Looking at the streets of Sydney, you would think they were preparing for a full-scale invasion in the city. No, Tasmanians are not declaring war on the mainland, it is just that George Bush is planning to come to town. See, Australians hate him so much (except for their soon to be departed PM John Howard) they are going to protest him on an unprecedented scale. Apparently the riot police chief is shaking in his boots. Not that anyone wants to do him harm, they just want him the hell out of their country...and to end the occupation of Iraq. Authorities are going ape-shit anyways.
From RawStory:
Many of the city's usually bustling streets were almost deserted amid the security operation involving 5,000 police and troops, with just a few onlookers hoping to catch a glimpse of the US leader through the security fence.
Some retailers, particularly high-end fashion and jewellery stores, were closed -- with signs in their windows saying they would reopen after APEC.
Pavement garbage bins were sealed off with plastic covers while private security guards stood on duty outside office towers.
Some city centre businesses have reported a 50 percent fall in takings, although bicycle courier Rangi Smith said he had not been too badly affected.
"I can get around pretty easy on the bike but it's the pedestrians I'm worried about," he said, gesturing to onlookers near the security fence.
"They look like they're in a cage -- it's like they're imprisoned in their own city."
Sounds more like a raging case of paranoia and nothing that resembles sanity. The police seem to be creating something out of nothing. Protesting against a tyrant should be perfectly legal. The police do not want to give that impression for the media though, instead of showing Bush as the barbarian, they'll do anything to put the protesters in a bad light. Shame on the Aussie cops for this.
|