NAP business invasion - Round 2, Clare Martin's Office

NT Drug Law Reform Campaigners face jail again

4 members of the Network Against Prohibition will this week face the Darwin Magistrate’s court charged with business invasion and trespassing after a peaceful 30 minute occupation of Clare Martin's electorate office in suburban Parap last year. The occupation occurred on the 1st of August, the day that the Northern Territory drug house laws came into force.

Business invasion is an offence introduced by the new Labor government in late 2001. The offence has a maximum penalty of 7 years jail. It has only been used once before and that was against NAP members who occupied the office of the NT Chief Health Officer late last year. In that case 1 NAP activist was acquitted and the others were found not guilty of business invasion but guilty of trespassing. The trespassing conviction is being appealed.

This week's hearing is set down for 3 days, Mon, Tue and Wed. The prosecution have about 12 witnesses, 11 of whom are police.

The NAP activists maintain that their actions were justified.

NAP spokesperson Nicolette Burrows said “the war on drugs in the Northern Territory is a war on drug users. The drug house laws are draconian and based on failed drug policy of the United States. With the zero tolerance policy towards illicit drug users and the government’s abhorrent treatment of dependant drug users, drug users in the NT are faced with an ongoing emergency.”

The activists charged are Ema Corro, Robert Inder-Smith, Nicolette Burrows and Gary Meyerhoff. Rob, Ema and Gary were sentenced 3 weeks ago for their involvement in the parliament invasion. Sentences ranged from 16 months to 21 months, suspended after 5 months in each case. The 3 are on appeals bail and the appeal is expected to be heard in the NT supreme court later in the year.

For further information or to arrange an interview please call Gary on 0415 16 2525 or Nicolette on 0418 985 701.

Alternatively you way choose to peruse our website: http://www.napnt.org