The G8 anti terrorism summit is meeting in Sheffield from June 15 to 17th. This article from local tabloid the Sheffield Star claims the city centre will be closed by a massive presence of armed police.
Huge police operation for ministers' meeting
http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=927701
AN international anti-terrorism conference will go ahead in Sheffield, despite fears of violent protests.
Council leaders in Sheffield confirmed representatives from the world's 'big eight' industrial nations will converge on South Yorkshire between June 15-17.
A huge armed police operation is expected to seal Sheffield city centre for the meeting to prevent a terror attack against representatives from the USA, UK, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Russia.
The meeting had been arranged by former Home Secretary David Blunkett but was thrown in doubt by his resignation before Christmas.
Among delegates will be the man in charge of protecting the US from a repeat of the 9/11 atrocity - Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
Mr Blunkett chose Sheffield, where he grew up and made a name for himself in politics, in an attempt to showcase the city's progress.
Similar meetings elsewhere in the world have attracted violent disruptions from protesters. Some websites have featured postings from groups who claim to be mobilising protest for the summit.
The meeting will be the forerunner of the G8 heads of state summit being held in Gleneagles, Penrithshire, Scotland the following month.
It is Britain's turn for the presidency of the G8, which is the group of the eight most powerful nations who get together every year to set out ways of tackling the biggest problems facing the world such as terrorism, famine and climate change.
The meeting will look at international issues including counter-terrorism, migration, law enforcement, legal affairs and hi-tech crime.
The Home Office has been in negotiations with the council and other agencies for a number of months on arrangements for the meeting.
Workers at Home Office immigration offices in Pond Street have been asked if they would like to be a guide to foreign ministers during the conference. Volunteers would show delegates round the city.
24 January 2005
http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=927701 AN international anti-terrorism conference will go ahead in Sheffield, despite fears of violent protests.
Council leaders in Sheffield confirmed representatives from the world's 'big eight' industrial nations will converge on South Yorkshire between June 15-17.
A huge armed police operation is expected to seal Sheffield city centre for the meeting to prevent a terror attack against representatives from the USA, UK, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Russia.
The meeting had been arranged by former Home Secretary David Blunkett but was thrown in doubt by his resignation before Christmas.
Among delegates will be the man in charge of protecting the US from a repeat of the 9/11 atrocity - Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
Mr Blunkett chose Sheffield, where he grew up and made a name for himself in politics, in an attempt to showcase the city's progress.
Similar meetings elsewhere in the world have attracted violent disruptions from protesters. Some websites have featured postings from groups who claim to be mobilising protest for the summit.
The meeting will be the forerunner of the G8 heads of state summit being held in Gleneagles, Penrithshire, Scotland the following month.
It is Britain's turn for the presidency of the G8, which is the group of the eight most powerful nations who get together every year to set out ways of tackling the biggest problems facing the world such as terrorism, famine and climate change.
The meeting will look at international issues including counter-terrorism, migration, law enforcement, legal affairs and hi-tech crime.
The Home Office has been in negotiations with the council and other agencies for a number of months on arrangements for the meeting.
Workers at Home Office immigration offices in Pond Street have been asked if they would like to be a guide to foreign ministers during the conference. Volunteers would show delegates round the city.
24 January 2005
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
will you be there?
15.02.2005 09:34
nos
sources
15.02.2005 12:38
where's the balance explaining the legitimacy of the protest? there is none. anti-capitalist protest is, of course, always advertised beforehand as riot and/or terrorist threat simply because an anti-capitalist future is what these people want everyone to be really afraid of. sheffield star, keeping its punters in the dark because everyone should be at meadowhall. owned by johnston press which has 240 other local newspapers up and down the UK no doubt pumping out exactly the same message everywhere from worthing to motherwell.
full list of titles here:
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Uphold Scotland's tradition of peaceful protest
15.02.2005 20:09
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"We would like you consider supporting the following statement that we will be sending to the Scottish and Westminster parliament and to Tayside police. Members of G8 Alternatives which is planning a major alternative summit on Sunday 3rd July in Edinburgh with speakers from all over the world attending have initiated this statement. We would appreciate a reply before Wednesday 9th February. Please do not hesitate to give me a call if you have any queries.
Our freedoms as citizens and our democratic right to voice our opposition to the rulers of the world are in danger of being silenced. Our liberty to peacefully protest free from violence and intimidation is being threatened.
This is what the police and security forces have threatened during the summit of the G8 in Gleneagles this July:
- Major areas of Edinburgh and around Gleneagles cordoned off.
- Buildings in our cities and towns boarded up.
- Thousands of police officers in full riot gear, armed with rubber bullets drafted in from all over Britain.
- People, including young children who live in the Gleneagles area forced to carry an identity card.
- Venues for public meetings and events in Edinburgh vetted by the Home Office.
Nobody in Scotland was consulted about holding the G8 summit. Public opinion was not sought on whether we should play host to the world's greatest warmonger - George W Bush. A number of organisations are preparing for a range of peaceful protests and public meetings, discursive and creative events to show that a better world is possible. This 'movement of movements' includes NGOs, trades unions, academics, campaigners, thinkers and artists. We cannot allow these dissenting voices to be silenced.
We the undersigned, demand a full guarantee from the police and security forces and from the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments that during the summit of the G8 in Gleneagles the July:
- The planned peaceful demonstrations in Edinburgh and at Gleneagles will not be policed by those in riot gear or with rubber bullets.
- Venues for public meetings and events will be made available to campaigners in Edinburgh and in other parts of Scotland.
- People will have the right to protest peacefully during the G8 summit.
- The police and security forces shall not inhibit NGOs, activists, and campaigners from creating spaces and circumstances where families and children can feel safe to peacefully voice their protest.
Unless our freedoms and human rights are fully upheld we believe that the G8 should not meet here at all.
The petition Upholding Scotland's tradition of peaceful protest can now be signed at:
G8 alternatives