Peaceful protest – a human right
8 Feb 08
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey called on the ACT Govt to ensure that peaceful protest can occur without the risk of unnecessary provocation or violence when the Olympic Torch comes to Canberra on April 24.
“Many people are coming to Canberra to use the Olympic Torch Relay as an opportunity to push the issue on human rights” Dr Foskey said today.
“Of course one of the human rights we enjoy in this country, and which is clearly not enjoyed in Tibet, is the right to protest.”
“However, during recent protests outside the Burmese Embassy it was reported to me that our police had taken off identification tags before confronting the protestors.”
“That compromises the protection of the right to free speech that our society has in place, and is an inappropriate response to public protest, however it takes shape.”
“That is particularly pertinent to the ACT, which has a Human Rights Act in place in order to prioritise that protection.”
“I am calling on Chief Minister Stanhope to ensure that the AFP works co-operatively with protesters staging peaceful protests at the Olympic Torch Relay in a few weeks.”
“I also call for him to ensure that police on duty do not seek to unfairly target any protesters, do not provoke protesters to make illegal or inappropriate action, nor hide their identity if things get rough” Dr Foskey said today.
