The NT Drug War

The NT Labor Party have tried desperately to undermine the community support that enables NAP and PARIAH to operate so effectively in the Northern Territory.

The violence at the first and sixth community Smoke-in was a heavy-handed means of preventing political activists (opposed to Police-initiated drug laws, racism and a host of other issues that Police and the ALP government want suppressed) from gathering at Raintree Park.

Dare to Struggle...

NAP decided to ignore the Darwin City Council's (DCC) refusal to issue a permit for the seventh Smoke-in at Raintree Park and their alternate offer of a permit for Civic Park.

It is not our intention to follow the DCC's example and submit to politically-motivated Police pressure.

NAP members arrived at Raintree Park and began to set up, ignoring the fact that people were staying outside the park perimeters, in fear of the heavy Police presence.

When Rob Inder-Smith began speaking through a megaphone he was promptly approached by armed Police.

Rob just kept talking -- about the 'Drug war' -- the NT Police State -- and the harassment NAP members have faced from NT Police for exercising their democratic rights.

An attempt by Police to arrest Rob for alleged criminal behaviour at the previous Smoke-in was ridiculed by NAP members as a shoddy misuse of Police power. The Police were easily convinced of how lame this tactic would make them appear. Especially with the media present to record any altercation.

Col Friel (who overcame illness to attend) then gave a talk on the Iraqi situation with his usual insight and wit.

We presume the Iraqi 'peace theme' at the Smoke-in was why four Australian Federal Police were present -- one of them armed with a video camera.

There had better be a logical explanation for your attendance gentlemen.

Power to the People

No power was available due to the cowardice of the DCC, but this was remedied by a young man scaling an unclimbable pole with an extension lead and plugging into a power point.

Soon the music started and with the gas barbecue cooking up free food a crowd began to grow.

Police soon realized they had been outmanoeuvred by the NAP/PARIAH alliance, which had decided as a matter of strategy -- that activists Police were obviously trying to entrap -- (more on this later) were more effective in absentia.

Sergeant Hocking (who plays good cop) then told NAP members that most of the Police would be leaving Raintree Park as that would be less "intimidatory".

Thanks for that admission of how people view an unnecessary Police presence at a political rally.

...dare to win

Obviously this anti-climatic High Noon scenario has made a mockery of Police tactics at the previous Smoke-in, as well as...

...The dropping of all charges at the first Smoke-in,

...Four peaceful (no Police) Smoke-ins

...The removal of Police Minister Syd Stirling, shortly after the second Police attack.

This outcome has also high-lighted the NT Police use of charges for political purposes. An attempt to arrest Rob would have (intentionally) caused trouble given the politically convenient timing and the arena involved.

The belated arrest (by eight armed NT Police) of PARIAH's Coordinator, Mick Lambe, 12 days after the previous Smoke-in, complete with politically restrictive bail conditions, can only be seen in this light.

NAP and PARIAH will be holding more Smoke-ins in February at Raintree Park. The Wet -- not the NT Police -- determined this decision.

The DCC have recently conceded a meeting with NAP to discuss this eventuality.

Kudos to Darwin City Promotions who moved a band from Raintree Park to another site when we contacted them, making Police interference even less justifiable.

NB: NT Police began moving Aboriginal people away from Raintree Park (from 8 am onwards) to undermine our support.

No attempt to relieve members of the 'peace pipe' was made by the few remaining Police left at Raintree Park.