Metre long joint to mark 2 years of struggle against NAZI drug laws in the Top End of Australia

The lighting of a 1 metre joint will mark the 2nd birthday of the Network Against Prohibition (NAP) in Darwin tomorrow.

For 2 years, community members have campaigned against the NT Labor Government’s “drug house” laws that allow Northern Territory police to:

 Signpost a home or business with a 1.2 metre high flourescent green sign

 Raid the home or business without a warrant whenever they want

 Charge everyone present at the home or business with the possession of an illicit drug found at the premises

 Use restraining orders to “ban” people from the home or business

 Do cavity searches on people present at the home or business

 Stop and question anyone within 200 metres of the home or business

A home or business can be declared a “drug house” if police have found drugs on the premises 3 times in one year or if the commissioner of police reasonably believes that a home or business is being used to sell currently illicit drugs.

An application to declare the home or business as a “drug house” is made by police in the Magistrate’s court. The police only need to prove on the “balance of probabilities” that the home or business is being used to sell drugs. They do not have to prove beyond reasonable doubt.

The police do not need to have any convictions before a home or business is declared a “drug premises”.

Since March 2002, the NT community has waged a campaign against the “drug house” legislation and zero tolerance attitudes that have been adopted by the NT Labor Government. NAP formed as a response to the NT labor parties draconian legislation and the network has facilitated ongoing demonstrations to highlight the human rights abuses faced by users of currently illicit drugs in the Northern Territory.

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “the NT community is united in opposition to Labor’s NAZI drug legislation. The NT Government is so concerned about the NAP campaign that they have instructed the NT police to intimidate and harass NAP members.”

NT police have attacked peaceful demonstrators at 2 community smoke-ins and have laid over a hundred criminal charges against NAP members for participation in drug law reform demonstrations. Five members of the network still face jail for peacefully entering the NT Legislative Assembly as the drug laws were debated in May 2002.

Meyerhoff said “due to the insidious level of corruption within the NT police, government and public service, NAP’s loud and vocal campaign for drug law reform is a sensitive area for the local elite.”

This will be the 16th Community Smoke-in for Human Rights held since the election of the Labor Government in the Northern Territory in 2001. The event, held at Darwin’s Raintree park, kicks off at 12noon, and will feature a range of speakers, a free bbq and some live music.

NAP will also be making an announcement about their campaign for a “Prohibition-free” City of Darwin in the local government elections in May.

For more information ring 0415 16 2525 (61 415 16 2525 from overseas) or see http://www.napnt.org