Activists in court as Trials loom

Six members of the Darwin based grass roots organisation the Network Against Prohibition (NAP) will appear in the Northern Territory Supreme Court tomorrow for three separate pre-trial hearings.

The activists face numerous charges arising from peaceful demonstrations held in 2002 against the Northern Territory “drug house” laws and attacks by the NT Labor Government on the human rights of illicit drug users.

Nine activists entered the Legislative Assembly during proceedings on the 14th May 2002. They remained in the chamber for 10 minutes in an attempt to convince the politicians that the “drug house” laws were a major mistake.

All of the activists were charged and five were subsequently sentenced to between 14 and 21 months jail, suspended after 5 months. They are currently out on bail and will appeal against their convictions on the 15th June.

One of the “parliament invaders” Scott White, extradited from Tasmania by NT Police has yet face justice and has opted for a jury trial. Tomorrow he will attempt to prevent the trial from going ahead.

Robert Inder-Smith, Nicolette Burrows and Gary Meyerhoff will attempt to stave off a trail arising from a peaceful occupation of the NT Chief Minister’s office on the day that the “drug house” laws came into force. They have been charged with business invasion and face a maximum penalty of seven years jail.

Burrows and Meyerhoff are joined by Stuart Highway and Micheal Barry in an attempt to stave off another trial, this one arising from NAP’s 6th community smoke-in for human rights in October 2002. NT police attacked a peaceful rally, causing a mini riot. The four NAP activists face 2 counts of criminal damage to police cars and other charges.

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “despite their attempts to bog us down in the courts, the campaign against the “drug house” legislation has continued and is set to continue until the law is repealed”.

For more information call Gary on 0415 16 2525 or see http://www.napnt.org

For more information on the 6th Smoke-in see http://www.napnt.org/pages/Articles_28.htm

And for an article on the occupation the Chief Minister’s electorate office see http://www.napnt.org/pages/US-bases.htm

For information on the Parliament Invasion see http://www.napnt.org/pages/free_luke_masters.htm