Santa to join campaign against ‘drug house’ laws

Santa will arrive in Darwin tomorrow to express his continued support for the community’s campaign against the ‘drug house’ laws.

Currently en route from the North Pole, Santa is expected to make an appearance in Darwin’s Raintree Park tomorrow afternoon, at the 23rd Community Smoke-In for Human Rights.

The smoke-in, organised by the Darwin-based drug law-reform group, the Network Against Prohibition (NAP), will be the 23rd such event since the NAP was established in March 2002. It is the fourth with a ‘Christmas in July’ theme.

Smoke-ins are held as a regular protest against the Northern Territory Government’s ‘drug house’ laws and other abuses of human rights in the Territory.

At the first smoke-in, in April 2002, police arrested key organisers moments after the event began. Police also moved in at the sixth smoke-in (October 2002). As a result, a number of NAP activists face criminal charges in a trial at the NT Supreme Court in October this year.

Fiona Clarke, spokesperson for the NAP, said: “Despite attempts at intimidation from the NT police and the Darwin City Council, who have repeatedly refused permits, the community will not accept defeat.

“We will continue the community smoke-ins until the repeal of the draconian ‘drug house’ laws, however long that may be.”

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

For more information on the ‘drug house’ laws see: http://www.napnt.org/drughouse.html