Complaint to the Ombudsman
TO THE OMBUDSMAN
“On October 21st your office will be aware that there was a forceful removal of a peaceful occupation by a group calling themselves “Occupy Melbourne.” Approximately 400 police were used to evacuate this sight, and then to use force to push protestors the length of Swanston Street. My concern is that I was one of those protestors. According to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission I have the right (section 16) to “peacefully assemble.” There is no caveat on that right. It is a right of the highest importance, and one that ought to be overruled only if there are concerns for safety, health, or if other rights are being infringed. There is also a right to “security of person,” (section 21) which states that everyone3 has the right to freedom and safety. The brutal tactics of the police on this day were in clear breach of this second right, as well as the first. These rights cannot niggardly piggardly be taken away. Twice I was manhandled by police and dragged forcefully away. I lost a $400 camera in one such affair. I have gravel rash to both of my buttocks. I have been sore throughtout my body. I have never witnessed in 33 years of adult life the sorts of violent and unnecessary conduct that was carried out against a swell of peaceful people as happened on Friday. My understanding was that this raid was at the instigation of the Lord Mayor, but of course I am concerned that whomsoever was responsible for this act of terrorism against people in peaceful assembly be brought to some form of account.”
“From what I can gather the brutal force used by the police on Friday in City Square was in relation to two very minor infringement notices lodge by the City Council, one of camping without a permit, and one of putting up structures. These are very minor infringements for the riot police to be called in over, and the brutal force exercised to remove protestors in this incidence was clearly unwarranted. Moreover, as i have previously pointed out, people have the right to peaceful assembly, according to Victorian law. The structures and tents which are referred to were incidental to the peaceful assembly, and unnecessary to it. Those items could have been removed without interfering in the peaceful assembly of citizens. But in respect to my case, I arrived at the city square at approximately 11am. I did not own or occupy a tent. I did not create or maintain any structures. And yet I was prevented from peaceful assembly. I was twice dragged away, forcibly removed, by police, and injured in the process, with loss of personal property. This is a disgrace, and a bizarre overreaction. This is the sort of police brutality we normally associate with some European countries, and other places int he world. It is virtually unheard on in Australia. I have never been witness to it previously, certainly not on this scale against protestors who did not engage in violence. I did not engage in violence. Indeed the second time I was dragged away, the occasion of my injury, I was struggling to protect others who I feared could be crushed in the pushing that the police were engaged in to move us along. The police decided i was a trouble maker because I was talking to them, asking them to ease off so that no-one would be hurt. This is when I was dragged backwards from the rear of the line and dragged by my arms some thirty or forty metres, where I sustained injuries to both buttocks and lost my camera.”
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