NT Drug law-reform group celebrates fourth year

The Network Against Prohibition NT (NAPNT) will be celebrating their 4th birthday with a Smoke-In in Raintree Park on Sat, 11 March, 2006.

NAPNT is a drug law-reform organisation based in Darwin, Australia, and this will be the twenty-sixth Smoke-In for Human Rights the group has held over the past few years.

The first Smoke-In was held on 20 April, 2002 as a response to the proposed "drug-house laws" introduced by Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin's government soon after their election.

The peaceful event was marred by police violence when heavy-handed tactics were used to break up the gathering. A number of arrests were made.

NAPNT spokesperson Fiona Clarke said, "If the NT Government and their police thought they could scare us into silence and submission they were clearly mistaken.

"This will be the twenty-sixth Smoke-In. We believe in free speech and our right to hold a peaceful event in a public place. We are not going to go away."

Saturday's festivities will include a free sausage sizzle, local musicians, speakers and an open-mike.

The event kicks off at 12 noon.

For more information call NAPNT on 0415 162 525 (+61415162525 from overseas) or see: http://www.napnt.org