Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, Don't give up the fight.

~Bob Marley ~

Commissioner Andrew Scipione APM,
Commissioner of Police
LOCKED BAG 5102,
PARRAMATTA NSW 2124
09.02.2013
Dear Commissioner
I write to express my deep concern about the recent police activity at Doubtful Creek Coal Seam Gas Blockade. Last Thursday Feb 7th, I was present as a citizen concerned about the deleterious effects of Coal Seam Gas mining on farming lands. As you are no doubt aware, the protest was attended by well in excess of 350 people, exercising their democratic right to protest this unpopular industry.

I have no doubt that you have also been made aware that police made a decision to allow the mining convoy priority over the ambulance which had been called to assist a woman with a head injury. Her injury was sustained directly as a result of another police decision to herd people along the road. Whilst walking backwards in order to obey the police directive she fell onto a bulbar.

Police were there supposedly to protect protesters from injury. It is not acceptable that any person be exposed to this kind of treatment due to police decisions.

Heavy Handed Arrests by Riot Squad.

 If this was an isolated incident, it would still be unacceptable. Coming as it does after a multitude of heavy-handed arrests of protesters at Glenugie, many of whom were brutalised by police during their arrests, it is an outrage. Bending people’s hands back at the wrist, twisting their arms behind their back and making them scream with pain appear to have become the standard approach to arrest. This is totally inappropriate when dealing with ordinary people who are not committing any criminal offence, who are not armed and who have stated very clearly that they are there simply to protest against CSG. Failure to obey a police directive and obstruction of traffic does not warrant violent arrest. I have witnessed video footage which shows protesters stating loudly and clearly that they are not resisting arrest – and yet police continue to brutalise them.

Police, and particularly the Tactical Response Unit, need to be more fully informed and given more appropriate training in dealing with demonstrations of civil disobedience. When they are attending a peaceful, non-violent demonstration, they need to understand that it is in no way comparable to a riot. If there has been no assault, no damage to property and no abusive behaviour, then violent and disrespectful behaviour by police is absolutely uncalled-for. It simply diminishes the image of the police force and creates unnecessary suffering and expense to ordinary good people – and to the police force when these matters are brought before the courts.

I fervently hope that you are addressing this issue as a matter of urgency. These protests will continue until there is a political or legal resolution of the issue of CSG mining, which has been shown to be against the will of a very large majority of the population. It is incumbent on the police force to show restraint and respect towards their fellow citizens at these times.

Yours sincerely
Megan James..

Images @ Melonpopzdropz Flickr

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