Sydney split by fence to keep protesters away from world leaders at APEC

[Squigglenob]

Apparently it's an honour for Sydney to be chosen to host the APEC summit in three weeks time, bringing together more than 20 world leaders, including US President Bush. But most Sydneysiders are wondering why they couldn't have chosen one of the dozens of luxurious islands of the far north to hold their conference, now that the full scope of staggering security measures that will lock down half of the city’s centre for 10 days are being made public.

A five-kilometre long, three-metre high security fence will cut Sydney's central business district in half.

You will only be able to enter the lockdown zone on foot, and then only through a small number of gates, manned by some of the 4500 police and thousands more private security guards, secret service and intelligence agents already descending on the city.

You will need to queue at the gates, where your face will be scanned in a live field test of facial recognition technology and assessed by agents for suspicious body language. Police and intelligence agents have been scouring through years of anti-war protests and building up a database of faces that were captured on police and security video... read the rest of Darryl Mason's post at Scholars and Rogues

[Esra Star]

1. It does seem like they are doing it the hard way, doesn't it?

You'd think that it would have been easy to book Hamilton Island and ring it with security.
Problem is, nobody would notice how much they are being protected from the Boogie Man.
They just need everyone to be afraid. Bunch of wankers.

[Matilda]

2. It's all about keeping the populace nervous and malleable.

Meanwhile, never fear, because we have Howard to protect us.

Bad enough that they had to declare the Friday a public holiday because
it was going to be so difficult for people to get to work in the CBD
(and elsewhere), but now the Bushbot is coming two days early, so we
now have three days of total disruption to our working lives.

It may backfire on Howard - most people I know are already annoyed about
the whole thing, couldn't care less that we're going to be graced with
the presence of Bush and other world leaders, and think it's all
overkill. After five days of total disruption and police intrusiveness
into our lives, I hope they will be well and truly over this government.

[Violet_Crumble]

9. I feel so sorry for you if you work in the CBD...

I don't get it. This thing's going to drag on for nearly two weeks with all the disruptions, yet there's only a one-day public holiday. Is the public holiday supposed to be a pay-off for putting up with all the disruptions or something?

[Aussie leftie]

3. Why cant this APEC junket be held annually in Guantanamo Bay

It already has the security that is needed to protect that bunch of war mongers. Can anybody remember what has ever been achieved from these so-called conferences besides the ridiculous shirts. After this "conference" I would like a to know exactly what it has cost the Australian taxpayer and all the positive outcomes (if any) that has come from it.

[Matilda]

4. According to the article linked above, around $300 million.

That would buy quite a few hospital beds, or fund a lot of university
places.

[Matilda]

5. Iemma ready to defend Sydney against protesters.

Premier Iemma has unveiled the new secret weapon not-so-secretly planned for use during APEC - a
$700,000 water cannon.

"The Premier admitted the cannon could cause "serious injury" and said he hoped people who were considering "riotous behaviour" took notice of this.

"I hope that we'll never have to use a piece of equipment like this … but if the situation arises, if there are going to be people who take the law into their own hands with riotous behaviour on our streets, then this is a good weapon to have to restore order and control," he said.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/wet-v-wild-riot-squad-shows-off-its-700000-weapon/2007/08/20/1187462176707.html

I went to five city protests prior and subsequent to the Iraq invasion, and also the Sydney protest
when Bush last visited, and not once was there any sign of possible violence - not even at the first
post-invasion protest where there were a large number of angry young Arab men.

I think the police and pollies are just itching for an excuse to start banging heads and arresting
people - it could get nasty, but it won't be the fault of the protesters.

It really is Vietnam all over again.

[anakie]

6. not to mention the possible introduction of a 'free speech zone'

set up in the Domain.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22289239-5003402,00.html

SYDNEY'S Domain - a grassy reserve popular with music festival fans and corporate types having a lunchtime kick-around - has been touted as a possible "protest site" for next month's APEC summit.

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell today said activists should be restricted to staging their protests in the CBD site to ensure fewer disruptions when 21 world leaders descend on Sydney for next month's summit.

His suggestion followed a warning by the state's largest employer organisation, the NSW Business Chamber, that inner-city businesses should prepare for possible damage to their property during rowdy demonstrations or riots.

Mr O'Farrell said the government should prohibit crowds of protesters, which could include up to 15,000 activists, from staging street marches through the CBD.


I hope bush forgets to look right when crossing a road and is hit by a bus.

Peace

[Matilda]

7. The police want the Domain -

to keep the protests well out of sight. The Stop The War Coalition is prepared to go to court for
permission to go to Hyde Park instead. Of course they want the maximum publicity.

They keep referring to activists and possible violence, but the truth is that they're expecting this
one to be big, involving lots of people who don't normally take part in protests. That's what's
got them scared.

I'm going to do my best to get there - I'll probably need my passport to get into the CBD!

[Violet_Crumble]

8. Good one...

"I hope bush forgets to look right when crossing a road and is hit by a bus."

Heh heh....

[anakie]

10. and then there is this....

Prisons emptied to make way for APEC arrests


"CRIMINALS serving periodic detention will be given a get-out-of-jail free card during APEC, with authorities forced to clear 500 prison beds in anticipation of arrests during violent clashes.

The NSW Government has ordered the Department of Corrective Services to clear the prison beds to make way for those arrested during next month's APEC meeting.

This will result in 200 people serving periodic detention at medium-security Parramatta jail being able to sleep in their own beds instead of a jail cell.

And a recently-refurbished section of maximum security Long Bay jail at Malabar will be re-opened to house an additional 300 prisoners."

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22299512-952,00.html


take care Matilda, seems like the police and state government are looking for any excuse to arrest anyone they choose and hold them without bail.

Peace

[Matilda]

11. I hear you, and it is a bit worrying.

But that's what they want, to scare people away.

The way the cops and the pollies are talking up the violence is really sick; what a creepy bunch
they really are. I wish people would turn up in their tens of thousands, because this should make
us all very, very angry.

And that water-cannon is like a collective wet dream (excuse the pun). They can hardly wait to use
it.