[Greens-Media] Peaceful protest - a human right

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
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8 Feb 08




Peaceful protest - a human right

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.



================================
Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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