NSW: Protesters won't be moved on demo route

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2007
NSW: Protesters won't be moved on demo route

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - Protesters are standing firm on their proposed route for a major
demonstration during next week's APEC summit in Sydney, saying they are willing to go
to court if necessary.

Members of The Stop Bush Coalition, angered that their route for a demonstration on
September 8 had been rejected by NSW police, today protested outside the government offices
of NSW Premier Morris Iemma.

Coalition spokesman Alex Bainbridge said the proposed route, which included marching
near the US Consulate Office in Martin Place and parts of Macquarie Street, was reasonable.

"The option for the police if they don't like the march route that we've taken is they
can take us to the Supreme Court," he told reporters.

"We have said we are more than happy to meet them on that ground, we believe our march
route is reasonable and we would like them do that quickly."

Mr Bainbridge said a student protest march arranged for Wednesday, September 5, also
had been ruled out, even though it would be five blocks away from a declared area.

The NSW Greens also have been told they are not permitted to stage "street theatre"

in Martin Place during the APEC summit.

"When you add up all of these things it seems like a clear and systematic ban on the
right to protest during APEC and we reject that," Mr Bainbridge said.

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle also called on police to inform 29 people who have been
put on an exclusion list from the Sydney CBD during the APEC week.

"We had expressed our concern about the establishment of an APEC blacklist to target
particular people and to say they are not allowed in their city of Sydney - we don't think
it appropriate," Senator Nettle said.

Incoming police commissioner Andrew Scipione has indicated those on the exclusion list
would be notified from today.

AAP nr/sg/was/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: APEC PROTESTS (PIX AVAILABLE)

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