latest update, blockaded activists on montblanc bridge
sprout | 02.06.2003 19:58
latest update, received 21h Uk time, 22h local time
500 people blocking main bridge, surrounded by swiss, german, zurich police - thousands of local residents standing by watching - negociations still in progress, will update when more news arrives, from italy imc
sprout
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Water cannon used against local population
02.06.2003 21:02
The crowd, mostly apparently local and including families and tourists, seemed particularly indignant that German 'police', unnumbered and in military uniform, searched locals and refused them the right to walk the streets of their city. This started at the lake front in the late afternoon as people sunbathed and sat by the lake and was met with bemusement more than anything else.
People challenged the German occupying force as to their right to stop and search people. Some of the police talked to by local people clearly did not understand French, the local language, and did not apparently understand Swiss law. Journalists filming people objecting to the German 'police' actions were told to stop filming.
After trapping an entirely peaceful and fluffy march along the lakefront calling for free water for the people of the world - yes, those crazy extremists again - the German 'police' joined with Swiss riot cops in creating a riot with water cannon being used to force the city centre crowd to disperse and, well, fuck off home.
People with Yorkshire and Liverpool accents were heard to mutter that it was all a plot by the Germans to get the best spots for their towels. Police sources were unavailable for comment.
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