WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR VIOLENCE AT ANTI-WAR PROTEST?
New evidence has now emerged that the violent attack on the anti-Bush demonstration by the police on the 15th June, was not only premeditated but was also orchestrated by the police themselves. Yasmin Whittaker-Khan writing in last Sunday’s Mail on Sunday identified one ‘protester’ as a police ‘agent provocateur’. This policeman - his name and rank - has now been discovered.
The background is this:
On Sunday 15th June the Stop the War Coalition together with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the British Muslim Initiative
organised a peaceful protest against the visit of US President George Bush to London.
Over the last seven years Stop the War has organised numerous demonstrations all of which have all passed off peacefully. All these
events have been arranged with the co-operation of the Metropolitan police with whom the Coalition has had a good working relationship.
This time the police were clearly operating with a different agenda:
1] Whitehall was sealed off for unspecified reasons. The police had taken the ‘political’ decision not to allow a march to proceed along
Whitehall.
2] More than 1200 police, many of whom were riot police, were deployed to control a peace demonstration of no more than 2500 people.
3] Without provocation the police drew their batons en masse and proceeded to attack the demonstrators. There are many independent
witnesses to this and the photographic evidence is strong. Several people were hospitalised and others arrested indiscriminately.
4] There is evidence that the police used ‘agent provocateurs’ to try [without success] and stir up the crowd. See the article by Yasmin
Whittaker-Khan in the Mail on Sunday 22nd June 2008.
A number of questions now need urgent attention:
a] Who took the decision to ban the march? Which government ministers were involved? What role did the United States security services play in
this decision?
b] Why were so many police deployed?
c] Who gave the order for batons to be drawn and used?
d] Why did the police use ‘agent provocateurs’ to try and create disorder?
Were the security services involved in this sinister development?
Andrew Murray, Chair of the Stop the War Coalition, said today, ‘The premeditated attack on a peace demonstration by the police marks a
further deterioration in the civil liberties of all people in Britain. We demand a full public investigation into the events of June 15th.’
“This policeman - his name and rank - has now been discovered.”
Is there a link to this updated story. I read the original piece in the Mail on Sunday but there was no naming of the police officer in that piece.
Comment by Darren — 25 June, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
“Last week, it was reported that police at the demonstration had made 25 arrests - including a 60-year-old woman for indecent exposure. ”
Heaven help us!
Comment by David T — 25 June, 2008 @ 1:57 pm
see my follow up story: http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=2533
Comment by Andy Newman — 25 June, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
Can’t think why you didn’t use the headline J’accuse!
Comment by chjh — 25 June, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
I did!
Comment by Andy Newman — 25 June, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
I recognise the fat male cop and the small woman cop next to him. I have seen them at demos in London.
Comment by Code Inconnu — 25 June, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
This is him here:
http://www.fitwatch.blogspot.com/
Comment by paddy garcia — 25 June, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
Whoever thought Galloway would use the Sunday mail as evidence for something….
Some serious points raised though nevertheless
Comment by TheSocialistVote — 25 June, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
Don’t tell me, the crowd was told at truncheon point to
‘Get back!’
when it had nowhere to get back to. That is what PC Bimbo is screaming in the shot above, to which everyone is responding: ‘Where??’
This is the only crowd control tactic the police know, other than creating an impromptu open air prison, and detaining as many as possible for as long as possible, again at truncheon point.
Comment by Little Richardjohn — 26 June, 2008 @ 11:21 am
What has Santa done? and why is the fat policeman singleing him out?
Comment by Scott — 26 June, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
I assumed it was a high court judge at the edge of the picture
Comment by Andy Newman — 26 June, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
Further evidence, as if it were needed of this country’s decline into a police state. I also recognise some of the faces in the above photo including ‘pc Bimbo.’ I have experienced police bullying tactics myself here in brighton and also seen them in action against protesters far to often. Their treatment of Pauline Campbell which i also witnesses wa sshocking.
There should be an enquiry, yes, and also an authentically independent body to carry out the enquiry not the police investigate police situation which still pertains with the direct aid of the IPCC. A wholly sickening state of affairs
Comment by George Coombs — 26 June, 2008 @ 11:42 pm