Re: [Fwd: Police Raid Seminar on Economic Globalization] (fwd)

Sat, 5 Sep 1998 12:35:49 +0100
Richard K. Moore (rkmoore@iol.ie)

8/31/98, Richard Ragland wrote:
>I find it unbelievable. Was there any reason given for the raid?

I was present in Geneva last May when PGA (Peoples Global Action) put on
one of their "manifestations". I also had a long discussion with Sergio
Hernandez, who seems to be the leader and strategist. PGA is, I believe,
responsible for the bulletin we are discussing, even though their acronym
is spelled differently in French (AMP or something like that).

PGA's manifesto declares the coalition to be "non-violent itself, but
non-judgemental regarding violence by others". I spoke to Ronnie Dugger,
who was present when this manifesto was being debated, and Ronnie said
agreement was _not reached regarding this declaration, and that Sergio
abruptly adjourned the meeting and wrote what he wanted to write. As it
turns out, this ambiguous decalaration seems to be a cover for instigating
violence while trying to avoid responsibility.

There were thousands of protesters on the streets for PGA's manifestation,
and I was among them, in the company of a contingent from WILPF (Womens
International League for Peace and Freedom). As the march began, I noticed
one group of marchers were wearing balaklavas. I assumed this was some kind
of dramatic statement, and didn't think too much of it. In fact, that
group were carrying paving stones in shopping carts and the masks were to
prevent them being identified on video tape.

The march/manifestation proceeded peacefully, a festive event that snaked
through most of Geneva. It finally reached a police barrier near the WTO
headquarters, and people settled back to listen to speeches. At that point
a very small handful of people began hurling bottles and stones at the
police line. It was not a serious confrontation, and no one was hurt, but
it was a betrayal of the non-violence of most of the marchers.

On the way back home, I found out the mission of the balaklava-crowd when I
saw windows broken in many of the MacDonald's and other multinational
chain-stores I came to. Perhaps some may consider such actions kosher in
the fight against TNC's, but later the violence became less selective. At
2am, on returning from what Geneva calls an Irish Bar, I found the square
near my residence (which was the PGA encampment) being lit up by a
helicopter light, and a confrontation going on between a few police and a
few rock throwers.

The police were launching tear-gas cannisters and a very small group of
people were darting from shelter to shelter throwing rocks. All the while
the "official" PGA people were sitting around their campfire being "non
judgemental". The next morning, the windows had been broken in most of the
local shops, as well as on various construction vehicles that were parked
in the vicinity.

I'm not "shocked" at the damage, that's not the point, the point is that
what could and should have been a large non-violent protest against
globalization -- something that would in some small way make a political
statement -- instead became in the press "a group of violent protestors
invading Geneva". The mood of the city became "Get rid of those people so
the WTO can get on with its business".

I can't guess what PGA's agenda is, nor what's going on in Sergio's mind,
but the net result of their policies is to promote violence and to
undermine the effectiveness of popular demonstrations. On balance, they
function as agent provocateurs, and can only be viewed with favor by the
promoters of globalization. One wonders where they get their funding.

In its May press releases, PGA put out exaggerated reports of police
"brutality" but never once mentioned the violent provocations by the
"non-judged" few. I doubt if their more recent bulletins have any more
journalistic integrity behind them, nor can I feel much sense of outrage if
the Geneval police feel obligated to investigate a group which only a few
months ago were involved in organizing gratuitous vilolence in the city.

rkm
Wexford, Ireland