Hi there, it seems your post got eaten by the internet. can you please repost?

[moved from comments]

During and since the events around the G20 conference there have been, apparent to me, manifestations of often quite intense responses to the actions of some people, frequently and reductively identified as the actions of ‘Arterial Bloc’. Quite a few people who identify themelves as critical of the G20 and even as supporters of or participants in anti-g20 activities have gone out of their way to criticise or condemn (the actions attributed to) Arterial Bloc.

By contrast, those articulating positions either defending these actions or just not outright condemning those involved have been largely on the back foot, and have made efforts to be measured and polite in response to aggressive criticisms that did not, on the whole, reflect any parallel efforts. The public remarks of Socialist Alternative’s Mick Armstrong, happily reproducing seemingly all of the cliches of anti-protester discourse up to and including those concerning a xenophobic construction of ‘outside agitators’, are only the most extreme example of the collapse of the supposedly oppositional into reactionary and conformist choices which can only assist the state in its repressive actions against those being deemed beyond the pale.

Largely absent from all of this is any critique of the actual roles of those claiming the position and authority of ‘organisers’ of anti-g20 protests and activities, the dishonesty, manipulations and slimy interests of not merely most of the socialist groups involved, but also those constantly deploying the rhetoric of anti-hierarchical organisation, of spokescouncils and affinity groups, even of anarchism.

The Stopg20 meetings were saturated with this dishonest crap. The media spokespeople that the collective claimed it didn’t have used the authority of their relation to the stopg20 collective to falsify the form of organisation of anti-g20 activities, to outright lie about events in order to distance themelves as official and legitimate protesters from the Arterial Bloc. These creeps - hello, Marcus - acted in mainstream media interviews as if Stopg20 had some collective commitment to ‘non-violent’, ‘peaceful’ protest when the discourse of ‘diversity of tactics’ explicitly included acknowledgement that some would quite possibly be intending and/or willing to adopt a different set of political assumptions about what constitutes an acceptable action. In Stopg20 spokescouncils people were invited to some of the meetings at which it was clear that this was to be the case: the affinity group/spokescouncil process means that many organising decisions are made at meetings separate from the stopg20 meetings and the separation in this case can only be used to demonstrate some inherent and principled political separation by falsifying the way in which everything was organised, and by attributing to stopg20 decisions that were not made or even, so far as I know, proposed. This being the only way to do it, this is what was done.

The central limit on such discussion at stopg20 spokescouncils, proposed by one of the central figures of stopg20, was that caution should be used because the space might not be safe from the eyes and ears of the state.

The retrospective construction of ‘legitimate protesters’, and of mythical official commitments to non-violence, was the work of people like Marcus who used the stopg20 ‘media collective’ to very loudly and publicly bullshit. Those who identified with Stopg20 allowed the creation of media spokespeople despite claiming in meetings that there would be no spokespeople, and did not contest the lies of such spokespeople even as these lies helped to define a public rhetoric of exclusion and demonisation that went well with the arrests, charges, denials of bail, etcetera that are documented on this site.

These tendencies were evident in advance, including the use of seemingly radical rhetoric to give a particular political capital and cover to quite other practices, very conventional notions of politics and forms of organising that have distinctly unappealing content and trajectories, as we have seen yet again.

In many ways the kind of repulsive actions we have seen since the g20, by ’socialists’ and even by ‘anarchists’, were the kinds of actions the stopstopg20 affinity group suggested were likely, in comments on the Stopg20 spokescouncil which took place on the Wednesday night prior to the G20 meeting - comments which appeared on the Stopg20 website (www.stopg20.org) and on the stopstopg20 site (stopg20.blogsome.com).

Those most active in Stopg20, whether ‘media collective’ people or not - those who played these public roles after Saturday’s events or who let others do so when they could have tried to prevent it or publicly contradicted the lies being spewed out, who could have at least publicly and clearly denied the spokesperson status of those involved and not permitted the deliberate lies about Stopg20 to go totally unchallenged - those who have been silent since on the politics of these practices - these are people who should not be trusted.

We need an actual analysis of why these people lie and will lie again - the form and content of politics/activism which constitutes material interests in notions of ‘democracy’, ‘representation’, ‘community’, practices of network-building/recruitment and parallel development of political capital and authority - an entire array of assumptions and dynamics, in many ways common to the self-described ’socialists’, ‘anarchists’, ‘autonomists’, or whatever that make up such scenes (and will try to form them again for ASEAN), that should be deconstructed, or maybe I just mean pulled apart.

Benjamin

Hi all got word today that David Caldwell got bail due to the hard work of his friends and comrades

taken from the age

A man has appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court to face chargesover violent protests at last month’s G20 meeting of financial leaders.

David Caldwell, 29, of Goongerah, has been charged with affray, rioting and reckless conduct endangering serious injury.

Caldwell is the sixth person to be charged with offences relating to the protests. Police allege that Caldwell threw and rammed barricades and rubbish bins.

He was not required to enter a plea and did not apply for bail. The case has been adjourned until Tuesday.

reposted from melbourne indymedia

 

Fitzroy Legal Service is offering free and confidential legal advice to people involved in G20 protests.

Fitzroy Legal Service will provide free and confidential legal advice to people involved in G20 protests. FLS is located at 124 Johnston Street, Fitzroy and has a free evening legal advice service which operates from 6:30 pm weeknights. The night service will be closed from 18 December 2006, reopening 9 January 2007.

During the day, you can contact FLS on 9419 3744. The days service at FLS closes at 4:30pm on Friday, 22 December 2006 and reopens on Monday, 8 January 2007 at 9:00am.

Victoria Legal Aid is closed for a shorter time during this period, and may be able to provide legal advice. VLA may be contacted on 9269 0234.

We will provide the contact details of any other solicitors prepared to provide advice in these matters as the team is coordinated.

________________________________

Stan Winford
Lawyer / Legal Projects Officer
Fitzroy Legal Service Inc.

Wednesday morning police raided 4 properties in goongerah, (east gippsland, about 6 hours east of melbourne) (two of them simultaneously). one woman was taken into orbost for questioning -according to information given to lawyers by police no charges have been laid. again police were searching properties for footage, clothing etc. they also told residents that they are searching for a number of people, and will continue a presence in the area. officers from taskforce salver also circulated the mobile phone number mentioned in the previous email. that’s the nutshell, but a more detailed post will go up on indymedia later.

lawyers are on the case following up this morning and will also contact the ‘taskforce mobile number’ directly..

good news everybody, akin was released today!

reposted from melbourne indymedia

Political activists have been ‘undemocratically’ subjected to house searches and arrests by the Victoria Police, who so far show no sign of investigating their own members for alleged human rights abuses during the recent g20 meeting in Melbourne. According to Sian Cullen of Melbourne University, political activist, and Melbourne University Law student, Julia Dehm was arrested by plain clothed police yesterday while attending a bail hearing in support of friend and Monash University Law student Danya Bryx. The two have been arrested for allegedly attending the G20 protests that took place in Melbourne over the weekend of November 18 & 19 2006. ‘That police are targeting people for allegedly attending or being involved in a weekend long series of activities around the G20 meeting raises serious questions about the rights and freedoms of people to be able to engage in political protest in this state and country.’ said Sian Cullen of Melbourne University.

In contrast to the attention received by political activists, police appear reluctant to investigate violent crimes allegedly committed by their own members during the g20 meeting, despite the release of an independent report on the incidents several weeks ago. The Human Rights Observer Team from the Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centres reported their concerns on the actions of Police during the protest on 23 November. The team expressed concern on the use of excessive force during the demonstrations, including baton-charging peaceful protesters without warning and using overhead baton strikes at the Melbourne Museum (while g20 delegates were having a scenic tour). They reported that these actions were contrary to the United Nations code of conduct for law enforcement officials and Victoria Police standing orders and were ‘antithetical to the promotion and protection of human rights’. According to the team, ‘several protesters were injured with one women requiring ambulance evacuation after being struck by police batons.’ An eye-witness report from the victim (published on the Indymedia website) and independent media reports including video footage of the incident confirm the HRO team’s observations.

The team was also concerned on the arbitrary arrest and detention of Drasko Bolijevic, who was not involved in any protest activity. The HRO team was concerned that “this arrest may be indicative of others undertaken as part of ‘Taskforce Salver’, which has been established by police to investigate further charges in relation to the protest actions. …. Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention. It requires that any arrest and detention is in accordance with law. Arrest or detention is unlawful where an individual is arrested or detained on grounds which are not clearly established by law or which are contrary to law. Article 9 of the ICCPR also prohibits "arbitrary" arrest and detention. Arrest and detention is arbitrary where it is disproportionate, unjust or unpredictable.” There is no mention of any investigation into these alleged abuses on the police media website – despite two articles on g20 arrests – and no reports in the corporate press. Both of the people arrested recently ‘are well known political and environmental activists who have been involved in social and political activism through university student bodies and in the wider community’ according to Ms Cullen. ‘What we are seeing at the moment is the latest in a series of police targeting people who have been involved in campaigning for social change and environmental protection in the state of Victoria and across the country. Activists who have repeatedly spoken up for what they believe in and have been leaders in peaceful protest movements in our community being taken by plain clothed police from public places and while in support of their friends who have similarly been targeted.’ said Ms Cullen

Six people have been taken from Melbourne streets and shopping centres, and have had their homes searched by plain clothed police since the G20 protest. One of the people taken into custody was not in Melbourne at the time of the G20 activities. “Such police tactics cannot be tolerated in a democratic society. “ ‘The people of Victoria and the wider Australian community need to sit up and take notice of the intimidatory tactics that are being used by the Victorian police under the banner of Taskforce Salver.’ Ms Cullen concluded. Ms Cullen recalled the words of Martin Niemoeller who said: ‘First they came for the Communists but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and Trade Unionists but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jewish but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out, And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.

Sian Cullen can be contacted for more information on 0412688163. Karen Jess of the Victorian Police media liaison unit who wrote their latest article on g20 arrests was asked to comment on the observations of the HRO team before this article was uploaded this evening. She was also asked if the Victoria Police have investigated the alleged abuses. She replied that no comment could be made until tomorrow morning.

Bank details are in for fundraising

It’s : Holly Creenaune or Padraic Gibson

ANZ

BSB 012356

Account number 566578821

So get fundraising people! But beyond this there is a desperate need for a POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, that can organise both on going solidarity and a visible and public challenge to the repression. I suggest that people start forming some collectives to struggle around this

Cheers Dave

by Shamone from melbourne indymedia

David Vakalis: a G20 arrestee. One of the people who have been arrested in relation to the anti-G20 protests is David Vakalis, 19, of Brunswick East. Vakalis believes that his shared home had been surveillance before his arrest at his shared home on Wednesday 6 December 2006 at 1:20pm.

Vakalis’ Arrest: Wednesday 6 December 2006

Vakalis and his best friend on the Wednesday were talking with each other in the lounge room when about five police officers armed with guns knocked on his door to search his home. Salver Taskforce Police presented Vakalis with a warrant for the raid, which ended up seizing thirteen items, including:

· computer,
· clothing,
· two pairs of shoes,
· mobile phone,
· politics folder,
· street signs,
· a picture of Vakalis going back nearly 3 years ago, and
· a picture of Vakalis and his ex boyfriend going back 2 years.

The raid ended leaving Vakalis’ best friend traumatised and intimidated as Vakalis was not allowed to approach his best friend who was in Vakalis’ home. Vakalis’ friend was left nearly in tears and distorted after the Police raid, however tried not to leave the home to support Vakalis and make sure that Police didn’t go beyond their legal powers.

After the thirteen items had been seized by the police they escorted Vakalis out of his home into one of their two undercover police cars to the St Kilda police complex where Vakalis was met with the media. As Vakalis was escorted out of the car, the Detective Acting Sergent role-played for the media by restraining Vakalis in a somewhat dramatic manner.

Vakalis was kept in police custody for over four hours in a small cold room with nothing distinctive other than a chair on one side of a table, and two on the other, and a door that locked from the outside with a peep hole. Vakalis having been kept in the small cold room for over four hours was experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety as a result of his containment and arrest/search.

Vakalis went through a preliminary recorded questioning, however was denied permission to call a friend of his that was organising legal assistance for him that was specific for G20 participants. The reason for the call being allowed, as stated by the Detective Acting Sergent was that it was a “conflict of interest”, as his friend was present at the Saturday protests. Vakalis then was allowed permission to call the Fitzroy Legal Service in which he received adequate information and service to help him with his recorded questioning that was over an our long.

Later in the night of his arrest appeared before a jail judge at his out of session bail hearing, in which police did not oppose his bail and bail was granted immediately due to the fact that he had recently turned 19 and also because of police opinion that imprisonment would be inappropriate for his circumstances. At his bail hearing, the media were present. The court heard that Vakalis had been given 8 charges, which include:
· 1 account of riot
· 2 accounts of affray
· 2 accounts of criminal damage
· 2 accounts of conduct causing harm
· 1 account of possession of proceeds of crime

And his bail conditions which include:
· reporting to police every week
· surrendering his passport
· not to leave Victoria
· not to leave Australia
· not to associate or communicate with other the other accused people.

Vakalis: As a Person

Vakalis has a Greek background, recently turned 19. Vakalis who is studying at university, completing a Bachelor of Arts with a major in sociology and political science in which he received this year a Commonwealth Scholarship for his low-socio economic status.

Vakalis’ mother is a volunteer co-ordinator in the community development sector, and Vakalis’ father is on a government benefit for his inability to work due to his mental health and medical issues regarding his heart. Vakalis also has a younger brother who is in secondary education, and very attached to.

Vakalis left home a year ago to study and gain better work than what was there in his hometown, nearly two hours away from Brunswick, where his little brother, and divorced parents live. Vakalis’ background is one filled with many forms of child abuse, poverty, mental illness, and violence between family members.

David has been an active activist, participating in the reformation of Australia through education as well as bring the messages out onto the streets. Vakalis has been active since his young childhood to now, from a range of social, political, human and environmental issues. Vakalis’ family is very proud of his intelligence in the areas of philosophy, politics, sociology and the law and expect many more great accomplishments to come from him, including his book that he has recently started in the area of occupational (white collar) crime in Victoria.

Vakalis is not part of any ‘bloc’, nor any anarchist styled group, as he understands that the use of violence is a tool used both authorities as a form of intimidation, and by protestors as a tool of frustration and immediate disruption to systems. Vakalis says that it is believed amongst many that it is not fair for a nation state to have the legislative right of law to use violence against its citizens in demonstration.

Just a few weeks before the anti-G20 protests, Vakalis lost his job working for one of Australia’s biggest hospitality/retail companies. His employer allegedly breached the common law contract (not enforceable by law) by not giving him notice to his termination of employment. Vakalis depended upon that income as he is a student, living away from home for uni, and receives no financial support from family members. Due to Vakalis’ financial circumstances, we will apply for a means test through Victoria Legal Aid to assist with his legal costs for his court hearing.

Vakalis will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court early morning on Thursday 23rd March 2006, along with other high-profiled anti-G20 protestors.

Just got word that another comrade has been arrested by plain clothes officers  IN THE COURTROOM whilst showing support for danya. We should have the bank account details for the solidarity fund up here tonight.

from an AAP report:

AN alleged G20 rioter was arrested at Melbourne Magistrates Court today where she was supporting a friend already facing charges.

Julia Dehm, 24, of Brunswick West, was arrested outside court while her friend, alleged G20 rioter Danya Bryx, 22, appeared in court.

from the age (updated)

A fifth person has been arrested over the protest outside the G20 summit in Melbourne last month.

Danya Bryx, of Caulfield North, was arrested last night and remanded to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.

Bryx, 22, appeared at an out-of-sessions hearing at Victoria Police last night, facing charges of riot, affray and conduct endangering persons.

Police have charged four other people involved in the protest.

The protests occurred on November 18 in streets surrounding the city’s Grand Hyatt Hotel, which was hosting the summit of finance leaders from 19 countries plus the European Union.

Other protesters facing charges over the riots include Monash University student Akim Sari, David Vakalis, Rosalie Delaney and Dominic Richardson.

Just got word that there has been another arrest in Melbourne. The charges seem to be ones of riot and affray and criminal damage.  A lawyer is currently trying to get them bail .

from The Age 

THREE demonstrators accused of violence at the G20 city protests last month were granted bail last night.

Students Rosalie Delaney, 19, of Parkville, and David Vakalis, 19, of Brunswick East, and Dominic Richardson, 24, a part-time sales assistant from Brunswick, were charged with offences, including riot and affray. Vakalis was also charged with conduct endangering persons.

A bail hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told that Richardson pushed a wheelie bin against a police barricade in Collins Street during the November 18 protest in an attempt to breach it. At the same time, others threw bottles, bread and milk crates.

The court was told that Delaney, a Melbourne University student, threw a wheelie bin at a police brawler van on the corner of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane, damaging a window.

Magistrate Dan Muling granted bail with conditions to the pair and ordered them to face court on March 22.

Vakalis faced an out-of-sessions hearing at the St Kilda Road police complex last night. The hearing was told that he threw wheelie bins, street signs and milk crates at police vehicles. A call to Crime Stoppers put police in touch with his university. Police raided his house yesterday and charged him with eight offences. He was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court today.