Press
release:
President
Bush’s visit:
As
huge sums are spent on security arrangements, MPs call for protection
for Parliament Square protesters and their rights
On
13 November, John McDonnell MP tabled Early Day Motion 1914, which
reads:
“That
this House expresses its deep concern that the visit of George Bush,
President of the USA, may be used as an occasion to undermine the
right to protest by removing the peaceful anti war protestors in
Parliament Square, Brian Haw who has been there 24 hours a day for
over two years and the Women’s Community Picket which joined him at
the start of the war against Iraq; notes the extensive arrangements to
ensure the safety of the US President contrasted with the inadequate
protection afforded to Mr Haw who has suffered serious physical
assaults, and calls upon the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to allow
Mr Haw and the Women’s Picket to continue their protest in the
square and to ensure that policing arrangements provide for their
safety.”
With
the police under pressure from the US to protect their universally
unpopular president when he visits Britain this week, the media is
reporting plans for unprecedented draconian restrictions on the right to
protest. They include
giving US security men the right to shoot anyone they think looks
threatening.
Is
our right to protest a further casualty of this unjustifiable war and
occupation which have already cost so many lives?
Will the right of protesters in Parliament Square and other
protesters be upheld? The
continued presence of Brian Haw’s peace protest and the Women’s
Anti-War Community Picket are an embarrassment to MPs who voted for the
bombing of Iraqi civilians and the occupation which has followed – a
nagging daily reminder of the massive anti-war movement which urged the
government not to go to war, predicting the horror we have witnessed
since the first bombs fell.
While
£4 million is being spent on protecting an unwanted self-invited guest,
Brian Haw has suffered a number of assaults in the past six months and
cannot get the police at Parliament’s gates to cross the road to
protect him. MPs have intervened twice with Early Day Motions calling on
the Metropolitan Police to ensure his safety, and have written to the
Police Commissioner.
¡¤
On 11 June, at 2am, Nils
Tolling, who said he was a US marine (denied by the US embassy),
physically assaulted Mr. Haw, breaking his nose, and tried to set fire
to his placards. Mr. Haw
spent the night in hospital under constant observation.
Four months later he is still in need of medical treatment.
Although the assault occurred in full view of the police across
the road, Mr. Haw had to wait 20 minutes for help to arrive from the
Royal Parks Police. Evidence
was available on CCTV and from two people who made witness statements,
and Mr. Tolling was arrested, then released on police bail.
The police took no further action until they had medical evidence
three weeks later. By 4
July, when they returned to arrest Mr. Tolling, he had left the country.
We are not aware of any police complaint to the US embassy.
¡¤
In July, a man tried to
tear down Mr. Haw’s placards. A
woman who had joined Mr. Haw’s protest was hit in the stomach with a
placard wielded by the attacker. This
time Mr. Haw made a citizen’s arrest and took the man to the police
across the road, asking that he be taken into custody.
The police refused and let the man go without charge.
¡¤
On 20 September, an
Israeli man violently broke Mr Haw’s nose again, for which he will
require a further operation. The
injury makes breathing difficult, particularly given the pollution in
Parliament Square. He was not arrested.
For
over two years Mr Haw has been braving the elements to express his
opposition to this government’s warfare without end, first against
Yugoslavia, then Afghanistan and now Iraq.
He is particularly angry about the genocide of Iraqi children, to
which his line-up of placards and banners along Parliament Square bear
witness. He has won a
precedent ruling based on his right to freedom of speech under the Human
Rights Act. Mr. Haw’s
protest and the Community Picket, receiving global media coverage, have
become a meeting point for visitors as well as weekly regulars.
In
their reply to John McDonnell MP, Charing Cross Police claimed concern
for Mr. Haw’s safety, but refused any extra officers on the grounds
that: “The area in which [Mr. Haw] conducts his protest is one of the most
heavily policed in the UK.” (31 July 2003)
Why then can’t Mr Haw get the police to protect him?
Why can officers always be found to tell our picket to be quiet
and threaten to confiscate our sound system, but no officer comes when
one of us is assaulted?
A
number of officers have quietly expressed their support for Mr. Haw and
for the Community Picket; they clearly respect the public’s right to
protest. But officers at
Parliament’s gates have mocked Mr. Haw with words and gestures –
they laughed as a peaceful supporter was chased and threatened with
violence.
We
ask our elected representatives to sign MP John McDonnell’s EDM and to
stand up for our right to protest and our safety as protesters against
this week’s US invasion. Why
should we pay for the security of an uncaring oil billionaire with no
regard for life or human rights, while those who oppose war are
unprotected?
For
interviews or more information contact:
Brian
Haw
07743 689 045
Community
Anti-War Picket
020 7482 2496; fax 020 7209 4761;
Email:
womenstrike8m@server101.com
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