NT Police attack political activists
by Mick Lambe - 21 April, 2002

Please note -- the images from the NT News used here, were released after this article. Captions used with the images -- are also part of the original article.

NT Police pre-meditated the attack on a peaceful protest (against the drug house and marijuana laws -- 20 April 2002) at Raintree Park in Darwin.

NT Police 'arrested' (or abducted) NAP's - Network Against Prohibition Coordinator, Gary Meyerhoff, shortly before the planned concert and protest.

Four detectives escorted Gary to an empty shop near Raintree Park that police had 'procured' as an on-site unit for strip searches.

Outside the shop -- windows were covered with "butcher paper" for concealment.

Inside -- a 'booth' was set-up for strip searches.

Police released Gary after his ordeal, but told him he was not allowed to enter Raintree Park until 3pm. The police did not cite any laws pertaining to this decree.

Responsibility

It will be interesting to see who takes responsibility for this pre-conceived plan to disrupt a peaceful rally...

...or were the Police acting as independent agents against people active in publicizing NT Police racism and political persecution?

Raintree Park

Face-painted children were laughing as they batted brightly coloured baloons around the Banyan tree. A viola was being played.

I was sitting cross-legged on the grass, babysitting a four month old infant whose Mother was performing in a band.

Idyllic...

...apart from the heavy Police presence that included a mobile Police Station, parked as closely as possible to Raintree Park.

NT Police move in

At twelve noon Gary Meyerhoff used the sound system in Raintree Park to describe his treatment by police and the purpose of the rally, to about 100 demonstrators.

"Two plainsclothes detectives approached and grabbed Gary who fell to the ground rather than submit to blatant political oppression." Click on image to enlarge "This is not the first time he has been harassed by NT Police for his non-violent activism."

People moved quickly to show solidarity with NAP's spokesperson and surrounded Police and Gary with linked arms.

I was left literally, holding the baby (and other people's property) as more people went to block Police efforts to break the ring.

I managed to find a reliable 'Mother-substitute' and joined the ring myself.
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The Police holding Gary, refused to explain why he was being arrested to protestors. I asked another Police Officer, just what was going on? And he told me to ask the officers involved.

I explained that he wouldn't answer us and that we had a Council permit to be in Raintree Park.

This had already been made clear to the Police involved, by other protestors.

Police eventually grabbed me, refusing to explain why I was being arrested.

Given my past experiences with the NT Police, I too refused to cooperate in the trampling of my human rights.

I managed to 'escape' from the Police van twice as other activists were being bundled in.

The second 'escape' saw me crushed beneath Police with my face pressed against the hot paving, until I had difficulty breathing. The possibility of being killed in Raintree Park occurred to me. Then my arms were wrenched behind my back and handcuffed. My right arm has been injured for over a year, so the pain was excruciating.

"Despite my telling Police this, they lifted me up by my injured arm." Click on image to enlarge "An operation prolonged and made even more painful, by the Police Officer standing on my dreadlocks."

Up to 50 involved in Darwin brawl

Up to 50 people were involved in a brawl along Mitchell Street in Darwin early this morning.(Sun, 21 April, 2002)

Acting Senior Sergeant Foley says all of the city's on duty police were called to the fight outside nightclubs at 4:15am.

She says the fight involved 40 to 50 people and took half an hour to break up.

Two male police officers suffered cuts and bruises and a member of the public was taken to hospital with facial injuries.

No arrests were made.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nt/metnt-21apr2002-3.htm
(This link is no longer live.)

36-Inch Marijuana Cigarette Is a Joke
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=humannews&StoryID=851693
(This link is no longer live but the article has been archived.)

SYDNEY (Reuters) April 21, 02 - Australian police arrested five people who defiantly puffed away in public on what they claimed was the country's biggest marijuana joint, but it turned out to be nothing more than tobacco and harmless legal herbs.

The 36-inch so-called "community joint" -- rolled using brown paper as wrapping -- was part of a chaotic demonstration in Darwin Saturday by the Network Against Prohibition (NAP) against a planned tightening of drug laws.

"We didn't want to come in with half a kilo of marijuana, it was a symbol," said NAP spokesman Scott White.

Police said some of those involved in the stunt would face charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, while one man could face a charge of actual possession.

The NAP wants the government to accept marijuana as an integral part of Northern Territory lifestyle but the tighter legislation against those suspected of dealing is due to come into force next month.
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Obviously Reuters got the story wrong -- but it has
now broken internationally.