Sunday, March 04, 2007

Something's Rotten in Denmark (SWAT AMOK?)

Photo from http://www.indymedia.dk/
ANTI-TERROR FORCES ARE NOW TARGETING LOCAL YOUTH
The swat teams surrounded the youth house and started pouring in tear gas, using fire hoses. Combat troops were lowered from helicopters. In reaction for the past four days there have been street battles in Copenhagen as young people react to these repressive moves and the closing of a vital community center. The following text from indymedia Denmark explains the history:
"The house was GIVEN to the autonomous scene in KPH in 1982, if they in return would give up some places that were squatted at the time, and they did, the anarchists kept their end of the bargain. It was the council that broke this deal, and not only did they come clean about it, no, they tried to sell the house (that WASN'T theirs!) behind the backs of the people that rightfully inhibited the place. And so they did, to Faderhuset, a fundamentalist Christian cult that has been noted to have strong racist (anti-Muslim) tendencies! How's that for getting slapped in the face? .......

"How do you expect people to react when they've been continually marginalized, criminalized, spat on and shoved aside? Because that's exactly what the city council of KPH did. What they basically said was "we don't want you here, we don't give a fuck about who you are, what you stand for and what you're fighting for" and to let you feel this, we'll sell your building. Your ONE building where you have put all your time, energy and enthousiasm in, the ONE place where you can be yourself and get the bands to play that you like, get the (vegan) food that you can afford and can do whatever you feel like doing. Look, not everyone is interested in going to disco's and listening to shitty R 'n B! Not everyone is happy living in a city that is being homogenized into a shopping centre for dumb yuppies with too much money to spend!! And Ungdomshuset provided a place for those people, whether you like them or not, and now they're angry. Gosh, I wonder why..." ...from a comment posted on indymedia http://www.indymedia.dk/

And this from indymedia.uk
"This morning at 7:00 AM the anti-terror squad landed on the roof of the "Ungdomshuset" via helicopters, while later in the day activists from all over Copenhagen rushed to protest the eviction of "Ungdomshuset", they were met by aggressive policemen in riot gear blocking the street arresting suspected troublemakers with many resulting injuries. The demonstrators fought back and tried to reclaim the "Ungdomshuset", but were repelled and activists took to the nearby streets and started building barricades, while engaging police in skirmishes.

"The neighbourhoods has been entirely shut down by local residents and activists: actions and demonstrations have taken place all over Copenhagen with more planned for the following days and weeks. While sympathisers from all over Europe have been rushing in, although police are attempting to detain suspected activists at the borders. Furthermore solidarity demonstrations are under way in Germany, Norway and Sweden.

"The house has functioned as a political and cultural centre, home to political demonstrations, political debates, concerts and many more cultural events since 1982. It has served as a basis-democratic remainder that 'another world is possible' until this morning. The actions of solidarity taking place all over Europe, as well as Russia and Australia are greatly appreciated. Please join in and support the struggle for autonomous commons and the resistance against the neoliberal repression. The homepage of "Ungdomshuset" has been shot down but a mirror has been set up (in English). " http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/363973.html

IS THIS WHAT HAPPENS WITH POLICE AROUND THE WORLD HAVE ENDLESS BUDGETS FOR GEAR AND SWAT TEAMS AND NO WHERE TO USE THEM, EXCEPT THEIR OWN POPULACE? A SIMILAR THING IS HAPPENING IN THE US WITH THE CRACK DOWN ON RADICALS FROM THE 60'S. SEE http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/19/18365745.php

2 Comments:

Blogger Arne said...

First of I'd better say that I don't really have an opinion on the political side of things, I used to be very active in the left wing environment (only concerning environmental issues though) in Denmark and have also had my "issues" with mostly the German police in my time, it hasn't always been pleasant.

Anyhow I just wanted to comment on what you say about the use of SWAT in Copenhagen which I feel is a bit unfair.
I wasn't there myself and have only what information the media have left me with so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I think the use of a SWAT team in the use of the clearing of the roof of the building really was good thing, as I understand it they had some quite heavy things for throwing up there which could have meant the cost of life if it had been used. I don't think anyone would be served well by that.

I have not heard any complaints about how the police handled the clearing of Ungdomshuset itself, it was done very fast, efficiently and with very little harm being done to anyone as I understand it (as far as I know only one person was injured and was immediately taken to the hospital).
The problems with police behavior have shown up later in the bigger demonstrations where policemen with less training in handling situations have been taken into use because there simply isn't enough well trained police around to handle such massive riots as occurred afterwards.

So really I think you are unfair to complain about the use of SWAT here, I think the part of this entire police operation was best handled where SWAT was part of the operation.

Back when I was handled roughly I really wish I had been confronted with SWAT teams instead of the east German roughneck police I met, it would have saved me from quite a few wounds on my soul after having seen people being beaten to heavily right next to me, hearing the bones in the legs snap ... I still shiver thinking of this and have a hard time keeping back the tears.

Violence is a solution to nothing, but if it has to be used, then I sure prefer it is done professionally by people who are well educated in doing it without causing unnecessary harm to anyone.

4:32 PM  
Blogger DeeDee Halleck said...

Hitler was very professional.

DeeDee

10:27 PM  

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