G20 rioter jailed for 14 months

Originally Posted by http://news.theage.com.au/g20-rioter-jailed-for-14-months/20080307-1xs1.html

A protester involved in the violent G20 riots in Melbourne in 2006 has been jailed for at least 14 months.
Akin Sari, 29, of no fixed address, was among a group of demonstrators who stormed a city office, attacked a police brawler van and hurled rocks, rubbish bins and milk crates at police outside the Group of 20 nations summit on November 17 and 18, 2006.

Sari pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated burglary and theft, two of riot, two of common assault and three of criminal damage.
The Victorian County Court was told that Sari played a major role in the protests and was caught on camera damaging a police brawler van at the intersection of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane, in the city, on November 18.

"At the intersection of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane a group of police were attacked," Judge Roy Punshon told the court.
"They tried to hide behind a brawler van.

"A DVD shows you (Sari) throwing objects at police."

Judge Punshon told the court that Sari was also seen smashing a window on the police brawler van and taking a log book.
Earlier in the afternoon Sari was with a group of protesters who attacked two traffic event officers, one a woman, outside the Grand Hyatt hotel where the summit was being held.

The court heard that the officers' utility was surrounded by protesters dressed in white jumpsuits.
"You grabbed the female victim by the arm ... and menaced both victims with a metal pole," Judge Punshon told the court.
"The common purpose of the riot was to gain access to the G20 summit."

A day earlier protesters broke into the defence force recruitment centre in Swanston Street, in the city.
"Each of the incidents was relatively brief, but I accept it would have (felt like) it lasted much longer for those involved," the judge added.

He said the "offending is serious" but he took into account Sari's guilty plea, that he had no previous convictions and had already spent 215 days in custody.

He sentenced Sari to 28 months in jail with a non-parole period of 14 months.
More than 20 other people involved in the protests have yet to be dealt with in the magistrates court

Anarchist Federation proposal meeting, Alarm.

Anarchist Federation Convergence coming up

On the Easter Long Weekend, 21st to the 24th of March, there will be a convergence in Melbourne to discuss the proposed Regional Anarchist Federation (Oceania).

The convergence is to be held at the Melbourne Anarchist Club's space.

More details at A-Fed.

Alarm youth anarchist collective meeting

Alarm is an anarchist youth organization. It was created as a means for young people – workers, and students alike – to effectively organize against capitalism and the state, and to help spread revolutionary ideas throughout Australia.

Alarm is having a meeting at Victoria Park (Next to Broadway and Sydney Uni)

on the 27^th of January to help build the collective and work towards social change.

We will be meeting at 12pm, and will be marked by a Red and Black flag.

All welcome.

Stand up for Aboriginal rights on the first day of the new parliament.

Tuesday, February 12 2008
Turn back Howard and Brough's racist legacy!

- Mobilise for reinstatement of the Racial Discrimination Act
- Demand immediate review of the NT intervention
- End welfare quarantines, compulsory land acquisition and
'mission manager' powers
- Implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs

In the final months of government, John Howard introduced a package of discriminatory, unfair and punative measures against Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. Aimed at controlling Aboriginal lives and land, the legislation was a stark violation of basic human rights and dignities.

Federal Labor is promising a new era in Aboriginal affairs. They are
pledging to say sorry to the stolen generation and to sign the UN
declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. They have promised to restore both the CDEP (Community Development and Employment Program) and the permit system, which will ameliorate some of the worst effects of the NT intervention.

Unfortunately there are aspects of ALP policy that is still
disturbingly similar to the Liberals. Plainly discriminatory measures
such as mandatory welfare quarantines, compulsory land acquisition and the presence of non-Aboriginal "business managers" with extraordinary powers are being suffered under right now. There has been no move to allow the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act. The cry for immediate review of the legislation coming from across the NT has been ignored.

The Labor Government must comply with accepted international human rights laws and standards of non discrimination, equality , natural justice and procedural fairness. Legislation being implemented in the NT breaches commitments Australia has made as a signatory to major human rights treaties and conventions; such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Human Rights Commission must immediately review the legislation to ensure compliance with these obligations.

The federal election revealed overwhelming opposition to the
intervention among Aboriginal communities. When Labor MP's in affected areas emphasised political differences to the Coalition they consistently received over 80% of the vote; with 95% in the town of Wadeye.

Despite government claims that the intervention is a response to the Anderson & Wild "Little Children are Sacred" report, no new
community-based services to ensure the safety and protection of
children have been established, and there has been a notable
duplication of services - particularly in the area of child health
checks. There is an urgent need for delivery of essential services,
infrastructure and programs genuinely targeted at improving the safety and well being of children and developed in consultation with communities. Huge amounts of public money have been wasted, with $88 million alone going towards bureaucrats to control Aboriginal welfare.

Moving Forward
A vibrant, mass convergence Canberra on the first day of parliament will be an important step in challenging the lingering legacy of Howard's racism. We can strongly push for an immediate end to what Aboriginal communities have themselves described as an invasion. We can send a strong signal to Kevin Rudd and his new government to put Aboriginal rights at the centre of their agenda; to massively increase the resources available to communities across Australia and to respect Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs.

Initiated by the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, Sydney

Contact:
Shane Phillips 0414077631
Greg Eatock 0432050240

Endorsements from Aboriginal leaders include:
Olga Havnen (Combined Aboriginal Organisations of the NT)
Barbara Shaw (Tangentyere council, Alice Springs)
Lez Malezer (Chairman, Global Indigenous People's Caucus UN,
Foundation Aboriginal Islander Rights Association)
Jackie Katona (CEO of Lumbu Indigenous Community Foundation, Djokcan)
Michael Mansell (Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre)
Sam Watson (Brisbane)
Mitch (Arrendte woman, NT)
Robbie Thorpe (Melbourne)
Phil Falk (Senior Lecturer School of Law, Griffith Uni, Wiradjuri nation)
Linda Murphy (Lecturer, School of Arts, Griffith Uni)
Sandra Phillips (QUT)
Nicole Watson (Jumbunna, Sydney)
Heidi Norman (UTS)
Victor Hardt (Oodgeroo, QUT)
Shane Phillips (Redfern)
Peta Ridgeway (Newcastle)
Arthur Ridgeway (Newcastle)
Greg Eatock (Aboriginal Rights Coalition, Sydney)
Indigenous Social Justice Association

"The true revolutionary is guided by feelings of Great Love." (Writing on the wall. S11.)