Protesters 'greet' US war chief Rumsfeld

November 17, 1993
Issue 

Leslie Richmond, Adelaide

On November 17, protesters rallied against the visit to Adelaide of US war secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who arrived to attend the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

The AUSMIN talks, at which the Howard government was represented by foreign minister Alexander Downers and defence minister Robert Hill, were held at the Adelaide Town Hall.

For Rumsfeld's visit, large areas of the city centre were locked down and 500 cops were mobilised. It had been rumoured some months ago that Rumsfeld would be accompanied by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, but she bailed.

A protest against Rumsfeld, which was organised by the Rice- Rumsfeld Reception Committee (RRRC), was to be held on the steps of Parliament House — a traditional venue for political demonstrations — and was to combine the issues of opposition to the Iraq war and defence of civil liberties in the face of the government draconian new "anti-terrorism" laws.

However, on November 14 the corporate media reported that the Adelaide City Council had imposed a ban on protests during AUSMIN. A statement was issued by the police that they would arrest anyone who refused a "move on" order.

A response issued the next day by the RRRC described the ban as an attack on free speech and declared that the rally would go ahead.

On the morning of November 16, the protest ban was overturned by parliamentary speaker Bob Such. He stated that the ban had been the result of misinformation provided in a briefing to his office by police.

What didn't change for the rest of the week was the aggressive police attitude towards all protests, which included continual public pronouncements of possible "violent protesters" and the readiness of police to use any perceived unruliness as an excuse to disperse protesters.

On the afternoon of November 16, amid concrete and steel barriers (usually used to stop vehicles ploughing into the crowd at car races), a speak-out was held on the steps of Parliament House. Attended by 35 people, it was addressed by speakers from the No War coalition, the socialist youth organisation Resistance and the Socialist Alliance.

The main protest rally on November 17 was attended by a defiant crowd of 1000 people. They were addressed by representatives from the RRRC, No War, the Greens, the Democrats, the Socialist Alliance and Resistance.

Renfrey Clarke, speaking for the Socialist Alliance, pointed out the similarities between the repressive powers contained within the proposed anti-terrorism legislation and the government's Work Choices Bill, declaring that the government's real agenda is to silence dissent. He explained that the trade union movement will be facing the same sorts of attacks as anti-war activists or any others who oppose PM John Howard's vision that Australia belongs only to the rich.

Stephen Darley from No War explained Rumsfeld's role in crimes against humanity committed by the US government.

Reflecting concern at the increasing restriction of civil liberties in Australia, state Democrats MP Sandra Kanck reported how she had gone to view the erected barricades earlier that day, and had been taken aside by police who demanded she provide them with proof of her identity.

After reciting a pledge of resistance — "I will resist the war, injustice and oppression that has been made law by politicians who do not speak for us. I will not be cowed, terrorised or silenced. I will resist! I will resist!" — the rally ended with a vote by protesters to march the next day past the Town Hall to Victoria Square.

On November 18, 200 protesters assembled in Victoria Square and moved to the barricades around the Town Hall, where the AUSMIN talks were still in progress. Police arrested three protesters.

Rumsfeld's cavalcade of 30 vehicles was briefly prevented from leaving the venue by the protesters before they were dispersed by police.

From Green Left Weekly, November 23, 2005.
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