Anti-war protests escalate outside military weapons convention in Australia News
User:Orderinchaos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Anti-war protests escalate outside military weapons convention in Australia

Around 1200 anti-war and anti-genocide protesters clashed with police outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibit Center on Wednesday, according to a media statement by Victoria Police. 39 of the protestors against the Land Forces International Land Defense Exposition have been arrested so far and charged with various offences, including assault on police officers and obstruction of police.

Addressing the media, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton stressed his support of the right to peaceful protest but said the events on Wednesday were anything but. According to Patton, police officers on the ground were assaulted and had bottles thrown at them, as well as balloons containing different liquids. According to subsequent analysis, some balloons contained a low-level acid meant to irritate. 24 police officers are currently being treated for injuries.

Police horses were reportedly targeted, and officers had horse manure thrown at them. “This is the type of disgusting behaviour that we say today from a group who are intent on confronting us”, Patton said. Protestors also burned bins.

Patton confirmed that non-lethal munitions were deployed against protestors and claimed that the use of non-lethal munitions –  foam baton rounds, pepper spray and flash distraction devices – was appropriate in the circumstances. However, protestors say the use of police force was disproportionate.

The purpose of the protests organized by Students for Palestine and Disrupt War groups is to prevent profiting from war crimes. The Exposition is a biennial event described by the organizers as “the premier gateway to the land defence markets of Australia and the region, and a platform for interaction with major prime contractors from the United States and Europe.”

A designated area was declared at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and South Wharf. The Victoria Police issued a public notice that the Supreme Court of Victoria authorised the use of special police powers around the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, under section 21B of the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003. The powers enable police officers and protective services officers to obtain disclosure of identity, search persons and vehicles, and direct persons to leave the area, among other powers. The authorisation will end at midnight on Sunday.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Terrorists launch airplane attacks on major US targets

On September 11, 2001, terrorists allegedly associated with al Qaeda hijacked four US commercial airliners, two of which were crashed into the World Trade Center Towers in New York City, with a third hitting the Pentagon in Washington DC. The fourth plane went down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks spawned an immediate tightening of aviation security regulations and in October 2001 led to Congressional passage of the controversial USA PATRIOT Act, giving the executive broad new national security powers.

Israel and Egypt agree to peace deal

On September 11, 1978, Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt agreed to the Camp David Accords, a plan for peace between the two countries. This led to the signing of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. U.S. President Jimmy Carter played a major role in the negotiations.

Starr Report detailing case for Clinton impeachment delivered to Congress

On September 11, 1998, Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth Starr delivered an extensive report to Congress accusing President Clinton of 11 possible impeachable offenses - including perjury, obstruction of justice, tampering with witnesses and abuse of his powers of office - in connection with his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Within minutes of its much-anticipated release on the Internet, JURIST carried the report here.