Rabble-proof fence
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Sydney is a poitical event being held in a democratic country, but the increasing fever in pitch of threats of violent protest has lead to the virtual banning of any protest and the use of the words "protesters" and "terrorists" in the same breath.
The security crackdown will shut down the city. A 5.5km exclusion fence of huge concrete blocks and cyclone mesh has been erected, 500 gaol cells have been evacuated to make way for mass arrests. Even Meals on Wheels has been cancelled for the Friday.
Australia's government has spent $169m (US$138m) on security for the event over six years.
The State Government Transport Minister John Watkins says the security barrier "[is] a big, ugly, strong fence and it's there to keep protesters out and to protect against terrorism".
That means the fence has been designed to keep out those who belive in democratic rights (eg to air dissenting political opinions) and those who don't believe in the democratic process: in short, everybody except the ruling elite.
Sydney will be in virtual lockdown with some roads and train stations closed, many shops shut and Friday declared a public holiday to encourage residents to leave the city for the weekend.
Despite the 5.5km fence, the constant overflight by jet fighters, virtual lockdown of the city, and the presence of thousands of armed police and soldiers, an official threatened protesters "who interrupt the normal running of Sydney" with tough punishment.
THE MONTHS BEFORE
NSW Govt says APEC great for Sydney's profile
Earlier this week, Deputy Premier John Watkins said the conference would lock down the city and provide nothing tangible for the people or business of Sydney. Mr Iemma has contradicted the claims.
"The benefits to the city are the obvious benefits of the city's profile," he said.
But he has supported Mr Watkins' warning about the level of the disruption that the event is expected to cause.
'Ring of steel' blockades Sydney
As the wall was being erected, a police helicopter flew overhead, large numbers of police patrolled the city on pushbikes, in vehicles and on foot while several coasted around the harbour on jet skis.
"We think this wall is unnecessary and shouldn't be there. It's dividing Sydney in two," says a protester.
In stark contrast to the security wall, APEC organisers have erected colourful street banners and flower beds to welcome the visiting officials.
APEC 'security wall' undemocratic: GreensThe incoming New South Wales Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, says details about security fencing for the APEC summit in Sydney will be made public soon.
Mr Scipione has refused to confirm rumours the barrier will be made of high reinforced concrete almost 3m high and will be used to cordon-off several blocks of central Sydney from Circular Quay. He says any measures being planned by authorities are necessary.
Greens MP, Lee Rhiannon, says no part of Sydney should be fenced off. She said the fence would be "symbolic that this [Iemma] government does not understand peaceful protest which is such a critical part of a healthy democracy - this fence is not needed".
More APEC restrictions announced
Additional areas in the Sydney CBD, eastern suburbs and the airport have been added to the list of restricted zones for next month's APEC summit.
The Government has revealed the RAAF base at Richmond, Sydney Airport, parts of Kirribilli, areas of Bondi and four major hotels in the city will today be officially-gazetted declared zones for the APEC conference.
The Deputy Premier, John Watkins, says the decision gives police additional powers to stop and search and move people on in those areas. "This enables the police to exercise greater power and a level of control," he said.
He also warned Sydneysiders to expect "significant disruptions" in the CBD from Saturday September 1 to Monday September 10, due to the US President's decision to arrive two days earlier.
1500 ADF personnel to provide APEC security
ecurity operations during APEC will involve 1500 Australian Defence personnel. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the New South Wales Police signed a memorandum of understanding outlining the state police role as the primary security agency.
Brigadier Andrew Smith says the ADF will provide unique security services to help support the event."
That includes Black Hawk helicopters, some FA18 hornet fighter aircraft divers on the harbour, some other Royal Australian Navy Ships, some specialist search teams from the Army Reserve and a special operations task group," he said.
The federal Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, says several of the delegations attending the APEC summit have applied for certificates to carry guns in Australia.
A familiarisation flight over the Harbour Bridge and Goat Island by an SA18 involved an aircraft travelling at 420kmh at an altitude of 1000 metres.
New police powers come into force
New police powers come into force today, allowing officers to stop and search anyone trying to enter a restricted zone.
The police centre in Surry Hills is also now fully operational, with a wall of video screens showing live shots of the city's streets.
Exclusion notices are also being sent out from today to individuals considered by police to be a security threat.
"The police are ready and they have the equipment the powers and the training needed to protect our citizens and our guests," Mr Iemma said. "The Police Minister, David Campbell, has defended the measures, saying violent protests are being planned.
PROTESTS BANNED
APEC protesters say the police are being unreasonable in their continued opposition to the Stop Bush Coalition's planned route during the September 2-9 conference. Police and protest organisers met again today and failed to reach an agreement on the route.
A student demonstration on the Wednesday has not been allowed to march.
The Greens have been told they are not allowed to have a stationary action with 21 people inside Martin Place.
["It's a shocking thing to see these leaders come here and not talk about the plight of workers in their own countries, not stand up to multinational companies and say, 'Enough - we want our citizens, our families, our workers treated with dignity and respect.'" - ACTU president, Sharan Burrow]
Sydney locks down for APEC meeting
Sydney is in lock down amid fears of violent protests and terrorist strikes.
Many of the city's top tourist attractions, including the Sydney Opera House, will be hidden behind a 5.5m long, 2.8m high steel and concrete fence.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says 3500 police and 1500 counter-terrorism and special force soldiers will protect US President George W Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao and other "dignitaries".
Police have purchased a water cannon for the event, cleared enough jail cells to hold 500 demonstrators, and converted 30 buses into mobile holding cells that can also be used as street barricades. Mounted officers would not be used because of an outbreak of the highly-contagious equine influenza but dogs will be brought in to screen the crowds.
"The intelligence that has been coming through would cause us to prepare for a mass arrest arrangement," Incoming New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.
The military will enforce an 80-kilometre no-fly zone around the city with F/A-18 fighters and Blackhawk helicopters, while navy divers and patrol boats guard Sydney Harbour.
"We are planning a peaceful protest but the police are making it very difficult and being very provocative," StopBush organiser Alex Bainbridge said.
"They're basically treating us like terrorists and denying our democratic right to protest."
NSW Greens politician Lee Rhiannon described the city centre fence, which is designed to withstand attack from an explosives-laden car, as "an absolute insult (to) the process of democracy".
But Prime Minister John Howard said the protesters had only themselves to blame for the tough measures.
Police blacklist IDs those banned from city
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle is calling on the Federal Government to reveal its role in the creation of a black list of APEC protesters.
Senator Nettle said "I want to know about what involvement Federal Police and ASIO had in determining which people should be excluded from being able to be in Sydney".
"This black list has been drawn up with no regard for the courts - there is no judicial oversight for determining whether people should be on that list people.
"If they find out they are on it, [they] have got no right of appeal."
Police Minister David Campbell says people on an exclusion list for the APEC week will be contacted by police to be told they are not allowed to enter the restricted APEC zones.
The Minister said police will contact individuals and say "'We believe that you are an excluded person'."
Roads will be closed within restricted zones and police will have more power to search people.
The names and photographs of about 30 on the blacklist were published in a Sydney newspaper.
Scipione takes over as NSW Police Commissioner
Andrew Scipione has taken over as NSW's 21st Police Commissioner, officially succeeding Ken Moroney at midnight. Mr Scipione's swearing in has been postponed until the summit is over.
"If you intend to come here and protest violently, you should realise that we're going to be very hard on you," he said. "...if you've got that in mind, you can understand that we'll be looking to take you into custody and putting you into a cell and putting you before a court," he said.
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