Sydney prepares for worst-ever violence

An AAP report says that Sydney police have warned a violent, full-scale riot is “probable” when up to 20,000 anti-APEC protesters march on central Sydney on Saturday.

NSW’s top riot squad officer, Chief Superintendent Stephen Cullen, told a Sydney court he was braced for the worst violence of his career, adding he had never held more serious concerns for public safety.

Protesters have vowed not to back down on their plan to walk to the edge of police lines on Saturday, despite the police commissioner yesterday winning a court order banning them from doing so.

“Police lines will come under attack and a full-scale riot is probable,” Supt Cullen, commander of the Public Order and Riot Squad, told the hearing in the NSW Supreme Court.

“Based upon my research, experience, current intelligence and evidence from internationally similar events – more recently G20 in Melbourne – I have absolutely no doubt that minority groups will engage in a level of violence not previously experienced in Sydney.”

Up to 20,000 people are expected to gather in Sydney’s CBD to walk against war, global warming, and a host of other concerns as 21 world leaders meet during the APEC summit.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione received 68 applications for APEC-related demonstrations, the most controversial being a bid from the Stop Bush Coalition.

After negotiations reached a stalemate, the commissioner successfully sought to have the coalition’s proposed march route vetoed in court.

Protesters had already conceded their original plan to march through Martin Place was not viable, due to police barriers to be erected along King Street on Saturday.

The Stop Bush Coalition then proposed ending the rally at the King Street barriers, but while Justice Michael Adams agreed freedom of speech was paramount in a democratic society, he said ending the rally at that point would make it a target.

“In my view, the attitude of the commissioner to this application is a reasonable one and accordingly I grant the orders sought,” he said.

Outside court, rally organiser Alex Bainbridge would not rule out going ahead with a peaceful march to King Street, accepting he and others could face arrest as a consequence.

“The court has made very clear that we have got a right to protest,” Mr Bainbridge said.

“The court order prohibits nothing.”  “Our rally and demonstration will be going ahead,” he said.

“As we have always said, we intend for this to be a peaceful protest.”  “We have never ruled out non-violent civil disobedience.”

Mr Scipione described the court order as “common sense”.

“We are pleased with the decision but it doesn’t mean that our job will be any easier or more difficult, nothing changes,” he said.

Police told the court they feared groups of “well-drilled, disciplined” antagonists would infiltrate Saturday’s protest, whipping up a violent mob mentality.

“Never in my career have I held such serious concerns for public safety as I do during the conduct of APEC or, more specifically, this particular march,” Supt Cullen said.

Elsewhere in Sydney, student protesters continued the anti-APEC actions by defying a truancy blitz and attending a peaceful gathering in Sydney’s Belmore Park.

The arrival of US President George Bush last night, and China’s President Hu Jintao yesterday, meant traffic snarls would hit their peak today morning as the leaders moved around the city in their motorcades, Transport Minister John Watkins said.

Report by The Mole