info re: arrests

Yo Gang.
There is some safety information we should be sharing about what is happening to activists in Melbourne at the moment. At this stage there have been a lot of rumours — some true some not, about the arrests that have followed the G20.
At this stage people have been picked up from off the street, though this was in the immediacy of the G20 actions. Of more recent, people have been picked up from their homes, from court (once in solidarity, once from being present at an unrelated matter), and from extenuating circumstances that led to further investigations by police into activist activity.

Police have been mostly undercover when people have been arrested.

In the pursuing hours after arrests have been carried out it has been difficult in obtaining information from police in terms of what people have been arrested for. Retaining periods are varying from a few hours, to one activist who was picked up last Friday was forced to spend the weekend in remand. At this stage we are all well aware of Akin, who will be in lock up until February unless the situation changes. For those who have been let out, the bail conditions generally have been quite restrictive. People have to report back to police two to three times a week, passports are being seized, and airports are no go zones. It seems police are carefully scrutinising material, coming up with profiles of suspects then seeking them out… Generally charges have been along the lines of affray, riot, endangering life, theft and criminal damage.

Police have been searching the houses of those that have been arrested, usually for what appears to be specific items rather than just for random searches. Items they have been seizing include clothing supposedly worn at time of alleged offence, cameras, laptops, computer files, video footage, tools and hardware.
In terms of this stuff it is really, really important to think carefully not only about our own (personal) safety, but also about the safety of all those around us and anyone who may have been present at the time of any alleged offence. It’s obvious that the police are taking the g20 very seriously (despite Boltie’s harsh critique) and that we need to solidly network around minimising the potential for arrests and the impacts that any arrests will have on the persons involved.
  • Talk to legal if you feel you need to
    •
  • Network with some mates to ensure legal will be contacted and your personal life can be sorted out (someone will let your loved ones know what’s going on, etc)
    •
  • Let your crew know they can rely on you and ask a lot from you
  • Where safe to do so, fundraise, drop off food, books, money, etc
    •
  • Think about what solidarity actions you can safely perform – whether it’s safe for you to turn up at a magistrates office or a police office (or not)
    •
  • Consider what stuff might be in your house/ car/ etc which could perhaps be better placed in the bottom of a big dark hole
    •
  • Learn and distribute the lyrics to ‘Shook me all night long’ by ACDC

    • Love and Solidarity,
    E and G

POSTED BY Administrator ON 12.11.06 @ 2:09 pm | 1 Comment

Profile of a Anti-G20 Arrestee

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.

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 8:24 am | 0 Comments

….and another…..

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.

 

 

POSTED BY Administrator ON @ 3:33 am | 0 Comments