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Saving Iceland statement on Mark Stone

SI | 13.01.2011 15:10 | Policing | Repression

The following is a statement from the Saving Iceland campaign released today in response to various request from media to talk about Mark Stone / Kennedy

In solidarity.

"The Saving Iceland collective is at the moment inundated with requests
from the corporate media for detailed information about the infiltration
of police spy Mark Kennedy of our network. We have also been receiving
pressure from individuals who have been active with SI to collaborate
with journalists.

Saving Iceland would like to make it clear that we are mindful about keeping our vow to respect and protect the privacy of all the great
people who have taken part in our struggle against the corporate destruction of Icelandic nature.

By entering into discussions with journalists on matters outside the sphere of the issues of our struggle, such as the private lives of
individuals in our network, we would be in serious breach of the trust and solidarity that has been the core of our network.

Below is a statement Saving Iceland released to the Guardian on January 13 2011.

This is the only platform that we are prepared to discuss Mark Kennedy's time with Saving Iceland.

"Regrettably we are not prepared to participate in an interview about
the police spy Mark Kennedy. However, we would like to make the
following statement.

Yes, Mark Kennedy came to Iceland in the summer of 2005 and took part
in actions against ALCOA and the dams at Karahnjukar.

His case is a clear example about how low governments are prepared to
stoop to, in this case the British and Icelandic, in their attempts to
criminalize people who use their right to protest and who challenge the
abuses of power by the State and corporations.

What we find interesting in this context is whether the Icelandic police
were made aware by the British authorities of the presence of this British
police spy in the Saving Iceland camp and if they received any of the
information gathered by him while he was active as an agent.

So far the Icelandic State police have not answered the request of the
Icelandic National Broadcasting about whether they communicated with Mark
Kennedy and his superiors. Only the local police force in the east, where
the dams and ALCOA factory are located, have issued an evasive answer
stating that they had not "intervened" with the "protester" Mark Stone
during the protests.

It is also interesting whether Mark Kennedy took part in the training of
Icelandic police officers when they attended a course with the British
police in the winter of 2005-2006 where they received training in how to
violate groups such as Saving Iceland.

Clearly the presence of Mark Kennedy in Icelandic jurisdiction, as an
active agent of the British police, violated Icelandic and international
laws, even if there was an official collaboration between the two
authorities in this respect.

In either case the one or both governments are guilty of violating basic
human rights of the people they were spying on.

Greetings from the Saving Iceland collective

SI
- Homepage: http://www.savingiceland.org/

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

Good statement

13.01.2011 15:52

This statement shows real integrity - how very different to corporate media whores treacherously touting to the press in the UK.

Anarchist


re: Good Statement

13.01.2011 17:47

I so agree mate.

..


Icelandic

13.01.2011 18:16

folk have the right idea.....



...SHHhhhhhhhh..............



blessings upon.....

freemind


corporate media whores?

13.01.2011 21:34

Um, what?

Exactly how does talking to the media about things the police ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, in order to put the spotlight on extremely questionable police practices, amount to being a corporate media whore?

chris


@chris

14.01.2011 02:11

Because one gets the sense that their egos are enjoying the opportunity for self-promotion.

Worse still, because they are perceived as representing the movement, when their views tend to be at the liberal end of the movement. Hence the naivety displayed on Newsnight.

I'm generalising shamelessly about those that talk to the mainstream media, but not without basis.

sam


@ chris

14.01.2011 21:27

"Exactly how does talking to the media about things the police ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, in order to put the spotlight on extremely questionable police practices, amount to being a corporate media whore?"

Wrong target there. These people ARE media whores and a cringe-making embarrassment to the movement.

For the reasons you state, however, anarchist's use of the word "touting" is completely misconceived. They're whoring for the burnishing of their own egos, but certainly not touting.

Stroppyoldgit