NAP demands that Magistrate Luppino disqualify himself

7 members of the Network Against Prohibition argued (unsuccessfully) today that Magistrate Vince Luppino was biased and that he should disqualify himself from the case.

The bias relates to his refusal to provide the defendants with a copy of the primary video evidence in the case.

NAP members have made numerous attempts to subpoena the video footage of the NT Legislative Assembly, dated 14th May 2002, the date of the alleged “invasion” of the NT Parliament.

Luppino adjourned the matter for a mention on the 18th of October and set down a hearing date on the 31st of October and the 1st of November.

NAP Coordinator Gary Meyerhoff and co-defendants will make two applications to the Magistrate’s court on Monday the 2nd of September;

1. That Magistrate Luppino has shown bias and he should disqualify himself from the case, and

2. That a copy of the original video footage of the Legislative Assembly dated 14th May 2002 be made available to the defendants.

Gary Meyerhoff said “NAP members have always asserted that they will be unable to enter a plea on this matter until we have our own copy of the video footage that we can view in a location that is suitable to our needs.”

For further information call 0415 16 2525 or see the following website http://napnt.tripod.com

NT Police Minister refuses pig head platter

Activists from the Network Against Prohibition today presented NT Police Minister Syd Stirling with a platter containing 2 pigs heads. Other activists had pigs heads mounted on sticks. The action was taken to demonstrate against the pig-headed approach to policing being taken by the NT Government.

http://napnt.tripod.com/pages/Articles_15.htm#article2

NAP activists are also angry that Stirling defaced an NAP petition at the Mayday rally earlier this year.

http://napnt.tripod.com/pages/Articles_6.htm#article1

Stirling, refusing the platter and faced by a supportive public and Channel 8 cameras retreated back into the Darwin Central Hotel, where he had just opened the NT Police Association Conference.

Has the NT become a Police State?

NAP, the Network Against Prohibition was formed in March 2002 as a result of community concern around the nature of policing in the NT. NAP is particularly concerned with the state of new drug laws, zero tolerance policing which is rampant in the NT and the level of control in governance of the NT by the police service.

Some examples that suggest that the NT is now a Police State?

* NT Police have been involved in drafting legislation to be passed by the NT Legislative Assembly.

The CLP's Public Order and Anti-Social Conduct Act (2001), since repealed by the ALP was virtually written by the NT Police with the assistance of the NT Department of Justice. Labor's "drug house" legislation and asset confiscation legislation were also drafted and altered by the NT Police Service.

Both pieces of legislation massively increased the powers of the NT Police.

http://napnt.tripod.com/pages/Articles_14.htm

* Drug House Laws?

These laws allow the police to place a green neon sign out the front of your house or a nightclub declaring it a drug premises. They can then enter the premises as often as they choose, search everyone present, conduct cavity searches of people present. These are just some examples of the many powers given to police with this legislation.

http://napnt.tripod.com/pages/Articles_13.htm

* Diversion initiatives - NT police now control the youth and alcohol and other drug sectors

The juvenile and illicit drug diversion initiatives, funded by the Federal Government to the tune of $5,000.000, have massively increased the powers of NT Police Officers.

Drug users and young people lose their right to silence and the police officers decide on the penalty faced by the person. People must confess to participate in the program. Even after you confess, the police may choose to send you to court rather than participate in an "approved" program. Many youth agencies and alcohol and drug agencies are now dependent on this program for funding, placing them under the auspices of the NT Police Service.

What else is going wrong?

* Police just received $900,000 for a new phone tapping system and $2,500,000 for 10 new drug squad officers.

* Per capita, the NT has more Police than any other State or Territory of Australia.

* NT Police are the highest paid in the country and they also receive subsidised rental accommodation from the NT Government.

* NT Police control the Government's Summary Prosecutions branch. This situation is unique to the NT.

* NT Police are exempt from the NT Anti-discrimination Act.

* The Ombudsman has exonerated NT police for their brutal attack on peaceful protesters at the 1st Community Smoke-in in Raintree Park.

http://napnt.tripod.com/pages/Articles_1.htm#art1

How can we stop this madness?

Get involved in the campaign to fight the Police State. NAP meets every Tuesday at 7pm at the Railway Club in Parap, Somerville Gardens Rd. All are welcome.

Community Smoke-ins

NAP now hold monthly community smoke-ins in Raintree Park on the second Saturday of the month to demonstrate against the human rights abuses being faced on a daily basis by illicit drug users. We encourage everyone to come together for some live local bands, a free feed, some politics, activities for the kids and an environment where we can all have a smoke in peace.

Remember, 2nd Saturday of month, 12 noon, Raintree Park.

For further information see our website http://napnt.tripod.com

Join our Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/napnt

Email us: napnt@yahoo.com Phone: 0415 16 2525

Celebration of Drug Culture this weekend in Darwin Australia

Organisers of the 1st Darwin International Syringe Festival expect an explosion of drug culture to hit Darwin this weekend in defiance of the recently passed “Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act”. The Act, which commenced on August 1, has been labelled draconian, nazi-like, an attack on civil liberties and a breach of human rights.

Tonight, NAP and AFRODISIAC present “The Ecky Bangin Micro Dot Explosion” featuring local and interstate DJs including DJ Blastcorp (Darwin), DJ U-Pressure (Melbourne) and DJ Noshow (Brisbane).

Event organiser Nicolette Naxalite said “…we will be providing a safe space for people to use drugs and to have a good time. There will be a chill-out space, a safe injecting area, water,munchies and trained first aiders.”

Saturday will see the 4th “Smoke-up for Human Rights” at 12 noon in Raintree Park. The 1.6 metre joint will be a star attraction at the event which will also include live local bands, a free sausage sizzle and a number of speakers. Veteran activist Col Friel will address the gathering and will discuss the spectre of a US led attack on Iraq.

“Smoke-up for Human Rights” is now a monthly event and organisers have vowed to continue the campaign until the repeal of the “Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act” and an inquiry is held into the prohibition of all currently illegal drugs.

The 1st Darwin International Syringe Festival has been declared a success despite police harassment and intimidation. There is significant international interest in the Syringe Festival that organisers are planning to hold a bigger event in 2003. This will be combined with the 1st International Conference on Direct Action against the Drug War.

For further information, contact Nicolette or Gary on 0415 16 2525.

For venue details for the “Ecky Bangin Micro Dot Explosion” sms 0415 16 2525 or 0417213791 from 10pm for location details. Press passes will be made available however these must be pre-arranged by contacting 0415 16 2525.

For further information on the 1st International Syringe Festival see

http://napnt.tripod.com/pages/Syringe-Festival.a.htm

Submission to Darwin Magistrate’s Court Re: Alleged Trespass at Parliament House.

The members of our groups - NAP (Network Against Prohibition) and PARIAH - (People Against Racism In Aboriginal Homelands) - facing charges, wish to submit the following points.

1. It seems the Court has conceded our argument that the video footage of the alleged ‘invasion’ of Parliamentary House be made available to the Defence.

2. Enquiries as to who should be subpoenaed were hampered, by what can only be construed as discriminatory behaviour on the part of employees, unwilling to inform NAP members, of the person responsible for the tapes in question. Nor were these employees willing to inform NAP members of their names.

The courtesies extended to other members of the Public were withheld by these members of the “Speaker’s office, Hansard office and Facilities Management.”

3. The recent behaviour of the NT’s Police Minister Syd Sterling, in scrawling over - and rendering useless - a Parliamentary Submission circulated by NAP, may explain the unwillingness of these people to cooperate.

4. The continued and detrimental involvement of the NT Police (touched upon in the first submission) has seen a further undemocratic act involving the aforementioned Parliamentary Petition. NT Police seized the same Petition while it was being signed by the Public in Raintree Park yesterday. (7 August, 2002)

We ask the Court, ‘Would similar behavior by NAP and PARIAH members go ‘unnoticed’ by the Police?’

5. That NAP and PARIAH members are being treated differently by the NT Police, due to their political beliefs in such a deliberate and Public manner, is a ploy to intimidate the Public (as evidenced) and to punish NAP and PARIAH members. This constant pressure by the NT Police, is aimed at silencing dissenting political groups in Darwin - especially those critical of the Police.

6. Our web sites (submitted previously as evidence) demonstrate this belief in documented detail.

7. A common thread running through the undemocratic and politically motivated actions of the Police and their responsible Minister, is that they are untouchable and that the Law is a convenient means of perverting the Law.

8. Particularly when NAP and PARIAH are demanding an inquiry into the relationship between the NT Country-Liberal-Party and the NT Police. An inquiry into the corruption that seems so acceptable and which has been so seamlessly integrated, into Clare Martin’s NT Labor Party.

9. An eleventh hour ‘phone-call from the Parliamentary staff yesterday (August 7, 2002) assures us that the Clerk Ian McNeil is the person we should subpoena regarding the video tapes.

10. This matter has now been before the Courts on four occasions.

11. The first submission details our need to copy the original tapes, not the ‘tainted’ version cobbled together by the Police prosecuting us. We assume that this is now possible, despite the statements made by Clare Martin in Hansard, about her political need to prevent the tapes being viewed.

12. The Court is referred to the first submission for further argument. We once again request that the Court explain why floppy discs of transcripts are not made available, as well as the usual prohibitively expensive documentation.

Everyone should have equal access to the means to defend themselves in Court.

Full steam ahead for the 1st International Darwin Syringe Festival

Mayor banned from events

It will be full steam ahead for the 1st International Darwin Syringe Festival this week.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11am to 1pm the Smith Street Mall will be host to the Syringe Art Exhibition showcasing works from local and interstate artists.

Thursday night there will be an all night movie marathon and pajama party at the student lounge at NTU's Casuarina campus. Featuring cult classics "Dogs in Space", "Drug Store Cowboy" and more.

Friday night will be the first NAP Doof/Dance Party,The Eckie Bang-in Microdot Explosion. The venue details can be obtained by contacting 0415 16 2525 after 10pm on the night.

Saturday will see the 4th "Smoke-up for Human Rights" at 12noon in Raintree Park. Local bands, free tucker, speakers, face-painting, crowning of the N.A.P needle Queen and the syringe Olympics,something for all the family.

The 1st International Darwin Syringe Festival is a 12 day demonstration against the nazi-like "drug house" legislation that has recently passed through the parliament in the Northern Territory.

Lord Mayor Peter Adamson has told ABC Radio that the Festival will be boring. NAP spokesperson Nicolette Naxalite said "Mr Adamson and his associates are actually banned from the Festival and a security plan is in place to keep him away from the events."

"Mr Adamson may appeal the ban, but the appeals process is expected to take some time and may not be completed before the end of the festival, however should his position change, he will be more than welcome to participate in next year's Syringe Festival."

Event organisers are hoping that the Festival will become an annual event, and in 2003 NAP hope to hold a conference against the "War on Drugs" as part of the program. The conference is expected to attract human rights and drug user activists from around the globe.

For more info call 0415 16 2525 or see:

http://napnt.tripod.com/pages/Syringe-Festival.a.htm

Appeal launched to relocate drug refugees

An appeal has been launched by the Network Against Prohibition (NAP-NT) and Dr Henry Pang to raise the necessary funds to relocate 40 patients to the Southern States of Australia.

The Medical Board NT has ruled that it has no jurisdiction over the conduct of the NT Chief Health Officer. Health Minister Jane Aagaard informed ABC radio this morning that Dr Pang has the responsibility of referring the patients on.

The only service available to these people is withdrawal through the service located at Royal Darwin Hospital. This is utterly inadequate and inappropriate.

NAP and Dr Pang hope to raise funds to assist some of the 40 S8 patients to relocate interstate, and assist them to relocate their children and partners etc.

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “The CLP government had a policy of one way bus tickets for drug users. The ALP policy is slightly different, but it seems to be more effective at driving drug users out of the Northern Territory.”

“This attack on the human rights of Dr Pang’s patients coupled with today’s commencement of drug house legislation, shows that the failed “War on Drugs” is alive and well in the NT.”

Dr Pang has pledged to contribute the first amount to the fund being $1000. NAP has pledged $100 to the appeal.

Organisations and individuals around Australia are urged to contribute to the fund.

Donations can be made at any branch of the Australian Central Credit Union into the Network Against Prohibition Account, BSB 805-050 Account No. 61716566 Account name – Network Against Prohibition NT. Call 0415 16 2525 for further info.