gaddafi mansion latest... from inside.
Topple the Tyrants | 11.03.2011 13:52 | Free Spaces
On Wednesday the 9th of March we occupied the Hampstead mansion of Saif Gaddaffi. This action was taken in solidarity with the struggle of the Libyan people against 42 years of murderous dictatorship. A group of around 20 took control of the property at mid day. After the security and police had left, a call out was made to both Libyans and non-Libyans to come down and help us occupy the newly liberated space.
Very soon after, a group of very appreciative and excited Libyans arrived at the front of the building and made their way through the media scrum that had amassed outside. One protester scaled the front of the building to the first floor and unfurled the Libya Freedom flag, chanting and singing. They were welcomed inside and soon invited their friends including members of the British Libyan Solidarity Campaign.
We also received a huge amount of support from the London activist community. Many people came to offer support and supplies. Due to the massive turn out we had to turn some people away in order to ensure the space remained secure and prevent accidental damage to the property which needs to be returned to the Libyan people. We are sorry to people who came a long way and were disappointed, and we would like to make it clear that their support is massively appreciated.
Throughout the day all decisions, including issues related to access and press were made on a collective basis by everyone in occupation, whatever their affiliation. As time went on it became increasingly clear that the most appropriate thing to do was to leave the space in the hands of the Libyan groups present. By Thursday evening most of the original occupants had withdrawn leaving the Libyans present free to decide the future of the space. A small number of experienced squatters have remained to offer help and support and to maintain the bond built between the different social movements in a common struggle against tyranny.
However the corporate media would like to present the story, this was not a group of squatters trying to take an obscenely large house for themselves. It was a first step in trying to return these stolen assets to their rightful owners. It was an act of solidarity with our Libyan brothers and sisters who are loosing their lives in the struggle for freedom.
Watch this space…
Topple The Tyrants
Very soon after, a group of very appreciative and excited Libyans arrived at the front of the building and made their way through the media scrum that had amassed outside. One protester scaled the front of the building to the first floor and unfurled the Libya Freedom flag, chanting and singing. They were welcomed inside and soon invited their friends including members of the British Libyan Solidarity Campaign.
We also received a huge amount of support from the London activist community. Many people came to offer support and supplies. Due to the massive turn out we had to turn some people away in order to ensure the space remained secure and prevent accidental damage to the property which needs to be returned to the Libyan people. We are sorry to people who came a long way and were disappointed, and we would like to make it clear that their support is massively appreciated.
Throughout the day all decisions, including issues related to access and press were made on a collective basis by everyone in occupation, whatever their affiliation. As time went on it became increasingly clear that the most appropriate thing to do was to leave the space in the hands of the Libyan groups present. By Thursday evening most of the original occupants had withdrawn leaving the Libyans present free to decide the future of the space. A small number of experienced squatters have remained to offer help and support and to maintain the bond built between the different social movements in a common struggle against tyranny.
However the corporate media would like to present the story, this was not a group of squatters trying to take an obscenely large house for themselves. It was a first step in trying to return these stolen assets to their rightful owners. It was an act of solidarity with our Libyan brothers and sisters who are loosing their lives in the struggle for freedom.
Watch this space…
Topple The Tyrants
Topple the Tyrants
Comments
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near sighted actions
11.03.2011 14:28
You liberal fools should think first before getting involved in the internal politics of other countries... but wait, you're just following the lead of your government, making sure their work is done properly!
Wonder why the police are leaving you alone? wonder why no negative articles in the press about you?
If you really believe in the Libyan 'revolution', then pack some bags and go join in.
Try and get some self respect and target countries that are under threat of western backed bombing campaigns. Or do you only go for the countries that the media tell you to go for?
In all my years of squatting, I've never had the police lay off so easily. Alarm bells have got to be ringing in your head when the police are on your side.
gydubtf
re: near sighted protest
11.03.2011 16:29
In your years of squatting you should have learned how to deal with the police better. We have not committed any crime, we are sensible people and have not acted in a way that would warrant their attention. If we gave them reason to come in, I'm sure they would, but we have covered our backs and been very careful in the way that we have handled them and this property.
This is, as far as we are concerned, the best possible action we could have taken in respect to who now controls the property. If you find us a large group of anarchist Libyans in London and want to come and take the property in the name of 'true' revolution be my guest and good luck.
Topple the Tyrants
Well done guys!
11.03.2011 17:41
PS there are about 10 houses in Winnington Road alone that are un-occupied.
Richard In London
You what?
12.03.2011 04:43
Oh, you fucking moron.
Trotting off to another country is all very glam, but unless you have some actual fighting skills and the weapons to go with them, it's just a big dumb ego-trip. Like the SWPies turning up in Cairo. Oh, the embarrassment!
I have nothing to do with the squatters, but Saif Gaddafi has been trying to sell this house since the family assets were frozen, and that is now impossible. Good, practical effective action, and an appropriate outcome.
Get some fucking politics, you utter, utter prat. Glib sound-bites just don't cut it.
Gauss
Who said anything about troops?
12.03.2011 19:16
I'm not the one imposing a Western political view on people who have been under a brutal dictatorship for decades and are now laying their lives on the line to end it.
I'm not the one insisting that there must be an approved revolutionary leadership in place before the Libyan people are allowed to start planning for their future.
And I'm definitely not the one suggesting that a bunch of thrill-seeking foreign activists turning up in Libya would be of any use.
Breaking the house and giving Benghazi an Embassy is about as direct as action gets. Does leaving Libyans to work out what happens next bother you for some reason?
You are the flip side of what you oppose. And neither side is pretty.
Gauss