Police violence stemmed from threat to cancel forum: unions http://news.com.au/0,4780,1199611%255E421,00.html By Michael Bachelard and Misha Schubert 15sep00 A THREAT by World Economic Forum organisers to cancel their meeting after protesters blockaded the venue on Monday led to increased police participation on Tuesday, a union leader claimed yesterday. Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Leigh Hubbard said "triangular" discussions between the organisers, the Government and police led to the at times violent crackdown by riot police. A government spokeswoman yesterday denied the claim, as Premier Steve Bracks announced security guards and Victorian police efforts throughout the siege of the Crown casino would be honoured at a state reception. WEF's Australian organiser, Michael Roux, said there was "no threat to close down the forum", though there was "constant contact" between WEF and the state Government about access to Crown. The news came as ombudsman Barry Perry launched an inquiry into the alleged "excessive force" used by police after saying he had received "numerous" complaints. Law firm Slater and Gordon is also likely to initiate a class action against the state and the police seeking compensation for those injured during the attack. But Mr Bracks stood by the police. "The police, as I've said before, did a sterling and outstanding job under enormous provocation," he said. However, an internal police investigation is being held into an incident where a protester was run over by an unmarked police car. Mr Bracks would not comment on the cost to the state of the protest, but Crown is understood to have lost up to $15 million over three days. As Melbourne's South Bank was cleared of graffiti yesterday, the cost of police overtime was said to be several million dollars. Comedian Rod Quantock, who was caught up in the fray on Tuesday night, said he had been hit in the ribs and elbow by "wide-eyed, wild-eyed policemen". Quantock and another victim, Jerry Szperling, who was caught in a choke hold by a policeman, were adamant the police had issued no warning of the move. "I spent seven years of my life getting rid of the Kennett government and after what Steve Bracks said (in praise of the police) . . . I hope it doesn't take me seven years to get rid of him," Quantock said. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
