Police, activists clash at Darwin drug law protest

Darwin police have charged five people after clashes with drug law reform activists in the city yesterday.

Members of the Network Against Prohibition gathered in Raintree Park as part of their ongoing campaign against Territory drug laws.

Police say three officers were pelted with canned food and glass bottles when they tried to seize a bucket bong being used by the protesters.

They also say three police vehicles were damaged when people climbed on to the roofs.

The five protesters arrested have been charged with hindering police and criminal damage, and one of them with assault.

More arrests are expected.

However, a spokesman for the protesters, Mick Lambe, says they had a permit for the action and claims police provoked the confrontation by trying to seize the bong.

He claims one woman's top was torn off and officers used nerve holds and strangulation techniques to subdue the protesters, who remained nonviolent.

"There's a tradition in Darwin and in most of Australia too; you don't hit cops unless you're an idiot," Mr Lambe said.

"And besides, it's violence, you know."

"You start doing that and the police have every right to start belting you back."

"We're not going to give them a chance to escalate the violence."

"They're the people with the batons, they're the people with the guns."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sun, 13 October 2002
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia)
Copyright: 2002 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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