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
Much love and solidarity to all the Melbourne crew from across the Tasman, we’re thinking of you!
And in the immortal words of Empire Records, Don’t let the man get you down!
Comment by Aotearoa Anarchist — December 11, 2006 @ 10:52 pm