should witness some of the protest against him. However, just as he was arriving, the police moved in, apparently to prevent a ‘breach of the peace’. Three people were thrown to the ground and arrested for assault. One police officer alleges that he was kneed to the groin, a second that he sustained scratches to his wrist and a third that he was pulled to the floor.

The defendants have described these charges as pure fabrication, intended only to deter people from making any sort of effective protest at the assembly. ‘I think we upset their plans to keep Proser away from the protests and because of that we were pushed, shoved, thrown to the floor and arrested for things we have not done’, said Val Swain, one of the people charged. ’But this is a man who has sanctioned war crimes against Palestine. It doesn’t seem so unreasonable to me that he should be confronted with protests against the murderous regime he represents.’

The case will be tried at Cardiff magistrates court from the 20th April. The trial is expected to last for four days. At least one of the defendants potentially faces a custodial sentence due to the seriousness of the allegations, and it is possible that all three will be sent to prison if convicted.

All the defendants would appreciate support when the case goes to trial in April. Please send messages of support to  val.swain@yahoo.co.uk . Anyone able to spare a few hours to support the defendants court during the trial would be very welcome.

Trial dates: 20th - 25th April

Cardiff Magistrates Court

Contact for further info:  val.swain@yahoo.co.uk

For full article go to:

 http://southwalesanarchists.org/2009/02/20/anti-israeli-protestors-set-to-fight-assault-allegations-in-court/