The Aubonne-Bridge Action against the G8 in 2003, in which two activists, Martin Shaw and Gesine Wenzel, nearly lost their lives as the police cut their climbing rope, has entered an exciting new phase. The High Court has accepted their appeal. It had been previously ruled that the police were not to be charged declaring that the incident was produced by the activists' own temerity. The highest ranking officer, and the officer who cut the rope will now be sent to trial under the accusation of simple and severe bodily harm with negligence.
The activists remain skeptical. "While we are very happy about this decision, we have deep concerns that the judicial system really wants to find out the truth." said Martin Shaw. Gesine Wenzel says "There is a definite refusal to find out about the implications of the hierarchy. They aim to consider the two accused policemen as the black sheep and the incident as an accident. But if one really wants to avoid such dramas, the entire system of police intervention and internal organization has to be looked at."
29 parliamentarians from different parties are openly supporting the activists case. The climbers who have suffered severe physical and emotional injuries have received no compensation, whilst considerable amounts have been awarded to shop-owners whose windows were destroyed during the protests. "This shows how the state protects property over people's lives", concluded the activists. "The decision of tribunal is a first step. But it is important to remember that this is absolutely exceptional and that most complaints about police violence remain uninvestigated and never lead to prosecution."
For more information contact aubonne
no-log.org
