Today (16/11/11), according to the OM Digest "at around 8, council officers returned with a much larger police support: four “Public Order Response” (Riot Squad) 4WDs, three unmarked police vans, three squad cars, two prisoner transport trucks and between 100 and 120 police officers". The police moved in taking down the Indigenous Embassy and Customs House which had been erected on Saturday in the Treasury Gardens. Three people were arrested during the raid for non-violent resistance. The charge is a council by-law “Hindering a council officer”. An emergency protest occurred at the Town Hall at 11AM.
Related Melbourne City Council sanities Treasury Gardens fails to learn lesson of Zuccoti Park: OM Digest
The police and the Melbourne City Council deny protestors have been “evicted” but they are merely enforcing local by laws about camping by ordering the removal of structures. Of course the fact that Occupy Melbourne is an ongoing 24 hour occupation is ignore. The fact is that a “tent city” style protest requires structures so they are in effect banning this protest and any similar protests. Protestors have also been told to remove “objects and things” which is so broad to be ridiculous.The protest is not banned however an overwhelming police response will be called in if people do anything other than just stand there with no protest signs, equipment or protection from the weather! It is clear that "public space" is now only available for public protests in the most limited of fashion, meanwhile corporations are free to use their financial resources to dominate the landscape of our CBD.
The police defended the use of 100 police on the grounds they had to be prepared. Prepared for what, more non-violent resistance from a protest group which has remained steadfast in its use of non-violence since day one. This level of policing has only one purpose, to intimidate and harass dissent out of existence.
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| Cops line up before the raid |
Embassy being dumped onto council truck |
In addition the fact that the tent removed was an “First Nations Embassy” is being ignored. The tent was called the "Customs House" as it was issuing Aboriginal Passports as a statement that Aboriginal sovereignty on this country has never been ceded. Today’s police action was just another “move on” action by the state against Aboriginal people in the same way force has been used ever since 1788 to ensure the crown controls land use in this country. Indigenous elder and activist elder Robbie Thorpe labelled Australia a "Nazi dream" during the police action.
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| The First Nations Embassy the night before the raid |
