G8 protesters in stand-off with police
Protesters and police engaged in a tense stand-off on Monday as Japanese authorities blocked demonstrators from nearing a summit of the world's most powerful leaders at a secluded mountain resort.
By Agencies |
JAPAN: Protesters and police engaged in a tense stand-off on Monday as Japanese authorities blocked demonstrators from nearing a summit of the world's most powerful leaders at a secluded mountain resort.
Around 50 anti-globalisation protesters, mostly from abroad, marched towards the Group of Eight leaders' luxury hilltop hotel but before they could come close they were stopped by more than 100 anti-riot police with 20 vans.
"This isn't what democracy looks like," one of the protesters howled at the police, who stood guard with shields under pouring rain.
A police negotiator replied to them: "Go back. I'm warning you that you will be arrested."
After a 30-minute stand-off in the town of Toyoura, the protesters, some covered with hoods and scarves, retreated to their remote campsite.
"In Japan the right to demonstrate is very strongly repressed," a Spanish activist said. "It's not only this time, but there's a permanent lack of access for Japanese citizens to express their ideas in any way that is difficult."
Thousand of demonstrators chanted slogans Saturday in Hokkaido's largest city of Sapporo, with police arresting three demonstrators and one journalist, but no protesters have been able to get near the isolated summit venue.
The closest demonstrators got was the edge of Lake Toya, some 10 kilometres (six miles) in diameter, where they shouted slogans in the vain hope that the leaders on the other side could hear them.
Activists ranging from German punk rockers to Japanese indigenous activists are camping here some 30 kilometres (18 miles) away from Toyako, where the G8 industrial powers were holding annual talks.
Around 50 anti-globalisation protesters, mostly from abroad, marched towards the Group of Eight leaders' luxury hilltop hotel but before they could come close they were stopped by more than 100 anti-riot police with 20 vans.
"This isn't what democracy looks like," one of the protesters howled at the police, who stood guard with shields under pouring rain.
A police negotiator replied to them: "Go back. I'm warning you that you will be arrested."
After a 30-minute stand-off in the town of Toyoura, the protesters, some covered with hoods and scarves, retreated to their remote campsite.
"In Japan the right to demonstrate is very strongly repressed," a Spanish activist said. "It's not only this time, but there's a permanent lack of access for Japanese citizens to express their ideas in any way that is difficult."
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Thousand of demonstrators chanted slogans Saturday in Hokkaido's largest city of Sapporo, with police arresting three demonstrators and one journalist, but no protesters have been able to get near the isolated summit venue.
The closest demonstrators got was the edge of Lake Toya, some 10 kilometres (six miles) in diameter, where they shouted slogans in the vain hope that the leaders on the other side could hear them.
Activists ranging from German punk rockers to Japanese indigenous activists are camping here some 30 kilometres (18 miles) away from Toyako, where the G8 industrial powers were holding annual talks.
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