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Media distortions & lies over 06/07 "Battle" of Bannockburn and Stirling

f | 08.07.2005 15:24 | G8 2005

Over the past few days through both mainstream and independent media sources a number of distortions and lies have solidified themselves into "facts". The following is an individual's eyewitness account of what happened on the morning of the 06th of July within the bloc that left the Stirling eco-village.

Several popular assertions have been made by media sources such as the Scotsman, the Sun, and other mainstream media outlets. This was expected, and to a certain degree seems unneccessary to reply to. Despite this their assertions seem to have been taken up by individuals in the anti-capitalist, anarchist movement, and on independent media sources as fact - namely Indymedia. As such as an individual who was present when these actions, in the early morning of the 06th July, happened I felt I needed to give my account of the events.

The most prevelent accusations are that indivduals' cars were smashed, satelitte dishes were ripped off of residential property, and residential windows (with a baby sleeping inside - depending on the story's source) were smashed as the anarchist block advanced from the Stirling eco-village, to just above junction 9 on the M9 several hours later.

I witnessed none of these events. Having spoken to other people who were on the block, I feel it is fair to say that they did not happen. At best the assertions are complete distortions of facts, at worst complete fabrications.

Outside the eco-village is an industrial, and business estate. On these estates are a Burger King, Pizza Hut, Bank of Scotland, and a large number of car dealerships.

The car dealerships and the Bank of Scotland all received a varying degree of property destruction with windows smashed, and a satalitte dish apparently being partially ripped off the wall of the Bank of Scotland. This appears to be where the distortions about cars, and satalitte dishes being smashed comes from. None of these institutions were in residential areas, nor was any of the property destroyed there individual or personal property.

The Burger King and Pizza Hut both had their windows, and other breakables destroyed. They also had grafitti daubed across their sides.

A few others windows were smashed - at PC World and B&Q - but when individuals within the block realised this was happening they asked the individuals causing the damage to stop it, which they did.

Once out of the industrial/ business estate no further property damage took place, except for a barbed wire fence around a golf course being removed so that people wouldn't cut themselves.

Within Branockburn there was a confrontation with riot police - which is apparently where the baby's window was smashed. This didn't happen. The confrontation was brief, with people within the block finally realising how close the motorway was. On a couple of occasions people disrupted road working equipment - traffic lights and cones etc - but the vast majority of this was replaced into it's original position by other members of the block.

Once on the motorway wood, stones, and other blockade material was dragged onto the road. No other damage was done.

As such the only property damage that was undertaken between the eco-village and the M9 was the destruction of a Burger King, and Pizza Hut. The damage of a handful of cars within car dealerships on the industrial estate, and the damage done to a Bank of Scotland outlet and office. (It could perhaps be noted here that the Bank of Scotland within the residential area of Banockburn was left alone on the basis that it would be intimidating to the local community for it to be damaged).

Hopefully this will go some way to undo the lies and distortions that have been playing within the media over the past few days.

love & rage
an individual (who would like it to be noted for journos, cops, and other such enemies that they speak for no organisation and merely for themselves...)

f


Comments

Hide the following 11 comments

Duh

08.07.2005 16:40


So because you didn't see something, it didn't happen? That's not a very convincing argument is it.

I saw TV footage clearly showing people casually walking around a residential area with crowbars etc, smashing parked car windows.

I think that's a bit more conclusive that something did happen, rather than the fact you didn't see it.

Mercury Kev


Mercury kev

08.07.2005 17:09

Why aren't the corporate media carrying stills from this alleged TV footage?

The fact remains, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

Bullshitter Bob


Bollocks

08.07.2005 17:52

Errmmmm... a report posted on ainfos, an anarchist news service, clearly states that:

"Two hundred hooligans, mainly Italians, Germans and Spaniards, caused chaos in Stirling's High Street and nearby residential areas.

They smashed windows, sprayed graffiti and ripped satellite dishes off walls."

Now, this is a report written by anarchists, for anarchists, and published on an anarchist news wire, which is not open and vets content before posting it.

 http://www.ainfos.ca/en/ainfos16767.html

So... the anarchists are lying to themselves? Is this report a fabrication? Sounds like the person who wrote it was either there or had a lot of eyewitness reports. Why would an anarchist publicly smear the anarchist movement? For.. fun? It seems most likely that these events really did occur, as described.

Mainstream media and radical media are different sides of the same coin. In one, the protestors are evil monsters, in the other they are angels who do no wrong, and any accusations of wrong are "lies". Radical media is just as biased as the regular kind; the objects of their affection are different, that's all.

c

c


Stoned out your mind!!

08.07.2005 18:42

What!! Your obvoiusly high on cannabis to claim this never happened !!!

It was my next door neighbour who abandoned his vehicle on the main road in Bannockburn due to his fear from your so called anarchists (unwashed neds with black scarves over their face - Really brave eh? scared to show their faces.......lol).

When he left his vehicle your neds smashed the window!! SKY and SCOTLAND TODAY both filmed it live and it was shown throughout the day!!

A few windows smashed at Burger King ? LOL they wrecked it including the signage outside!! and many windows were smashed you fool.

Bullshitter indeed. Stay off the hash you silly **** and dont try and bullshit the public.

john


Ah But...

08.07.2005 18:57

They didn't have the stills but they did have the video download of the piece on the BBC website all day. I gather that the local blat, the Stirling Observer or whatever, has quite a bit on it to including a lot of interviews with residents who were caught up or witnessed the whole thing.

Now you're not really trying to claim they were actors, are you?

Paranoid Pete


Video footage but no stills?

08.07.2005 23:49

Is it not possible to get stills from video frames anymore?

Theres a teensy weensy bit of disinformation going on here.

Destroyed Burger King signage?

Hide under your beds quick..............

Bullshitter Bob


Blind as a bat

09.07.2005 04:31

"I witnessed none of these events. Having spoken to other people who were on the block, I feel it is fair to say that they did not happen. At best the assertions are complete distortions of facts, at worst complete fabrications."

Have been reading this site now over the last week and this must be one of the best laughs I've had for ages.








Forgot my specs


Dearie Me

09.07.2005 10:37

"I witnessed none of these events. Having spoken to other people who were on the block, I feel it is fair to say that they did not happen. At best the assertions are complete distortions of facts, at worst complete fabrications."

This has to be the worst effort at coherent argument I have come across this morning, and I should warn you I have a stroppy toddler in the house.

Pete


Damage to property

10.07.2005 20:38

“ the Stirling Observer or whatever, has quite a bit on it to including a lot of interviews with residents who were caught up or witnessed the whole thing.”



Yes and twice I’ve posted a link to the Stirling Observer and what was in the print edition on Friday about damage to residential housing and what the people who live there said about it only to see both posts disappear completely from this site within minutes of going up.

Let's face the truthful facts here. There was damage to individuals homes and property, which was said by local residents of the street that was hit. If there wasn't, as has been said many a time on this site, why the need to take the two postings with residents concerns and gripes down from the website?

Impartial and factual this website claims to be…one word for that claim…pish!

Stirling Born & Bred


The violence of Govts is everyday

11.07.2005 06:21

How many of you 'good' people who condemn both these kids on the black bloc and no doubt your own as they pass through the pupil referral units, youth offender institutions and on to anti-social behaviour orders, went to work today? Your taxes contribute to war-crimes. Your government is perpetrating disgusting atrocities and facilitating brutal conflict in order to keep your fuel cheap and so you can fry your brains with mobile phones, and so you can keep your aristocrats draped in diamonds.

If you want your kids to respect you and your precious property then stand up to the Global dictatorship of Bush/Blair, and join us in non-violent resistance. Withdraw your consent to the greater violence of the state.

ian


Bannockburn locals

11.07.2005 14:05

I spoke to two local women who witnessed the Battle of Bannockburn. Some residents were scared when the Black Bloc turned up in their street at around 5am in the morning. However the two I spoke to weren't and went down to talk to the Black Bloc. They said they were tearing up the road and trying to build a barricade. One of the Black Blocers removed his mask to speak to them and assured them that they were in no danger. They said another Black Blocer seemed very scared (not surprising). After chatting they pointed the Black Bloc in the direction of the M9.

Some locals and folk from the Stirling site decided to collect some money for damage done to local residents property. The only damage they could find out about was a broken window (or maybe 2) to a small local business.

Finally if anyone claims the Black Bloc tactics are cowardly then I suggest you try chatting to some of the TSG (riot cops). These guys are generally big and strong and enjoy fighting. They tooled up with battons and robocop like protection plus sheilds, tear gas and probably Tasar guns too.

I have the utmost respect for those who marched to the M9 because they confronted the violence of the state head on and despite being the total underdogs they fought their way to the M9 using inflated innertubes to push through police lines and closed it down.

steve


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