SALZBURG, AUSTRIA, 1/7-3/7

Action days against the European summit of the World Economic Forum

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SALZBURG:

For many years, the European section of the World Economic Forum - a gathering of the richest and most powerful business leaders and politicians - has held annual meetings in the Austrian town of Salzburg, mostly with hardly anyone taking notice. This year, for the first time, a coalition of Austrian radical groups, civil rights networks and Non-Governmental Organisations has come together to protest against the fact that a small number of ultra-rich WEF-delegates are discussing measures that are relevant to the rest of the world, and to raise awareness of the issues involved.

Amongst the latter are the increasingly restrictive European "harmonisation" of asylum and migration laws, leading to increasing racist exploitation and marginalisation of large groups of people, and the enforcement of global trade regulations, leading to widespread poverty in the global South.

By inviting a large number of "honourable" politicians and business people, the conservative/fascist Austrian government is hoping to retrieve some of the 'normality' and international recognition, that was 'lost' due to the short-lived European boycott of Austria. It has stepped up large-scale repression against groups and individuals taking part in the protests and has been assisted by large parts of the mostly conservative mainstream press, which has organised a campaign of criminalisation against the protesters, suggesting every protesters who openly articulates dissent is a potential rioter.
The UK press carried reports that the Austrian police are authorised and prepared to shoot demonstrators.

Overview of the planned WEF Protests

Monday 2 July:
On the day after the big action, the protests continued with street theatre, meetings, talks, and a big streetparty in front of the activist infopoint.


Sunday 1 July:
On the day of the WEF opening ceremony, a rally of 2000 people took place to protest against the WEF summit and against exploitation and injustice caused by many of the summit participants. Half way through the rally (it was only legal to be there between 1500-1800hrs) the autonomous section of the crowd led a break out of the square in front of the train station that the rest then followed. The crowd at various points evaded police attempts to block it in, breaking through lines and sometimes running at full speed, heading towards the conference centre. After much cat and mouse through the streets and some clashes the protest was surrounded by police at around 1730hrs. In a situation familiar to Mayday (section 60) protestors the crowd was held for over four and a half hours, the police periodically snatching people at the lines. Eventually people were only allowed out in small groups walking through a tunnel of police under floodlights with some being pulled out and taken away. After this the demonstrators regrouped and under heavy escort returned to the train station where the afternoon had started.

Throughout the day, there were several acts of solidarity with the protests by local people, with inhabitants of the surrounding houses throwing food down to the encirceled crowd or hanging out a banner saying "Let them go".

Detailed timeline of events in english from IMC Austria:
1400-1800hrs
1800-2329hrs
Video archive from Salzburg
Picture galleries at www.ecn.org


Saturday 30 June:

While the organisation "Attac" was holding a congress called "Globalisierung von unten / Globalisation from below", radical groups have organised additional anti-WEF meetings as well as workshops to prepare the Sunday demonstration.

Meanwhile, police have been sealing off the centre of Salzburg (pics). Over 100 roadblocks and checkpoints are in force. Full report.

There have been two illegal demonstrations this evening, with a noisy protest by Macdonalds and heavy police attendance, after a full day of workshops and alternative conferences.

Read the evening timeline:

2359hrs Police have just left the infopoint, climbing back into their vans and parking now down the street. It is also raining heavily.

Earlier in the day at around 1800 hrs police assaulted an Indymedia reporter (kicking and pushing) after 3 people were removed from a normal bus. One of the three filmed the incident, but the police then took the camcorder and wiped the footage from it!

2345hrs After two illegal small demonstrations this evening (which passed of without violence) the anit-wef protest infopoint now has 100 riot police in full gear moving to surround it. There are around 300 people there and a large number of corporate tv crews. People are currently chanting and shouting at the police.

Friday 29 June:
All demonstrations have been banned in Salzburg while police are building up a massive presence in the city center and in the area of the main train station. 5,000 police (armed with tear gas and guns) have moved into army barracks and school gymnasiums; Austrian authorithies have given police permission to shoot activists if protests "get out of hand".

The PubliXtheatreCaravan arrived in town after a 3 days journey from the Austrian/Hungarian border. It is part of the "No border no nation" campaign together with other caravans (including CarnivalCaravan started in London) that are travelling through Europe this summer to protest against the "European concept of deportation".
They have planned public and street events over the next few days in Salzburg.



Sources of Latest WEF News

For a brief introduction to the anti-wef protests see here

IMC Austria has the latest reports and are making efforts to translate into english as often as possible with a special english version of the frontpage.

Radio Fabrik should be streaming audio all day Sunday 1st July.

Subnet will be broadcasting an mp3 stream roundup of the days events from 1800-1900 hrs GMT.

The No Border site also has daily updates from Salzburg.

More background info:

www.antiwef.org


World Economic Forum