Anti-Capitalism
Genoa G8 Summit
Mass opposition to the sick system of capitalist globalisation.
Take Action! UNISON members held without access to consul in Genoa.
The meeting of the G8 in Genoa drew a magnificent demonstration by hundreds of thousands. They were protesting against the system of inequality that bleeds developing countries dry through debt. They were calling for an end to capitalist globalisation which is run for the benefit of the rich and multinational corporations. Using overwhelmingly peaceful non-violent direct action they demanded a hearing from the world leaders who were junketing behind a wall of steel, protected by thousands of troops and police.
The reaction of the Italian state, in collaboration with other European forces, was to attack first the right of movement, then the right to demonstrate. Finally they resorted to brutal and unprovoked beatings and even murder.
Non-violent demonstrators, as well as the watching media, were attacked with tear-gas and CS gas and beaten by police. A young Italian protestor, Carlo Giuliani, was shot in the face at point blank range by paramilitary police. He died instantly.
500 protestors are still unnaccounted for - either in jail or in hospital.
The offices of the Genoa Social Forum, including the media centre and the protestors Radio Gap were raided. Valuable computer equipment, cameras etc were destroyed or seized. No offence had been committed. But the true horror lay next door in a school where fifty protestors were sleeping. Police raided the school and in an act of sickening brutality beat and hospitalised those inside. This was clearly an act of revenge by the state. They police alleged that weapons and 'black-bloc' members were inside. All they found was cutlery and a couple of gas-masks.
There is growing evidence that police agent-provocateurs posed as 'black-bloc' members in order to discredit demonstrators and provide an excuse for repression. The movement must resist this attempt to divide us.
Many British activists attended the protest, despite the attempt by the French and Italian governments to cancel a train hired from SNCF by the Globalise Resistance organisation. Several demonstrators including activists from Scotland were deported at Genoa airport. This is because they had been identified by information from Strathclyde police that they had been arrested at the Faslane demo. However they had not been tried yet and had no other convictions. This was therefore an illegal act and an attack on civil liberties.
Now solidarity is asked for British trade-unionists who are being held in Genoa without access to the Consul.
Genoa Police Breach Human Rights: Allow Contact with Richard and Nicola!
Sunday 22 July 2001
British Citizens Imprisoned in Genoa Denied Contact with Consul: Public Figures Call for Immediate Action Leading campaigners and human rights lawyers are demanding that the Italian authorities allow the British consul to contact British citizens currently held in Genoa.
The two Britons are Richard Moth, aged 31, and Nicola Docherty, aged 28. They were present last night at the headquarters of the Genoa Social Forum, the umbrella group which has co-ordinated groups in Genoa committed to peaceful protest. The police raided the Genoa Social Forum building last night. Reports, including an eye-witness account by a BBC reporter, indicate that many people were locked in the building and severely beaten by police.
Richard and Nicola were both beaten by police. They were then taken to hospital, and from there into police custody.
Both Richard and Nicola are members of the anti-globalisation group Globalise Resistance. They are also members of public sector union UNISON, and went to Genoa as representatives of their union. They both work as Support Workers for people with learning disabilities. Neither of them attended the Direct Action protests which took place on Friday. The peaceful march on Saturday was the first demonstration Nicola had attended in her life.
The British Consul has attempted to contact Richard and Nicola. The Italian authorities are refusing to allow the Consul to make a 2-minute phone call to tell them that the Consulate and their friends are trying to get them released from custody. We believe that diplomatic pressure should be exerted to allow the phone call, and to ensure the release of these two people.
Liz Davies - former Labour Party NEC member, Socialist Alliance
Mike Marqusee - Socialist Alliance
John Lister - Socialist Alliance
Geoff Martin - Chair, London UNISON
Cllr Dave Nellist - National Chair, Socialist Alliance
Louise Christian - Human rights lawyer
Jim Nichol - Human rights lawyer
Paul Foot - Campaigning journalist
George Monbiot - Guardian columnist and author of Captive State
Protest by fax or email to the numbers below:
Embassy of Italy in the United Kingdom
n. 14, Three Kings' Yard LONDON W1Y 2EH Tel: 020-7312 2200 Fax:020-7499 2283 Tx: 051 23520 ITADP G E-Mail: emblondon@embitaly.org.uk Luigi Amaduzzi The Ambassador
Antonio D'Andria Minister Counsellor dandria@embitaly.org.uk
Sergio Scarantino First Counsellor
[Foreign Policy] scarantino@embitaly.org.uk
Guido Cerboni First Counsellor
[Economic, E.U.] cerboni@embitaly.org.uk
Francesco Saverio Nisio Counsellor
[Domestic Politics, EBRD] nisio@embitaly.org.uk
Mario Fridegotto First Counsellor
[Emigration and Social] sociolegal@embitaly.org.uk
Paolo Miraglia del Giudice First Secretary
[Press and Information] miraglia@embitaly.org.uk
Stefano A. Dejak First Secretary
[Foreign Policy, Culture,IT] emblondon@embitaly.org.uk