Democrats outraged over terrorism laws protest ban

[apothecary]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1507572.htm

The South Australian Democrats have condemned as outrageous, the banning of a protest against anti-terrorism legislation which was planned for tomorrow.

The protest was to be held outside State Parliament to coincide with the visit to Adelaide by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Democrats state leader Sandra Kanck says protest organisers have been told by the parliamentary Speaker that they do not have permission to hold the rally.

Ms Kanck says it is an attack on free speech by the presiding officers of Parliament.

"They give lip service to it but when it comes to the actual event we're finding that we are not in a position to be able to say what we want to say and I think it's just bloody outrageous," she said.

Traffic chaos is likely in Adelaide from tonight as sections of major inner-city streets are shut down ahead of Mr Rumsfeld's visit.

He arrives tomorrow for ministerial talks at the Adelaide Town Hall on Friday with Australia's foreign and defence ministers.

Adelaide city councillor Anne Moran says neither Lord Mayor Michael Harbison nor any other councillors are allowed access to their offices during the visit.

She says the council has had no say in the security arrangements.

"Apart from what taxi drivers have told me and also reading in the paper, we were finally briefed of course but we don't have clearance so we're just out," she said.

But Speaker Dr Bob Such says police have ordered the area be free from congestion during Mr Rumsfeld's visit, for security reasons.

"I had little choice but to say that during this visit that there wouldn't be any protest permitted on the steps of Parliament House," he said.

He says the same action would have been taken for a pro-US Government rally.

Assistant Police Commissioner Gary Burns says South Australian police are in charge of the operation involving 500 local officers.

"We also had meetings with AFP [Australian Federal Police] and other Australian government agencies but ultimately the security rests with SAPOL [south Australian police] so we end up determining road closures, the extent of road closures etcetera based on our assessment of any security threat or possible demonstrations," he said.

Police say peaceful protests will be permitted within official barriers set up for the visit.

Superindendent Neil Smith says the public's right to protest lawfully will be respected but authorities will not tolerate any violence or disruption.

"Obviously if there are road blocks then you know, there are boundaries but within those boundaries there is no issues at all with people protesting peacefully and lawfully," he said.

[Torsten]

Who invited the mass murderer?

[apothecary]

It's their anniversary :/